8 Indian restaurants run by women chefs

Since ages, cooking has been associated with women, but as far as the hospitality industry is concerned it is one of the sectors that are dominated by male chefs, but here are a few mighty women chefs who paved their way with their exceptional culinary skills, here is a list of Indian restaurants run by women chefs.

Chef Niyati Rao
Chef Niyati Rao has been known for exceptional culinary skills, the chef embarked her journey as restaurateur with Ekaa, which was launched in 2021. The chef was also associated with Noma in Copenhagen,The Zodiac Grill, Wasabi by Morimoto to name a few.

Chef Hanisha Singh
Hanisha Singh began her culinary stint as a kitchen executive at Trident Nariman Point paving her way to the top; she headed the kitchen at Smoke House Grill by the Impresario group. The chef started her passion driven restaurant Plats, Delhi. The place is known for its unique exotic menu and the chef also made it to the list of CNT’s list of India’s most exciting chefs under 40 in 2020.


Chef Kainaz Messman Harchandrai
Theobroma is one of the most popular pastry brands in India and was a brainchild of Chef Kainaz Messman Harchandrai and her sister Tina. Trained at the Institute of Hotel Management, Mumbai, the chef worked with Oberoi Udaivilas, her life took a turn after a strange accident, which made her follow her passion and started Theobroma in 2004.

Chef Ritu Dalmia
Motodo Pizzeria, Mumbai is celebrity chef Ritu Dalmia’s passion project, which boasts of her love for cooking. The renowned chef doesn’t have formal training, but her culinary creations have made a mark of the global culinary map.

Chef Sohini Basu Behren
Mrs Magpie, Kolkata is one of the most loved restaurants to try desserts and savouries created by Chef Sohini Basu Behren, a Le Cordon Bleu, London alumnus. The luxurious spot was a brainchild of Basu Behren and is loved for her selection of cupcakes and desserts.

Chef Garima Arora
Indian origin Chef Garima Arora's restaurant Gaa in Bangkok was awarded the second Michelin Star in the Michelin Guide Thailand Star Revelation 2024. The celebrity chef was also seen at Masterchef India 2023 as a judge. Gariman is also the first Indian women chef to bag two Michilin star accolades.


Chef Anahita Dhondy
Chef Anahita Dhondy is known for her love and passion for cooking, the star chef has been taking inspiration from her mother in her early age. The chef embarked on her journey when she was just 10 years old. The lady heads a chain of restaurant Soda Bottle as a lead chef manager.

Vanshika Bhatia
One of the youngest and most popular chefs, Vanshika Bhatia has worked under some of the most popular chefs including Sujan Sarkar, Gaggan Anand. Bhatia embarked her journey as a restaurateur with ‘Together at 12th’ and the restaurant boasts of her love for exotic cuisines.