Meet Mr. Chandra Bahadur Thapa, the visionary behind Momo Bhandar. Starting from a single street-side stall in 2021, he transformed his passion for food into a fast-growing brand known for its delicious and innovative momos.
With dedication, quality, and a pinch of creativity, Momo Bhandar has become a beloved name in the food industry. His journey is a true inspiration for young entrepreneurs.
Patrakarpuram, Lucknow :- The morning mist hadn't lifted yet when Chandra wheeled his small cart through the narrow lanes of Patrakarpuram. At 31, his hands were already rough from kneading dough since 4 AM, and his back ached from bending over the steamer. "Momos Bhandar!" he called out, his voice echoing off the walls of the residential colony.
An elderly woman peered from her balcony. "Beta, are they fresh?" she asked skeptically. Chandra smiled, lifting the lid of his steamer to release a cloud of aromatic steam. "Aunty ji, I made them with my own hands just two hours ago. Try one - if you don't like it, no payment."
That first sale of ₹20 felt like winning a lottery. As he counted the crumpled notes at the end of the day - ₹340 in total - Chandra looked at his simple cart and whispered, "One day, you'll be the beginning of something big." He didn't know then that this humble start would grow into a brand, but he knew he had found his calling in those perfectly steamed, hand-folded momos.
Two Failed Branches :- "Sir, rent is due for both shops," the property agent's voice was firm over the phone. Chandra sat surrounded by empty steamer baskets in his second failed outlet, staring at the "For Rent" sign being put up across the street. Within six months, both his ambitious branch expansions had crumbled.
The first branch failed because the location had no footfall. The second failed because he couldn't manage quality control across multiple locations. His savings were gone, his confidence shattered. That night, the 32-year-old entrepreneur sat in his small room, looking at the Momos Bhandar banner he'd painted so proudly months earlier.
His wife found him there at 2 AM, tears in his eyes. "Maybe I'm not cut out for this," he whispered. She sat beside him, taking his flour-stained hands in hers. "You know what your problem is? You tried to run before you learned to walk properly. Go back to that cart, perfect your craft, understand your customers. Success isn't about speed - it's about strength."
The next morning, Chandra was back at Patrakarpuram with his cart, but this time he was different. He was learning.
Kathuta Branch - The Comeback :- The aroma of perfectly spiced veg momos filled the small outlet in Kathuta as a line of customers waited patiently. Chandra watched from behind the counter, his heart swelling with pride. This time, he had done everything differently.
"Bhaiya, your crispy momos are unique and superb in taste," said Amit, a regular customer who came every evening after college. "What's your secret?" Chandra smiled, wiping his hands on his apron. "Beta, the secret is time. I spent a whole year on my cart again, learning exactly what people want. Every pinch of salt, every fold of the dough - I perfected it."
The Kathuta branch wasn't just successful; it was a phenomenon. Word of mouth spread like wildfire. Students from nearby colleges made it their hangout spot. Families came for weekend treats. The line outside Momos Bhandar became a landmark in itself.
That evening, as Chandra counted the day's earnings - ₹3,200 - he realized something profound. His failures in 2022 hadn't been setbacks; they had been his greatest teachers. The cart had been his school, and now he was ready to be a businessman.
Bhootnath Market Branch - The Expansion :- "We need three more steamers and two additional staff members," Chandra told his newly appointed manager, Om, his younger brother, as they watched the bustling crowd at their latest branch in Bhootnath Market. The success of Kathuta had given him the confidence to expand again, but this time with wisdom earned through failure.
The Bhootnath Market branch was strategically located in the heart of Lucknow's commercial district. Office workers, shoppers, and families all converged here. But Chandra had learned that location alone wasn't enough. He had standardized his recipes, trained his staff personally, and most importantly, he was present at both branches regularly.
"Sir, the evening rush is starting," called out Priya, his cashier, as a group of software engineers entered. Chandra watched with satisfaction as his team worked like a well-oiled machine. Om managed the kitchen, Priya handled billing, and two other staff members served customers with warm smiles.
That night, reviewing the sales reports from both branches, Chandra realized he wasn't just a momo seller anymore. He was building something bigger - a brand that people trusted, a team that believed in his vision, and most importantly, a business that was sustainable.
First Franchise at Amity University Gate No. 2 :- The inauguration banner read "Momos Bhandar - First Franchise Outlet" as Chandra cut the ribbon outside Amity University Gate No. 2. Vikash, his first franchisee, stood beside him beaming with pride. Students had already started gathering, drawn by the familiar aroma and the brand they had come to love.
"Bhaiya, I've been eating your momos since the Kathuta days," said Ravi, a final-year student. "Now I can get them right at my university gate!" Chandra smiled, but his mind was on something bigger. Standing there, he could see his team of 20+ people working across different branches - managers, cooks, servers, delivery boys - all part of the Momos Bhandar family.
Om approached him with a clipboard. "Sir, we have three more franchise inquiries from different parts of the city." Chandra nodded, but his eyes were distant, remembering that small cart in Patrakarpuram just four years ago.
As the evening crowd of students grew, Chandra called his wife. "Do you remember what you told me that night in 2022?" he asked. Her laugh was warm through the phone. "I told you to learn to walk before you run."
"Well," Chandra said, watching his franchise partner serve fresh momos to excited students, "I think I've finally learned to run."
The cart that started it all was parked in his garage now, not as a relic of the past, but as a reminder of where dreams begin - with courage, one momo at a time.
1090 - The Food Lovers Paradise :- The excitement in the air was palpable as Chandra stood outside the soon-to-open outlet at 1090, the legendary food lovers paradise of Lucknow. Food enthusiasts from across the city had been asking, "When will Momos Bhandar open at 1090?" For months, the anticipation had been building - this wasn't just another outlet, this was the destination where every food lover in Lucknow came to discover their next favorite taste. As Chandra watched the final preparations, he knew that bringing his crispy, unique momos to this iconic food hub would be his biggest milestone yet. The place where food dreams come true was about to welcome Momos Bhandar, and Lucknow's food lovers couldn't wait to experience the magic that started with a simple cart in Patrakarpuram. Soon, the most awaited outlet would open its doors, ready to serve the same love, passion, and perfectly crafted momos that had won hearts across the city.