Brothers Nishant and Vikash Ranjan had a dream—to create a space where people could come together over warm vibes while enjoying unforgettable meals. But bringing this idea to life was no easy feat!

It required grit, resourcefulness and a whole lot of faith in their passion for food.

A dream takes shape

After completing high school in Ranchi, Nishant and Vikash moved to Mumbai for further studies. While Nishant pursued Chartered Accountancy, Vikash studied mathematics. It was during this time that they started cooking for themselves. This was out of necessity at first, as they longed for the comfort of home-cooked meals. But what started as a task soon became a passion.

While a corporate career seemed like the logical next step, something about food and cooking kept pulling them in a different direction. Vikash says, “Having lived outside as students, we wanted to recreate the sense of comfort that we often missed.”

They were drawn to the idea of opening a restaurant in their hometown, one where they could serve high quality meals while upholding exceptional service standards.

With a clear goal in mind, they researched the Ranchi market, evaluated competitors, and improved the concept of their restaurant. After locking a suitable location, they carefully designed a stylish yet cosy ambience and built a team of skilled chefs and staff.

Jashn The Restaurant eventually opened its doors in Ranchi in 2017, poised to create a lasting impression.

Building a standout brand

The first few months were tough. Ranchi was already home to established food giants, which attracted a huge crowd of customers. The brothers tackled this head-on by focusing on three key areas: quality, consistency, and customer service.

They personally connected with customers on social media and tweaked the menu based on customer feedback. They also built strong relationships with local suppliers to secure the freshest ingredients, ensuring every dish delivered on taste and quality.

Nishant says, “One dish that has received a lot of love from our customers is chicken dehati. I used to make it during my time in Mumbai and now, every bite takes me back to my University days.”

One of their biggest early challenges was finding the right location for the restaurant. Staffing was another challenge which they solved by visiting local eateries, networking with industry professionals, and identifying potential hires.

And slowly but surely, Jashn carved out its own space in Ranchi.

Adapting and growing

By 2018, Nishant noticed a shift in dining habits—people weren’t just visiting restaurants; they wanted great food delivered straight to their doorsteps.

Recognizing this, he onboarded Jashn on Zomato. They were soon able to expand their audience, boost sales, and optimize inventory so that menu items were always available.

Nishant recalls, “Our first big breakthrough came when we crossed 1,000 online orders in the very first month after onboarding.”

Then came the COVID-19 pandemic, a crisis that forced many businesses to shut down. But with the guidance of Key Account Manager Nikesh Kumar, it turned into an unanticipated growth engine for Jashn.

He explains, “The decision to work with Zomato changed our operations and reach for the better! Our orders surged threefold during COVID, and our monthly revenue increased 2x between 2019 and 2024.”

Together, they took a food first approach, adding new menu items while utilising online levers such as promos and discounts.

Beyond this, their focus on maintaining high service standards and strategy of engaging with customers on social media paid off. Positive reviews boosted their online visibility, while regular feedback led to continuous improvements in their menu and service.

With enormous demand from customers, the brothers decided it was time to expand. They opened a second Jashn outlet in Ranchi using all the knowledge they accumulated from running the first one. The response to this was incredible.

Nishant says, “Today, Jashn is a go-to spot for food lovers, offering mouthwatering dishes such as murg mussalam and biryani at affordable prices.”

According to Nishant, with a growing tribe of loyal customers, the restaurant is focused on maintaining top-notch quality standards while consistently meeting customer expectations.

Noticing the success they achieved with Jashn, they decided to set up four more sub brands: Titli by Jashn, Hitchki Thela, Wow Biryani and Kiana Restaurant.

Nishant mentions, “One of our biggest lessons from being in the industry has been the power of being vigilant everyday. The challenges may feel familiar, but solving them requires us to be hands-on and fully engaged, day in and day out.” 

Their next big move

The brothers wish to expand across Ranchi and beyond, introducing new cities to Jashn’s specialties and welcoming atmosphere.

From exciting new concepts to an innovative menu, they’re cooking up something special. They’re also coming up with tech-driven solutions to boost efficiency and improve the customer experience.

For Nishant and Vikash, Jashn is living proof that dreams can come true with perseverance, passion, and adaptability.