Chowman was established in 2010 by Debaditya Chaudhary, a business management professional with a strong passion for food, travel, and music. His diverse experiences and interests paved the way for the creation of the brand.

As a founding member of a Bangla band called Lakkhichhara, where he played the keyboard, he was exposed to Asian Culture during the musical tours he undertook in his 20s. This adventure also gave him first hand exposure to authentic Chinese meals.

While continuing his association with the band, he started hosting a radio show called “Khete Khete Shono” which featured the heritage and street style eateries of Kolkata. Learnings from restaurateurs on the radio show prompted him to make the plunge. He invested INR 5 lakhs to open a 365 sq ft restaurant in South Kolkata, marking the beginning of Chowman’s journey.

The Inspiration: Filling the Culinary Gap

Debaditya’s foodie instincts are reflected in the fond recollections he makes from his childhood, ranging from the endless queues he witnessed at his neighborhood restaurant ‘Kim Wah’, to his mother’s homemade Kolkata-style Fried rice and Chilli Chicken.

He says, “Our neighbors in South Kolkata owned one of the city’s oldest Chinese restaurants, Kim Wah. As a regular guest at their home, I often shared meals with the family, and it was here that the idea of opening my own restaurant first struck me.”

Driven by his experiences and deep love for food, he recognized a market opportunity for a new category of Chinese cuisine. Aspiring to create a middle ground between the expensive five-star restaurants and affordable street food stalls which primarily dominated the region, he wished to offer a premium dining experience at a reasonable price.

Overcoming all Odds

In the early days, Debaditya faced numerous challenges as he worked tirelessly to bring his vision to life. With a small team of just three people managing everything, getting others to believe in his dream was tough. “We definitely hit some bumps,” he recalls. “With only a few of us running the show, I had to do it all—delivering orders, handling cash closing, you name it. There were days when I wouldn’t get home until 3 AM , only to start again at 5 AM.” It took about a year of relentless effort for the brand to finally start growing.

Even when the covid pandemic threatened the restaurant industry, Debaditya saw a way forward. Adapting quickly, he embraced the cloud kitchen model, a move that not only helped Chowman survive the tough times but also enabled its expansion into Bangalore for the first time. This resilience and ability to pivot marked a turning point in the brand’s growth story.

Chowman: Leading the Culinary Scene

When Chowman first set out to challenge Kolkata’s established ideas of Chinese cuisine, it took on a significant risk. However, the main challenge wasn’t financial — it was changing the ingrained food preferences of Bengalis and introducing them to a new, authentic Chinese dining experience.

However, with a relentless commitment to quality, innovation, and consistent pricing, the brand has carved out a place as a fan favorite, delivering high-quality Chinese cuisine at accessible prices.

Chowman has built an extensive delivery fleet, to ensure speedy and reliable service across the country. To add to this, they have an in-house noodle factory that guarantees the quality and authenticity of their noodle dishes, making each meal exceptional. Routine food audits by internal teams ensure that customer complaints are kept to a minimum, keeping the dining experience consistently top notch.

Chowman is known for their tradition of discovering talent from remote areas, hiring talent as utility staff and nurturing them into skilled chefs over time. Debaditya explains, “We prefer not to hire established chefs. Instead, we take pride in training our team from the ground up. Our program requires them to spend 2-3 months in Kolkata, where they closely observe and learn the preparation of our dishes before they’re sent out to other locations.”

Recently, it has teamed up with St. Xavier’s College in Kolkata to launch a new hospitality course, reinstating its drive towards continuing excellence.

In its journey of growth, Chowman onboarded on Zomato in 2014 to further expand its reach. Debaditya adds,“We’ve experienced tremendous success since onboarding on Zomato in 2014. The increased exposure and visibility through the platform have significantly expanded our business and allowed us to reach a much larger audience.”

Chowman has also been proactive in utilizing the array of tools Zomato offers restaurant partners to maximize the volume and value of their orders. Debaditya shares, “By effectively using tools like Deal of the Day on specific days of the week, we managed to draw in many new customers while ensuring that our existing ones keep coming back. Outside of ensuring ease of delivery, Zomato has helped us optimize our operations by contributing to the exponential business growth we drove over the past 10 years.”

Today, Chowman’s menu has expanded from its original offering of 340 items to over 640 dishes, all brimming with authentic oriental flavors. From exotic veg in mountain chili sauce to clay pot braised chicken with mushrooms, Chowman continues to delight diners with its extensive selection of delectable dishes.

The brand has witnessed remarkable growth through the years, now serving customers through 35+ outlets across Kolkata, Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR, and Hyderabad.

A Promising Future Awaits

Chowman has set its sights on becoming the top Chinese cuisine brand in East India and beyond. Their vision extends far into the future, with plans on expanding to Pune, Chandigarh, Visakhapatnam, and Goa by 2026, and listing an IPO in 2027.

Chowman’s rise from a small company to one of Kolkata’s favorite Chinese cuisine brands is a true reflection of its unwavering focus on quality, customer satisfaction, and an enduring commitment to set itself apart. With ambitious plans and a solid foundation, Chowman is poised to keep making waves and achieving outstanding growth in the culinary world.