Tiffinwalla in New York

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The mountain comes to Muhammad: You’ve probably heard of the FedEx-like reliability of tiffinwallas of Bombay. Five thousand tiffinwallas deliver 175,000 hot lunches from home to work every day, and empty tiffins back home, with only one error every 16 million deliveries. This six-sigma error rate puts Indian bureaucracy to shame. And, as Forbes reported, all for just 150 rupees/month:

Each tiffin carrier has, painted on its top, a number of symbols which identify where the carrier was picked up, the originating and destination stations and the address to which it is to be delivered.

Well, one tiffinwalla who cooks his own food is expanding into New York, via a friend:

My cousin just recommended this guy (Krishna) in NYC who delivers packed Indian vegetarian lunch or dinner boxes for $5 a meal. He only works Mon-Fri, so it’s $25 a week (this includes deliver). Apparently, each meal includes 2 chapatis, rice, dal, one vegetable, appetizer, dessert and pickle/chutney. My cousin is very health conscious and swears that Krishna’s meal is cooked with very little oil. Though I would share the number with you – 212 945 ####.

And let’s not forget the dosa guy at the southwest corner of Washington Square Park (weekdays at lunch):

[Designer Alpana] Bawa does admit a lunchtime weakness for dosas found at a cart in Washington Square Park (New York Dosa, 917-710-2092), made by Sri Lankan Dhiru Kumar. “I’m on my way,” she tells Kumar on her cell phone, not even identifying herself. “Can you have a Pondicherri dosa ready for me in a few minutes?” Bawa asks… When we arrive, Kumar hands Bawa a Styrofoam container with her dosa — spicy potatoes, carrots and peppers in a thin crepe made from rice and lentil flours.
Ah, the benefits of living in a maximum city.

26 thoughts on “Tiffinwalla in New York”

  1. It’s surprising to see Indians build an operation with this high level of efficiency. Maybe the Indian government can learn something from these people.

    The Indian government should also learn some honesty. A young family friend of ours arrived in India a few days ago to visit his relatives. He wasn’t allowed to bring his expensive video equipment and gifts out of the airport unless he paid the Indian customs official a bribe. He left the expensive items with the Indian customs official and went outside the airport to find his relatives to lend him some money. He returned a few minutes later and all the items were gone. The Indian customs official claimed never to have seen these expensive items. This type of dishonesty is pervasive in the government and general population. It makes it difficult to do business in India.

  2. this is so cool.. dal roti for five dollars delivered home..man thats heaven. Manish if u know the phone number of this tiffinwala who will deliver fresh food to people in indianapolis please let me know, I would love to be a regular customer of this indianpolis tiffinwala if there is one in indy like its in NY and Iam sure all my friends would order too.Thank u.

  5. Bawa does admit a lunchtime weakness for dosas found at a cart in Washington Square Park (New York Dosa, 917-710-2092), made by Sri Lankan Dhiru Kumar.

    His name is Thiru, with a “T”.

  6. Manish,

    Thanks for the number of the tiffin wallah, I am just moving to NYC to start a grad program at Columbia and this would be great help esp during the hectic study schedule. I m too vegetarian and pretty health conscious.

    Thanks again, I will try and see if this is better than my cooking at home.

    Pragati

  8. HI

    Can Manish or anyone else pass me, the number of the tiffin wala in New York. I tried calling Krishna the number written on this website, but it didnt go though. So anyone who knows of any person who delivers food in NY, pls email me at sheetal.abbi@accenture.com. Thanks

  9. Dude a tiffinwaala in NY would be awesome… Anyone here know of someone doing it???

  11. Hi Manish! Just to tell you at this blog post! Avoid at all times, use of other religion names, comparisons & beliefs. If you want to convey a message in the interests of others, do it in a way, which offends none. Cheers.

  13. Hey Guys and Girls,

    Does anyone know of a good Tiffin Service in Manhattan? That number on this page is an old one. Help. I’m starving. Panini’s just don’t cut it. Soup and salad are for whimps.

  16. Hi there folks..

    I am in the process of doing some market research for our london based family tiffin business, Aunty’s Tiffins.

    We have been in operation in London UK for over a year now and are growing at a tremenous rate. All cooking is managed by my mother (hence Aunty) and we are 100% veg. In fact we are one of 3 indian caterers in London that are UK vegetarian Society approved.

    So what you ask… I am here in New York and we wish to expand our business here too. We have a location and are looking to start in the next couple of months. I am looking for people who can help us in our research, it doesn’t matter if you work/study in any of the 5 boros or even Jersey. Please do contact me for further information of visit our (current UK ) website http://www.Auntys-Tiffins.com or email me at vikas@auntys-tiffins.com

  17. THE NUMBER LISED IN THE AD 212-945 #### IS FOR INEGRO INSURANCE BROKERS. PLEASE DO NOT CALL, THANKS

  20. Hi Guys, one of my friends is starting a Tiffin service in New York metro area including northern NJ in June, 2009. If interested log on to wwww.tiffinnewyork.com

  21. Hi,

    We provide Tiffin service in NYC area. Please contact for India Food (Ghar Ka Khana)….

  22. THE NUMBER FOR TIFFIN NYC IS WRONG!!!, PLEASE STOP CALLING!!!!!!!!!!!!! 212-945-8053, AS THIS IS MY WORK MOBILE, AND HAS BEEN FOR PAST 2 YEARS. THANKS.

  23. Anyone know any good tiffin service in Manhattan? Like, tried and tested kinds 😉 Me and my roommate are going to try tiffin-nyc this weekend. But other than, anyone else? My roommate was not too happy about Tiffin Blog. He said, they don’t give much food!

  24. i have been using Tiffinblog for last 3 years and they are quite good if you are not happy about quantity, they will adjust. they are very flexible and do custom tiffins. I have tried many people but I was never satisfied with the quality of the food, until I tried TiffinBlog.

  25. I have tried Tiffin New York & they are pretty good. The problem with Tiffin Blog is they do not deliver everyday to Manhattan. I have tried their food but the quantity is less & the food taste is inconsistent. Let me know if anyone has any other suggestions.

  26. Tiffin New York is great but the food is repetitive, the owners of Earth also have a dabba service if you are north of the Village and to parts of New Jersey