Bombay Food Junkies

St. Louis’ finest all-vegan Indian fusion restaurant!

Krupa and Sid Panchal, originally from Bombay, India, have chosen a unique way to share some of Bombay’s famous street foods, along with other culinary delights, vegan style!

Their journey first began in 2013 when they opened St. Louis’ first-ever 100%-vegetarian Indian food truck. As their success and support from our community surged, they eventually established a brick-and-mortar restaurant. Over the past few years, both Krupa and Sid have also worked to veganize all their vegetarian dishes. Once they formulated a new 100%-vegan recipe for all the vegetarian items on their menu, they became a fully vegan establishment.

At Bombay Food Junkies, they believe it is crucial to advocate for what you believe in, and their overall mission is to create a vegan food destination that makes our world a better place, one meal at a time. Krupa and Sid, in line with this mission, provide outstanding customer service, knowing and connecting with most of their customers on a first name basis. They are also one of the only vegan or vegan-friendly restaurants in the entire St. Louis region that actively broadcasts their support for animal rights, advancing the philosophy of ahimsa both through the meals they offer and the vibrant murals on their walls.

Chik’n Tikka Sandwich

Pictured to the left is one of Bombay Food Junkies’ signature meals, the vegan Chik’n Tikka Sandwich. This sandwich is composed of vegan Chik’n Tikka that is cooked with onions and bell peppers, then topped with their house blend creamy mint sauce. This delicacy also comes with a side of the customer’s choice; customers can enjoy Bombay Food Junkies’ delicious Chik’n Tikka Sandwich with either cilantro fried rice, hakka noodles, masala fries, plain fries, or salad.

Community outreach

Bombay Food Junkies is committed to benefiting our community not only by offering vegan options, but also by ensuring frontline healthcare workers can enjoy their phenomenal plant-based meals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pictured to the right is their beloved daughter, Kaavya, who is packing meals for St. Louis’ Feed The Fighters Program.

Animal rescue

Krupa and Sid Panchal are major animal lovers, so much so, they adopted a 10-month-old Yorkshire Terrier mix from the Polk County Humane Society. They nicknamed this puppy “Chintu,” an affectionate name in Hindi for someone who is tiny. Chintu was abandoned by the side of the road in mid-Missouri. According to Krupa and Sid, “He is a bundle of joy, very loving and inquisitive.”

An interview with Krupa Panchal

Below, you will find an interview we conducted with Krupa Panchal. This interview will give you an inside look at the inspiring people, customer-centric mindset, and community-oriented goals that make Bombay Food Junkies so unique and beloved by our St. Louis community.

Bombay Food Junkies didn't always have a brick-and-mortar. What inspired you to open a brick-and-mortar, and what challenges did you encounter along the way?

​We have had a brick-and-mortar for about seven years now, the difference being it was only open Thursday-Sunday with limited hours due to our focus being mainly on the food truck end of our business. A restaurant needs more employees than a food truck, and good employees are always hard to find. I consider finding good employees to be the biggest challenge in the food industry.

Bombay Food Junkies used to have just a few menu items that contained dairy while otherwise being completely vegan. What inspired you to transition your restaurant to a 100%-vegan enterprise, and what has been the most rewarding aspect of this business decision?

​We started as the first and only vegetarian food truck in St. Louis in 2013. And hence, the menu at the time was all vegetarian with a few vegan items. As our awareness of veganism grew year over year, our business and personal choices we made began to reflect our newfound passion. We started working on developing and converting our vegetarian items to vegan. Once we found great alternatives to our dairy options, there was no looking back. We moved ahead towards veganism full steam. It is always hard to do the “RIGHT” thing, especially when you try to do something different from the mainstream. Revenue is not always great (or absent at times), but the feel-good factor and the love of our loyal customers keep us going.

Bombay Food Junkies is one of the only vegan or vegan-friendly businesses in the St. Louis region that actively promotes veganism beyond just offering vegan options. What inspired you to actively promote veganism in our community and beyond?

​I think it's vital to preach what you believe in—and inspire others to go do what is right—not only for our health, but also for the planet and all living beings. Veganism is not just a food choice; it's a lifestyle choice. We are committed to supporting the ethical treatment of animals in every possible way we can. Providing delicious plant-based food is just one way of doing so.

Bombay Food Junkies has a very loyal customer base, and customers regularly rave about the food you prepare. Beyond providing delicious food, what do you do to build such strong customer loyalty?

​We keep our food standards very high and pricing very competitive. We constantly challenge ourselves to create newer fusion foods that attract new and old customers. We are proud to say that we have the most diverse and best-tasting vegan menu in St. Louis. We strive to provide excellent customer service; my husband and I love talking to our customers and making a personal connection. We know most of our customers on a first-name basis. We are always innovating in the way we run our business, too: simplified online ordering, easy and safe curbside pickup, weekly meal delivery, pledging to use no Styrofoam or single-use plastic (we only use paper or biodegradable dinnerware), energy-efficient lighting, composting, and recycling 100% of the waste are only some of the things we do to support our mission.

St. Louis features a thriving startup community. What advice do you have for aspiring plant-based entrepreneurs?

​It is very important to have a good business plan and understand your market, from creating a tempting menu to execution, which involves management, cooking, marketing, and the ability to generate capital. One should have good entrepreneurship abilities to run a successful business. Being a great cook doesn't translate into running a successful business; those two skills are sometimes mutually exclusive. We couldn't have launched Bombay Food Junkies without a strong family and friend support network. Of course, treating your customers the way you want to be treated is key. Our St. Louis vegan community is very loyal and will support you every step of the way. We have made some great friends in the community over the years that have always offered the help and support we sometimes so desperately need.