Once upon a time, fast food used to be bread and butter, not only because it was easily available, but also because it was quick and easy to make and eat. Then came Nirula’s, with their delightful burgers and spicy pizzas. Then came the likes of McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Dominos and a completely new breed of fast food foreign joints who promised to serve burgers with a yummy McIndian taste. However, somewhere down the line, their McIndian tastes turned sour. Thanks to Nirula’s.
Nirula’s is a chain of fast food joints all over Delhi and nearby towns that competes for space with giants like McDonald’s. It is spread all over the town and invites not only the kids who are easily swayed by the chamak damak (and the joker) of McDonalds, but also the youth who go to watch late evening shows at PVRs and the daytime shoppers who want something to munch on.
Now, why would I compare Nirula’s with McDonalds? Hmm, the answer is quite simple. Broadly speaking, the vegetarian menu of McDonalds consists of only a few items, i.e. – Veg Surprise, Veg Pizza McPuff, McAloo Tiki burger and French Fries. I cannot comment on the non-vegetarian menu since I am myself a vegetarian. The price of these items varies from Rs. 20 to 30. Seems cheap isn’t it? But I dare you to eat a Veg Pizza McPuff and then walk around for 10 minutes, chances are that you will be hungry again. And then you will think Why did I spend 20 bucks on that? Now take Pizza Hut for example. Their recent advertisements claim that some of their servings will cost you as little as Rs. 50. Hmm, that sounds interesting, but 2 bowls of tomato soup for 50 bucks? Ouch, it hurts my pocket!
So now, I decide to go to Nirulas. The moment I enter, I stare at their menu board. I look and look and keep on looking, but cannot decide what to eat. I am hungry (kya?) and I don’t want to spend a fortune to fill my small tummy. I go for Subz Burger. Wow! It costs just 16 bucks, cheaper than McDonalds! I sit down in relative happiness thinking that I didn’t spend too much to buy it but now I am wondering Does it taste as good as they claim? With that apprehension in mind, I bite into the burger. And its yummy. I devour it like a hungry tiger and a few minutes later, I walk out of Nirulas with my tummy full.
What sets Nirulas apart from McDonalds is their appreciation for the Indian tastes. And they are good because they have the right blend of Indian tastes with foreign products. Where else would you find loads of Dahi Wada, Matar Paneer or Tofu Butter Kofta and Capsicum-Onion Pizza or Paneer Tikka Burger on the same table? Walk in to a Nirulas outlet and look at their menu, you would be amazed to find so many Indian and foreign delicacies on the same menu board. I would agree that some of their servings are a touch expensive, but when thinking about the quality, I have never been let down by them.
Pizza Hut and Domino’s have specialized into Pizzas. McDonald’s have made French Fries their brand ambassador. However, Nirula’s have mastered it all. They not only make Pizzas, but also are even better at making North Indian delicacies. It is always a pleasure to eat their Paneer Makhani with a Tandoori Kulcha. Take a sneak peek into their Pastry Shop and you will find different varieties of cakes and pastries that are mostly made to order. They might be a touch expensive but then, where else would you find the peaceful ambience to sit down and eat your platefuls? (Some of the McDonalds franchisees play loud music and this cannot be found at a Nirula’s.)
Now comes the bad news. According to their website (https://nirulas.com) they do not have many outlets outside Delhi. They have a few outlets in Haryana, mostly around the national highways. This is where McDonalds takes the cake since it is spread all over the country and promotes itself heavily on Television and Radio.
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