Restaurant India News: Banana Leaf Expands to 20 Outlets in Mumbai, Targets 25+ Locations in Two Years

Banana Leaf has opened its 20th outlet on 22nd January, marking its second location in Kandivali and reinforcing its footprint across Makabo.

Operating under Malgudi Food Private Limited, Banana Leaf has been in business since 2006. The brand is led by Managing Director Suraj Shetty, along with Directors Azizali Pirani, Krishnappa Karkera and Suchit R. Shetty. Over the years, the management team has focused on building a scalable yet standardised casual dining format centred on South Indian vegetarian cuisine. The model has prioritised operational consistency, menu depth and repeat customer engagement in a competitive urban market like Mumbai.

The brand has built its positioning around traditional South Indian staples, particularly dosa, idli and wadai formats, supported by filter coffee service. Core menu items such as Kara Masala Dosa, Thuppa Sada Dosa and Mysore Masala Dosa continue to drive footfall. At the same time, the company has expanded its product mix to capture evolving consumer preferences. Variants now include Pav Bhaji Dosa, paneer-based options, ragi dosas, sweet dosas and a range of regional idli formats including Chettinad Idli, Dakshin Masala Idli, Mulgai Idli, Guntur Masala Idli and Kanchipuram Idli. The rice portfolio includes multiple rasam rice options and regional biryanis.

Innovation has been introduced selectively to widen average order value and improve daypart relevance. Products such as Mushroom Veg Oats Uttapam and the Upma-Sheera combination aim to attract both health-conscious and traditional consumers. Thairu Sadham continues to remain part of the core offering. Signature items like the Rajni Dosa add differentiation within a crowded South Indian QSR and casual dining segment.

The company has also introduced a Bites & Brews menu extension. This includes chaats, smoothies, filter coffee beverages and coconut-based drinks. From a retail strategy perspective, the addition supports cross-selling opportunities and expands the beverage-led margin mix, particularly during non-peak meal hours.

The new Kandivali outlet follows the brand’s established interior template, featuring wooden elements, temple-inspired artwork and Carnatic instrumental music. The format continues to target family dining, neighbourhood repeat customers and mid-market consumers seeking consistent vegetarian offerings in suburban Mumbai.

Suraj Shetty, Managing Director, said, “Every new outlet for us is about reaching more people without changing who we are. The Kandivali audience has embraced us over the years, and this second outlet in the suburb felt like the natural next step. For us, South Indian food is an emotion, something people grow up with. With this launch, we simply want to bring that same warmth, familiarity and honest cooking to the neighbourhood, just the way Banana Leaf has always done.”

The company plans to scale to over 25 locations across key cities within the next two years. The focus remains on maintaining operational uniformity, supply chain stability and quality control while expanding geographically. In a segment where brand recall and trust drive repeat consumption, Banana Leaf’s growth strategy appears anchored in disciplined retail execution rather than aggressive diversification.