Odisha to take authentic Odia cuisine nationwide via restaurant chain plan

Odisha plans to promote its culinary heritage nationwide through dedicated restaurant chains across metros and tourist hubs, aiming to boost gastronomy tourism and cultural branding

The Odisha government has unveiled an ambitious plan to take the state’s rich culinary heritage beyond its borders through a chain of dedicated Odia cuisine restaurants in major Indian cities and tourist hubs. The Department of Tourism (DoT) has invited expressions of interest (EOI) from entrepreneurs and hospitality operators to set up and run “Odia Cuisine Restaurants” both within Odisha and outside as part of a broader push to promote gastronomy tourism and strengthen cultural branding.

 

The government has initially picked five metro cities — Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata — and five major tourist destinations — Goa, Kochi, Agra, Varanasi and Jaipur for the project. In the first phase, entrepreneurs will be allowed to open up to five restaurants in each city and two in each tourist destination.

 

The Department of Tourism has asked applicants to propose restaurants with a minimum seating capacity of 25 and an investment of at least ₹20 lakh, excluding land and building costs. Officials said shortlisted applicants will be invited for stakeholder consultations to fine-tune the implementation roadmap.

 

Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, who also holds the tourism portfolio, said the initiative aims to take Odisha’s unique food traditions to a national and global audience. “Odia cuisine is an integral part of our cultural heritage. Through this initiative, we want to showcase our traditional dishes, ingredients and culinary practices to people across the country and position Odisha as a key destination for gastronomy tourism,” she told Business Standard.

 

Odisha’s cuisine is deeply rooted in temple traditions, coastal food culture, agrarian customs and centuries-old culinary practices. From temple-inspired recipes and time-honoured pitha varieties to coastal seafood delicacies and festive offerings, Odia food offers a gateway into the state’s art, craft, music and way of life.

 

The proposed restaurants are being envisioned as curated cultural spaces that showcase Odisha’s culinary traditions, local ingredients, crafts and stories through immersive dining experiences.  

 

Hoteliers have welcomed the move. “Thanks to social media and celebrities, there is widespread awareness about authentic Odia cuisine, be it chhenapoda or dahi bara-aloo dum. It is a good decision to encourage the opening of a chain of dedicated restaurants and this is the right time. The government must enhance Opex (operational expenditure) support to attract more investors,” said Debasish Patnaik, founder of the Dalma restaurant chain.

 

The Odisha Tourism (Amendment) Policy, 2026 also recognises Odia Cuisine Restaurants as an eligible tourism unit entitled to financial incentives. The state government has proposed capital expenditure (Capex) reimbursement of up to 30 per cent of eligible project costs, capped at ₹5 crore.

 

Eligible components for reimbursement include furnishing, interiors, kitchen equipment and renovation works for restaurants located within the state. Units outside Odisha can claim support for interiors, furnishings and kitchen equipment. In addition, the government will provide Opex support for electricity charges and state GST for a specified period, with reimbursements capped at ₹2 lakh per unit per month.