Why is Indian food always expensive?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This may be crazy, but I make it myself? We do some things from scratch and supplement with some store bought things. Palak paneer is really easy and a favorite of mine.

Wanted to add I’m not Indian, just have a few good cookbooks

[Anonymous]

It used to be cheaper as it was all family labors. Ingredients are not more expensive now but labor is. All those family kids went to study and get other jobs and so the family run restaurant has to hire actual staff and pay them a legal wage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in the Bay Area, and Indian food is not that expensive here. Not sure where you are eating...

lol DP here and I’m in the Bay Area too. Indian food is less expensive here but it does cost more in the DMV. There used to be an amazing place in Arlington back before it was built up, Dheli Dhaba. It was cheap and so good but that was decades ago, no idea if it’s still there. Chinese food is more expensive here in the Bay Area and cheaper in the DMV. I was surprised that all the Chinese and Thai restaurants charge for rice here.

Not in Montgomery County Md.
Most of them have lunch buffets for around $18.

[Anonymous]

Because it requires a ton of ingredients and prep. It requires sooooooo much more work than say Italian food. I bet you have no problems paying $25 for a pasta dish, yet you sneer at $22 for an Indian dish that requires 2x the work.

[Anonymous]

Who’s paying $5 for a piece of naan?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because it requires a ton of ingredients and prep. It requires sooooooo much more work than say Italian food. I bet you have no problems paying $25 for a pasta dish, yet you sneer at $22 for an Indian dish that requires 2x the work.

Are you an Indian restaurant owner LOL? Most places keep all the master mixes frozen in bulk and throw dishes together quickly.

[Anonymous]

Have you ever tried to make Indian food at home? It’s incredibly labor intensive.

Dropping a steak on the grill, not so much.

Ask yourself why you expect it to be cheap.

[Anonymous]

Its relevant because DC can improve their food quality and cost. We get so many tourist, affordable good food would add to attraction. There should be a world food court near national mall representing popular cuisines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because it requires a ton of ingredients and prep. It requires sooooooo much more work than say Italian food. I bet you have no problems paying $25 for a pasta dish, yet you sneer at $22 for an Indian dish that requires 2x the work.

Are you an Indian restaurant owner LOL? Most places keep all the master mixes frozen in bulk and throw dishes together quickly.

No, I just recognize the ethnocentric bias in cuisine costs. People expect stuff like Indian, Thai, Chinese, etc. to be cheap and delicious while they have no problems paying 2x more for something like Italian food or French food that is half the labor and 1/4 the number of ingredients. Ha, as if Italian places don’t have premade sauces often times they simply heat up and throw in the boxed pasta they boiled.

The expectations for ethnic cuisines are twice as high compared to such mediocre Italian food, yet consumers demand cheap costs. It’s ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because it requires a ton of ingredients and prep. It requires sooooooo much more work than say Italian food. I bet you have no problems paying $25 for a pasta dish, yet you sneer at $22 for an Indian dish that requires 2x the work.

Are you an Indian restaurant owner LOL? Most places keep all the master mixes frozen in bulk and throw dishes together quickly.

No, I just recognize the ethnocentric bias in cuisine costs. People expect stuff like Indian, Thai, Chinese, etc. to be cheap and delicious while they have no problems paying 2x more for something like Italian food or French food that is half the labor and 1/4 the number of ingredients. Ha, as if Italian places don’t have premade sauces often times they simply heat up and throw in the boxed pasta they boiled.

The expectations for ethnic cuisines are twice as high compared to such mediocre Italian food, yet consumers demand cheap costs. It’s ridiculous.

YES! Thank you. So sick of people who equate "ethinc foods" = cheap

The Post wrote about this - https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/restaurants/my-columns-name-does-a-disservice-to-the-immigrants-whose-food-i-celebrate-so-im-dropping-it/2018/12/31/101a28de-07c8-11e9-85b6-41c0fe0c5b8f_story.html

[Anonymous]

I have never, in my entire life, paid $5usd for one piece of naan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have never, in my entire life, paid $5usd for one piece of naan.

I am definitely craving indian food now! Maybe lunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have never, in my entire life, paid $5usd for one piece of naan.

Doordash? Those places have a markup over the restaurant's price of course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never, in my entire life, paid $5usd for one piece of naan.

Doordash? Those places have a markup over the restaurant's price of course.

I believe the restaurant sets the prices on the apps, but they do increase the price because of whatever fees they have to pay. But still, no lol. Maybe $5 for a pack of 2 or 3, but never for one piece.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because it requires a ton of ingredients and prep. It requires sooooooo much more work than say Italian food. I bet you have no problems paying $25 for a pasta dish, yet you sneer at $22 for an Indian dish that requires 2x the work.

Are you an Indian restaurant owner LOL? Most places keep all the master mixes frozen in bulk and throw dishes together quickly.

No, I just recognize the ethnocentric bias in cuisine costs. People expect stuff like Indian, Thai, Chinese, etc. to be cheap and delicious while they have no problems paying 2x more for something like Italian food or French food that is half the labor and 1/4 the number of ingredients. Ha, as if Italian places don’t have premade sauces often times they simply heat up and throw in the boxed pasta they boiled.

The expectations for ethnic cuisines are twice as high compared to such mediocre Italian food, yet consumers demand cheap costs. It’s ridiculous.

Mom and pop style small ethnic restaurants can offer lower prices but bigger restaurants with employees can't.