DETROIT – A couple from India are living the American dream with their new food truck taking on the streets of Detroit, bringing culture and flavor to the community with a twist.
The third-generation restaurant owners are the first in their family to open locations in the United States. The Paradise Street Eats and Biryani food truck is situated in Greektown, and offers a unique take on classic Indian dishes.
“We have ... butter chicken loaded fries. We’re pretty popular for this; this is definitely a big hit,” said co-owner Ali Wazne.
The menu features mild spices and American fare with an Indian twist.
The food truck’s owner Srinath “Ziggy” Kalmadi opened Paradise Biryani Point in Farmington Hills in 2014. Since then, he’s opened two more restaurants. This is his first food truck.
“We really worked hard on this. It’s been over a year of trying to get the truck up and running before COVID. We wanted to be down here for a reason, and we’re happy to be here,” said Wazne.
At first, Ziggy was skeptical of business partner Ali’s plan to combine Eastern and Western cuisine.
“I thought, ‘Oh my god, people eat this food? Really?’ Then I saw the crowd coming every day, butter chicken tacos and loaded fries, I thought, ‘let’s push more,’” Kalmadi said.
“My husband is behind all of this. He’s really worked his butt off to achieve where he is right now, but it has been a pleasant journey for us,” said Kalmadi’s wife, Arti Upadhyaya.
Kalmadi and Upadhyaya immigrated from India to the United States in the early 2000s. Both worked full-time jobs, but were determined to realize the American Dream as entrepreneurs.
If you’ve worked up an appetite, you can check out the Paradise Street Eats & Biryani food truck from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. in Downtown Detroit during the week, and on Belle Isle on the weekends.