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Why this Texas Indian restaurant has few Indian staff
The viral video prompted debate over workplace diversity, hiring practices and authenticity in ethnic restaurants.
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Malvika Choudhary - Tue, 09, Jun 2026
- 15:26 EDT
- 54
Rashmi Bhat / Instagram/ @toastyindian
A restaurant owner in Texas sparked debate online after saying her Indian restaurant employs very few Indian staff members, arguing that hiring decisions are based on qualifications rather than ethnicity.
Rashmi Bhat, owner of 7 Monk's Cafe in Texas, shared the hiring philosophy in an Instagram video titled, "My Indian restaurant has almost no Indian staff. This is why it works."
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"I don't hire Indians at my Indian restaurant," Bhat said in the video, acknowledging that the statement "usually surprises people."
She said customers often assume employees at an Indian restaurant must be Indian, but that was never the approach she and her mother adopted when they opened the business.
"When most people walk into an Indian restaurant, they assume everyone working there has to be Indian. But that's never how we hired," Bhat said.
According to Bhat, the goal was to build a strong team rather than recruit employees from a specific ethnic background.
"We set out to build a great team, regardless of their skin colour. So we hired high school students, college students, single moms, and retirees looking for a second chance," she said.
Bhat said some employees had never tried Indian food before joining the restaurant. Over time, they learned the menu and became familiar with Indian cuisine.
"Today, they can tell the difference between tikka masala and korma, explain what a samosa is, and recommend their favourite dishes to customers," she said.
She added that the staff's varied backgrounds have helped introduce Indian food to a wider audience.
"Our team doesn't come from the same culture, but they know what it's like to be introduced to an entirely new food. And every day, they help introduce thousands of people to ours," Bhat said.
The video's caption initially drew attention for its claim that the restaurant had "almost no Indian staff." However, Bhat later added a disclaimer clarifying that the restaurant hires qualified candidates regardless of background.
"DISCLAIMER: We hire anyone who is qualified, INCLUDING Indians. I've seen too many restaurants discriminate against certain ethnic backgrounds because they don't 'match', but I'm changing that," the caption said.
The post generated mixed reactions online, with some users questioning whether authenticity in Indian cuisine requires Indian staff, while others praised the restaurant's emphasis on diversity and equal opportunity hiring.
"I would prefer my Indian food made by an Indian individual lol," one user commented.
"Your hiring policies are impressive, but we come to eat authentic food — if there's no Indian cook, I'm not eating there," another wrote.
Others criticized the wording of Bhat's statement, with one user asking, "How is it inclusive if you are knowingly excluding one race?"
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