RyanQuintana2: Made new details - done

2026-02-03T05:17:22Z

Made new details - done

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{{Advert|date=February 2024}}
{{Short description|Restaurant chain}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Saravanaa Bhavan
| logo = Saravanaa Bhavan Logo.svg
| logo_size = 350px
| type = [[Private company|Private]]
| industry = Restaurant
| genre = [[South Indian cuisine|Southern Indian Cuisine]]
| foundation = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1981}}
| former_name = Hotel Saravana Bhavan
| founder = [[P. Rajagopal (businessman)|P. Rajagopal]]
| dissolved =
| location = [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India
| locations = 33 branches in India, 92+ branches In 28 countries 
| area_served = [[India]], [[Singapore]], [[Malaysia]], [[Thailand]], [[Hong Kong]], [[Japan]], [[South Korea]], [[United Arab Emirates]], [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Oman]], [[Qatar]], [[Bahrain]], [[Kuwait]], [[South Africa]], [[Ireland]], [[France]], [[Germany]], [[Netherlands]], [[Belgium]], [[Sweden]], [[Italy]], [[Spain]], [[Poland]], [[Switzerland]], [[United Kingdom]], [[Canada]], [[United States]], [[Australia]], and [[New Zealand]].
| key_people =
| products = Food, Sweets, Bakery, Ice cream
| services = Fast Food, Take Away, Home Delivery and Outdoor Catering
| revenue = {{profit}}{{INRConvert|29782.4|m}} <small>(2017)</small>
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| num_employees = 8,700 (in India - 2023)
| parent =
| subsid =
| footnotes =
| homepage = {{Unbulleted_list
|{{url|saravanabhavan.com}} (Global)
|{{url|saravanabhavan.co}} (India)
|{{url|saravanabhavanlondon.co.uk}} (UK)
|{{url|saravanaabhavan.us}} (US)
|{{url|saravanabhavan.ca}} (Canada)
|{{url|saravanaabhavan.com.au}} (Australia)
|{{url|saravanaabhavan.se}} (Sweden)
}}
}}
[[File:Saravana Bhavan Edison NJ.jpg|thumb|300px|The Saravanaa Bhavan restaurant in [[Edison, New Jersey|Edison]], [[New Jersey]], U.S., near [[Indians in the New York City metropolitan area|New York City]], is the largest and busiest branch restaurant outside [[South India]].]]
'''Saravanaa Bhavan''', previously '''Hotel Saravana Bhavan''', is an Indian restaurant chain based in [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India.<ref name="passion">{{cite web |title=Founder & Key Personalities |url=http://www.saravanabhavan.com/passion.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070120110200/https://saravanabhavan.com/passion.php |archive-date=2007-01-20 |access-date=2007-05-31 |publisher=Saravana Bhavan}}</ref> The chain serves [[South Indian cuisine]] and operates 33 locations in India (24 in [[Chennai]]) and 92+ across 28 countries in [[North America]], [[Asia]], the [[Middle East]], [[Europe]], and [[Oceania]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Berry |first=Rynn |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=knJbcXVse0kC&q=%22Saravana+Bhavan%22&pg=PA27 |title=The Vegan Guide to New York City |author2=Suzuki, Chris A. |author3=Litsky, Barry |publisher=Ethical Living |year=2006 |isbn=0-9788132-0-0 |pages=27 |author-link=Rynn Berry |access-date=2008-07-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Addison |first=Bill |date=2006-06-30 |title=Diners line up for Saravana dosas |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |url=https://www.sfgate.com/restaurants/diningout/article/diners-line-up-for-saravana-dosas-2300633.php |access-date=2008-07-03}}</ref>

==History==
In 1968, [[P. Rajagopal (businessman)|P. Rajagopal]] opened a tiny grocery shop in [[K. K. Nagar, Chennai|K. K. Nagar]], on the outskirts of [[Chennai]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Romig |first=Rollo |date=7 May 2014 |title=Masala Dosa to Die For |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/11/magazine/masala-dosa-to-die-for.html |access-date=12 April 2019 |publisher= |via=NYTimes.com}}</ref> In 1981, he opened his first restaurant, which initially operated at a huge loss. However, his restaurant quickly became both popular and profitable.

While visiting [[Singapore]] in 1992, Rajagopal observed the functioning of multinational fast food restaurants like [[McDonald's]]. He used them as a model for his restaurant chains.<ref>The Hindu, Friday, 21 August 1998</ref>

By the 1990s, Saravanaa Bhavan had opened multiple restaurant locations throughout Chennai. In 2000, Saravanaa Bhavan opened its first branch outside [[India]], in [[Dubai]], a city with a large number of [[Indians in the United Arab Emirates|Indian expatriates]].

Currently, Saravanaa Bhavan has multiple overseas locations which are run by [[Franchising|franchise]]es.<ref name="sar ref12">{{cite news |date=3 November 2012 |title=Saravana Bhavan plans foray into hospitality sector after it strengthens international presence further |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/hotels-/-restaurants/saravana-bhavan-plans-foray-into-hospitality-sector-after-it-strengthens-international-presence-further/articleshow/17069637.cms?from=mdr |access-date=28 October 2021 |publisher=economic times}}</ref> While the restaurants have gained popularity among non-Indians, they mostly target the [[South Asian diaspora|South Asian expatriate]] population. They have been referred to as "[[cafeteria|canteen]]-like joints strictly aimed at Indian expatriates missing a taste of home".<ref>{{cite web |author= |date=18 November 2015 |title=Coconuts Hong Kong Hot Spot food review of Indian restaurant Saravana Bhavan |url=https://coconuts.co/hongkong/food-drink/can-you-overlook-violent-history-for-perfect-dosa/ |access-date=12 April 2019 |website=Coconuts}}</ref> To save on labor costs, Saravanaa Bhavan sends workers from India to work in their foreign branches.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Management |first1=Strategic |last2=Asia-Pacific |last3=China |last4=India |last5=America |first5=North |date= |title=Indian Restaurant Chains Have Overseas Expansion on Their Menus |url=https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/indian-restaurant-chains-have-overseas-expansion-on-their-menus/ |access-date=12 April 2019 |website=Knowledge@Wharton}}</ref>

== Legal Issues ==
In 2004, founder [[P. Rajagopal (businessman)|P. Rajagopal]] was found guilty of the murder of Prince Santhakumar, the husband of a woman who had rejected his marriage proposal.<ref>{{cite news |date=10 July 2019 |title=Saravana Bhavan murder: The rise and fall of dosa king Rajagopal |publisher=India Today| url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/saravana-bhavan-murder-dosa-king-rajagopal-1565902-2019-07-10 | access-date=1 May 2024}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Udupi cuisine#Udupi restaurants and hotels|Udupi restaurants and hotels]]
* [[Vegetarian Society (Singapore)#Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants in Singapore|Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants in Singapore]]
* [[List of vegetarian restaurants]]
* [[Indians in the New York City metropolitan area]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Saravanaa Bhavan}}
*{{official website|http://www.saravanabhavan.com}}

{{Vegetarianism}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Vegetarian restaurants in India]]
[[Category:Restaurants in Chennai]]
[[Category:South Indian cuisine]]
[[Category:Restaurants established in 1981]]
[[Category:Fast-food chains of India]]
[[Category:Catering and food service companies of India]]
[[Category:Restaurants in India]]
[[Category:Indian restaurants outside India]]
[[Category:Vegetarian restaurants in Singapore]]
[[Category:Restaurant chains in India]]
[[Category:Companies based in Chennai]]
[[Category:1981 establishments in Tamil Nadu]]

Saravanaa Bhavan - Revision history

RyanQuintana2: Made new details - done