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Former restaurant returns as mobile food truck
There is a bright orange food truck weaving its way through Bristol’s streets, parks and, on occasion, beyond the city frontiers these days.
Meet the team behind Little India, based at St George in east Bristol.
Gurbhaje (Sunny) Singh and his brother-in-law, Heera Singh, are no strangers to the city’s Indian takeaway scene. But with their latest venture — this time on wheels — they have reignited their passion for bringing authentic Punjabi cuisine to Bristol and beyond.
The pair first built a loyal following at local food markets before opening a bricks-and-mortar restaurant in Staple Hill.
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They later chose to close it in 2023 — not simply for financial reasons, but because they felt strongly about “not compromising” their commitment to genuine Punjabi dishes.
They found that many diners remained anchored to British-invented staples like tikka masala — dishes that bear little resemblance to “real” Indian cuisine and even less to the flavours of Punjab, they admit.
Speaking to Bristol24/7, Sunny said: “It’s just how we cook at home — recipes passed down through generations.
“That’s why we weren’t prepared to compromise on authenticity for a quick fix. It wouldn’t have felt right, especially when we had a lovely menu bursting with flavours from Punjab.”
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For Sunny, who worked as a taxi driver before entering the culinary world, Punjabi food is more than a profession: it’s deeply spiritual, rooted in the Sikh tradition of langar — the act of serving food to the community.
The restaurant may have closed, but the dream did not.
Today, the duo are back where they started: on the streets, farms and markets of Bristol, serving the authentic Punjabi dishes they are attempting to champion — this time from their unmistakable orange van.
Some of Little India’s biggest crowd-pleasers include aloo tikki (crisp, spiced potato patties), paneer pakoras (deep-fried battered paneer), samosas and chana chaat (a tangy chickpea street snack).
Sunny added: “For us, it’s always been about authentic flavours handed down by our families. It’s a seamless connection to Punjab.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the response we’ve had from people so far.”
Little India, based at St George, was launched by Sunny Singh (pictured) and his brother-in-law Heera Singh
The team has expanded their reach with growing number of catering orders and stints at food festivals, which they see as a validation of their efforts.
All photos: Milan Perera
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