Owner seeks to make cuisine mainstream

Curry and hot—Round Rock restaurateur Lakhbir Singh said people most associate these two words with Indian food, but he said he is trying to change those perceptions.

Singh opened Teji's Indian Restaurant and Grocery in 2006 on Round Rock Avenue and has been growing his business gradually since. In December 2008 he expanded the restaurant to emphasize the dining aspect of the business, which is partially a convenience store. In April 2013 a second location was opened on The Drag near The University of Texas campus.

Within the next year Singh said he is planning a major proliferation of his brand.

With the help of investors, he could have eight restaurants in the Austin area, he said.

"I want to change the Indian food industry in this country," Singh said. "I don't know how far I'm going to be successful or not. But that's my goal; I'm working toward that."

Singh said Indian food runs the gamut of flavors and he hopes to educate the public about its health benefits.

Indian dishes make ample use of spices, such as turmeric, that Singh said have natural health perks.

"I want to try and make a link between the spices that help your body or the metabolism of your body," he said. "These spices don't have any side effects. [] My country believes in natural remedies rather than allopathic."

As many consumers have shifted their focus from convenience to healthfulness in a dining experience, Singh said he believes he has the inside track to building a successful chain of restaurants.

He said he will try different business models at the locations he plans to open in such cities as Austin, Cedar Park, Pflugerville and Round Rock.

Singh said he is at about the halfway point in his talks with investors to raise funds for expanding. Each new location will have a different model and operation system during the trial period, he said.

Singh said he is confident he can raise the requisite amount of funds to grow the business, which he co-owns with his wife, the restaurant's namesake Teji Kaur. Kaur also created most of the dishes the restaurant serves, Singh said.

The restaurant's popularity and healthfulness will be attractive to investors, he said.

Singh said transforming people's beliefs about Indian food will be an undertaking that will likely take years to complete. He said he is not sure it can be done while he is at the helm of the company and might be ongoing when his son inherits the business. But it will remain central to his objectives.

"That's my goal I'm chasing in a big way for the next few years," he said.

The wonder spice in curry: turmeric

• Turmeric is derived from a plant and is the main spice in curry. In addition to curry, it is often used to flavor mustards, butters and cheeses. The root of turmeric is commonly used to make medicine.
• The National Institute of Health says there's some evidence that applying a turmeric ointment might help to relieve odor and itching caused by skin cancer.
• By taking turmeric orally, one might relieve an upset stomach, research shows.
• Turmeric extracts are used to reduce the pain caused by osteoarthritis of the knee. One study showed turmeric was as effective as ibuprofen for easing pain.

Source: www.nlm.nih.gov

1205 Round Rock Ave., Ste. 115, Round Rock, 512-244-3351, www.tejifoods.com, Hours: Sun.–Thu. 10:30 a.m.–9 p.m., Fri.–Sat. 10:30 a.m.–10 p.m.