LPG Shortage Hits Restaurants: Dosa Dropped, Sandwiches Added As Hotels Turn To ‘Jugaad’
LPG Shortage Hits Restaurants: Dosa Dropped, Sandwiches Added As Hotels Turn To ‘Jugaad’
Fuel supply disruptions linked to the West Asia conflict have forced restaurants to cut menus, reduce service hours and adopt alternative cooking methods.
Restaurants in several cities across India are facing a serious shortage of commercial LPG cylinders, forcing many eateries to change menus, reduce service timings and explore alternative cooking methods to keep operations running.
The crisis is believed to be linked to the ongoing conflict in West Asia involving Iran, which has disrupted energy supplies and tightened fuel availability. As a result, oil marketing companies have reportedly instructed LPG distributors to prioritise supplies for hospitals and educational institutions, temporarily limiting commercial cylinder distribution to hotels, restaurants and other businesses.
In Bengaluru, several restaurants have begun modifying their menus due to the shortage. At some eateries, notices have been placed informing customers that only essential food items will be available and that certain dishes will be served only during specific hours.
A notice displayed at a hotel in the city explained the situation to customers, stating that due to the Middle East conflict there was no supply of fuel gas across the city, forcing restaurants to temporarily reduce menu options until supply normalises.
The shortage has particularly affected fuel-intensive dishes such as vada and masala dosa, which require continuous high heat during preparation. Many restaurants are now replacing these items with sandwiches, grilled snacks and other foods that require less cooking gas.
Some kitchens have already begun turning to charcoal stoves, firewood ovens and electric cooking equipment as emergency alternatives. Staff at several restaurants were seen arranging wood and charcoal in kitchens after their LPG cylinders ran out.
In Coimbatore, well-known restaurant chain Annapoorna has also displayed notices informing customers that menus will be limited due to the shortage of LPG cylinders. Restaurants in the district have additionally reduced service hours as a precaution.
Some eateries are exploring longer-term alternatives such as induction stoves or solar-powered cooking systems, but these options require new equipment and electrical infrastructure, making them difficult to implement immediately.
Restaurant owners say the situation has forced them to rethink their menus almost overnight, focusing on dishes that can be prepared with minimal fuel.
Meanwhile, Chennai-based restaurant chain Adyar Ananda Bhavan (A2B) has warned that it has LPG stocks only for the next two days, after which operations may have to be temporarily halted if fresh supplies are not received.
Industry groups have also raised concerns that if LPG distribution does not resume soon, many hotels and restaurants could be forced to shut down operations temporarily.
With supplies uncertain, restaurant operators across several cities are currently relying on short-term solutions and menu adjustments, hoping the fuel supply situation stabilises in the coming days.
