Restaurants and food outlets in Noida and Ghaziabad are rapidly changing their cooking methods and menus after the sudden disruption in commercial LPG supply this week.
With restaurants unable to obtain new commercial cylinders, many owners have been forced to shift from gas-based kitchens to electric appliances, while others are simplifying their menus to keep their businesses running.
The shortage comes amid disruptions in LPG supply linked to global energy tensions affecting imports and distribution.
Restaurants Invest in Electric Equipment
At Baby Dragon, owner Vicky Saluja spent nearly ₹1 lakh within two days to convert most of his kitchen from gas to electricity.
The restaurant purchased:
●Six induction cooktops
●An electric deep fryer
●New cooking utensils
Under normal circumstances, the restaurant consumes nearly 60 commercial LPG cylinders every month. Although the electric setup may prove slightly economical in the long run, Saluja said he would prefer to return to LPG once the supply stabilises.
Smaller Cafés Forced to Alter Their Menu
For smaller eateries, the shortage has required quick improvisation.
At Rasamama Coastal Dining, owner Sunaina said the kitchen ran out of LPG two days ago. Without a piped natural gas connection, the café switched to induction cooking and bought six induction cooktops along with an electric dosa plate.
However, the change forced them to modify their menu.
Traditional dosas usually require large iron griddles heated on gas flames, which electric plates cannot fully replicate. As a result, the café has begun serving smaller benne dosas that can be cooked on compact electric surfaces.
Some Restaurants Shift Toward Oven-Based Dishes
At Chakra Cafe, owner Heena Khera said the kitchen is now focusing more on dishes that can be cooked in ovens.
“Our menu is now leaning more toward pizzas and pasta,” she said, explaining that Chinese dishes require high flame heat that induction cooktops cannot easily provide.
The shift has not been easy. Most restaurant kitchens are designed for gas burners rather than electrical appliances. Many kitchens are now using extension cords to power induction cooktops, which is far from ideal.
Street Vendors Struggle to Cope
The LPG shortage is also affecting the city’s large network of street food vendors.
In Film City Noida, tea seller Santosh doubled the price of a small cup of tea from Rs 10 to Rs 20 after his commercial cylinder ran out. To keep his stall running, he has started using a domestic cylinder from home.
Other street vendors are simplifying their menus to save gas. In Sector 4, a vendor who earlier sold aloo and paneer parathas has switched to sandwiches, which require less cooking time and fuel.
Businesses Hope Supply Returns Soon
Unlike large restaurants, many roadside stalls cannot switch to electric appliances because they lack reliable electricity connections.
For them, survival depends on stretching the remaining gas supply and hoping that normal LPG distribution resumes soon.
Restaurant owners say they are adapting as best as they can, but if the shortage continues, the city’s food industry could face significant operational challenges.
