An Indian-origin restaurant owner in the United States has sparked a lively discussion online after revealing that she does not specifically hire Indians at her Indian restaurant.

Rashmi Bhat, owner of 7 Monk’s Cafe in New Braunfels, Texas, shared her views in an Instagram video that quickly gained traction on social media.

Building a team beyond ethnicity

Bhat, who launched the restaurant with her mother in 2019, said many customers are surprised to learn that her staff is not predominantly Indian.

“When most people walk into an Indian restaurant, they assume everyone working there has to be Indian,” she said in the video.

According to Bhat, her hiring decisions have always been based on attitude, reliability and willingness to learn rather than ethnicity or cultural background.

“When my mom and I opened 7 Monk’s Cafe, we didn’t set out to build an Indian team. We set out to build a great team,” she explained.

Creating opportunities in the local community

Bhat said the restaurant has employed high school students, college students, single mothers and retirees looking for new opportunities.

She added that some employees had never tasted Indian food before joining the restaurant but have since become familiar with the cuisine and developed favourite dishes that they confidently recommend to customers.

The restaurateur said the approach has helped create employment opportunities within the local community while building a strong team culture.

Internet divided over authenticity

The video has generated significant discussion online, attracting more than one lakh views within hours.

While many users praised Bhat for focusing on skills and inclusivity, others questioned whether authenticity could be maintained without Indian staff, particularly in food preparation and customer interactions.

Some commenters argued that authentic cuisine requires cultural familiarity, while others maintained that training and experience matter more than nationality.

The debate has highlighted broader conversations around identity, authenticity and hiring practices in ethnic restaurants around the world.