From Freezer Aisles to the Heart of New York City: Chef Bombay Pops Up in Style

Over the Labour Day weekend, Chef Bombay took over New York City’s Lower East Side with a four-day pop-up, complete with sizzling samosas, perfectly spiced chai, bold florals, and beats that carried the rhythm of home.

The event marked a major milestone for us, our first ever public pop-up in the U.S., celebrating 25 years of Chef Bombay and a journey that began in a small Alberta plant in 1999. What started as a family dream to share our family recipes has grown into a North American favourite, and this weekend we shared that story face to face with the city that never sleeps.

A Taste of Home, Served Fresh

Visitors were welcomed by the irresistible aroma of our signature samosas on-site, the same family recipe that started it all. Alongside them flowed cups of hot masala chai, graciously provided by our chai partners at DONA, blended with smooth Oatly oat milk to create the perfect pairing for late-summer afternoons in the city.

Every bite and sip was a reminder that real taste needs no trade-offs, with each samosa and dish made from scratch using the same wholesome ingredients found in our frozen meals.

Culture You Could Taste

The space at 174 Ludlow Street was transformed into a lively experience filled with bursts of colour, jasmine and marigold garlands, and a curated DJ set by the talented DJ Sejal that mixed diaspora beats with nostalgic Bollywood favourites.

Guests snapped Polaroids, browsed floral bundles, and picked up limited-edition Chef Bombay merch and our newly launched coffee-table book, a collection of family recipes, stories, and food memories that gave visitors a tangible piece of our journey to take home.

The Flavour Lives On

Over four unforgettable days, more than 2,500 attendees joined us, generating half a million social impressions and proving once again that food is a bridge connecting cultures, generations, and stories.

We are deeply grateful to DONA and Oatly for helping us bring the full pop-up experience to life with their support and partnership. Their collaboration helped us deliver a true taste of warmth, comfort, and creativity that our guests loved.

To everyone who came by, thank you for celebrating with us. To New York, we’ll be back soon. Until then, you can find the same bold flavours and home style recipes from the pop-up in freezer aisles across North America.

Real Taste. No Trade-Offs. Always Made from Scratch.