Authentic, convenient and economically friendly. If you love Indian food, the Indian Masala food truck at 865 The Kingsway is the place to be.
Staff at the food truck make everything fresh daily, either in the food truck or in the interior building located behind the truck.
There’s also a covered seating area for customers to sit and enjoy their food.
Shivem Arora is the owner of the business, which is situated across from the Apollo Restaurant on The Kingsway, alongside his parents, Monika and Jatinder.
“I’ve always dreamed of starting a food truck,” Arora said.” I see it as a way to help finance my dreams of becoming a professional bodybuilder one day.”
The family hails from an area called Ludhiana in North Punjab, India.
Shivem came first to Canada in 2017 and enrolled in the Information Technology program at Cambrian College. Since then, he has graduated, become a permanent resident and purchased his first home.
His parents followed him to Canada in 2020.
Arora is no stranger to the kitchen, having worked at a pizza parlour in New Sudbury first as a dishwasher, then cook and supervisor.
Upon arrival in Sudbury, his father worked at a downtown Indian restaurant before the idea of a food truck came to life. He also owns a sewing machine manufacturing business in his home country.
Since mid-April, Arora said they have served 100 customers per day, filling them up with their many authentic dishes like traditional butter chicken and rice or chole bhature, with its spicy chickpea curry and soft and fluffy fried leavened bread.
Shahi paneer is also a must try with its cottage cheese base and curry. It’s an age-old recipe that hails from his grandmother on his father’s side.
Drinks include the 99-cent chai masala, which people love, or the creamy mango lassi shake.
And for the sweet tooth, try the kheer. It’s a pudding or porridge made with boiled milk and sugar.
Surprising as it may seem, the owners have seen an uptick of customers from North Bay, who are travelling more thank an hour to dine at the Indian Masala food truck.
Turns out, great food and a fortuitous invitation spread word of the food truck’s tasty fare, Arora said.
“Sudbury hosted a cricket tournament a few months ago and we were approached with the idea to cater meals for 50 people from the Indian community in North Bay,” he said. “These people tasted our food and now they drive here for more.”
Arora’s father, Jatinder, is still mastering English, but wanted to add that the family appreciates the support the community has shown them, whether those diners are familiar with South Asian food or trying it for the first time.
Arora also noted that they strive to keep their costs as low as possible to keep the food as affordable as possible.
In fact, he challenges people to come with a $10 bill. They will leave with a full and happy stomach.
“We want this food to be affordable so as to include international students, newcomers, people who have just graduated and are becoming permanent residents as well as everyone else,” Arora said.
The Indian Masala Food Truck is open from 10 a.m. to midnight everyday except Tuesdays. Plans are in the works to keep the food truck open year round at 865 The Kingsway.
Anastasia Rioux is a writer in Greater Sudbury. Let’s Eat! is made possible by our Community Leaders Program.