As the sun sets over the bustling city of Panchkula, the aroma of sizzling noodles, melting cheese, and buttery parathas starts drawing in a vibrant crowd of night owls, disco-goers, and youngsters to Sector 5.
Spread across 1.25 acres, this Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) initiative began taking shape after bids closed on January 19, 2022.
The plan?
Forty vibrant kiosks, mostly 3.05 by 6.05meters, to give street vendors a permanent space while easing encroachments in residential areas. The first to open shop was Eat n Sip, launched in May 2024 with just Rs 700 and offering only Chinese food. “We faced losses for nine months,” says Rimpi, the kiosk owner.
They gradually added continental dishes and eventually transformed into a 24/7 joint, now famous for its comforting desi ghee parathas served at odd hours, something no one else offers in the area.
Panchkula’s Sector 5 — what once saw drunk altercations and safety concerns — has now also improved thanks to increased police patrolling. “Earlier, we were worried about the night crowd, but now it’s much better. Cleanliness and safety are top priorities,” Rimpi adds. Eat N Sip has become a nighttime hotspot, drawing hungry youngsters and night-shift workers, especially after midnight.
Another crowd-puller is MPG Foods, a pure vegetarian outlet that operates almost round the clock. Known for its consistent rush even post-midnight, the kiosk adds a touch of international flair with its Turkish ice cream, delighting both adults and children alike. Further down the row, Don Clooney, a recent addition with existing outlets in Chandigarh, has created a niche for itself with a menu full of Western delicacies and a standout dessert: Kunafa, which is a rare sight in the tricity area. “We opened just three months ago, but our customer base is growing every day,” says Sahil Pathania, who manages the branch and adds – “Most of our crowd comes between 9 pm and 1 am.”
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Then there’s Coyote Crunch, a cheerful dessert café known for its signature Coyoteez which is a layered dessert cup with gooey brownies, soft-serve ice cream, and sprinkles, particularly loved by kids. Their weekends are buzzing, keeping the café pleasantly busy. The Night Food Street is more than a typical food zone. Once complete, it promises to be a cultural and culinary hub, featuring a DJ console, a dance floor, and a performance stage for live events, all designed to create a festive, open-air night market vibe.
While currently only 7-8 of the 40 kiosks are operational, the vendors expect the entire street to be fully functional in the next 1.5 years.
However, the journey so far has not been easy for everyone. In the middle of the excitement, vendors like Ramavtar carry a quieter, heavier burden. Having operated his chole bhature cart near the same spot for nearly 30 years, he was pressured by HSVP officials to shift into the Night Food Street.
It was an offer that came at a steep cost. Unable to afford a stall outright, he sold two of his houses just to rent a kiosk for Rs 1 lakh per month. “I used to feed poor people for free all the time,” he said. “Now I have to think twice. That kind of giving isn’t possible anymore.” With no staff to assist and growing pressure to cover costs, Ramavtar opens shop at 8:30 AM and shuts by 6 PM. The dream of a 24/7 food street remains inaccessible to him. “I need to sleep at night to work the next day. These days, even my sleep isn’t peaceful as I’m constantly thinking about the rent.”
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Another vendor, raised concerns over the slow pace of construction. “There’s construction waste everywhere. No music, no events, no lights- how is this a food street yet?” he asked. By being still under construction, it affects footfall and the overall experience for his customers.Despite its modest start, Sector 5’s Night Food Street has managed to stir up enthusiasm among Panchkula’s residents. The mix of late-night bites, youth culture, and a sense of safety has already set a precedent. Visitors are already noticing the change.
“It’s nice to see Panchkula trying something different. It feels like we’re finally catching up to the night culture cities like Delhi or Bangalore have,” said a customer. Another customer added, “The concept is great-food, music, lights…it really brings people together. Once it’s fully ready, I can see this becoming a major hangout spot.” As the vibrant lights shine and laughter echoes across the half-built street, one thing is clear: even in its unfinished state, Panchkula’s Night Food Street is already a spark in the city’s evening skyline.
Similar night food markets coming up in other cities
Another such night food market is under construction in Ambala. Haryana’s energy, transport and labour minister Anil Vij who represents Ambala cantonment constituency in the Vidhan Sabha has also inspected the night food street market. “Aa many as 60 food outlet spaces are under construction in this night food street market next to Gandhi ground market in Ambala. Of these 40 will be vegetarian food spaces, while 20 shall be non-vegetarian. The market shall be operational in two months. A total cost of Rs. 5 crore is being incurred on the construction of this market”.
The authors are interns at The Indian Express.
