Moti Mahal Group

What Moti Mahal Group does

Moti Mahal Group is a privately held, family-owned Indian restaurant franchise company headquartered in New Delhi. Founded in 1920 by Shri. Kundan Lal Gujral — credited with inventing tandoori chicken, butter chicken, and dal makhani — the company operates a multi-brand portfolio that includes the flagship Moti Mahal fine dining brand (80+ outlets, 2000-3000 sq.ft.), The Moti Mahal Barbecues live-grill buffet concept (6 outlets, 4000-8000 sq.ft.), Cloud by Moti Mahal cloud kitchen format (launched 2016, starting investment 30 Lakh), Moti Mahal Kiosk express format, China Wall for Thai/Chinese cuisine, and sub-brands such as Malabar Café, Hook'd Garden Café, The Himalayan Yeti, and Moti Sweets. The group runs over 100 restaurants across Pan Asia with established presence in Dubai and Bahrain, and is expanding The Moti Mahal Barbecues into the UAE.

The company's underlying technology is its proprietary culinary IP — specifically tandoor-based cooking techniques and signature recipes invented by the founder — rather than software or digital systems. Its only disclosed technology integration is a partnership with Zomato and other food delivery platforms for online ordering and delivery operations. The company has no mobile app, no API, and no disclosed AI/ML capabilities.

Moti Mahal's revenue model is built on franchising: it charges one-time franchise fees (varies by format, location, and size), recurring royalties as a portion of franchisee revenue, and offers managed services covering day-to-day operations, vendor management, staff training, marketing, and quality control on behalf of franchisees. The go-to-market combines a website franchise inquiry funnel, direct phone and WhatsApp outreach, social media presence, and central partnerships with delivery platforms. Customers include fine-dining consumers, quick-service and cloud-kitchen users, buffet patrons, and corporate/event diners across India and select international markets, with no single segment representing a dominant share of revenue.

Name

Moti Mahal Group

Legal name

Moti Mahal Group

Website

https://motimahalgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1920

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Moti Mahal Group is a privately held, family-owned Indian restaurant franchise company founded in 1920, operating over 100 outlets across Pan Asia through multi-format brands including Moti Mahal, Cloud by Moti Mahal, and The Moti Mahal Barbecues, serving franchisees and end consumers in fine dining, quick service, cloud kitchen, and buffet segments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Restaurant Franchise

NAICS

Limited-Service Restaurants (722513)

SIC

Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Concept / Global QSR Chains (Mixed Menus) (THAFAAAO)

Keywords

• Restaurant franchising
• North Indian cuisine
• Cloud kitchen operations
• Tandoori cooking
• Fine dining restaurants

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Franchise Fees: Initial franchise fees charged to franchisees for the right to use the Moti Mahal brand name, business model, and operational support. Franchise costs vary by location, size, and type of restaurant.
2. Franchise Royalties: Ongoing royalty fees paid by franchisees, typically a portion of their revenue. The company also earns from delivery platform commissions.
3. Managed Services: The company handles day-to-day operations and management services for franchisees, including accounting, vendor payments, staff management, and quality control. This is offered as part of the franchise package.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Moti Mahal Group operates a multi-brand restaurant franchise business centered on North Indian and Mughlai cuisine, originating from the 1920 invention of tandoori chicken by Shri. Kundan Lal Gujral. The company sells and manages franchise rights across multiple restaurant formats (fine dining, cloud kitchen, barbecue buffet, and express kiosks), providing complete operational management, training, vendor oversight, and quality control to franchisees in India and internationally.

Product overview

Moti Mahal Group operates a multi-brand restaurant portfolio centered on North Indian cuisine, with its flagship Moti Mahal brand established in 1920. The portfolio includes China Wall (Thai/Chinese), The Moti Mahal Barbecues (live grill and buffet), Cloud by Moti Mahal (cloud kitchen), and Moti Mahal Kiosk (express meals). The company offers franchise opportunities with comprehensive management and operational support services. With over 100 restaurants across Pan Asia and internationally, the group is known for inventing tandoori cuisine, butter chicken, and dal makhani.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Moti Mahal: Core restaurant brand - North Indian cuisine, fine dining experience
• Franchise
• Malabar Café
• Hook'd Garden Café
• The Himalayan Yeti
• The Moti Mahal Barbecues
• Moti Sweets

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% success rate for food franchises versus 20% for traditional businesses
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ZomatocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDelivery platform partnership for food delivery and takeaway services. Franchisees receive support for Zomato integration and tie-ups. Company handles platform relationships for franchisees. Delivery platform fees of 5%-8% apply.
• Other Delivery PlatformscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with various food delivery platforms beyond Zomato to maximize delivery reach for franchisees. The company provides tie-up support for franchisees.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/moti-mahal-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Moti Mahal Group