From his humble beginnings in a small town to becoming the visionary behind Karigari restaurants, Chef Harpal Singh Sokhi’s journey is a testament to passion and perseverance.
Rooted in tradition and family memories, his story is a tribute to passion, perseverance, and the art of Indian cooking.
Chef Harpal Singh Sokhi, the man behind the popular Karigari restaurants, has a story as rich as his food. He hails from Kharagpur, West Bengal-a small city known for IIT and its long railway platform. Reflecting on his upbringing, he says, “In those days, if you didn’t get into engineering, you prepared for government jobs.”
But his path changed when his brother encouraged him to try hotel management. Chef Harpal Singh Sokhi joined IHM Bhubaneswar, even though he had never eaten at a hotel before. “In small towns, people would gossip if a boy ate at a hotel,” he shares. But by the third month of the course, he realised, “I love cooking.”
He embraced the hard work. “I chopped 500 kg of onions in one shift. I came four hours early just to get better,” he says,, adding “You can’t teach until you’ve done it yourself.”
Chef Harpal Singh Sokhi faced rejection too. Even after clearing seven rounds of interviews with Oberoi, he was rejected in the final trial. “I couldn’t face my father, so I started small — as a trainee cook,” he adds. Over time, his dedication paid off.
You can’t make a Maruti and a Mercedes at the same time
Talking about Karigari, Chef Harpal Singh Sokhi proudly says, “We are all Karigars (artisans), that’s it. That’s what defines us.” The name was born during the pandemic, with partners who believed in creating something deeply rooted in Indian food. Even when they pushed for pizzas or pasta, he said no. “You can’t make a Maruti and a Mercedes at the same time,” he explains, adding, “Legacies are built by standing for one thing.”
Each dish at Karigari is inspired by personal memories — whether it’s flavors from his mother’s cooking, his father’s legacy, or moments from train rides in his childhood. “I haven’t done anything. It’s all my mother’s blessings,” he smiles.
