Truck Stops · California · November 12, 2026

Indian Roadside Restaurants for Truckers Grow Across California as Some Former Truck Drivers Open Food Trucks

By Big Rig Daily Staff

Some California truck stops are adding a new kind of meal, and some of the cooks used to drive the trucks. Indian roadside restaurants for truckers, called dhabas, have reportedly grown from about 40 in 2023 to more than 150 nationwide, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Licenses lost, kitchens opened

More than 13,000 immigrant drivers reportedly lost their licenses in California this year as federal rules tightened, the Times reports. Many of them were Indian truck drivers. Some of them turned to food.

One former produce hauler, Karanveer Singh, got an email in December saying his license would not be valid after 60 days because of his immigration status, according to the Times. He had hauled produce for a decade.

He used his life savings to buy a used food truck. Now he serves roti, dal and goat curry at a gas station off Highway 99 in Merced County.

His pitch is simple. A driver can fuel up, shower, sleep, take a 30-minute break and get a hot meal in one stop. "This is the very thing I wanted when I used to drive," he told the Times.

How many dhabas are there?

The figures come from Dhabaroute, an online, crowdsourced list of Indian roadside restaurants for truckers, according to the Times:

• About 40 nationwide in 2023, by some estimates.
• More than 150 nationwide today.
• More than 30 in California, the most of any state.
• More than 20 in Texas.

Some highway restaurants have served Indian truck drivers for decades. The Times reports the newer wave includes food trucks and trailers opened by former truckers.

The catch

Fewer of those drivers on the road means fewer customers for the very restaurants built to feed them. The owner of one long-running Indian truck stop restaurant on I-80 in Wyoming told the Times his sales are down 70% this year. Another former trucker who opened a food trailer said newcomers often underestimate what it costs to start a food truck.

Why it matters to truckers

For truckers looking for a hot meal on a long run, dhabas are one more option alongside the big chains. Some, like the Merced County food truck, sit at fuel stops where a 30-minute break, a shower and a meal can happen in one place. For more on choosing where to stop, see the Big Rig Daily guide to the best truck stop chains.

Quick facts

• Dhabas nationwide: about 40 in 2023, more than 150 now, per a crowdsourced list.
• California: more than 30. Texas: more than 20.
• California license losses this year: more than 13,000 immigrant drivers, per the Times.
• One example: a food truck off Highway 99 in Merced County serving roti, dal and goat curry.

FAQ

What is a dhaba?

A dhaba is a roadside restaurant. In the United States, the term is used for Indian restaurants that serve truckers, often at truck stops and gas stations.

Where do the numbers come from?

The Los Angeles Times cites Dhabaroute, an online, crowdsourced list of Indian roadside restaurants.

A question for readers

Have you ever pulled into a truck stop and found a home-cooked meal you did not expect?

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