Mission's Rajdoot returns after loyal customers stepped in to save the Calgary legend
Three oil-and-gas professionals bought the Indian restaurant in 2024 to keep its 1988 recipes and community role alive.
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A group of devoted customers saved one of Calgary's most loved Indian restaurants from permanent closure by stepping in as owners when no one else would.
Rajdoot, the Mission institution that opened in 1988, briefly shut down in 2024 after a move to a smaller space failed to anchor the business. Gunjan Sahay, Vikash Kumar Singh, and Pranjull Prakash—all oil-and-gas professionals with no restaurant experience—couldn't bear to see it disappear. They pooled resources and bought it.
"We realized Rajdoot is not just a restaurant on Fourth Street. It's kind of a legend, and many people can connect to that," Sahay said. "We three came together to give it a try and revive this restaurant."
When Rajdoot opened 38 years ago, curry houses were rare in Calgary. It was part of a tiny cohort that included Taj Mahal and Moti Mahal. For Calgarians from Indian backgrounds, these spots were community hubs. For others, they offered a first taste of butter chicken, daal and naan, opening doors to Calgary's now-rich South Asian food scene.
Rajdoot's original owner, Romesh "Rome" Anand, ran it for about a decade before selling to Raj Mall, who successfully operated it for many years in its original south Mission location. Mall moved it four blocks north in 2022. The smaller space on a busier stretch couldn't sustain the business, and two years later he had to close.
The new owners have refreshed the look—the space is smaller, the buffet is gone, and the room has a sleek modern aesthetic with personal touches. But the food remains consistent. When the kitchen staff found other work, they returned to coach the new team on how to nail the classic recipes. "It's exactly the same recipe," Sahay said of the butter chicken.
The new team is giving back. They've launched a program offering free meals to people in need, and they've created a wall displaying artwork from nearby schools. Singh said the job has been challenging, but the commitment is firm: "For us, it's not about the money. We want to save the heritage and carry on the legacy."
Rajdoot is located at 2028 4th St. S.W. and is open Wednesday through Monday, 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. More information is available at rajdoot.ca.
Good to know
Where is Rajdoot located?
Rajdoot is located at 2028 4th St. S.W. in Mission, Calgary.
What kind of food does Rajdoot serve?
Rajdoot serves Indian cuisine, including signature dishes like butter chicken, daal, and naan, using recipes from its original 1988 opening.
