Iran War Impact: LPG Crisis May Force Indian Restaurants to Drop Dosa, Uttapam From Menus

Iran War Impact: LPG Crisis May Force Indian Restaurants to Drop Dosa, Uttapam From Menus

The Iran war impact is now reaching Indian kitchens, with restaurants across the country warning that popular dishes such as dosa, uttapam and other South Indian staples could soon disappear from menus due to a growing shortage of commercial LPG cylinders.

Restaurant owners in several major cities say they have only two to three days’ worth of cooking gas left, raising fears that operations may be halted if fresh supplies do not arrive soon. The crisis comes as global energy supply chains face disruption amid escalating tensions in West Asia.

Strait of Hormuz Disruption Hits LPG Imports

India is the world’s second-largest importer of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and nearly 90% of its LPG shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route.

However, the ongoing conflict in the region has slowed maritime traffic through the strategic waterway, causing delays in LPG shipments to India. The resulting supply crunch is already affecting sectors heavily dependent on commercial LPG, including restaurants, manufacturers and power plants.

To ensure essential services continue, the government has prioritised LPG supplies for households, leaving commercial users such as restaurants struggling to secure enough fuel for daily operations.

Food Delivery Platforms See Sharp Decline

The impact of the LPG shortage is also visible in India’s food delivery ecosystem. According to the Gig & Platform Service Workers Union, deliveries on major platforms like Zomato and Swiggy have reportedly fallen by 50–60% in recent days.

Nirmal Gorana, National Co-ordinator of the union, said several gig workers have reported declining earnings as restaurants reduce operations or temporarily stop accepting orders.

Families of delivery workers have even approached the union, expressing concerns about meeting basic household expenses due to the sudden drop in income.

Restaurants Struggle to Stay Open

Restaurant owners say the crisis is already affecting daily operations.

At Guerilla Diner in Bengaluru, reservations usually fill up within minutes each week. But now the restaurant is exploring ways to operate without relying heavily on gas.

Ownersaid the kitchen currently has only 2.5 LPG cylinders left.

Black Market LPG Prices Surge

Industry leaders say the shortage has already led to sharp price increases in the black market.

Ananth Narayan, head of the Bengaluru chapter of the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), warned that commercial LPG cylinder prices have nearly doubled in unofficial markets.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged citizens not to panic and announced the formation of a committee to review requests from the hospitality sector for additional LPG supply.

Restaurants Alter Menus to Save Gas

To cope with the crisis, many restaurants are already modifying their menus and cooking techniques to reduce gas consumption.

The NRAI has advised restaurants to:

 Pre-soak grains to reduce cooking time

 Remove dishes requiring slow cooking or deep frying

 Limit menu items that need long steaming processes

In Mumbai, the Chinese restaurant Gypsy has temporarily removed steamed dim sum from its menu because the dish requires continuous gas usage for nearly 10 minutes per serving.

Some Restaurants Return to Traditional Cooking

With gas becoming scarce, a few eateries have started returning to traditional wood-fired cooking methods.

At The Pizza Bakery, staff say weekly firewood usage has increased significantly as gas burners used to maintain oven heat have been switched off.

Uncertainty Looms Over Restaurant Industry

Restaurant owners warn that if the Iran war impact on energy supply chains continues, the hospitality sector could face serious disruptions.

Basic breakfast items such as omelettes and pancakes may also become difficult to prepare if gas supplies remain tight.

For now, the industry is hoping for quick government intervention and stabilisation of LPG imports. Until then, many restaurant kitchens remain on edge — unsure whether their next cylinder will arrive in time to keep the stoves burning.