"I don't hire Indians": Indian-origin restaurant owner in Texas says her 7 Monk’s Cafe has "almost no Indian staff", internet calls it 'casual racism'

An Indian-origin restaurant owner in Texas has gone viral on social media after she shared an unconventional hiring philosophy that challenges common assumptions about ethnic restaurants, reports The Times of India.

Rashmi Bhat, who runs 7 Monk’s Cafe Texas, revealed in an Instagram video that her Indian restaurant has “almost no Indian staff.” Her comments quickly drew attention online, with many users surprised that a restaurant serving Indian cuisine does not specifically hire Indian employees. The post did not go down well with many users online with many calling it discriminatory, illegal and casual racism.

Viral Video Starts Conversation

In the video, Bhat explained that customers often expect employees at an Indian restaurant to be Indian. However, she said that was never the approach she and her mother adopted when they launched the business in 2019.


“I don’t hire Indians at my Indian restaurant,” she said in the video, adding that the reaction “usually surprises people”. Bhat explained that the restaurant's hiring decisions have always been based on character, work ethic and willingness to learn rather than nationality or ethnicity.

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Building a Team Beyond Cultural Background

The entrepreneur said that when she and her mother started the restaurant, their priority was to create a dependable team drawn from the local community. “When most people walk into an Indian restaurant, they assume everyone working there has to be Indian. But that’s never how we hired,” she said.

According to Bhat, the focus was on finding people who were committed to the job and eager to learn, regardless of where they came from.

Hiring Students, Single Mothers and Retirees

Instead of looking for employees from a specific cultural background, the restaurant welcomed people from different walks of life.

“We set out to build a great team, regardless of their skin colour. So we hired high school students, college students, single moms, and retirees looking for a second chance,” she said.

The diverse workforce has become a key part of the restaurant's identity, reflecting the community it serves rather than a single cultural group.

Learning Indian Cuisine From Scratch

Bhat noted that many members of her team had little or no experience with Indian food when they first joined the restaurant. Some had never even tasted Indian cuisine before. However, with time, they learned the menu, understood the flavours and became confident in helping customers choose dishes.

She believes that their fresh perspective has actually helped introduce more people to Indian food.

“Our team doesn't come from the same culture, but they know what it's like to be introduced to an entirely new food. And every day, they help introduce thousands of people to ours,” she said.

Restaurant Grew Despite Pandemic Challenges

7 Monk’s Cafe Texas serves both Indian and Mediterranean cuisine. The business opened shortly before the Covid-19 pandemic, a period that proved difficult for many restaurants across the United States.

Despite those challenges, Bhat said the restaurant managed to survive, grow its customer base and establish a loyal local following.

Her comments have now sparked wider discussions online about hiring practices, workplace diversity and whether cultural authenticity in restaurants depends on the background of the staff or the quality of the food and service they provide.

Social media has mixed reactions

Rashmi Bhat's hiring strategy sparked mixed reactions online with one user commenting, "Your hiring policies are impressive but we come to eat authentic food - no Indian cook I’m not eating there." (sic). "I would prefer my indian food made by an Indian individual lol," said another.

"Not everyone has to be Indian, but the statement implies there’s a refusal to hire any Indian," another comment read. "Your hiring policies are discriminatory and probably against the law," said another.