The Dosa King of the North, Jayaram Banan’s inspiring journey

July 22, 2025 Unknown Wizards Valli Sarvani

Not all success stories begin with big dreams and perfect plans. Some are born out of sheer grit, survival, and a hunger to rise above circumstances.

The remarkable story of Jayaram Banan, now known as the Dosa King of the North, is one such tale, an inspiring journey from extreme hardship to a ₹300 crore food empire.

Born in the coastal town of Udupi, Karnataka, Jayaram struggled in school and failed an exam at the age of 13.

Rather than stay back, he made a daring decision; he left home, taking a few rupees from his father’s pocket, and boarded a train to Mumbai in 1967.

He had no qualifications, no contacts, and no clear destination, just a dream to make it big.

In Mumbai, Jayaram found work at a restaurant. His first job was at the very bottom, washing utensils for ₹18 a month.

With time, hard work, and a keen eye for detail, he moved up. In six years, he went from dishwasher to restaurant manager, earning ₹200.

Along the way, he noticed how South Indian food was gaining popularity in the city. That observation would later change his life. In 1974, Jayaram moved to Delhi, where South Indian cuisine was still uncommon.

He took up a job managing a canteen, where he learned the ropes of running a kitchen, handling customers, and managing staff in a new market. These lessons gave him the confidence to start something of his own.

In 1986, Jayaram launched his first restaurant, Sagar, in Defence Colony, Delhi. It made ₹408 on its first day. He focused on quality and authentic taste, even if his prices were higher than others.

Customers kept coming back, and soon, he opened a second outlet. That marked the birth of the now-famous brand Sagar Ratna.

Today, the chain operates over 90 outlets in India and abroad, including in Canada, Singapore, and Bangkok. He later launched Swagat, another successful brand, in 2001.

From humble beginnings, Jayaram built a food empire now valued at over ₹300 crore.

His journey, from a school dropout to a globally respected entrepreneur, is a living example of how perseverance, passion, and belief can turn the impossible into reality.

Image from Pxhere (Free for commercial use / CC0 Public Domain)

Image Published on February 21, 2017