In the buzzing lanes of JP Nagar, Bengaluru, there’s a rooftop restaurant that’s quickly becoming the talk of the town, not just for its bold flavours, but for the bold young man behind it. Meet Akash R Nayak, a 20-something entrepreneur who turned failure into flavour and a childhood craving into a culinary legacy.
But his story didn’t start in a kitchen. It started in a humble middle-class household in Bengaluru, where ambition was never served on a silver platter. Born into a family with strong roots in small businesses, Akash’s first taste of entrepreneurship came at the age of 17, helping out at his mother’s wellness salon near Christ College. But even then, he wasn’t just helping — he was negotiating, questioning, and thinking big.
“I told my mom I wouldn’t work for free. I wanted a salary — even if it was just ₹5,000,” he laughs. “Once I reached my target, she increased it. That’s how it all started.”
His entrepreneurial flame burned brighter each year. While pursuing his MBA at Manipal University, Akash ventured into fashion with Purple Haze Designers, a garment factory aimed at bringing stylish, affordable clothing to working-class families. What started with one machine grew into a successful business that supported many households — proof that his ideas had power.
But Akash’s real dream was different.
He wanted to open a hookah café — a space that blended vibes, food, and freedom. In 2023, that dream materialized as The Tribal Restro Café, launched with the help of a bank loan. Within months, it became a popular hangout spot for the youth. But then came the storm: Bangalore’s complete ban on hookah cafés, which shut down over 900 outlets — including his.
Most would have closed shop. Akash did the opposite.
“I had 12 employees, and I saw the panic in their eyes. I couldn’t just let them go,” he says. He took a risk that most wouldn’t — he kept them, gave them food, shelter, and a new vision. That vision? Turning his café into an authentic traditional South Indian seafood restaurant — something Bengaluru had never truly seen before.
But he didn’t just add seafood to the menu. Akash spent three relentless months experimenting with spices, masalas, and ancestral recipes passed down through generations. The result? The now-iconic Seafood Bucket — a 100-year-old traditional South Indian recipe adapted and served in a way no one else in the city does.
“This isn’t Kerala. It’s not Hyderabad. It’s not Chennai. It’s pure Bengaluru — our own style, our own recipe, our own legacy,” Akash proudly says.
Each seafood bucket is a sensory journey — layered with crabs, prawns, fish, and shellfish, all drenched in house-blended masalas, slow-cooked to perfection. It’s not just a dish — it’s a story, a tribute, and a revolution on a plate. And now, The Tribal Restro Café is the only place in Bangalore offering this unique experience.
Today, Akash is not just known as a restaurant owner. He’s a young culinary visionary, blending his roots, resilience, and raw talent into everything he does. His rooftop space isn’t just about food — it’s an emotion. With ambient lighting, live music, and panoramic views of the city skyline, The Tribal Restro Café has become a destination for foodies, families, and dreamers alike.
So what’s next for Akash?
“I want to make The Tribal a household name. I want it to be known not just for good food, but for good people, good culture, and the courage to start again,” he says.
Akash R Nayak’s story is not just about a restaurant. It’s about reinvention. About how a 17-year-old who once asked for discounts at his mom’s salon went on to redefine the dining culture of a city. It’s about turning bans into breakthroughs and setbacks into stories worth telling.
In a world that celebrates overnight success, Akash’s journey reminds us that real success is built over time, with heart, hustle, and hunger.
And at the top of JP Nagar, that hunger is served best in a Seafood Bucket, seasoned with a century of tradition, and a future full of promise.
