Heena Khandelwal

Heena Khandelwal is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express, Mumbai. She covers a wide range of subjects from relationship and gender to theatre and food. To get in touch, write to heena.khandelwal@expressindia.com

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More From Heena Khandelwal

Around Town: Inside Jhama Sweets, the refugee stall that became favourite of Salman Khan, Abhishek Bachchan and Shilpa Shetty

October 04, 2025 10:56 IST

77-year-old Jhama Sweets now has 11 branches across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region

Sat, Oct 04, 2025

Around Town: How a 10th pass Sindhi compounder built Bandra’s famous and celebrity-approved Elco Pani Puri CentreSubscriber Only

September 27, 2025 11:31 IST

Bandra’s Elco is loved by SRK, Ambanis, Preity Zinta, and more.

Sun, Sep 28, 2025

In the Green of Health: How matcha is becoming India’s new wellness obsession

September 21, 2025 07:15 IST

Matcha comes from the same plant as green tea, Camellia sinensis, but what sets it apart is its cultivation and processing

Sun, Sep 21, 2025

One of the city’s oldest Udupi eateries, Ramashraya is a cult favourite

Around Town: Why generations of Mumbaikars queue up at Ramashraya, now 86 years old and among world’s 100 legendary restaurantsSubscriber Only

September 20, 2025 11:44 IST

Ramashraya, one of the city’s oldest Udupi eateries sells over 2,500 plates of idlis and dosas each on weekends. Among the celebrities who visited the eatery include the Kapoor family, Hema Malini, Vidya Balan and Vicky Kaushal.

Sun, Sep 21, 2025

Around Town: Started in 1896 in Karachi, rebuilt after Partition — here’s how a Sindhi family made Punjabi Chandu Halwai a South Mumbai icon

September 13, 2025 11:49 IST

Today, Punjabi Chandu Halwai offers over 300 varieties of sweets at its stores in Mumbai and is sought out for its Karachi Halwa as well as Bombay Ice Halwa, among others.

Sun, Sep 14, 2025

At 32, doctors gave Arjun Sen 100 days. Thirty years and 20+ surgeries later, he shares the ‘unquit’ theory that inspired Shoojit Sircar, Abhishek Bachchan’s I Want To Talk

September 12, 2025 19:28 IST

'Each of us is an ‘unquitter. Even when life feels like it’s ending, we find a way through. Now my superpower is asking for help,' says Arjun Sen.

Sat, Sep 13, 2025

Known for its mix of Mexican, Italian and Indian dishes, the vegetarian restaurant built a loyal following with its sizzling brownies, sizzlers and cheesy nachos.

‘End of an era’: After 45 years, Mumbai’s New Yorker to shut doors; owner cites family matter, hints at delivery comeback

September 10, 2025 14:41 IST

“But we pray this is not the end,” the restaurant owner said, adding that a delivery model is in the pipeline to continue serving the iconic dishes of New Yorker.

Wed, Sep 10, 2025

Syed Safar Ali Husaini with his son S. Mohsen outside Lucky Restaurant. Express photos by Akash Patil

Around Town: Bandra’s 87-year-old Lucky Restaurant where SRK got a film offer and whose biryani is Salman Khan’s favouriteSubscriber Only

September 06, 2025 10:32 IST

Syed Ali Akbar once took a different route to work and chanced upon the spot where he would later start Lucky Restaurant. Today, its patrons include Bollywood stars who vouch for its legendary mutton biryani and timeless charm

Sun, Sep 07, 2025

The big protein flex: India’s diet is getting a makeover, but are we doing it right?Subscriber Only

September 06, 2025 08:27 IST

Milk, ice cream, kulfi, idli batter, bread, chips and cookies – everything comes with a pinch of protein. Growing awareness about nutritional science and a push by FMCG firms has led to a flood of protein-enriched products. But are we eating the right protein?

Fri, Sep 12, 2025

As Bastian Bandra gives way to ‘Ammakai’, a South Indian speciality restaurant, Ranjit Bindra shares company’s big expansion plansSubscriber Only

September 03, 2025 17:39 IST

The group — which launched the 10,000 square feet rooftop restaurant and bar Bastian - At The Top in Dadar in 2023 — is also expanding to Juhu with Bastian Beach Club.

Thu, Sep 04, 2025

‘How will devotees come? Roads are blocked’: Maratha quota protest hits Ganesh Mandal darshans in South MumbaiSubscriber Only

September 01, 2025 16:04 IST

Large gatherings over the last few days brought traffic to a standstill in certain pockets of Mumbai, including Mazagaon, as the Eastern Freeway was shut.

Mon, Sep 01, 2025

Around Town: Five generations, countless laddoos, the story of 100-year-old Manoranjan Ladu Depot in MumbaiSubscriber Only

August 30, 2025 11:43 IST

Manoranjan Ladu Depot was started in the 1920s by Balkhandi Lal Mishra, who left his hometown of Kanpur for then-Bombay in search of a better livelihood.

Mon, Sep 01, 2025

The first glimpse of Lalbaugcha Raja was unveiled Sunday.

Lalbaugcha Raja 2025: Tirupati theme to no VIP passes, here’s all you need to know about Mumbai’s 92-year-old iconic pandalSubscriber Only

August 26, 2025 19:56 IST

The Lalbaugcha Raja pandal is in Parel, surrounded by numerous other iconic pandals and food stalls.

Tue, Aug 26, 2025

Japanese food has been here a while—so why is India now obsessed with ramen, sushi and matcha?Subscriber Only

August 24, 2025 05:30 IST

Sushi counters, ramen bars, adorable kawaii-themed cafés, and omakase experiences — India is in the middle of a Japanese dining boom. Once reserved for five-star hotels, Japanese cuisine is now increasingly accessible, immersive, and imaginative, attracting a younger and more curious audience than ever before

Sun, Aug 24, 2025

‘No other option, but we need time’: Mumbai ladi pav makers worry if their businesses will survive switch to green fuelSubscriber Only

August 23, 2025 13:26 IST

As of July, Mumbai is home to 573 operational bakeries, according to data procured from the BMC. Of these, 187 have already adopted greener fuel sources such as electricity or piped natural gas.

Sat, Aug 23, 2025

Ashutosh Joglekar, 50, is the third generation custodian of Prakash (Express photo by Akash Patil)

Around Town: How a Konkani pujari gave Mumbai Prakash and its iconic sabudana vadas, loved by Raj Thackeray and Sachin TendulkarSubscriber Only

August 23, 2025 09:34 IST

In Mumbai, Shivram did a string of odd jobs, including selling milk door to door, before setting up a small kerbside eatery in Girgaon.

Sat, Aug 23, 2025

With this launch, Gordon Ramsay Restaurants joins a growing list of global dining brands betting on India, including Wagamama

Michelin-starred Gordon Ramsay opens his first restaurant in India, here’s what to expect at Street BurgerSubscriber Only

August 19, 2025 13:25 IST

At the Delhi outpost, the menu blends global favourites with local inspirations.

Thu, Aug 21, 2025

Depinder Chhibber, whose ghevar and raj kachori won hearts on MasterChef Australia, shares her New Delhi to Newcastle storySubscriber Only

August 16, 2025 15:47 IST

Chhibber first competed on MasterChef Australia in 2021 (Season 13), finishing seventh. This year, she was invited back for Season 17’s ‘Back to Win’, joining other past contenders

Sun, Aug 17, 2025

Around Town: Why everyone — from Salman Khan to Azim Premji — stops by Worli’s iconic 80-year-old City BakerySubscriber Only

August 16, 2025 10:05 IST

City Bakery was established in 1945 as a ‘pav bakery’ by an Iranian gentleman, Haji Mohammad Jarrahiam, a man of sharp business acumen who came to Bombay during World War II.

Sat, Aug 16, 2025

Meet Zarna Garg, the Indian-American comedian who turned Indian-aunty jokes into cultural currencySubscriber Only

August 09, 2025 11:57 IST

Zarna is a “culturally universal loudmouthed aunty doling out home-truth bombs” who has amassed a massive fan base, both online (over 1.5 million followers on Instagram) and offline

Mon, Aug 11, 2025

Around Town: 65 years of Cream Centre — How a young Punjabi ice cream maker built an all-vegetarian restaurant that became a South Bombay iconSubscriber Only

August 09, 2025 11:18 IST

The decision to make Cream Centre a multi-cuisine restaurant was rooted in its diverse clientele, says current owner Sanjiv Chona. Plans are afoot to double the current footprint of 30 outlets.

Sat, Aug 09, 2025

Riyaaz Amlani, MD of Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality Private Limited

Thinking of opening a restaurant? Riyaaz Amlani talks about the risks, rewards and consumer segment to focus onSubscriber Only

August 03, 2025 14:55 IST

Always on the lookout for new markets, Riyaaz Amlani, MD of Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality Private Limited, has been a vocal advocate for improving the ease of doing business in the hospitality sector.

Sun, Aug 03, 2025

Born in London’s Bloomsbury in 1992, Wagamama is said to have flipped the script on Asian dining with its fast-paced, no-rules approach, serving food inspired by Japan’s buzzing ramen bars and Asia’s boldest flavours.

Around Town: London’s famed Wagamama lands in Mumbai, here’s what to expect at this ramen giantSubscriber Only

August 02, 2025 11:44 IST

Karan Kapur of K Hospitality Corp, the group that spent nearly two years bringing Wagamama to India, has plans to launch 100 outlets over the next decade. Next stop is Delhi-NCR, where the second Wagamama is expected to open by April 2026.

Sat, Aug 02, 2025