Punjabi Dhaba Earns Permanent Home in Bakersfield as Sen. Schiff Stands with Targeted Sikh Truckers
Two stories define the South Asian community's moment in Bakersfield: Punjabi Dhaba, the beloved Indian roadside stand that earned national press recognition from the New York Times and PBS Food, has opened a permanent brick-and-mortar restaurant location, and Senator Adam Schiff traveled to the city to stand alongside Sikh commercial truck drivers who say they have been unfairly singled out by the Trump Administration.
🍛 Punjabi Dhaba Opens Permanent Restaurant After Years as a Roadside Stand
Punjabi Dhaba, the celebrated Indian eatery that launched in 2016 as a converted taco truck parked on Union Avenue in Bakersfield, has opened a permanent brick-and-mortar restaurant in a medical office plaza in the city, ending its years as a mobile and roadside operation. Eater LA covered the restaurant's opening, which took place in late January 2025, reporting on how founders Balvinder Singh Saini and his wife Mansi Tiwari built the business from a humble roadside stand serving northern Indian food into a nationally recognized culinary institution. Their menu features vegetable curries, stuffed flatbreads, and street food snack items designed as satisfying, accessible comfort food, aimed at truck drivers, road trippers, and Bakersfield locals. Union Avenue, where Punjabi Dhaba first operated from its taco truck, once served as Bakersfield's main drag and highway — a fitting location for a restaurant built around the rhythms of road travel and working-class hunger. Word of mouth about the founders' cooking spread steadily, and in 2019 New York Times food critic Tejal Rao wrote a glowing review that brought national attention to the small roadside stand. Punjabi Dhaba has also been featured by PBS Food. Eater LA included coverage of the new permanent location in its 'Dining on a Dime' series, framing Punjabi Dhaba as a hidden gem that has grown into a must-visit dining destination in California's Central Valley. [3]
🗳️ Sen. Schiff Meets Sikh Commercial Drivers Targeted by Trump Administration
Senator Adam Schiff traveled to Bakersfield to meet with Sikh commercial truck drivers who say they have been unfairly targeted by the Trump Administration, his Senate office announced in a press release. The release, published under the headline 'In Bakersfield, Sen. Schiff Meets with Sikh Commercial Drivers Unfairly Targeted by Trump Administration,' highlights concerns from the Sikh community in Bakersfield and the broader Central Valley about federal enforcement actions affecting Sikh truckers. The Central Valley has a deep and historically significant Sikh community, with many Punjabi immigrants having settled in the region across generations, building livelihoods in agriculture and commercial transportation. Senator Schiff's decision to travel to Bakersfield to meet directly with the affected drivers signals a commitment to advocating on their behalf and examining whether federal actions have disproportionately targeted community members based on their identity. The press release was distributed under the 'ICYMI' (In Case You Missed It) label, reflecting the senator's office determination that the Bakersfield meeting deserved broader media attention beyond initial coverage. The visit speaks to the Sikh community's long-standing presence in Kern County and its readiness to engage with elected officials on issues of targeted enforcement, civil rights, and community safety. Schiff's engagement with affected Sikh drivers in Bakersfield was framed as a direct show of political solidarity and support. [1]
Sources: [3] la.eater.com · [1] Senator Schiff (.gov)