In this Local Icon series, Khanna shares his favourite takeaway, go-to drink order, and more!
Vikas Khanna is an Indian-American Michelin- starred chef, filmmaker, author, and humanitarian. Born in Amritsar, Vikas Khanna rose from the vibrant streets of Punjab to New York City’s culinary spotlight, where he earned a Michelin star with Junoon. In Dubai, his acclaimed restaurant Kinara by Vikas Khanna at JA Lake View Hotel is a love letter to his roots. Off the plate, Khanna’s compassion shines through his initiatives such as Vision of Palate, empowering the visually impaired, and Feed India, which has delivered millions of meals to those in need.
Go-to takeaway
If I’m leaving Kinara late, I’ll pack a small portion of our dahi kebabs, they taste even better cold the next day. Chef approved comfort food.
Favourite dining experience
It was in a small home in Surat, where a grandmother served me rotis fresh off the fire. No plating, no performance, just love and ghee. That’s food at its purest.
Drink order
Masala chai made with fresh ginger and cardamom – my forever comfort. When I’m in Dubai, the team at Kinara know how I like it. On long days in New York, I switch to a strong espresso with no sugar.
Favourite restaurants in the GCC
In the UAE, it will always be Kinara by Vikas Khanna at JA Lake View Hotel. It carries a part of my soul; with each dish there is a story, from India retold through modern eyes. Elsewhere in the GCC, I love family-run kitchens that still cook from instinct and memory-the kind you find tucked away in Oman or Bahrain.
Currently reading…
Sacred Foods of India – a book I worked on for years, revisiting temple kitchens and ancient offerings. I often go back to it because it reminds me why I fell in love with food in the first place.
Morning routine
It begins early, always with silence and gratitude. I light a small diya, meditate for a few minutes, and write a single line about what I’m thankful for. I drink warm water with lemon and step into the day grounded. Balance, in and out of the kitchen, is everything.
Top culinary destination
My hometown Amritsar. Go to Kanha Sweets for puri chole, Makhan Fish for fried fish, and anywhere that serves jalebis dripping in syrup. That city doesn’t just feed you; it reminds you that generosity can be edible.
3 fridge staples
Homemade ghee, fresh lime, and green chillies. You can travel the world with just those three and still cook something soulful.
If you could only dine on dishes from one TV series, which would you choose?
Chef’s Table. Every episode feels like sitting at a table with someone’s truth. It celebrates why we cook, not for fame, but for connection.
Top 3 Spotify artists
A.R. Rahman because his music reminds me of home, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan for his devotion through voice, and Ludovico Einaudi when I need stillness between the chaos of kitchens.
Currently listening to…
My-Tinfoll Swans episode on the Food & Wine podcast. It reminds me how storytelling and food are just two languages trying to express the same emotion.