When you walk into one of Rockefeller Center’s newest restaurant additions, what you notice – in addition to the bright, orange-yellow walls and rich smells – are four words splashed above the back counter: Good Karma Served Daily. It’s this philosophy, the ancient idea that you are what you eat, that informs every aspect of Inday’s business, from the back-end operations to the textures and flavors of each dish on the menu.

“The way a lot of Indian families think about food has to do with energy and the source,’ Inday founder Basu Ratnam tells The Center Magazine. “If you put good energy into your food, it will make you feel better and give you good karma throughout the day.”

Ratnam, the son of Indian immigrants, grew up in a house where food was a source of healing and well-being. His Calcutta-born mother, in particular, worked to incorporate this idea into her children’s daily lives.

After graduating from college, Ratnam took a job in finance. Much of his work focused on acquiring retail and clothing companies in addition to food businesses. “The further I got into that, the further I felt I was getting from the things I was excited to wake up and think about,” he says. Then, a lightbulb went off: “I thought, maybe I could combine my business acumen with my passion for food, my cultural identity, and my story.”

In 2015, Inday was born. Since the launch in NoMad 10 years ago, Ratnam and his team have expanded to nine locations across Manhattan and Williamsburg. The newest opened in May 2024 — right here in Midtown. “There is such a great influx of people and a mix of professionals and tourists,” Ratnam explains of the Rockefeller Center clientele. “Opening here felt like an opportunity to put our food on a global stage.” 

Each menu item is subject to the same standards, and the offerings reflect Ratnam’s goal of blending tradition with the needs of contemporary life. The dishes can be taken on the go, ordered in-store, or ahead of time through an app or kiosk, and all are made fresh but fast. There are recognizable Indian dishes like a chicken tikka masala bowl alongside interesting and unexpected combinations — such as a chai sugar cookie. “We try to meet our customers where they are,” says Ratnam.

As for what’s next, Ratnam hinted at some forthcoming things that aren’t quite set in stone yet. What he can promise, however, are some revamped menu items. “Some things are due for a glow-up,” he says. We can’t wait to dig in.

Inday is open at 1 Rockefeller Plaza daily from 11am to 8:30pm.

Photos by Garrett Bruce