Nakul Mahendro is the co-founder and CEO of BADMAASH, the Los Angeles-born hospitality brand that helped redefine how Indian food is presented and perceived in America. A second-generation restaurateur, Mahendro grew up immersed in the industry. His family’s food business traces back generations in India, while his father, a formally trained chef, built a career in Canada before the family eventually relocated to Los Angeles.
Before launching BADMAASH in downtown LA in 2013 with his brother Arjun and their father, Mahendro worked nearly every job in restaurants, from busser to bartender to operator, and later helped open and troubleshoot concepts for one of Canada’s largest hospitality groups. That broad experience shaped his understanding of both service and business, while his family background gave him a deep connection to Indian cuisine.
With BADMAASH, Mahendro set out to challenge outdated ideas about Indian dining by pairing layered, expressive flavors with a more contemporary, culture-driven restaurant experience. Since then, the brand has expanded to Fairfax and now Venice, while also growing into retail, beverage, and lifestyle collaborations. Across every iteration, Mahendro has remained focused on building restaurants that feel personal, dynamic, and distinctly rooted in both Indian heritage and Los Angeles culture.
