By Grace Jacobson / Public Affairs Programming Producer

ST. CLOUD, Minn. — Sohil Goorha opened Dhaba 94 with a purpose.

“I was always fascinated with how one of the things that broke all barriers of people was food,” says Goorha. “It just combines community and brings people together.”

Dhaba 94 is a diner in St. Cloud, Minn., which offers fresh American diner classics with Indian comfort food.

But Goorha hasn’t always worked in the food industry. He initially worked as a healthcare executive and it was the COVID-19 pandemic which led him to reset his career and follow his passion.

“Before I was an executive in healthcare, I dabbled into culinary school and it’s a dream I never pursued,” he says.

It first started in the Twin Cities. Goorha opened Raag, an upscale restaurant serving inventive spins on traditional Indian dishes.

“We were trying to bring a more modern take to food to make it more approachable.”

Soon the upscale restaurant morphed into a community space.

“That’s where my focus was,” Goorha says. “To use that place not just for food but a platform for community. I wanted to expand that mission into St. Cloud.”

Goorha expanded that mission with Dhaba 94, which is located within the Marathon Travel Plaza on Clearwater Road just off Interstate 94. The entire menu is $10 and under.

“I saw in the last three years how the food has become so expensive,” he explains. “My purpose is to make affordable dining.”

One of the affordable menu items is a Juicy Lucy, the Minneapolis-born cheeseburger with cheese inside a beef patty. But along with that Minnesota classic and American diner staples, Dhaba 94 also serves Indian food.

“We are trying to share our culture,” Goorha says. “I got into this to deconstruct the mindset of what Indian food is.”

Dhaba 94 helps deconstruct that mindset by deconstructing the items on the menu. Each dish is labeled with its ingredients and paired with its photo.

“We take the guessing part out of the menu.”

Goorha says they plan to open a drive through at Dhaba 94 this summer to make their mission even more accessible to the community.

Dhaba 94 is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For further information, including store hours, go to dhaba94.com.

The above quotes have been edited and condensed for clarity and readability. To hear the full conversation, including how Operation Metro Surge has impacted the business, listen below.

This program was made possible through support from the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

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