Laid-Off IITian Turns Entrepreneur, 'Bihari Chaiwala' Sells Tea for Rs 780 in US (Instagram)
New Delhi: An Indian Institute of Technology graduate, who lost his corporate job in the US, has found an unusual path for survival by selling Indian-style tea on the streets of Los Angeles. The unusual but motivating story of Prabhakar Prasad is now catching everyone's attention on social media.
People are praising and calling it a powerful example of resilience and hard work
Prabhakar Prasad, who is originally from a small town in Bihar, was working in the US tech sector. But he lost his job during the wave of layoffs in February 2025. Instead of returning to the corporate world immediately, he decided to start a small food stall and began selling Indian-style masala chai and breakfast items.
Prasad, with the user name 'Chaiguy_la', now runs a small and fully packed stall at farmers’ markets in Los Angeles. Many people there call him 'Bihari Chaiwala of LA' as he sells fresh masala chai and traditional Indian snacks like Poha to locals and tourists.
What is surprising people on internet is the price Prasad is charging for the masala chai. He sells a single cup of chai at his stall at the cost of about $8 (around Rs 780). In the stall he also sells Indian breakfast dishes like poha, which are priced higher due to the local market and operating costs in the US.
While the price may seem high by Indian standards, but such rates are common for the people living there.
Prasad’s journey has not been easy. He has spoken about growing up in poverty in Bihar, where his family struggled financially. During winters, he and his family sometimes slept under sacks because they could not afford blankets.
Despite the hardships, his parents encouraged him to focus on education. His efforts eventually paid off when he cleared the entrance exam and secured admission to IIT, which became a turning point in his life.
Prasad is not ashamed of himself and proudly calls himself the "Chai Guy" and also shares videos of his chai stall on social media.
His life journey and twist from a small town in Bihar to running a chai business in America has drawn admiration from many people in social media.
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