The Birth of BARBEQUEEN

Driven by a deep love and passion for food, Mr. K. Nawabjohn, along with his elder son Mr. N. Nowshath, founded the first BARBEQUEEN restaurant at Five Roads, Salem. They were pioneers in introducing grilled chicken and Shawarma to the town, quickly earning a reputation for excellence in grilled, barbeque-style, tandoori, Indian, and Chinese cuisines. BARBEQUEEN soon became the go-to destination for families and friends — whether for dine-in, takeaway, or delivery.

Expanding to the Manchester of South India

In 2010, Mr. N. Mohammed Faiyaz, the younger son of Mr. K. Nawabjohn, joined his elder brother Mr. N. Nowshath, bringing with him valuable experience from the hospitality industry. Together, they founded the Ordinary Group to accelerate the brand’s growth and expansion.

That same year, BARBEQUEEN ventured beyond its hometown of Salem, launching its first outlet in Coimbatore — famously known as the Manchester of South India. This marked a major milestone in the brand’s journey, adding another successful location in Tamil Nadu.

Partnership with the Legendary Ambur Star Briyani

In 2017, BARBEQUEEN proudly partnered with the iconic Ambur Star Briyani and launched its first outlet in RS Puram, Coimbatore. The collaboration brought with it signature offerings such as the aromatic and flavorful Bamboo Briyani and the uniquely crafted Tandoori Chai, both of which quickly became customer favorites.

Fueled by overwhelming response, three additional Ambur Star Briyani outlets were opened the same year — at Four Roads in Salem, Omalur Toll Gate, and Ulundurpet. To support this aggressive expansion, a corporate office was established, and a professional management team was appointed to drive the brand’s growth strategy

 Making Our Mark in Kongu City

In 2019, BARBEQUEEN proudly expanded its presence to Erode, one of the key cities in the Kongu region. Backed by the strong support and loyalty of our customers, the new BARBEQUEEN restaurant in Erode marked another significant step in our journey of growth across Tamil Nadu.

 Launching the Franchise Model

In 2021, BARBEQUEEN took a major step towards scalable growth by introducing its franchise model. The brand launched its first FOCO (Franchise Owned, Company Operated) outlet in Kallakurichi, followed by a FOFO (Franchise Owned, Franchise Operated) outlet in Thanjavur.

• FOCO Model: The franchisee invests in setting up the outlet, while operations are fully managed by BARBEQUEEN’s professional team — ensuring consistency in quality and service.
• FOFO Model: The franchisee both owns and operates the outlet under the guidance and standards set by BARBEQUEEN.

These strategic models paved the way for trusted partners to grow with the brand, while maintaining the signature BARBEQUEEN experience.

The Birth of Nikaa Briyani

Celebrating over 25 years of Serving Happiness since 1999, BARBEQUEEN introduced a new legacy brand in 2023 — Nikaa Briyani. Inspired by the traditional Mughal method of firewood biryani preparation, Nikaa Briyani was launched with the tagline: “The Celebration Moment – It’s Always Nikaa Briyani.”

In the same year, five Nikaa Briyani restaurants were successfully opened across Tamil Nadu: Fairlands Salem, New Bus Stand Salem, Thanjavur, Ulundurpettai, and Vikravandi.

Each outlet brings the rich aroma, authenticity, and timeless flavor of heritage-style biryani to life, creating memorable dining experiences for every celebration.