First Indian street food venue Delhi 6 opens in South Shields as son fulfils childhood dream of reopening father's restaurant

Shah Lalon Amin was determined to buy back the site of his dad Shah Ruhul Amin’s restaurant, the Raj Dulal, in Ocean Road, South Shields,

The 78-year-old sold his business in 1986, as he had to return to Bangladesh to look after his mother who had cancer.

However, Lalon has now transformed the venue into ‘Delhi 6’ - the borough’s first Indian street food restaurant.

Lalon, 39, from Lawe Top, South Shields, said: “As a child I made a promise to him that one day I would buy the restaurant back and I’ve finally done it.

“Dad had to return to the village as he’d promised his mother he would get her the best treatment, so he took her to many parts of Bangladesh and India. Despite only being given two weeks to live, his mother thankfully lived for another year, but when dad came back to England his restaurant wasn’t the same so he sold it.”

Lalon says the restaurant has already been swamped with diners since it opened earlier this month and people have been impressed with its offerings.

He said: “People want to eat the types of things which are traditionally bought in India and the food we actually eat in our homes, not just dishes like the mossola and the korma, which have been adapted.

“Indian street food has become very popular in other parts of the country so we’re really excited to have launched this new concept. It brings something different to our beautiful town.”

However, Lalon’s toughest critic so far has been his dad.

He added: “Yes dad has been down to the restaurant and he loved it.

“He was the first person to be served and he’s very proud we now have it back.”