A customer at the Rameshwaram Cafe located within Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru discovered a worm in their food on Thursday, July 24, 2025. The customer had ordered pongal for breakfast at the popular South Indian restaurant chain.
The incident came to light when the customer noticed the worm and raised an objection. According to reports, the customer began recording the incident after claiming that the staff initially attempted to downplay the issue and did not acknowledge it until he started filming. The man stated that the cafe staff apologized and offered a refund of ₹300 only after he began recording a video of the pongal with the worm in it. He reportedly received a full refund for the food item.
A video of the incident circulating online shows the customer using a spoon to highlight the worm in the pongal, while also panning the camera across a portion of the restaurant. In the video, the customer is heard discussing the possibility of filing a complaint with the cafe owner via Instagram with another customer. A staff member is also heard inquiring whether they had spoken inappropriately.
The Rameshwaram Cafe is a well-known restaurant chain based in Bengaluru, popular with both locals and travelers. The brand is known for its South Indian cuisine and has expanded to other cities, including Hyderabad.
This is not the first time the Rameshwaram Cafe has faced scrutiny regarding food safety and hygiene standards. In May 2024, several of its Hyderabad outlets were inspected by the Telangana Food Safety Department. During these inspections, officials discovered a large quantity of expired and mislabeled food items.
As of now, the Rameshwaram Cafe management has not released any official statement regarding the incident at the Bengaluru airport outlet.