Live counters — how many, which, and where they stand

By the kitchen office, RASA · Published 30 Aug 2026 · Bangalore & Bengaluru

A 300-guest Bangalore reception wants three to four live counters and a 500-guest one four to six, placed so queues do not cross and opened in sequence; the buffet carries volume, the counters carry the experience. The counters that empty fastest in Bangalore are chaat, dosa, tandoor, wok and live jalebi; the ones that raise the night are grill, shawarma, sushi, galouti and pathar ka gosht. Each adds ₹100–₹500 a head plus a setup charge, and each should be run by the chef of that cuisine.

How many

One counter per 100–150 guests is the working rule, with a floor of two. More counters than that lengthens queues rather than shortening them, because guests try all of them. The buffet does the volume.

Which

Counter	Best at	Adds per head
Chaat	Sangeet, reception, corporate party	₹120–₹250
Dosa / akki rotti	Muhurtham morning, housewarming, kids' party	₹100–₹180
Tandoor	Any North Indian menu	₹200–₹350
Wok	Sangeet, birthday, corporate	₹150–₹300
Pasta + pizza oven	Engagement, reception, kids' party	₹250–₹450
Grill + carvery	Premium reception, Christian wedding, awards night	₹250–₹450
Shawarma + mezze	Cocktail hour, Eid table	₹200–₹400
Galouti / pathar ka gosht	Walima, Awadhi or Hyderabadi reception	₹200–₹400
Jalebi-rabri / kulfi	Every reception	₹80–₹150

Where

Counters at the edges of the room, buffet in the middle or along one wall, dessert table where the exit is. The sweet counter opens last. Two chaat counters at 600 guests, not one. Draw it with the venue and the decorator before the menu is fixed; we do.

Questions people ask

How many live counters for a 300-guest wedding?

Three to four, placed at the edges of the room so the queues do not cross.

Which live counters are most popular at Bangalore weddings?

Chaat, dosa, tandoor, wok and live jalebi empty fastest; grill, shawarma, sushi and galouti counters raise a premium reception.

How much does a live counter cost at a Bangalore wedding?

About ₹100–₹500 a head plus a setup charge for the chef and equipment — dosa and chaat at the low end, grill, sushi and galouti at the top.

Get a menu and a per-plate quote, usually the same day

Date, head count, the cuisines you have in mind. Enough for the first reply to carry a menu and a number rather than a brochure.

What happens after you send the ticket

A written reply, usually the same day. A first menu built for your occasion, the per-plate figure it comes to, and the two or three questions we need settled before the number is firm.
A tasting. For weddings and events of size we cook the shortlist for you before you sign. Each cuisine on the menu is cooked by the chef who will cook it on the day.
The plan for the day. Counters, service staff, timings against your muhurtham or your agenda, and the venue's rules on outside catering, checked with the venue by us.