Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Laid-Off Product Manager’s Pakistani-American Eatery Now Brings In $140,000 a Month

Pop-ups, TV exposure, savings turned layoffs into a profitable Pakistani-American concept.

Overview

  • News outlets on Monday highlighted Nishaan’s roughly $140,000 in monthly revenue, citing CNBC’s profile of founder Zeeshan Bakhrani.
  • Bakhrani invested about $70,000 of personal savings to open the Manhattan restaurant in August 2025 after two layoffs from tech roles.
  • He says the business is profitable, yet he has not started paying himself and is covering living costs with savings and severance.
  • The menu blends Pakistani and American street food, featuring items like Bihari-style barbacoa tacos and Pakistani chopped cheese.
  • He told CNBC he competed on Food Network’s The Great Food Truck Race and said his team won a share of the $50,000 prize, and he is planning menu additions and new locations including Chicago.