From Conversation to Concept
Our founder Sujata Singh was born in India and moved to the USA more than two decades ago. She originally earned a degree in accounting from Syracuse University in upstate New York, but after taking a break for a few years to raise her children, the idea of working in accounting had lost its appeal.
After Sujata and her husband moved to Tennessee, she realized she deeply missed the food scene of New York that was full of variety and different cuisines. She began exploring the idea of opening a restaurant. However, not being from the food-service industry, the sheer amount of knowledge needed to open a restaurant felt daunting. Although she felt discouraged, Sujata still could not let go of the idea.
Then, the stars aligned. A fellow bar guest at a local Chattanooga establishment asked Sujata where he could get some amazing Indian food. He traveled to Chattanooga often and missed the authentic Indian cuisine easily found in larger cities. Sujata jokingly replied, "My house, of course". Then, a thought popped into her mind: while a restaurant still felt like too large of an undertaking, she could start with pop-up dinners. That night, the seed for Spice Trail had officially been planted.
In June of 2019, the first Spice Trail pop-up dinner was hosted at a local restaurant, and it was a great success. In fact, Sujata’s multi-course pop-up dinners were selling out regularly.
As Spice Trail continued to grow, Sujata began thinking of new ways to share India’s beautiful cuisine and culture with her community. In 2021, the decision was made to open Spice Trail’s first retail location, and construction got underway the very next year to make this dream a reality.
We want to thank our community and neighbors for their unwavering support and generosity. We love inviting you all into this beautiful space each week.
The Best of Indian Culture and Cuisine
Walking through the doors of Spice Trail is an experience. Come visit us at our flagship location in Miller Plaza for the finest Indian food this side of the Atlantic.
Spice Trail
850 Market Street, Suite 106
Chattanooga, TN, 37402
Who We Are
Sujata Singh, Owner & Chef
Sujata Singh grew up in a small town in the state of Bihar, India. Today, she brings a taste of her mother’s kitchen to our small city of Chattanooga. Her mother was a rare Indian cook who prepared dishes from many regions, and who taught Sujata to cook made-from-scratch recipes, using adventurous flavors with layered complexity.
In the years since she stood beside her mother, making tomato and coconut soup; lentil dumplings with yogurt sauce and chili; or chicken simmered in garlic, sliced onions, and spice pastes – Sujata broadened her inspiration. The street foods of Mumbai. International culinary techniques. Symphonies of spices. Experimenting at home, cooking dinners for her family.
Now she’s connecting our local community to the lovely and indulgent cultural experiences of Indian cuisine, clothing, art, jewelry, and gifts.
Join Our Team
We’re always looking for creative, dedicated people with a passion for amazing food who care about creating a memorable experience for our guests. If that sounds like you, we’d love for you to apply.