Unbox Karnataka is a food vlog started by two best friends Harsha and Vikram. Through their Youtube channel, they aim to explore various eateries in Bangalore while also helping them grow by giving them enhanced visibility and reach.
Hailing from a close-knit Indian middle-class family, Vikram and Harsha have been best friends since their childhood as they studied in the same school. Little did they know that this friendship is later going to anchor their passion for helping Karnataka eateries and thus unravel the true potential of glocalization.
The duo also work as freelance graphic and animation designers so as to ensure steady income for Unbox_Karnataka. Till date, they have covered around 15 cities surrounding Karnataka ,from Kolar, KGF in East to Mangalore in West as well as Mandya, Mysore in South to Hubli, Belagavi in North, they visited a number of local eateries and helped them to get known.
“We used to be full time corporate graphic designers and animators before starting Unbox Karnataka, but once we started exploring different eateries in and around Karnataka, we were amused by the amount of hard work people put in to guarantee authentic food at low cost. Everytime we visited a roadside eatery, an incomplete sense of gratitude haunted us as we left the shop. Thanks to Unbox_Karnataka for filling our hearts with a sense of gratitude.” said Harsha.
Setting up the Channel and Hurdles
The duo started off as food vloggers with a Youtube channel owning zero subscribers, today the channel has around 213K subscribers and they cover rural, urban and coastal Karnataka food garments to share their experiences with the world.
“ Being backbenchers in the college, me and Harsha always looked for life outside of the classroom. We had countless memories visiting the food places to enjoy and have fun conversation with the owners. “ said Vikram
The duo explained that initially they have faced a lot of hurdles to mark their presence in the growing food-blogger landscape. There were times when they had to travel miles together to reach their favorite food spot, yet what made them stand out is their curiosity and generosity to meet,greet and help the food shop owners grow. With a continuous effort and passion for Karnataka food; the duo discovered many hidden gems that provide top-notch food in the state.
The Siddi Tribal Vlog – Beyond just a Memory
When asked about their favorite vlog till date, They exclaimed “ Exploring Siddi tribal food and lifestyle from the Tribes of Karnataka series was the most memorable blog for us. Located in the thick forests of Yellapur Forest, our time spent with Siddi people understanding their pristine way of life in the forest and their unique food habits enticed us how human, food,life and love are related. We were also stunned at how tribals lead a very simple and contented life with just earning their daily food and shelter. We urban people complicate life with a sense of dissatisfaction when we have a proper shelter, food and everything with us. There is a lot to learn from them.”
A lot more left to unbox
With a great vision and greater vision, the duo is driving forward to unbox many hidden gems in and around Karnataka. Their journey as the founders of Unbox_Karnataka is catering to the review of many budding and established Karnatic restaurants. Going forward, they are confined to churning out videos of authentic and organic foods in every state in India and thus elevate Indian food standards. If you are looking out for the best food options in and around Karnataka, just check out their youtube channel and Instagram channel for the best food recommendations.
Speaking about the future, the duo, when asked about their future plans, said, “As of now, we are unboxing many Karnataka foods left inexperienced and less visited by many Bangalorians. In the future; we are trying to plunge into various other authentic local cuisines of various states that have a potential to attain glocal customers.”