Rs 782 for tea and Rs 1512 for poha; How does Bihari ‘Chai Guy’ charge such exorbitant prices for street food and still get customers?

LOS ANGELES: We are surrounded by many lives that have proven that hard work is the stepping stone to success. A man from Bihar living in the US has joined that group. A video of this man selling tea and poha in Los Angeles, US, is now viral on social media. Known as @chaiguy_la on Instagram, his real name is Prabhakar Prasad.

The chaiwala charges $8.68 (approximately Rs. 782) for a cup of tea and $16.8 (approximately Rs. 1,512) for a plate of poha. Many people say that this is not a high price when compared to the standard of living and prices of goods in a global city like Los Angeles.

The tea vendor, who has found self-employment in a situation where many people are struggling to find work abroad, is receiving a lot of praise on social media. Prabhakar Prasad gives the self-confidence that anyone can overcome any adverse situation through hard work. Despite being in another country, Prabhakar speaks in his native language. More than his business, it is the way he does business that attracts many.

Prasad's Instagram account has several videos of him doing business in Los Angeles. In one video, he also says that his long hair and mustache often make people in Los Angeles compare him to Jesus Christ. Prasad's videos and pictures started circulating widely on social media since the first week of January.

Despite the high prices, he has a steady stream of customers, particularly from the Indian diaspora, who appreciate the authentic "taste of home" that is hard to find elsewhere in LA.