Things to Check Before Ordering Meals on Wheels

IRCTC, the official catering and tourist branch of the Indian Railways, began offering e-catering on the railways just a few years ago. People can now order tasty cuisine from IRCTC e-catering websites or apps like RailRestro on trains.

Becoming an IRCTC-authorized food partner or food seller is significant for any restaurant. Becoming an IRCTC food vendor is not a straightforward process. They need to stick to specific rules and guidelines which ensure that the health of the passengers is not compromised in any situation. IRCTC follows all the required criteria for becoming an authorized food partner of IRCTC.

Even if RailRestro is an authorized IRCTC food partner, passengers must check certain things before placing a meal order. So, here in this article, we will discuss and explain to you what you must check before ordering meals on a wheel or train.

What to Check Before Ordering Food on Train?

Food, a critical aspect, is directly linked to a smooth and enjoyable train journey. Any tourist with a booking in any class and a PNR number can order meals from their chosen restaurant and have them delivered to their seat. Everything is contained within your smartphone and mobile application. Passengers can use the RailRestro mobile app or the RailRestro website to browse meal options and place orders in just a few clicks. That is correct!

The following are some important aspects that a passenger must note down before getting healthy and delicious food on train.

Look for hygienic food and safe packaging - The first and most important aim of IRCTC food catering is to provide clean, sanitary food devoid of dirt and vermin. The hygiene of food products is assessed using the following parameters:

• Packaging materials should be made of disposable materials.
• The food must be packaged to avoid spilling during delivery.
• Food storage utensils and containers must be clean.
• The person in charge of serving or packing food must always wear gloves.
• Meals should not be delivered in newspapers or other materials that may leave colours on the food.

So, before ordering meals on train, travellers must always check for hygienic food and safe packaging.

⮚ Look for FSSAI certification - Food delivery in trains by RailRestro is prohibited for any restaurant or hotel that is not FSSAI authorized. Anyone who runs a hotel and wishes to work with IRCTC food catering must first obtain a certificate of certification from the FSSAI.

FSSAI is a regulatory organization governed by India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It authorizes a food service provider to operate following a comprehensive inspection and verification of numerous parameters.

So, before ordering food on train, you must always check if FSSAI authorizes the restaurant or food vendor.

⮚ Check how the restaurant makes the food – Before placing a food order on train, you must make sure that the food is prepared in a good manner that is delivered to your seat or berth. If a restaurant uses well-known and reliable brands as ingredients, it will have a better chance of obtaining an IRCTC license to provide culinary services.

⮚ You may check customer reviews – If you wish to order meals on wheels from a particular restaurant or food vendor, you must ensure that they have delivered healthy meals to the passengers on board. Read the reviews the customer writes on the restaurant’s or the food vendor’s web page. You will get honest reviews and feedback that will help you make an informed decision.

Restaurants are solely responsible for ensuring that food is served hot and fresh to passengers. As a result, several considerations must be made when placing a train food order.

Methods Used to Order Food on Train

The IRCTC e-catering partners allow passengers to order food on the train. All they have to do is enter their PNR information, which will automatically retrieve the passengers' route and identify the restaurants from where they can order food through the train food app. Food may be ordered quickly on the train via an e-catering service. The most excellent thing is that customers can order food according to their preferences and keep track of their orders.

The various methods are as follows:

⮚ By calling

⮚ By RailRestro food in train website

⮚ Train food app, RailRestro

Steps to Order Meal on Train

The steps to ordering meals on train are as follows:

⮚ Get the RailRestro app from Play Store or App Store. Or visit the RailRestro website.

⮚ Click "Search food" after entering your PNR number.

⮚ Choose your preferred cuisine from the menu, and it will be put in your cart and billed.

⮚ You may pay me online using a debit or credit card through Net Banking, Paytm, PayUMoney, or FreeCharge.

⮚ At your seat, enjoy your meal. It will be delivered to the station of your choice.

Before placing a plate of food on the train, one should look up the service provider's reviews on Google My Business.

The Bottom Line

It will help if you try ordering meals on the train through e-catering service providers, as they can send food to your seat without additional charges.

Before a trip, there will be no more labour-intensive culinary tasks. E-catering aboard trains offers a wide range of alternatives, including vegetarian/non-vegetarian Thalis/chicken curries, paneer dishes, Rajasthani, Gujarati, Bengali, and Chinese cuisines, Jain food, package meals, and desserts.