IIT graduate turns ‘Chai Guy’ in Los Angeles; brews desi masala tea, social media following

For most Indians, cracking the entrance exam to the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) is the beginning of a predictable path: engineering degree, corporate job, and a stable life.

But for Prabhakar Prasad, that path took an unexpected turn; one that now involves boiled milk, crushed ginger, and the unmistakable aroma of masala chai on the streets of Los Angeles.

Today, Prabhakar is known online as the “Chaiguy” or the “Bihari Chaiwala of LA,” serving cups of Indian-style chai that cost about $8 (roughly ₹700–₹800). The price might raise eyebrows back home, but in California’s farmers’ markets, the spiced tea regularly finds eager customers.

What makes his story stand out is not just the tea, but the unlikely journey that led him here.

A long road from Bihar
Prabhakar grew up in Barh in Bihar in a family that struggled financially. Stories from his childhood paint a stark picture of hardship. There were winters when the family reportedly slept under sacks of grains because proper blankets were a luxury.

Education became his way forward. Determined to change his circumstances, he eventually cracked the notoriously competitive national entrance exam and studied at IIT Kharagpur. Like many engineering graduates, he stepped into the corporate world and later moved to the United States for work.

But life abroad didn’t unfold the way he had imagined.

Layoffs, heartbreak and a reset
Over the years, Prabhakar’s journey took several detours. From experimenting with bodybuilding and modelling to navigating the ups and downs of the tech industry in the US.

Then came a series of setbacks: a painful breakup, health struggles and eventually a tech layoff that forced him to rethink his life.

Instead of rushing back into another corporate role, he chose something completely different.

He started brewing chai.

The ‘Chai Guy’ of LA
Today, Prabhakar runs a small tea stall at the Topanga Farmers Market, serving freshly brewed masala chai and sometimes simple Indian snacks like poha. The stall has slowly built a loyal following, drawing curious locals as well as homesick Indians looking for a taste of home.

But the tea stall is only one part of his story.

Prabhakar has become a social media celebrity on his own right. His Instagram account — where he calls himself the “Chaiguy LA” — has crossed 10,000 followers, and his bio cheekily reads:

“From BIHAR to HOLLYWOOD

Chaiwala’s Hustle to make it Big”

Comedy, chai and a stereotype on purpose
Much of his popularity comes from short, humorous reels where he plays up the stereotype of an Indian chaiwala. Wearing simple clothes and speaking in deliberately exaggerated, heavily accented Hindi, he delivers sarcastic one-liners while making tea.

The videos are intentionally tongue-in-cheek — part comedy sketch, part cultural commentary.

The humour, mixed with the everyday scenes of his stall, has helped his videos reach viewers across countries. The tea stall has now become both a small business and a storytelling platform for him. Visitors arrive for a cup of chai but often leave with a glimpse of an unusual journey that connects a town in Bihar with a farmers market in Los Angeles.