A newly opened Fresno fast casual eatery is serving up burgers for under five bucks.
The only catch — this burger doesn’t have the typical sliced cheddar cheese and ground beef patty.
Instead, Rangla Punjab Restaurant & Sweets is serving the aloo tikki noodle burger, featuring a potato-based patty, a layer of mint chutney, tomato, onion, cabbage and a layer of noodles sautéed in a spicy sauce, cooked fresh to order.
The popular snack has been popping up in Fresno’s food truck scene the past several years, especially as more Punjabis, many who are previous truck drivers, have opened food businesses post-pandemic.
The dish is a mash-up of global and regional food styles, said Taran Singh, manager of the restaurant.
In the Indian state of Punjab, where it is estimated more than half of the population is vegetarian, the potato (aloo) patty was already common to eat on its own with mint and tamarind sauces, Taran Singh said.
But the noodle burger trend started about five to seven years ago when people traveled abroad to the U.S. and other Western countries, he said.
Now, the dish has made it to Fresno, where the Punjabi and Punjabi American community, especially vegetarians, wanted a taste of home.
Pavitar Singh, owner, left, and manager Taran Singh, right, hold two of their vegetarian burgers including the Punjabi Noodle Burger to the right at Rangla Punjab Restaurant & Sweets Friday, Oct. 17, 2025 in Fresno.
Owner Pavitar Singh said the burger is a specialty menu item that isn’t very common on most Indian restaurant menus. It’s more likely to be served at takeout casual spots and food trucks.
“It’s special because not everyone has it,” he said.
Depending on the restaurant, the burger may have a slight variation of spices and vegetables, he said. Some are served with a spicy ketchup sauce, while others are served with sliced cucumbers.
The burgers at Rangla Punjab restaurant range from $4.99 to $8.99 depending on the fillings. (Prices vary if ordering via a food delivery app.)
The eatery also has other popular Indian dishes available, such as butter chicken, lamb curry and South Indian-style dosas.
Vegetarian burgers including the popular Aloo Tikki Noodle Burger to the right, served at Rangla Punjab Restaurant & Sweets Friday, Oct. 17, 2025 in Fresno.
Where to try the aloo noodle burger in Fresno
Here are several other locations where to try the noodle burger, in no particular order.
Taco Twist: 1050 W Shaw Ave, Ste 106, Fresno, CA 93711
This Indian-Mexican fusion chain eatery serves a Tawa Noodle burger stuffed with “very famous Indian Hakka noodles” a type of Indo-Chinese stir-fried noodles, plus a house-made veggie patty, Tikka burger sauce, curry sauce, ketchup, sour cream, romaine lettuce, sliced onion, tomatoes and cheese.
A 2022 TikTok video of their vegetarian noodle burger went viral, with more than 800,000 views.
Tawa Noodle burger at Taco Twist in Fresno photographed Aug. 13, 2024.
Food Junction, 2600 N Marks Ave, Fresno, CA 93722
The “special veggie burger” is one of this Punjabi street-style food truck’s most popular items, according to DoorDash. The potato patty is served with a spicy tomato-based sauce, noodles and a slice of paneer, a popular Indian cheese. There’s a second location in Fresno near the intersection of Fowler and Belmont avenues.
Special veggie burger from Food Junction, a Punjabi street food truck near Fowler and Belmont avenues in Fresno photographed on July 18, 2024.
Luv Punjab 559 5562 E Kings Canyon Rd., Fresno CA 93727
This fast casual eatery is one of several Fresno Punjabi grocery stores with a takeout food menu that serves the popular noodle burger.
Sweet and Sour Sauce is added to an Aloo Tikki Noodle Burger at Rangla Punjab Restaurant & Sweets Friday, Oct. 17, 2025 in Fresno.
Cilantro is added to the pan as a mixture is cooked for an Aloo Tikki Noodle Burger at Rangla Punjab Restaurant & Sweets Friday, Oct. 17, 2025 in Fresno.
Mint Chutney is added to the bun for an Aloo Tikki Noodle Burger at Rangla Punjab Restaurant & Sweets Friday, Oct. 17, 2025 in Fresno.
Rangla Punjab Restaurant & Sweets offers Indian food as well as an Aloo Tikka Noodle Burger which has gone viral on social media. Photographed Friday, Oct. 17, 2025 in Fresno.
Rangla Punjab Restaurant & Sweets is offering the viral vegetarian noodle burger along Shields Avenue near West Avenue. Photographed Friday, Oct. 17, 2025 in Fresno.