Gopu Rajbanshi has turned her vision of entrepreneurship into a thriving Bur Dubai neighbourhood institution — where everyday shopping meets the irresistible flavours of Nepal.

Words by GO! Dubai Press & Media

Some dreams begin with a business plan. Others begin with courage.

For Gopu Rajbanshi, the dream began with a decision to leave Nepal, come to Dubai and build something of her own. Today, that dream has a name: Sasto Market.

What started as a convenient store has grown into a successful and much-loved destination in Bur Dubai. Customers come for groceries, household essentials and everyday goods, but many also come for something else — the food.

At the heart of Sasto Market is a popular food corner serving authentic Nepali favourites including aloo nimki, chatpati and pani puri. Prepared to order, the food has developed a loyal following, with customers regularly returning for what many regard as some of the best Nepali street food in Bur Dubai.

But behind the success is a woman who has worked exceptionally hard to make it happen.

We caught up with Gopu to talk about her journey, the challenges of entrepreneurship, missing her family in Nepal and the dream she has built in Dubai.

Q: Gopu, tell us about your journey to Dubai. What brought you here?

Gopu: Like many people who come to Dubai, I came with dreams and hopes for a better future. I wanted to work hard, become independent and eventually have something of my own.

When I arrived, I knew that building a business would not be easy. But I also knew that if I was patient and willing to work hard, I could create something.

Sasto Market became that opportunity.

Q: How did the idea for Sasto Market come about?

Gopu: I wanted to create a place where people could find the things they need easily and at reasonable prices.

But as the business developed, I realised it could become more than just a shop. I wanted it to feel like a place where people could come, meet friends, have something to eat and feel comfortable.

That is how the food corner became such an important part of Sasto Market.

Q: Today, people come not only to shop but specifically to eat. Did you expect that?

Gopu: Honestly, I am very happy and proud of that.

Our food is made fresh to order. We serve Nepali favourites such as aloo nimki, chatpati and pani puri.

These are foods that many Nepali people know and love from home. They bring back memories.

But what makes me especially happy is that people from many different nationalities also enjoy them. Some customers come specifically because they have heard about our food.

Q: What makes your food corner special?

Gopu: I think it is the freshness and the taste, but also the feeling behind it.

We want people to enjoy the food the way they would enjoy it back home. We prepare it when they order it, and we try to maintain the flavours and quality that our customers expect.

For us, it is not simply about selling food. We want people to have a good experience.

Q: Sasto Market has become quite a popular hangout in Bur Dubai. How does that make you feel?

Gopu: It makes me very happy.

Sometimes I look around and see people shopping, eating, talking and laughing, and I think about how far we have come.

When you start something, you don’t know exactly what it will become. You just work every day and hope people will appreciate what you are doing.

Seeing regular customers return is one of the best feelings.

Q: Running a shop and food operation must require incredibly long hours.

Gopu: Yes, definitely.

People see the business when everything is ready for the customers, but they don’t always see what happens behind the scenes.

There are long working days, deliveries, stock, suppliers, staff, cleaning, preparation and many other responsibilities.

Sometimes you are tired and you still have to keep going. When you are the owner, you cannot simply switch off.

But I accept that because this is something I built. It is my responsibility, and it is also something I am proud of.

Q: What has been the biggest challenge of your professional journey?

Gopu: There have been many challenges.

Running a business teaches you that not every day will be successful. You have problems with suppliers, customers, costs, staffing and many other things.

You have to learn how to solve problems instead of becoming discouraged by them.

I have made mistakes too, but every mistake has taught me something.

Q: Do you miss Nepal?

Gopu: Very much.

I miss my family, especially during special occasions and festivals. There are moments when I wish I could simply be with them.

Living away from your family is not easy. You can be surrounded by people all day and still miss the people who are closest to your heart.

But my family understands why I am here and they are proud of what I have achieved. Their support gives me strength.

Q: What keeps you motivated when things become difficult?

Gopu: I think about how far I have come.

When I first came to Dubai, I had a dream. Today, I have a business that customers know and appreciate.

That reminds me that hard work can really change your life.

I also think about the future. I want Sasto Market to continue growing and becoming even better.

Q: What does success mean to you today?

Gopu: Success is not only about money.

For me, success is having something that I built myself and seeing other people enjoy it.

When a customer comes back and says, “Your food is very good,” or when someone recommends our shop to a friend, that means a lot.

It tells me that we are doing something right.

Q: What would you say to other women who dream of starting their own business in Dubai?

Gopu: Believe in yourself and don’t be afraid of hard work.

You have to be patient because success doesn’t happen overnight.

There will be difficult days. You may become tired and sometimes you may wonder whether you made the right decision.

But if you have a dream, keep working towards it.

You don’t have to start with something huge. Start with what you can manage, learn from every experience and grow step by step.

Q: Finally, when you look at Sasto Market today, what do you feel?

Gopu: I feel proud.

It is not perfect and there is always more to learn and improve. But when I look at what we have created, I feel that all the hard work has been worth it.

Sasto Market is not just my shop anymore. It has become a place where people meet, eat, shop and spend time together.

And that makes me very happy.

A LITTLE TASTE OF HOME IN THE HEART OF DUBAI

Gopu Rajbanshi’s story is ultimately about much more than a convenience store.

It is about taking a dream, turning it into a business and then turning that business into a community.

At Sasto Market, the shelves may be filled with everyday essentials, but the food corner offers something less tangible — a taste of home, a familiar flavour and a place to reconnect.

For Nepalis living far from Nepal, a plate of freshly prepared chatpati or pani puri can bring back memories in an instant.

And for Gopu, every order is another reminder of the journey she has made.

She left Nepal with a dream.

Today, in the busy streets of Bur Dubai, she is living it.