HYDERABAD HOTEL TOKENS

In the busy hotels of Hyderabad's old city, where the aroma of Irani chai, malai bun, and paya soup filled the air long before the arrival of QR codes, a small metal token was used to manage orders — a system that still survives in a few hotels. It was not a currency coin but a simple handmade token that helped kitchens run smoothly. This system was introduced many years ago, especially in the old city. Customers would go to the counter, pay for their food, and receive a small token instead of a printed bill.

In the busy hotels of Hyderabad's old city, where the aroma of Irani chai, malai bun, and paya soup filled the air long before the arrival of QR codes, a small metal token was used to manage orders — a system that still survives in a few hotels.

It was not a currency coin but a simple handmade token that helped kitchens run smoothly. This system was introduced many years ago, especially in the old city. Customers would go to the counter, pay for their food, and receive a small token instead of a printed bill.

Each token, shaped differently to represent a specific dish, was handed over to the waiter by the customer or given by the cashier — signalling to the kitchen what to cook and serve.

For example, a round token meant puri, a triangle stood for sherwa, a star indicated bheja fry, and a cup shape represented tea. Some tokens had letters stamped on them, like CB for chicken biryani. When we see the token, we immediately know what to prepare. There's no need to ask the customer again, said Deepak Rajput, who works in a local hotel.

The system also helped prevent billing mistakes. Since every item was linked to a token, there was no chance of overbilling. Hotels couldn't prepare more than what the cashier had approved, adding a layer of accountability.

The system also helped bridge language barriers, as the staff needed to understand only the shapes of the tokens.

To read the complete article, see:
Metal Tokens That Once Ran Hyderabad's Hotels (https://www.deccanchronicle.com/southern-states/telangana/metal-tokens-that-once-ran-hyderabads-hotels-1889379)

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