GST Reform 2025: Your Restaurant Meal’s Cheaper Now, 6 Points

Delhi

1. GST Slash on Restaurant Meals

• Dining out in India is now cheaper with the GST Council reducing tax on all restaurant meals to a flat 5%.

• Earlier, restaurants were taxed at 12% to 18%, depending on category.

• Effective September 22, your restaurant bills will drop noticeably.

2. Impact on Dining Out

• Family dinners, weekend outings, and casual meals will now cost less.

• Restaurants expect a surge in customer footfall, reviving demand that had dipped due to higher taxes.

• This move makes eating out more accessible for middle-class households.

3. Zero GST on Daily Food Essentials

• Several staple foods now completely exempt from GST, reducing kitchen budgets.

• Zero GST foods include:

  • Chapatis & Paranthas

  • UHT Milk

  • Paneer

  • Pizza Bread

  • Khakhra

4. 5% GST on Popular Grocery & Snack Items

• Everyday food products now fall under 5% GST slab instead of 12–18%.

• List of items at 5% GST:

  • Butter & Ghee

  • Dry Nuts

  • Condensed Milk

  • Sausages & Processed Meat

  • Jams, Jellies & Confectionery

  • Namkeen & Savoury Snacks

  • Ice Cream, Biscuits, Pastries & Cereals

  • Tender Coconut Water

  • Packaged Drinking Water (20L jars)

  • Cheese & Other Dairy Products

5. Healthier Choices at Lower Tax

• Plant-based milk and soy milk drinks now taxed at only 5%, down from 12–18%.

• Makes healthier and vegan-friendly alternatives more affordable to consumers.

6. Why This Matters for Food Lovers

• Lower GST = cheaper meals inside and outside the home.

• Consumers save money on both restaurant dining and daily groceries.

• Restaurants benefit from higher customer visits, boosting the hospitality & food service sector.