Exploring delightful Indian street foods: A mini guide across cities
India's vibrant street food culture captivates both locals and tourists with its array of flavors, aromas, and textures. These food stalls promise a unique culinary adventure, offering everything from savory chaats to crispy pakoras and delightful vadas. Join us on a lip-smacking journey across key Indian cities to discover the must-haves and never-misses of this delectable experience.
New Delhi
New Delhi has been a melting pot of cultures and a foodie's dream since the Mughal era. Travelers can visit Mughlai restaurants that have been operating since the time of kings close to the Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk. Some must-try dishes include a huge array of chaats, momos, honey chili potato (a modern favorite), and matar kulcha, a healthier alternative for chhole bhature.
Lucknow
Lucknow is the perfect destination if you love Mughalai dishes. Without sampling these mouth-watering delicacies, your trip to this city will remain incomplete. Go for tokri chaat if you are looking for a filling yet flavourful snack. Try the famous malai makhan or nimish a regal dessert. Conclude your gastronomic journey with malai paan, a melt-in-the-mouth dish invented for the Nawab of Awadh.
Kolkata
Kolkata is renowned as a foodies's paradise. Some must-tries here are deep-fried evening snacks—aloo chop, beguni, and penyaji—collectively called telebhaja. If you're fond of spicy and tangy treats, make sure to relish a dozen phuchkas. You can also enjoy leisurely people-watching while munching on some jhal muri—a mixture of puffed rice. Also, don't miss the opportunity to savor piping hot ghughni by the Ganga.
Chennai
The capital city of Tamil Nadu has a wide array of street foods. Head to the Burma Bazaar to gorge on atho - a Burmese noodle dish widely popular in the city. You can also try sundal, made from boiled chickpeas and shredded coconut that is sold along the beaches. A must-try is jigarthanda a refreshing cool beverage, made primarily from milk.
Bengaluru
The IT hub of India is also a city of a mixture of mouth-watering delicacies. While in Bengaluru, do not miss out on trying Mangalore buns—sweet, tender and fluffy puris made of bananas. You can also try dal obbattu. Made of dal, jaggery, cardamom powder, flour, and rava, dal obbattu is a Mysore local dish that is popular street food in Bangaluru.
Mumbai
When in Mumbai you can try some very delectable food combinations. Enhance your experience by standing along Mumbai's muggy streets and taking in the city's bustling crowds. Mumbai is home to one of the world's most distinctive street food scenes and the birthplace of dishes like pav bhaji, vada pav and bhelpuri. Don't forget to enjoy beloved dishes like dabeli, misal pav, and poha.
