Indian street food is the yummy and quick version of traditional food which is by small joints or stalls on the roadside. With a diverse Indian culture and heritage, how would India not give a tough fight for street food?
We would not say that these Indian street foods are healthy but for sure these foods are a lot delectable for you to get drooling. Every Indian state has a speciality its street food speciality.
Indian street food has evolved over the period and today much more scrumptious versions are served. It has been a tough job to choose the yummiest Indian street food but here is a list:
Also Read: 100 Hindi Stories to Read in a Lifetime | 100 Indian Books to Read in a Lifetime
20 Best Indian Street Food in India
1. Puchkas/ Pani Puri/ Batase/ Gol Gappe
These are not different foods. It is the same good with different names. This is a kind of universal street food in India. When you go to the west, it is called Pani Puri, when you go to the east it is called Puchkas, when you go to the north is called Gol Gappe.
These are small tiny puri filled with tangy tamarind paste and minty spicy water along with various fillings such as potatoes chickpeas ragada or moong.
Each puri is like a bomb, with flavours of sweet, sour, spicy, hot, and bland. Probably this food has every flavour in it. This is more famous among women and the street side bhaiyas serve the best puchakas.
Also Read: Top 10 Richest People in India in 2023
2. Vada Pav
Vada Pav is a typical street food with is native to none other than “Amchi Mumbai”. You can have it for breakfast lunch or dinner you can have it at any time of the day.
This is a deep-fried dumpling with coatings of gram flour and fillings of mashed potato flavoured with ginger, garlic, chillies, lime, coriander and some fresh tempering.
These dumplings are filled in pav which is flavoured with some chutneys and served with spicy fried green chillies. You will find many of these at every corner, not only in Mumbai but at many other places across Maharashtra. Everyone from a student to an elite businessman relishes this famous street food.
Also Read: Top 100 Google Search in India in 2021
3. Aloo Tikki Chat
Bone-chilling cold and steaming hot aloo Tikki chat with masala chai are the winters of “dill walo ki Dilli”. This is a simple dish that has cubed potatoes fried and garnished with sweet and spicy chutneys.
Though this chat is more famous in Delhi, the whole country has its version of the chat. It is filled with moong daal along with a medley of spices.
During the chilling winters, some places serve Tikki of shakarkand or sweet potatoes. This is one of the street food which would make you want more and just one would not be enough. This can also be relished in summer along with a bottle of on-the-rocks sherbet.
Also Read: List of 10 Most Expensive Marriages in India | 10 Big Fat Weddings in India
4. Poha Jalebi
This street food comes from the streets of “Hindustan ka Dill” our very own Indore in Madhya Pradesh. This dish is a combination of one spicy pot meal, Poha and one sweet dish Jalebi, giving tantalising flavour to cherish.
Poha is a typically flattened rice dish that is tempered with chillies and fresh coriander. It is topped with sev, peanuts and other toppings as per taste.
It is finally served with piping hot jalebis. The shivering winters of Indore and piping hot street food with spicy and sweet flavours anyone would long for.
This dish too has variants as you travel across the country, especially in Maharashtra. Nagpur in North Eastern Maharashtra serves Poha with Tarri, spiced curry with a good blend of dry and wet spices.
Also Read: Top 10 Famous News Anchors Salary in India | Salary of Top News Anchor in India
5. Dabeli
The lost but delectable cousin of Vada Pav found in “Vibrant Gujrat” is Dabeli. It is a soft filling in crunchy pav with sweet and tangy flavours. Every nook and corner in Gujrat has a stall selling Dabeli.
Pav is stuffed with smashed spiced potatoes with fillings of peanuts, pomegranate, and tamarind chutney. The pav is roasted on butter till it’s crunchy and served with extra sev gathia.
If you happen to be in Gujrat, then the aroma of the spices and butter will surely pull you to the stalls. This long-lost cousin of Vada Pav is very welcome in Maharashtra and loved by locals here.
Also Read: Baba Ka Dhaba Latest News | Know More About Baba Ka Dhaba owner Kanta Prasad and Badami Devi
6. Chole Bhature
This street food is pervasive in “Sadda Punjab” and just like Punjabis it has travelled and made its place everywhere. All the North Indians love it to the core. Chole is a spicy white chickpea served with bhature, which is puffy fried Indian bread made from refined wheat flour.
This dish is often complemented with wholesome lassi. Punjab is full of these chole bhature stalls. There are some variants too for this dish.
Also Read: How to Get FASTag Immediately | What Is FASTag | Benefits of FASTag
7. Mirchi Ke Pakode
This famous dish is famous from Jodhpur city of “Royal Rajasthan”. The other name for it is Jodhpuri Mirchi vada. The long, big-sized chillies are slit open to be filled with spiced potato filling and dipped in gram flour batter before being deep-fried.
This pakode can be paired with coriander and mint chutney to add more flavour. This would be a perfect combo with Adrak wali chai in those soaking rainy seasons.
All over the country, you will find different variants of these pakodes. Like kanda bhaji or onion fritter from Pune, Maharashtra is to die for. Hyderabad serves delicious potato fritters or aloo pakode.
Also Read: Who Are the Masterminds of PM Narendra Modi? | Narendra Modi & his Powerful Team
8. Kathi Rolls
Talking about different street foods of the country how can we forget Kathi Rolls from Amor Bangla. The streets of Kolkata are filled with vendors selling Kathi Roll. Kebabs with lots of veggies are sandwiched between two crispy and flaky chapatis made from refined wheat flour or maida.
These rolls are a culinary treat to the eyes as well as the tummy. The fillings are generally of eggs or chicken along with chutneys. Many other alternatives are also available. Its English cousin is Frankie found at many places on the streets of Mumbai.
Also Read: Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Amendment Bill, 2021 | GNCTD Amendment Bill 2021
9. Akki Roti
This is a portion of famous street food from one state with many worlds, Karnataka. This is one of the healthy street foods made from rice flour. The dough is mixed with various flavouring ingredients such as chopped chillies and onions, fresh coriander and baked on Tawa.
This can be a morning wholesome meal before leaving for the office or an evening snack. It tastes best when served with coconut chutney.
Also Read: Top Google Search in India In 2020 | Top Google Search in 2020
10. Momos
Momos originate from the seven sisters of India. But this street food has made its special place in Northern India, especially Delhi. Momos are welcomed by all age groups as they are steamed and not fried or roasted. The fillings can be anything from chicken to mutton to vegetables.
Piping hot momos are served with red-coloured chutney. This street food is also famous on the hill stations. In the land of seven sisters, you may get a more authentic and better spread of moms.
Also Read: Effectiveness of COVID 19 vaccine (Covaxin) against SARS-CoV-2 Infection
11. Pav Bhaji
Yet another famous dish originated from Amchi Mumbai. Pav Bhaji originates from a spicy smashed mixture of vegetables tempered with spices and loads of butter to ogle upon. It is served with pav roasted and dripping salted butter.
For most Indians, it is Amul Butter and Pav Bhaji is loaded with butter. A lavish portion of tomato and onion along with lime gives it a great tangy taste. This is another dish favourite among children as well as adults.
Also Read: Top 10 Cuisine of London you Must Try
12. Tunde Kebab
This dish comes from the land of Nawabs Lucknow. Locals also call it Guloti Kebab. These kebabs are made from minced meat. The kebabs are so finely made that even a toothless person can have a euphoric sensation.
We are not sure why the name Tunde Kebab but who others when the taste takes you to a different world of favours.
Also Read: Top 10 Canadian Cuisines You Must Try in Your Life
13. Paddu
Paddu is a double DOSA from Southern India. It is again a steams street food making it a bit healthier. The batter is made from rice and black lentils.
In some places, this batter is stuffed with spices, onion, chillies and coriander. Then this batter is poured into a mould and kept baking. Paddu goes best with coconut chutney and filter coffee.
Also Read: Top 10 Best Places to Live in Prague
14. Jhal Muri
Another dish from Amor Bangla is Jhal Muri. Jhal stands for spicy and Muri stands for puffed rice. The muri are mixed with chopped onions, tomatoes, green chillies, and coriander leaves.
Sometimes it is also topped with coconut shavings and pieces of boiled potatoes. Then it is mixed well along with spices such as salt, black salt, chaat masala, red chilli powder, cumin powder, and dry mango powder.
Garnish with a sumptuous portion of lime juice. You can experience all the flavours in this dish. The other cousin of jhal muri is bhel puri found in different parts of the country but nothing can beat the taste of Jhal Muri.
Also Read: Top 10 best Places to Live in the America in 2024
15. Bikaneri Kachori
Bikaner Kachori or Raj Kachori is a royal and sumptuous street food from Royal Rajasthan. The big kachori is silted at the centre and filled with spices and hot gravy. Then it is topped with a grandiose amount of sweetened curd. Then again, it is garnished with sev and some chutney.
This dish has migrated to various places in the country and has been welcomed by the locals. The portions are lavish and one dish is enough to fill your tummy but not your senses.
Also Read: Top 10 Best Places to Visit in New Zealand
16. Misal Pav
This is a fusion dish of West and East. Like roti and curry vegetables, this dish has spicy and hot curry served with two or three pav. The curry is made of moth beans which are served with poha, potato veggie, farsan, onion and tomatoes.
As you travel through Maharashtra where it comes from, you will find different variants such as Dahi Misal in Pune, and Tarri Misal in Kolhapur which is the spiciest variant. This is another must-have street food.
Also Read: Top 10 Best Places to Visit in America
17. Idli Sambar
Idli comes from Southern India. WHO has crowned Idli to be the healthiest food. It is made from rice and lentils which is served with Sambar, and lentil curry with loads of vegetables like brinjal, ladyfinger, potato, drumstick and small onions.
Idli can be fully dipped in sambar and eaten along with different chutneys made of onion, tamarind or coconut. Idli can be made in different sizes and shapes.
Also Read: Top 10 Best Places to Visit in London | Must Visit Places in London
18. Ghugni Chaat
This food has also found a permanent address on the streets of Kolkata. It is made from yellow or white mutter or peas. These peas are made in watery form and topped with various spices, onion and chutneys.
The favours are further evolved with a dash of lemon. This dish has travelled to the neighbourhood and settled with the locals very well.
Also Read: Top 10 Best Universities in France | Best French University for Higher Education
19. Dosa
Indian version of pancakes and different shapes cousin of idli is DOSA. Dosa and Idli have almost the same batter. The batter is spread on Tava and baked with oil or ghee.
But this dish has evolved over the period to satisfy the taste buds. Dosa is stuffed with potato vegetables chocolate or Chinese noodles or podi/gun powder. It is also served with sambar and different chutneys.
Also Read: Top 10 Best Authentic Cuisines of New Zealand You Must Try
20. Kanji Vada
Kanji Vada comes from Gujrat and Rajasthan. Kanji is flavoured water. It is fermented to some extent to get sourness. Various spices like asafoetida, mustard powder, red chilly powder, black salt, turmeric, etc.
The vadas are deep-fried dumplings made from moong dal and urad daal. The vadas are immersed in kanji and topped with boondi before serving.
We hope this Indian street food will surely compel you to take a tour of India to taste various Street foods. And maybe explore some more new dishes too. Bon Appetite.
Read More:
- Top 10 Best Universities for Animation & VFX Course in UK
- Winners Full List of 68th National Film Awards | 68th Indian National Film Awards
- Top 10 Canadian Cuisines You Must Try in Your Life
- Top 10 Finest and Greatest Golf Players of all time
- Former Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal | What is Parag Agrawal Doing Right Now | Who Was The Twitter New CEO
About Author
