India, the cradle of one of the oldest civilizations in the world is an ultimate destination for foodies that challenge their taste buds every other second. With the myriad of attractions, deep-rooted history, interesting culture, and heavenly distinct food, there are places in the country that attracts food connoisseurs from across the world and make them indulge in unspeakable experiences that cannot be imagined but only felt. From fine dining cuisines to cheap street food, we bring you the best places to satiate your hunger. If you are on a vacation to these places, do ensure to devour the best food they have to offer.
Delhi
Delhi is a mecca for foodies apart from being the center of vibrant nightlife, cheap thrills involving shopping escapades and historical monuments dating back to thousands of years. From narrow lanes to the posh settlements, Delhi is known to delight tourists with its phenomenally tasty street food. Not only street food, but Delhi has some of the oldest shops (more than 100 years old) serving ‘hot paranthas of unlimited varieties’, ‘rabdi-jalebi’ and drool-worthy North Indian cuisines. Contrastingly, there are also high-end restaurants welcoming food connoisseurs with their palatable ‘Continental’, ‘Chinese’, ‘Nepalese’, ‘Mughlai’ and ample international cuisines, the taste of which takes you to a different dimension full of good things. Here are some eateries/restaurants worth visiting when exploring Delhi-
- Chandni Chowk: Natraj Café, Babu Ram Paranthey Wala, Karim’s, Kuremal Mohan Lal Kulfi Wale, Jung Bahadur Jalebi Wala and Haji Tea Point.
- Connaught Place: Saravana Bhavan (Authentic South Indian Food), Berco’s (Chinese and Thai), Ardor 2.1 (North India and Chinese), Warehouse Café (Continental), Farzi Café (Modern Indian), Jungle Jamboree (Continental and North Indian), Garam Dharam (North Indian), Shake Square, and Cha Bar (Tea and Snacks).
- Khan Market: Soda Bottle Opener Wala, Khan Chacha (Veg Roll and Meat are to die for!), Mamagoto (Pan-Asian Dishes), The Big Chill Cakery (Dessert), Smoke House Deli, Wok in the Clouds (Do try orange and coriander Mojito, Prawns and Schezuan).
- Diplomatic Enclave: Bukhara, Café Delhi Heights, Orient Express and Side Wok.
Amritsar
People of Amritsar are known for their insatiable appetites for the unending variety of veg and non-veg food options found in the city. The street food of Amritsar especially grabs attention for its irresistible flavorful food and rich aroma. From appetite filling Kara Prasad of Golden Temple to the typical Amritsari food, we have got you covered. This might be the magic of Punjab’s soil or food preparation, or both, that gives the food its distinct quality and leaves a lingering taste in one’s mouth. So next time you plan to visit the city, make sure you cover these restaurants and food joints to curb your hunger. Believe us, once you had the taste of Amritsari street food, you will yearn for more.
- Kesar Da Dhaba: for authentic Punjabi food (veg/non-veg) with an accurate blend of spices.
- Ram Lubhaya: The shop is renowned for its Aam Papad served in different varieties for easy digestion after consuming heavy food.
- Mishri Bazaar: Pick your favorite pickle (fresh) from wide assortments after tasting the samples.
- The Kulcha Land: Serves the best kulchas in all over the city.
- Gurdas Ram Jalebi Wala: Do buy Jalebis from here and you’d not regret it. They have the best and juicy jalebis ever!
- Hall Bazaar: The fruit cream and kulfa are worth every penny. Kulfa is an Amritsari version of Kulfi, an ice cream topped with noodles like falooda.
- Ahuja Milk Bhandar: Imagine going to Amritsar and not having a glass of Lassi. The land that swears by its ghee and lassi simply cannot be explored without trying them. Ahuja Milk Bhandar uses its special secret ingredients (which have been proved difficult to crack) that make it stand apart from others.
Hyderabad
The city of Nizams swears by its lip-smacking biryani and non-veg food that are too yummy to resist. Hyderabad is not only known for Char Minar, but is a potpourri of history, cuisines and eclectic experience that have made it what it is today. It is now identified as the ultimate destination to satisfy the souls of foodies. The melting pot of various cultures and races enriching the variety of the gastronomic range in the city promises you a wonderful time and experience. Without further ado, let’s dive into the culinary delights the place has to offer-
- Toli Chowki: Shah GHouse Café and Restaurant at Toli Chowk is known to serve unbelievable biryani, Hyderabadi haleem and ample of other street foods to tickle your taste buds.
- Ghansi Bazaar: Hotel Shadab serves the best Hyderabadi biryani, Nihari, finest Boti kebab and Mirchi ka Salaan that people swear is to die for.
- The Grand Trunk Road: Serves utterly delicious desserts including Phirni that will make you fall in love over and over again.
- Paradise Circle: It is a quintessential place to devour the best food of Hyderabad.
- Charminar Market: Let your taste buds run wild in Charminar Market having food stalls and restaurants serving all sorts of tasty and spicy cuisines.
Lucknow
If you wish to taste the exotic food the nawabs of Lucknow used to eat heartily, then the streets of Lucknow will take you back in the era when food culture reached new heights. The traditional food of Lucknow was patronized by the nawabs and royal chefs were trained to serve an exquisite culinary spread consisting of exotic preparations, blending of home-made spices etc. Lucknow is quintessential gourmet heaven for every foodie offering overwhelming dishes like Tunde Kebab, Kaliya, Nihari Kulcha, Kachoris, Ghewar, Nimish etc to appear your taste buds. Here are the places where you can indulge in the best food ever-
- Raheem’s: Whoever visits Lucknow customarily make time to have lunch/dinner at Raheem’s. The century-old shop is renowned for its unbeatable Nihari and Kulchas that is enough to satiate your hunger.
- Dastarkhwan: Yearning for authentic Mughlai food? Head to Dastarkhwan for soul-fulfilling Galawat Kebab, Mutton Rogan Josh, Shami Kebab, you name it and it has got non-veg delicacy served to you on a silver platter.
- Shukla Chat House: If you have a soft spot for spicy and tangy street food, you must rush to Shukla Chat House that serves the best street food in Lucknow.
- Idris Biryani: Biryani is must to have when you are in Lucknow. We are not talking about any regular Biryani but Idris Biryani that has been serving exquisite biryani’s for ages.
- Tunde Kababi: If you haven’t tried Tunde Kabab at Tunde Kababi, you haven’t really explored Lucknow. Apart from that, there are many lip-smacking dishes to try that will leave a lingering taste in your mouth.
Kolkata
Kolkata boasts of its traditional Bengali cuisine that is rich in flavorful seafood, vegetables, hearty meat dishes and plenty of satisfying desserts to make you fall in love with the land. Devouring local cuisines is an important part of exploring the city. Right from the starters to the main course, the city literally offers foodies, culinary treats on a silver platter. Make sure you too indulge in delights of the city when you travel it. Here are some remarkable eateries and restaurants in Kolkata you must visit once-
- Park Street: One of the busiest streets in Kolkata, Park Street is a paradise for foodies who simply cannot resist street food laced with spices and a variety of sauces. The specialty of the street is Kathi roll that beats the ones served in opulent hotels.
- Dacre Street: Another popular street for devouring delicious street food comprising chowmein, Schezuan chicken, luchi-alu dom, fish roll etc.
- China Town: Yes, you can eat authentic Chinese food in Kolkata. China town enhances fine dining experience by serving traditional Chinese cuisine that simply tastes better than anyplace else.
- Ganguram’s: If you are travelling to Kolkata without tasting Kochuri along with Mishti Doi from Ganguram’s, you’d be missing a lot. Flocked by students and office goers, the place is best for having breakfast and lunch.
Mumbai
From cutting chai to vada pao, the street food of Mumbai is unbelievably soul-satisfying that will make you ditch your diet and gorge upon the spiciest food without worrying about pounds you’ll likely to add. The city of dreams is the ultimate destination for food connoisseur out there giving them the best experiences of fine dining. Here are the restaurants and eating joints where you can experiment with delicious food and tantalize your taste buds-
- Bhendi Bazaar: Talk about the best street food and you can get it in Bhendi Bazaar. Low cost yet quality food is the specialty of this market. If you are lucky, you might spot bollywood stars roaming the market and tasting the yumminess beside you.
- Grant Road: Ogle local greens and sprouted lentils, sample unusual fruits like tannic purple jamuns and jelly-like ice apples (tadgola), taste typical Mumbai street food at Grant Road and you’ll get food nirvana.
- Pratap Da Dhaba: Good, simple, inexpensive north Indian cookery is not an especially easy thing to find in Mumbai, a city whose canteens skew south and west. Pratap Da Dhaba is the place to be for cheap yet drool-worthy Indian Dishes.
- Girgaum Chowpatty: Street food, Asian food, Mexican food, you name it and Girgaum Chowpatty has got it. The Kung Pao Potatoes at Kurries and Burries are worth trying.
- Crawford Market: Known for its extremely delicious Mughlai specialties at maddeningly low prices, Crawford Market has restaurants that offer unlimited delights to appease your taste buds. Chicken tikka masala, Garlic Naan, Rabdi Kulfi are must-try here.
Chennai
The land of Authentic South Indian Cuisine, Chennai is a foodie’s hub making him/her gorge upon its mouthwatering dishes, the taste of which cannot be found anywhere else. If you are travelling to Chennai, it would be a crime to not get your hands on the lip tantalizing food the city has to offer. While filtered coffee and sambhar rice can be found at every nook and crannies, there are some food items that you certainly cannot resist or miss when exploring Chennai. South Indian savories are totally drool-worthy and will leave you craving for more, even when your stomach is full.
- Sarvana Bhavan: Be it Sambhar Vada, Dosa, Uttapam or any other typical south Indian delicacies, Saravana restaurant in Chennai are worth spending every buck. Your trip to Chennai is incomplete if you haven’t had the chance to have a hearty meal at this veg restaurant.
- Annalakshmi Restaurant: Want to have the best Sambhar Vada there is in Chennai? Head to Annalakshmi Restaurant and you’d know why the place attracts crowd.
- T-Nagar: Don’t forget to enjoy southern savories when passing by T-nagar. The place has some of the amazing fine-dine restaurants that simply amplify your experiences.
- The Flying Elephant: For a luxurious dining experience, there couldn’t be a better place than the flying elephant restaurant in Park Hyatt Hotel. The restaurant offers a wide array of cuisines from North Indian to Continental. Vibrant ambience, fine décor, and DJ make everything lovable.
