Street food delicacies in India are deliciously flavourful and showcase the regional diversity of the vast country and its different cuisines. Street food in India includes a huge variety of tastes, smells and colours. But street food in India is not just about the flavours, it has an emotional connect with the people of the region. Each part of the country has its own street food delicacies that the people of the area will defend with their last breath. These street food items are sustaining a thriving economy of small food stalls all over India and creating unique cultural experiences for their customers.
The Top 20 Street Food in India
#1. Golgappa/ Puchka/ Panipuri – The puchka of Bengal or the golgappa/ panipuri of north India is perhaps the most famous street food in India. If any food was a cure for a sad day, then this tasty bite sized delicacy will top the list. The golgappa is a small crispy ball that is filled with a spicy mix of mashed potatoes and flavourful tamarind water. This street food is sold by hand individually by small street sellers and every evening will find long lines of people surrounding the one lonely vendor and going through dozens of golgappas. As a reward for doing well in exams, or as a special treat to oneself on a bad day, the golgappa is an integral element of Indian social life.
#2. Pav Bhaji – Pav Bhaji is arguably the best street food in Mumbai because of its tasty yet filling nature. This dish comprises of soft bread that is served with a delicious curry of tasty vegetables. People gather at Pav Bhaji stalls every single day to fill themselves up while they run to build their lives in the bustling city of Mumbai. Pav Bhaji however is no longer simply a street exclusive delicacy, many restaurateurs have also added this Mumbai signature dish to their tables.
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#3. Bhutta – The bhutta is simply the humble corn charred on the grill and served with some salt, spices and lemon rubbed on top. But the experience of street food in India will remain incomplete without tasting a freshly charred bhutta on a rainy day. The makeshift oven shooting up flames into the sky while the burning corn spreads its aroma all around- the bhutta is an experience unlike any other.
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#4. Bhelpuri – Street food in India usually arouses pictures of unhealthy friend things. But the Bhelpuri is the complete opposite of this trend. This puffed rice dish is perfect for those who want to indulge their taste buds without consuming a large number of calories. The puffed rice is mixed in with some chopped veggies and some spices to make it into a tasty snack. Some crispy toppings are sprinkled on top to add an added crunch to this spicy snack.
#5. Idli Sambhar – This dish is eponymous with south Indian street food, but whether you are a south Indian or not, the idli is a crowd favourite in all parts of the country. The idli is prepared from ground rice and steamed in a specially made pot. The sambhar is a lentil based side dish to dip the idli into. Idli sambhar is also a relatively healthy and filling dish among the street food dishes of India.
#6. Aloo Tikki – The aloo or potato is known for its ability to blend in with anything and everything and the aloo tikki too has blended into the street food fabric of India. This crispy fried dish is prepared by deep frying mashed potatoes flavoured with lots of spices and chillies. The aloo tikki is usually served with some kind of chutney or achar which adds another burst of flavour. So, if you are craving some quick snack the aloo tikki may be the perfect street food in India to try out.
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#7. Dabeli – The Dabeli may not be the most well-known among the street foods of India, but in terms of regular consumption the Dabeli may top the list of famous street food in India. Every day millions of Dabeli are prepared and sold in Gujarat, the homeland of this dish. Dabeli is a kind of mashed potato patty that is placed between two buns and served with some typical Indian sauces and toppings. The Dabeli is a filling meal and acts as a lunch meal for many working professionals who do not have the time to bring food from their homes every day.
#8. Momos – Though not indigenous to the city, Momos have become the arguably the best street food in Delhi. Every little street has its own momo stall where sellers sell their fresh steamed momos filled with a variety of different meats and vegetables. Momos are a kind of steamed dumpling that can be stuffed with chicken, mutton, pork and much more. North Indians have adapted this typical meat dish with vegetable fillings as well to cater to the region’s large vegetarian population.
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#9. Mirchi Bhajji – This is another famous south Indian street food, that is popular in the city of Hyderabad. The mirchi bhajji is a battered, stuffed and fried chilli. But there is no need to worry because while the bhajji does have a spice kick, it is not too spicy as the seeds of the mirchi are removed before cooking it.
#10. Choley Bhature – No discussion about the best street food in India is complete without a mention of Punjab’s favourite Choley Bhature. This dish though served as a street food dish, is very filling and can easily serve as a full meal. The Bhatura is a kind of flat bread prepared with lots of clarified butter or ghee and it is served with a spicy mix of chickpeas. Usually there is also a fresh salad served on the side.
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#11. Litti Chokha – The Litti Chokha is a tradition street food dish from Bihar. This is a cheap and simple dish, but packs in lots of flavour. The dish comprises of some gram bread balls served with a side of mashed potatoes and brinjals. Originally only popular in Bihar, Litti Chokha has now become a common street food in all of north India.
#12. Tunde Kabab – This is another regional dish that has been able to gain a lot of popularity because of its delicious taste. The Tunde Kabab is the signature street food of Lucknow. This dish is a small ball of flavoured minced meat. But the most important specialty of this dish is the fact that it melts in your mouth instantly and leaves behind a heavenly taste. Many chefs all over the world have tried to replicate the tunde kabab, but it is very hard to bring the flavour of the street stalls in a fancy five-star kitchen.
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#13. Thukpa – The northeast is often unexplored in terms of food as well as other cultural elements. But the thukpa noodle soup is now a famous street food in India that is well loved by people in all parts of the country. Fried noodles served with a tasty broth of meat and vegetables, the thukpa is tasty as well as filling. The broth is best served warm and is perfect on a chilly winter evening.
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#14. Kathi Rolls – The city of Kolkata in Bengal is known for being a cultural melting pot with its own unique cuisine and the kathi rolls of Kolkata are a testament to the highly developed flavour palates of this cuisines. The dish comprises of an outer layer of fried bread that is wrapped around a kebab of delicious meat and lots of freshly cut vegetables. A kathi roll may be a little oily and spicy, but this indulgence is well worth the taste.
#15. Poha Jalebi – We always talk of sweet and sour tastes, but hardly any dish ever truly lives up to this potential. The only exception among the street food in India may be the Poha Jalebi. The poha is a dish prepared with flattened rice and veggies while the jalebi is a fried sweet dish dipped in sugar syrup. These two unlikely items form a perfect combo of flavours that is very popular in Madhya Pradesh.
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#16. Ram Laddoo – This is perhaps the cheapest and best street food in Delhi. Delhi is not just the administrative capital of India; it may also be the street food capital of the country. The Ram Laddoo is one of the many popular street foods of Delhi. It refers to a kind of fritters prepared from moong dal that is flavoured with spices and chillies and is served with a green chutney or a tangy tamarind chutney. Ram Laddoo are sold by the dozens all over Delhi every single day.
#17. Masala Dosa – No talk of street food in India can be complete without a mention of the south Indian street food dosa. While there is also a simple dosa that is now popular in many parts of the country, the masala dosa packs in more flavour. The dosa is a very thin crispy wrap prepared by frying a rice paste batter. This dosa is then wrapped around some tasty grated vegetables. The dosas are served with the iconic sambhar lentil soup of south India or with some fresh coconut chutney.
#18. Falooda – Street food in India is not simply about the savoury dishes. There are lots of sweet dishes as well. The falooda of Mumbai is a typical example. The falloda is an Indian ice cream desert prepared with rose flavoured milk and decorated with sweet syrups. The falooda looks and tastes delicious and can be a great treat on a hot summer day.
#19. Khaman Dokla – The dhokla is a street food dish from south India. But unlike the other street food items that were a little on the heavier side, the khaman dhokla is a very light and fluffy dish. It comprises of steamed lentils that are mixed in with some fruit salt to give it a light spongy texture. The khaman dhokla is perfect for breakfast as well as an evening snack.
#20. Samosa – Last, but not the least, we have to end out discussion of street food in India with a reference to the iconic samosa. Every movie, tv show, piece of literature about a north Indian household has to make mention of the samosa. The samosa is the go-to at every Indian home for an evening snack or to serve to guests. But in spite of its mighty reputation, the samosa is actually a very simple dish. It includes some mashed and flavoured potatoes that are friend in a flour wrap. The samosa has a typical triangular shape and is available in almost every street corner of north India. Served with some spicy chutney, the samosa is a typical Indian snack, though many people also prefer to start of their breakfast with a samosa while on the way to work.
These 20 items listed above are just a few of the huge list of street food delicacies available in India. There are specialty street foods in each and every part of the country, made with ingredients common in the area and sold by the hundreds every single day. But street food in India is not just about the taste, these cheap food items are often the only thing that large sections of the population can afford while they work hard throughout the day.
But as more and more restaurants come up and start serving street food, these small street food stalls are losing steam. However, the street food sellers in India are also not waiting silently to lose their business. They are updating their facilities, following health and hygiene guidelines and making their food more attractive for all kinds of customers. If this trend continues, then there will be no question about the survival of the street food industry in India.
So, if you are craving some street food today, instead of ordering in from some delivery service, make sure to go to your local street food vendor to get a more authentic taste and experience and to support a small business.
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