What Are the Best Places to Eat in India?

Explore the best places to eat in India, from vibrant street food markets to iconic restaurants. Savor the diverse flavors and regional specialties that make Indian cuisine a true gastronomic delight.

India has a very rich culinary landscape as compared to the cultures it features. You will hardly get bored of tasting spices, flavors, and regional dishes once you compound its listimester living in India; your taste bud would want more! We take a look at some of the best places to get your fix and tuck into India’s finest culinary creations, from street food stalls through to fine dining restaurants.

1. Delhi: Chandni Chowk

A Maze of Galis:

Doing the rounds of Chandni Chowk – Delhi, is a trip into history; an explosion to your senses. A haven for street food, Chandni Chowk is a smorgasbord of chaat (savory snacks), parathas studded with ghee (clarified butter) and stuffed with lentils or potatoes, kebabs aplenty – from shami to seekh all the way through to galouti – not forgetting sweets like jalebi served piping hot during breakfast-time as well as doused in rabri at night. Do not forget to visit the famous Paranthe Wali Gali where you can have lots of stuffed parathas with spiced-up chutneys and pickles.

Must-Try Dishes:

• Aloo Tikki: Spiced potato patties served with tamarind chutney and yogurt.
• Daulat Ki Chaat: Whipped milk foam topped with saffron, nuts, and sugar.

Experience:

• Explore the spice market and historical landmarks like Jama Masjid nearby.
• Visit Kinari Bazaar for traditional textiles and handicrafts.

2. Mumbai: Mohammad Ali Road

Foodie’s Dreamland:

In Mumbai, Mohammad Ali Road turns into a foodie dreamland during Ramadan with rows of stalls serving kebabs, tandoori delights, and Mughlai sweets. Try succulent seekh kebabs, melt-in-your-mouth nihari (slow-cooked meat stew), or rich phirni for dessert as you take in the lively setting of this ultimate street food stop.

Must-Try Dishes:

• Chicken Shawarma: Juicy marinated chicken wrapped in flatbread with garlic sauce.
• Malpua: Sweet pancakes dipped in sugar syrup, often served with rabri.

Experience:

• Explore nearby Crawford Market for fresh produce and local spices.
• Visit Haji Ali Dargah, a renowned Islamic shrine located on an islet off the coast.

3. Amritsar: Golden Temple Langar

Culinary Paradise:

A paradise for culinary enthusiasts is the one-of-its-kind experience offered at Golden Temple, Amritsar – The Langar (community kitchen), typically symbolic of Sikh hospitality. Thousands of visitors receive daily vegetarian meals, including dal (lentil curry), roti (flatbread), and kheer. Gender Equality and Sharing is other name to it where People come from all over the world, sit with humility for dining.

Must-Try Dishes:

• Langar Food: Simple yet flavorful dishes served in the community kitchen, often accompanied by a dessert like karah prasad (sweet semolina).

Experience:

• Witness the nightly Palki Sahib ceremony, where the Sikh holy book is carried to its resting place.
• Explore the intricate marble and gold architecture of the Golden Temple complex.

4. Kolkata: Park Street

Vibrant Food Scene:

Park Street in Kolkata is renowned for its vibrant food scene, offering a blend of traditional Bengali cuisine and global flavors. Your taste buds will thank you as well when you give in to Kolkata’s legendary street food- dishes like puchkas and kathi rolls, or the famous mishti doi.

Must-Try Dishes:

• Macher Jhol: Spicy fish curry served with rice or luchi (deep-fried bread).
• Sandesh: Sweet confection made from fresh paneer and flavored with cardamom or saffron.

Experience:

• Visit Park Street Cemetery, one of Kolkata’s oldest burial grounds with Gothic architecture and serene ambiance.
• Attend a performance at Academy of Fine Arts, showcasing traditional music and dance forms.

5. Jaipur: Chokhi Dhani

Cultural Village Resort:

Chokhi Dhani near Jaipur is a cultural village resort that offers a glimpse into Rajasthan’s rich heritage through its traditional cuisine and entertainment. Enjoy an elaborate Rajasthani thali (platter) featuring dal bati churma (lentil curry with baked wheat balls), gatte ki sabzi (gram flour dumplings in spicy gravy), and ker sangri (wild beans and berries).

Must-Try Dishes:

• Laal Maas: Spicy mutton curry cooked with red chili paste and yogurt.
• Ghevar: Festive sweet made from flour, ghee, and sugar syrup, often enjoyed during special occasions.

Experience:

• Participate in traditional folk dances like Ghoomar and Kalbelia performed by local artists.
• Enjoy camel rides and puppet shows depicting Rajasthani folklore and mythology.

6. Kerala: Alleppey Backwaters

Peaceful Backwaters:

Sail down the peaceful backwaters of Alleppey in Kerala on a beautifully restored houseboat, freshly cooked Keralan dishes and striking landscapes await. Tuck into seafood treats such as karimeen pollichathu (pearl spot fish with spices in banana leaf) and meen moilee (coconut milk fish curry), served alongside hot appam rice pancakes or soft idiyappams string hoppers.

Must-Try Dishes:

• Toddy Shop Cuisine: Authentic dishes served at local toddy shops, featuring dishes like kappa (tapioca) and spicy fish curry.

Experience:

• Explore Alleppey’s vibrant coir industry and watch skilled craftsmen weaving coir products.
• Visit traditional Kerala villages and interact with local fishermen and artisans.

7. Hyderabad: Paradise Biryani

Unholy Matrimony:

In Hyderabad, biryani is the unholy matrimony between marinated meat – usually goat or chicken but sometimes buffalo if you want to be colonial about it – with fragrant spices and saffron-infused rice. Go to Paradise Biryani (a regular chain restaurant famous for spicy Hyderabadi biryani, which involves basmati rice dam cooked with specific spices and juicy lamb slices.) Served along tangy mirchi ka salan & refreshing raita.

Must-Try Dishes:

• Hyderabadi Haleem: Slow-cooked wheat and meat stew flavored with aromatic spices, garnished with fried onions and lemon wedges.
• Double Ka Meetha: Bread pudding soaked in sugar syrup and garnished with nuts and saffron.

Experience:

• Explore Golconda Fort, a historic citadel known for its impressive architecture and panoramic views of Hyderabad.
• Visit Charminar, Hyderabad’s iconic monument and bustling market area, known for its vibrant street food stalls and bazaars.

8. Varanasi: Lassi and Kachori

Hearty Breakfast:

Begin Your Day With A Hearty Breakfast Of Hot Kachoris And Lassis. Just a week back, I visited the ancient city of Varanasi and gorged on piping hot kachori (deep fried bread stuffed with spicy lentils or potatoes) paired up with aromatic cardamom-green chili flavored lassi. Head to Blue Lassi, a well-known lassi shop that makes mango, rose and the usual sweet lassis topped with malai (clotted cream), nuts and saffron.

Must-Try Dishes:

• Banarasi Paan: Betel leaf stuffed with areca nut, tobacco, and sweetened ingredients, popular as a digestive after meals.
• Baati Chokha: Roasted wheat balls served with mashed spiced vegetables, a traditional dish of Uttar Pradesh.

Experience:

• Attend the Ganga Aarti ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat, where priests perform rituals with fire and incense, accompanied by chanting and music.
• Explore Varanasi’s ancient temples, including Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Sarnath, a Buddhist pilgrimage site where Buddha delivered his first sermon.

9. Goa: Seafood Shacks

Lazy, Laid-Back:

Goa’s pristine beaches are lined with lazy, laid-back seafood shacks serving up the daily catch in Goan spices and coconut milk. Indulge in grilled tiger prawns, butter garlic crab, and fish curry rice while feasting your eyes upon panoramic views of the Arabian Sea. Head to the beachside shacks of Baga like Britto’s, or down South and dine at a place famously known as Martin’s Corner for truly great Goan cuisine coupled with lively sea coast vibes.

Must-Try Dishes:

• Sorpotel: Spicy pork curry cooked with vinegar and Goan spices, traditionally served with sannas (steamed rice cakes).
• Bebinca: Layered Goan dessert made from coconut milk, eggs, and sugar, baked to perfection.

Experience:

• Explore Goa’s colonial heritage with visits to churches like Basilica of Bom Jesus and Se Cathedral, known for their Baroque architecture and religious significance.
• Participate in water sports activities like parasailing and jet skiing at Goa’s popular beaches, including Calangute and Anjuna.

10. Agra: Petha and Mughlai Cuisine

Mughlai Fare:

Agra, known for the Taj Mahal, has its culinary roots deeply entrenched in Mughlai Cuisine. Feast on kebabs, korma, biryanis (saffron-infused rice cooked with mutton or chicken), and aromatic pulaos. Enjoy delightful Agra street food, from Bedai with aloo sabzi (fried bread and tangy potato curry) to lassi topped with dry fruits.

Must-Try Dishes:

• Taj Mahal Pan: Betel leaf filled with various ingredients like areca nut, cardamom, and sweetened rose petals, known for its refreshing taste.
• Shahi Tukda: Bread pudding topped with rich sweetened milk and garnished with almonds and pistachios, a royal dessert from the Mughal era.

Experience:

• Witness the beauty of the Taj Mahal at sunrise or sunset, known for its exquisite marble architecture and romantic ambiance.
• Explore Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site that served as the main residence of the Mughal emperors, offering panoramic views of the Yamuna River and surrounding gardens.

Conclusion

With the large and varied culinary spread that India offers, one is spoilt for choice with its decent of aromas from street food stalls to few millenniums aged restaurants serving region-specified delicacies. So, be it touring the colorful bazaars of Delhi or sampling seafood on Goa’s sandy beaches and tradition dishes in Rajasthan only at India experiences this myriad journey. Taste the flavors of heritage by hitting up these best places to eat in India and learn about how Indian food is so popular not only because it has some amazing spices but also for showcasing cultural diversity.