The Best Street Food Destinations in India
India is a country with diverse culture, history and above all culinary destinations. The country’s food varies from region to region and the best way to sample the country’s street foods is to eat as the locals do. India has a vast rich street food culture from the narrow alleys of Delhi to the pavement food joints in Mumbai. The type of snacks include spicy chaats and sweet products which are in agreement with the cultural diversity of India.
For travelers, especially those from the UAE, India’s street food is one of the most exciting things to look forward to on a trip. Street food is fresh, colorful, and best of all, authentic; whether you are munching on dosas in Chennai or spicing up kebabs in Delhi. Also, the process of visiting India has been eased by an India Visa available in UAE, which means that lovers of the food streets can now easily visit the country.
Street food joints can be found all over India and are a specialty of every region, as far as snacks and some dishes are concerned. From the street food golgappas of Delhi to the famous sweet dessert rasgullas of Kolkata, they are a part of Indian food system. From the first time food lover to the second time and even third time traveler, India offers a food experience like no other. Do not leave for India without your India Visa and prepare to taste your way through the best street foods in the country.
Here are the Best Street Food Destinations in India
1. Delhi – A Fusion of North Indian Flavors
Delhi is a must visit for anyone planning to taste some of the best Indian street foods. Some of the most famous foods that North Indians cherish are found in the capital city of the country. Chandni Chowk is a fantastic place for food lovers to explore, especially the street food, which includes chaat, spicy mix of chickpeas, potatoes and crispy dough, golgappas which are crispy hollow balls filled with tamarind water and dahi puri, small puris filled with yogurt and chutneys. Further, the famous paratha wali gali in Delhi serves plain parathas to the stuffed ones with a potato, cauliflower, or sweet stuffing.
For non-vegetarian lovers, Delhi has some of the tastiest kebabs that include the rich, tasty and juicy kebabs of lamb and chicken that can be enjoyed at Karim’s and Al Jawahar. Among them are chole bhature – fried bread with spicy chickpeas and jalebi, a sweet treat, which is quite good after a meal.
Travel Tip: To make your travel easier, you should have an India Visa from UAE. This is a prerequisite for the tourists before they can enjoy the flavors of Delhi.
2. Mumbai – The King of Street Snacks
Mumbai being a place near the sea offers a number of delicious snacks that can be best described as Indian fast foods. Well-known for its vada pav, a spicy potato cutlet tucked into a bun, Mumbai’s road-side food is sweet and salty. Other popular dishes are pav bhaji (mashed vegetables cooked in spices served with buns spread with butter), bhelpuri (a dish made with puffed rice, chutneys and vegetables) and sevpuri (puris topped with chutneys and sev).
Two of the most famous areas to try Mumbai’s street food while watching the sea are Juhu Beach and Marine Drive. If you want to try a twist then Mumbai sandwich – this is a grilled bread sandwich stuffed with chutneys and vegetables. Do not forget to have a kulfi after tasting spicy foods; they can really help you beat the heat!
India Visa Tip: Remember to obtain your India Visa from UAE before you go on a food trip to Mumbai and indulge in street foods.
3. Kolkata – The City of Sweet and Savory
Kolkata is a city that is steeped in history, culture and most importantly food, which makes it a great place for street food. It is famous for puchkas, the Bengali version of golgappas, which are stuffed with a water solution that is tamarind flavoured. Kathi rolls, which are parathas rolled around spicy kebabs or chicken, is another snack that one must try in Kolkata. Some of these are Park Street, New Market and College Street where you can find these delicious dishes.
What makes Kolkata even more special is the availability of a large number of sweet dishes. Some of the popular Bengali sweets, which are popular all over India are rasgulla, sandesh and chomchom which are available in the city. After your tasty munching, do not miss these sweet items which are as old as the city of joy Kolkata.
Pro Tip: The travel from the UAE requires an India Visa to enjoy the best of Kolkata’s street food.
4. Chennai – The New Mecca of Street Food
Chennai is famous for South Indian food and hence, the street food in Chennai includes dosas (thick rice crepes) and idlis (steamed rice cakes). These dishes are normally taken with coconut chutney and sambar, a hot lentil preparation. These scrumptious snacks, vada (lentil based doughnuts) and sundal (spiced chickpeas) are available from vendors on the streets surrounding T. Nagar and Mylapore.
Some of the local foods include murukku, which is a spiral shaped snack, and pongal which is rice and lentil preparation, which is more of a Tamil Nadu cuisine.
India Visa Tip: If you are planning to take a street food trip around Chennai, ensure that your India Visa is approved if you are coming from the UAE.
5. Varanasi – A Spiritual Guide to a Foodie
Known as the spiritual capital of India, Varanasi has some of the most exotic street foods in the country. The culinary landscape of the city is basic but tasty meals. Taste the kachori sabzi – a pastry filled with spicy potatoes and a delicious gravy, and chaat sold in small food joints close to the river banks. To indulge in sweets, do not miss the Banarasi paan, a betel leaf filled with spices or the soft and sugary rasgulla.
One must not miss the fun of having these foods on the street side, especially when you are seated beside the Ganges.
India Visa Tip: To get the taste of the street food of Varanasi if you are in UAE, the initial step is to apply for the India Visa.
6. Jaipur – The Pink City’s Love Affair with Street Food
Jaipur-the Pink City of Rajasthan, has the traditional street food culture of the royal families. The famous Pyaaz ki Kachori, a deep-fried pastry stuffed with spicy onion mixture is a must have here. There are also ghevar, which is a honeycomb like sweet, dal baati churma which is a Rajasthani dish and laal maas which is a spicy red mutton curry that you can find from street food sellers located at different parts of the city.
India Visa Tip: Applying for an India Visa online makes the process easier before enjoying the famous street foods in Jaipur for those who are coming from the UAE.
Conclusion:
India has many street food locations which provide both the taste and texture of foods that will make you want more of it. Be it the Delhi’s chaats or Mumbai’s vada pav, the sweet of Kolkata or dosas of Chennai, the taste buds are not going to disappoint. If you are planning your trip from UAE then you should get an India Visa in advance to enjoy all the delicious food which is available in India.
It’s time to take a food tour through India, are you prepared for it? Don’t wait any longer and apply for your India Visa now and start enjoying the incredible street food in India.
