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20 Famous Indian street foods you need to (safely) try in India. 

India is home to 1.4 billion people. It is one of the most diverse countries on the planet, with each region and subculture having its own take on traditional cuisine so it is no surprise that Indian street food is deliciously diverse too. 

Everyone will warn you cordially about the looming and inevitable Delhi Belly.  Though you can ignore those ones and their well-meaning advice.  

Instead know that when you are travelling to India for the first time there are some essential and more important must-try foods you don’t want to miss out on!  You just need a few tips to try those street foods safely. 

Here are some of the most famous Indian street foods to try in India and where to find them.  Plus, tips for how to safely navigate the deliciously diverse street food scene of India. 

What are the most popular and ‘must-try’ Indian street food to try in India on your first trip? 

The country is unarguably diverse.  And so, seemingly, is every list you turn to for famous Indian street foods to try in India.  

But these favourites of ours (and soon to be yours) are the street food dishes and treats most recommend for a first time.  They are foods that are easily recognisable and available pretty much anywhere you are traveling in India on your first time, and with a heads up on where we recommend the best place to safely and enjoyably find these Indian street foods. 

What about Delhi Belly? 

Indian street food has a mixed reputation.  On one hand everyone acknowledges the incredible depth and range of flavours of Indian cuisine.  Then on the other hand there is always that looming anxiety of the much-dreaded Delhi Belly. 

If you get the chance to do an Indian street food tour in the cities – Amritsar, Delhi, Kolkata or Mumbai especially – we recommend you grab it.

It is always more relaxing going with someone who knows where to eat! 

A busy food stall beneath the historic and sacred Banyan trees of Guru Bazar. Food of Amritsar.
A busy food stall beneath the historic and sacred Banyan trees of Guru Bazar in Amritsar.

How to eat Indian street food safely 

Its undeniable there is a stigma for any traveller to India that you make us all a little (or a lot) hesitant to try Indian street food.  I completely understand.  

But the truth is that street food is the heart of Indian cuisine and there is a plethora of unique tastes you don’t want to miss out on. 

There are more details in this post about how to avoid Delhi Belly and with a few tips to eat street food safely you won’t miss out. 

Don’t be shy to use sanitiser and wash your hands regularly.

Incredible colours, scents and sounds from all directions of street food in Dargah Bazar in Ajmer.

Savoury – Indian Street Food 

In no particular order, here are the most famous (and findable) savoury Indian street foods to try on your first time in India. 

Chole Bhature

Chole Bhature is a popular North Indian dish, especially in Delhi and Punjab.  It consists of spicy chickpeas (chole) paired with a fluffy, deep-fried bread called bhature.

The busy Kulfi and sweets shop next to Tasty Food serving famous Chole Bhature in Chandni Chowk.
Chole Bhature; a combo meal of Chana Masala (chickpeas) and Bhature (fried flatbread). 

Aloo Tiki 

Aloo Tikki is made with mashed potatoes, and a few spices and dipped into an egg wash before being fried.

They are a popular Indian street food of potato patties from all over the country. 

Aloo Tikki, Bhaji and other fried snacks for breakfast time in Bikaner.

Laccha Paratha

Laccha Paratha is believed to have originated in the subcontinent in the 12th century which is a pretty epic consideration.

The word ‘Lachha’ is Punjabi for ‘ring’, which refers to the dough’s ring-like layers.  

The dough is folded over while adding ghee, then fried in a pan or tandoor making a unique, flaky, layered Indian flatbread. 

Fried bread always just sounds delicious! 

A lineup of Laccha paratha at Kali Da Dhaba.
Paratha being cooked in a traditional clay tandoor oven.

Aloo Paratha

This was a firm favourite on our India Group Trips.  Albeit it is debatable as an Indian street food as it is most commonly served for breakfast (all over the country). 

‘Aloo’ means potato and ‘Paratha’ is a fried bread.  

The outcome is a deliciously fried flatbread stuffed with lightly spiced potato that is usually served with fresh curd and pickle. 

Fruit is often debatable health-wise in India but Aloo Paratha is a great breakfast in Bikaner, Rajasthan. 
Aloo Paratha and Pole Rice (flattened rice with onions, spices, herbs, and peanuts) for breakfast in Jodhpur.

Paani Puri 

This is one of the most famous Indian street foods. 

Pani Puri, also called Gol Gappa or Puchkas in some regions, are one of the street foods in India that absolutely taste the best when eaten from a roadside stall. 

the dish consists of a small, hollow, fried wheat or semolina shell filled with spiced mashed potatoes and served with either a green or a brown-coloured dipping chutney. 

Note sometimes the dipping chutney can be watery (having been mixed with water).  Albeit this is a popular Indian street food but skip the sauce if it looks diluted with water.  

Dal Pakwan 

Dal Pakwan is typically a breakfast or morning snack from the Sindh region of South Asia, and consists of a lentil dish which is scooped up with a thin, crisp fried bread called a Pakwan.  

The Pakwan is a deep-fried and crisp un-puffed type of Puri (fried bread) flavoured with salt and pepper.  

It comes served with a side of Chana or Dal though we usually just get the Pakwan topped with coriander or tamarind chutney and/or chopped onion.  It’s seriously good! 

Dal Pakwan is a fun and light snack at breakfast time. 
The Dal Pakwan food cart by the entrance to the main local market in Jaisalmer.

Pyaz ki Kachori

Kachori is a round, deep-fried snack stuffed with a spicy lentil or pea mixture originating from the Rajasthan region of India.  

You can find different varieties of Kachori depending on the region and culture, making it one of the most wide-spread famous Indian street foods. 

It is a popular Indian street food snack and another fast-food type of dish commonly enjoyed for breakfast in northern India.  

Most Kachori is vegetarian and stuffed with spicy pulses and onions.  We thought at first it might be Samosa.  But where Samosa is made with a hard dough, Kachori will have a soft, outer layer of hand-patted flaky fried pastry. 

Aloo Paratha, Kachori and Aloo Tikki amongst other things for breakfast in Bikaner.

Bread Pakora

Bread Pakora is a popular breakfast and North Indian street food made with bread, potatoes, spices and herbs.

It is quite simply a deep-fried snack prepared with potatoes stuffed between two triangle shaped bread slices. 

Note to check the cleanliness of the oil the bread is being prepared in.  Otherwise, this could be one of the less traditional but eye-catching Indian street food to admire in passing! 

Fresh Bread Pakora being fried for breakfast in Bikaner.

Kulcha

Kulcha is a popular, flavourful flatbread and perhaps the most iconic bread snack of Punjab.    

It is made with a soft, leavened dough and a spiced mashed potato filling.  

Locals in Punjab eat Kulcha for breakfast and brunch or can be served as a snack. People usually eat it with spicy Chole (chickpeas) and sliced onions.  

Amritsar’s famous Kulcha. 
Served with a dollop of butter and chickpeas.

Samosa

Samosa is perhaps the most recognisable Indian street food and one of the oldest dishes of the subcontinent.  It is a deep-fried flaky parcel snack filled with a mix of potatoes, peas, lentils and spices and typically served with yoghurt and chutney.  

The Samosa fillings can be meat or vegetarian and depending on the region in India the shape of the fried dumpling varies. 

Some type of Samosa (or Kachori) and Masala Chai on board the train in Rajasthan.

Momos

Momos are a steamed or fried variety of dumplings.  They originate in Tibetan and Nepali cusine though they are another popular Indian street food especially in the north.  

The momos are served as a snack of dough-wrapped pockets with spiced vegetables or meat, with a variety of sauces, gravies and condiments.

Masala Dosa 

Dosa is a light, South Indian dish made from rice flour.  (South Indian cuisine is typically lighter than the northern style of cooking).  

It is like a huge, light crispy pancake and comes filled with an aromatic potato curry that is popular as a light, vegetarian breakfast or lunch served along with dal (lentil curry) and an array of southern Indian chutneys.

Dessert / Sweet Indian Street Foods 

If you have a sweet tooth, keep an eye out for these Indian street foods.  Many of these sweet dishes are served as desserts in the restaurants as well as in street food carts. 

Jalebi

Jalebi is a popular dessert and snack sweet in South Asia originating in Persia.  It is a crispy, pretzel-like and syrupy sweet that is easily recognisable by its usual bright orange or yellow colour.  

The sweets are made by frying batter into crispy swirls, then will be dipped in a sugary syrup made with cardamom and saffron.  A bit like a syrupy, spiral of sweet donut! 

Night time portions of Jalebi being prepared in Paharganj’s Main Bazar, Delhi.
You must try Jalebi.

Gulab Jaman

Gulab Jamun is one of India’s most cherished festival desserts, believed to originate from Persia.  

It is a type of fried dough (like a spherical donut) made with milk solids kneaded into a dough with sugar, rosewater, saffron and cardamom powder.  Dried nuts are often added to enhance the flavour and texture. 

Gulab Jaman and a friendly vendor getting ready for the day in Dargah Bazar, Ajmer.

Phirni

Phirni is a creamy, nutty cold Punjabi dessert.  It is made with rice, milk, and loads of dry fruits and topped with edible silver warq (silver foil). 

This is a popular dessert food of Punjab and you’ll find many places to try it.  

Trying Phirni.

Kulfi 

Kulfi is a type of traditional Indian street food dessert a bit like ice cream.  However it differs from ice cream in that it is made with dairy and un-churned, so it has a more solid finish when frozen.  

If you haven’t yet tried Kulfi this is a worthwhile (and cooling) food in India to try – especially in the summer! 

A street vendor selling Kulfi in Ajmer. 
Delicious Kulfi with pistachio and saffron in Chandni Chowk, Delhi. 

Drinks / Indian Street Foods

You can’t go to India and not try the most famous drinks too. 

Lassi 

Lassi is a traditional yoghurt-based drink that is hugely popular in South Asia and the Indian subcontinent. 

It’s a bit like a milkshake and deliciously refreshing.  Even more so when served in single use clay cups which keep it lovely and cool!

The famous and decades old Ahuja Milk Bhandar.
Creamy Lassi being served up in Amritsar.
We visit this Lassi wala in Jaipur every single time including on our Group Trips. 

Kesar Badam Milk

Kesar is an Indian beverage where milk is flavoured with saffron.  While Badam milk is a popular Indian drink where almonds are blended with milk and then flavoured with saffron and cardamom.  

We had seen this unusually yellow tinged milk drink being made in various places around Amritsar.  You can’t not notice it for the yellow colour of the milk!

Trying the iconically yellow tinged Kesar milk at Ahuja Milk Bhandar.

Masala Chai

Masala Chai – a sweetened and spiced, milk tea – is the most consumed beverage in India and one that every visitor must try.  It is made by brewing black tea with spices, sugar and milk.  

Although, like many travellers, we don’t drink tea with sugar, there is something so comforting and delicious about Indian Masala Chai. 

Masala Chai – or a boiled egg – for breakfast in Delhi.
A busy street vendor serving Masala Chai in clay cups in Kolkata, West Bengal. 

What are the absolute must-try Indian street foods? 

It’s hard to narrow down but if I had to choose five must-try Indian street foods from the list above to recommend for your first time in India I would choose: 

The fried breads are a great option to ease into it as the deep-fried hot oil gives more confidence of eliminating any bugs.  

Though you truly can’t leave India without trying Masala Chai – and Jalebi too! 

India is always a taste adventure!

Enjoy the famous street foods in India

Enjoy these famous Indian street foods and indulge in the countrys rich culinary heritage. 

There’s no better way to experience the true flavours of India than by trying its street food.  There is something for everyone!

Accommodation we recommend in North India

These are the hotels and guesthouses we stay in travelling in India and can recommend for your trip.

A photo with host Mum – and fabulous cook – Ranjana at Aman Homestay in Agra. 
Outside Hotel Temple on Ganges in Assi Ghat on our first visit to Varanasi. 

More accommodation we recommend in North India

Million dollar lake views from our budget family room at Hotel Lake Star in Udaipur. 
A late night arrival to the huge bed and amazing window balcony of the King Suite / Family Room at Wanderlust Guesthouse in Jaisalmer. 

Read more about travel in North India

About travel planning for India and beyond…

These are the companies we use and can recommend for planning and booking travel. 

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