Best street foods from across the country

Street food is more than just food; it is an insignia that defines a culture. Not only does street food present you with delicious tastes and flavours, but it is also reflective of the country’s palate and style of cooking. Like other countries, India has its own selection of street foods, and to help you choose from the wide array of options, here is a list of some of the best and most popular Indian street foods.

A staple in the state of Maharashtra, most tourists, national or international, try to get their hands on this street food. This desi rendition of a Western burger is served with a vada between two buns, and is served with spicy powder and chutney to heat things up.

In India, no city boasts of kebabs like Lucknow. Originating from the city of Nawabs is one of the most popular street foods, tunde kebab. Soft and succulent, this kebab is made of minced meat has won many hearts all over the world.

Originating in Tibet, thukpa has found popularity in North-Eastern states like Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Assam. It is essentially a noodles and vegetable soup, and can serve as a complete meal, with meat being added for non-vegetarians.

Another Maharashtrian pav-centric dish, pav bhaji is served with slices of pav with a thick vegetable curry made from an assortment of vegetables. Add a few drops of lemon to the bhaji and some butter on the pav, and you have yourself a delicious street food.

Arguably one of the, if not the most popular street offerings is this little chatpata delight. Call it pani puri, golgappa, or puchka, there is no denying that this chatpata ball of traditional flavoured water can make mouths drool by just mentioning the name.

Think dosa, but in the form of small balls. It is a popular South Indian street food, and is sold in almost all street corners. Black lentils and rice are used to prepare the batter for paddu, which is steamed in the same way as it is to make idli or dosa.

Hailing from Bengal, kathi rolls have become a nationwide success. Traditionally, this street food was made of skewer roasted kebab, but now it has many equally toothsome fillings such as tandoori chicken, malai tikka, and chicken tikka. The stuffing is wrapped with paratha, and it is served with ketchup or chutney.

Kachoris are deep fried puris that are shaped into a hollow ball to fill in stuffings. The best part about this street food is its versatility, as there are many fillings that make up a complete kachori dish, with each one being loved by the Indian diaspora. It is often served with pudina or imli chutney.

From the depths of Punjab arises another popular street food, known as chole bhature. Rich in flavour and spices, chickpeas (chole) cooked in traditional Punjabi spices served with fried Indian bread (bhature) make up this delicious street food.

Southbound people can enjoy this Karnatak speciality, which is made of rice flour, and served with South Indian relishes in the form of coconut or tomato chutney. One of the most popular street foods in the South, akki roti is dressed with carrots, tomatoes, onions, and green chilies for an enriching flavour.