Top 20 Best Street Foods In India

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You might have eaten in the poshest of restaurants around the world. But what could beat the joy of gulping down a dozen pani puris standing on the busy streets of India? Street foods are the best when it comes to taste and fulfillment even if they are not the most hygienic foods around. And in our country, we have a great variety of the best street foods ever.

If you want to try the best street foods in India, you must be a traveller by nature. This is because these different types of street food are the specialties of the different cities in India. It is hard to find delicious chole bhature anywhere other than in Delhi. Similarly, if you have vada pav from any other city but Mumbai, it will not be the best.

Apart from being tasty, the best thing about street food is that it is cheap. You need not earn a hefty pay check to enjoy these foods. You can be a penniless college student and still eat to your heart's content because this the best type of cheap food available in India.

Pani Puri

When you go to different parts of India, you get to eat different versions of this street food. In Delhi, you call it 'golgappa'; in Kolkata, you call it 'phuchka'; in Mumbai, you call it 'pani puri'. It is a fried hollow puri dipped in tamarind water.

Vada Pav

This is the reason d'être of every Mumbaikar. It is basically batter fried potato pattie placed inside a bread that has been cut into half.

Chowmein

This street variety of noodles is not instant noodles you make at home or the noodles you get in posh Chinese restaurants. It is in fact a type of noodles that is fried and dripping with spicy sauces.

Dosa

Dosa is sold as street food in many parts of India. You will see native billboards advertising '99 Types Of Dosa' on street sides, especially in Southern India. The street food variety of dosa is usually more crisply fried and eaten only with chutney.

Momos

Momos were once sold as street food only in the north east. But now you can find street vendors selling steaming hot momos with the spicy red chutney almost everywhere in India.

Bhelpuri

Bhelpuri is a mixture of different types of spices, puffed rice and tamarind juice. This spicy and tangy street food is one of the favourites of Indians. It called 'Jhal muri' in some parts of our country.

Egg Roll

Egg roll is a specialty of Kolkata but now it can be found across the length and breadth of India. This is typically a paratha fried with egg and rolled up with onions, tomatoes and sauce as the fillings.

Bhajji

Bhajji can be made with a number of ingredients. You can have onion bhajji, potato bajji and also green chilli bhajji. You can make bhajji out of almost any vegetable available to you.

Samosa

Samosa is a triangular pattie often filled with potatoes, peas, cauliflower and spice. This deep fried street food is famous in almost every state in India.

Jalebi

Jalebi is a type of fried sweet that is usually prepared in kadais on street sides. Having steaming hot jalebis is one of the pleasures of living in India.

Chaat

Chaats can be of various types. You can have dahi chaat, papdi chaat and several other varieties of this street food. It is mainly popular in the northern parts of India.

Chole Bhature

Choli bhature is one of the best street foods from Delhi. It comprises a spicy gravy of Kabuli chana and large fried puris. People in Delhi usually have this for their Sunday brunch.

Kebabs

The best kebabs in India are often made by street vendors. You get a choice of grilled and roasted meats on street sides alongside mosques. The lanes behind Jama Masjid in Delhi are famous for their delectable kebabs.

Aloo Tikki

Tikki is another food item from northern India that we all love. Aloo tikki made out of potatoes is often the most famous type of tikki.

Pav Bhaji

If you are a Mumbai dweller, then you might know how indispensable pav bhaji is in the busy lifeline of this city. It is basically a thick gravy prepared by mashing several vegetables with spices and served with bread that is soaked in molten butter.

Maggi

In most hill stations in India, instant noodles is sold in many different versions. In some places, it is served with veggies such as capsicum, onions and tomatoes. At other places, it is prepared with scrambled eggs.

Shawarma Roll

This street food from the Arab countries has made it big in India these days. You get shawarma roll stalls in almost every city. This roll is prepared by stuffing mayonnaise, vinegar and grilled chicken into rumali rotis.

Parathas

In northern India, various types of parathas like aloo parathas, gobi paratha, mushroom paratha are served with curds and pickles on roadside. This is what people have for breakfast usually.

Rabri

If you have ever been to the holi city of Varanasi, then rabri by the banks of the Ganges river will be your favourite experience. This sweet pudding of thickened milk is one of the favourite Indian street foods.

Chop

Chops can be made out of potato, eggs, chicken, fish or any other type of vegetable. This fried chops are mainly famous in Kolkata but you get variants of this dish almost everywhere in India.