Culture Guide

A mini guide to Indian street food

12 July 2024

Join us on a culinary adventure as we explore 10 of the most popular Indian street food dishes from across the country.

Indian street food is a celebration of the country’s rich cultural heritage. And it’s a culinary delight. Every region has its own specialities, with vendors offering an abundance of dishes to tantalise your taste buds and awaken your senses. As you walk down the bustling streets, you’ll be hit with an explosion of vibrant colours and enticing aromas, making for a truly mouthwatering journey. But with so much to choose from, where should you start? Join us as we explore the world of Indian street food, including 10 must-try dishes.

The history of Indian street food

Indian street food has a deep-rooted history, which dates back as far as ancient times. During the Mughal era, vendors would gather in the streets of Delhi selling kebabs and breads to locals. Over time, as people’s tastes changed, street food evolved, incorporating influences from different cultures and traditions. Today, India’s culinary scene has exploded, now with millions of vendors serving a diverse range of dishes from all corners of the country.

10 popular Indian-street foods

1. Vada Pav

Originating from the bustling streets of Mumbai back in the 1960s, Vada Pav is arguably the city’s most popular street food. Also known as the Mumbai Burger, this iconic vegetarian dish contains deep-fried mashed potato, mustard seeds, turmeric, coriander and masala powder, sandwiched between a soft bun and served with a variety of mint and sweet chutneys and red chilli powder.

2. Bhel Puri

Bhel Puri is another popular Mumbai street food. This savoury snack consists of a unique combination of flavours and textures, with crispy puffed rice, puri boiled potatoes, fried noodles, finely chopped onions, warm spices, and a variety of chutneys, including sweet and tangy tamarind chutney and spicy green chutney for that extra kick.

3. Kathi rolls

Kathi rolls (locally called Kati) originated from Kolkata in West Bengal. Bursting with flavour, they’re incredibly moreish – made by rolling tender pieces of grilled meat or sautéed vegetables, into a soft, thin, warm, egg-dipped flatbread, called paratha, topped with spicy green chutney, sliced red caramelised onions and other fragrant spices.

4. Poha

A light and fluffy Indian breakfast staple originally from Maharashtra in Western India, Poha is commonly sold as street food. It’s made from flattened rice, onions, potatoes, and seasoned with mild spices, herbs and lemon juice. Peanuts are also added, resulting in a nice crunchy texture and nutty flavour.

5. Dosa

Despite being south Indian, Dosa is hugely popular across all of the country as street food or breakfast food. It’s a thin pancake (that looks like a crêpe) made from ground and fermented rice and lentil batter, cooked on a hot griddle with a little oil, ghee or butter until crisp, topped with different fillings. Like many Indian foods, Dosa varies depending on the region you’re in – Masala Dosa is one of the most common varieties.

6. Tawa Pulao

Tawa Pulao is a famous street food in Mumbai made on a huge Tawa (large, flat iron griddle). Spicy and flavoursome, the dish is a delicious blend of long-grain rice and vegetables sautéed together with Pav Bhaji Masala – a special mix of aromatic herbs and spices. Due to its spiciness, Tawa Pulao is often enjoyed with yogurt or raita. If you want to try and make this wholesome one-pot meal at home, it’s super-easy. Check out our Bombay Tawa Pulao recipe – it only takes 30 minutes.

7. Pav Bhaji

If you’re visiting India, you have to try Pav Bhaji. It’s an iconic street food in Mumbai consisting of a thick and creamy spicy vegetable gravy made from potatoes, tomatoes, peas, cauliflower, carrots, onions and Pav Bhaji Masala, served with a super-soft bun (pav) dripping in butter. In fact, it’s so buttery, you can smell it wafting in the air as you walk among the crowds.

8. Gulab Jumun

If you have a sweet tooth, keep an eye out for Gulab Jumun, one of India’s most cherished festival desserts, believed to originate from Persia. These fried dumplings are the perfect way to finish off a meal, 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.

9. Bread Pakora

Bread Pakora is an extremely tasty and crunchy north Indian street food snack. It’s simply bread slices dipped in spiced gram flour (also called chickpea flour) batter and deep fried, either with a spicy, tangy mashed potato stuffing, or without.

10. Samosa

A guide to Indian street food wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the humble Samosa – one of the most well known and oldest street food snacks filled with a mix of potatoes, peas, lentils and spices – typically served with yoghurt or chutney. Although many think this golden triangular treat originated in South Asia, research has uncovered that its roots can be traced back to Persia around the 11th century. Fillings can be meat or vegetarian, they can be baked or fried, and their shapes can vary by region, too.

There is so much to try and explore with Indian street food, complex spice blends, tangy chutneys, and fresh ingredients, coupled with the noise of the bustling streets, tempting aromas and different cooking techniques you won’t go hungry.

Still not sure, always look where the locals are eating. If there’s a queue, it’s a good sign. Alternatively, join a guided street food tour, as they’ll know the best stalls to visit.