India has a lot of religions. But the biggest of them all is Food. Nothing unites Indians like its street food, not even cricket. Those who live here or have traveled here will know that India is the land of spices and the amalgamation of those spices with traditional street food can make anyone fall in love with the taste. Whether rich or poor, the craze of street food is equal among everyone. While every part of the country has its own specialty, you can enjoy any cuisine from any part of the country in the major cities of the country. After all, Food is what brings people together. The affordable price of these foods makes them even more desirable. While it is a daunting task to choose the top 5 dishes from a plethora of options that the Indian streets have, we have found a way to rate them solely based on popularity, demand, and affordability.
- PaniPuri: The quest for the perfect street food ends here. While it may be difficult to pick the top 5 street food options in India, there’s no doubt about which food option stays at the top. Also known as puchka, golgappa, and fulka, Panipuri is something that you can’t have enough of no matter how many you eat. The crunchy hollow vessels like balls made up of flour and suji are filled with chickpea and mashed potatoes followed by spicy water made up of mint, spices, and tamarind. You will feel an explosion of flavors the moment you put one inside your mouth. Indian streets witness people from all classes waiting for their turn in queues near the stalls waiting for their turn. Such is the popularity of Panipuri. Not to forget, it is one of the cheapest fast food options available in India.
- Vada Pav: A Mumbaikar will share his bank account details with you but dare not ask him to share his Vada Pav. Vada Pav is famous all over Maharashtra and is gaining popularity across India. But Mumbai and Pune are two cities, where you can find one stall of Vada Pav at every corner. It is one of the most preferred breakfast options for Mumbaikars and Punekars. Vada Pav is also called the Indian Burger. It is a traditional Marathi dish where potato balls are fried with a coating of gram flour, put in between a bun, and served with traditional chutneys. While it is a snack, many people with limited earning survive on Vada Pav and eat it during lunch and dinner time as well. Like any other Indian street food, Vada Pav is super cheap as well.
- Dabeli: It’s time to head towards the Western part of the country. Apart from the mesmerizing Rann of Kutch, Gujarat is also famous for its finger licking Dabelis. Dabeli is similar to a Vada Pav. More than 2 million Dabelis are consumed just in the Kutch region every day. A bun is stuffed with boiled potatoes, spices and topped with sev and pomegranate seeds. The dish is served with garlic or mint chutney to make it even more delicious. Some vendors serve Dabelis with different kinds of stuffings and top them with chopped onions. The aromatic dish is famous all across Gujarat as a healthy and pocket-friendly snack.
- Chole Bhature: Chole Bhature is one such food that you can find in any part of mainland India. Accompanied by Lassi (a sweet drink made of curd), Chole Bhature is a Punjabi dish. But that doesn’t prevent it from being the most consumed breakfast item across the country. Freshly boiled chickpeas are cooked in a gravy onion and tomatoes mixed with traditional Indian spices and served with Bhature and chopped onions. Bhature is a bread made up of Maida (ground flour). This is a heavy breakfast and after consuming a plate of Chole Bhature you can go without eating anything for 4-5 hours at least. From street corners to Lavish restaurants, Chole Bhature finds a mention in every eateries venue. People eat it for breakfast, lunch, evening snacks, and dinner. It is around the clock snack that fits your budget as well.
- Momos: The last and newest in the list in Momos. Momos is Tibet’s gift to India that shot fame in the country after originating from the famous Dolma Aunty’s stall in the capital city of Delhi. This dish has become so popular in a few years that you can find a Momo stall in even the remotest part of the country. As you start moving towards the North, the variety of Momos keeps on increasing. There are at least 20 variants of the dish that you can find in the capital city and all of them are super delicious. Momo is served with a spicy red chili chutney and Mayonnaise. It is also served with the traditional Thukpa soup in the hilly areas and the love for the dish is unmatchable specially among the youths.
Drooling yet??
