14+ Food Places in Odisha You Must Try – From Pakhala to Sweets
Odisha’s culinary charm lies in its simplicity, purity, and deep cultural roots. From coastal seafood curries to ancient temple-style meals and iconic sweets like Rasagola and Chhena Poda, every dish here reflects tradition and authenticity. If you're exploring the state through Odisha travel packages online, these food spots will help you experience Odisha one flavourful bite at a time.
A Culinary Trail Through Odisha’s Flavours
Before diving into the list, it’s important to understand that Odia cuisine is shaped by its geography—coastal influences, temple traditions, tribal flavours, and centuries-old cooking techniques. Whether you’re eating at a bustling roadside stall or a quiet heritage restaurant, Odisha’s food culture is warm, soulful, and unforgettable. Here are the must-try places to begin your journey.
1. Odisha Hotel – Authentic Odia Thali Experience
A favourite among locals and travellers, Odisha Hotel serves wholesome, homely meals that showcase true Odia flavours. Their thali includes classics like dalma, pakhala, saga bhaja, and various seasonal vegetable curries cooked in pure mustard oil.
Location: Multiple outlets in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack
Specialty: Pure Odia thalis with traditional home-style recipes
2. Chung Wah – Indo-Chinese Favourite of Bhubaneswar
A long-time favourite for its flavour-packed dishes, Chung Wah serves comfort Indo-Chinese food with generous portions and consistent taste. Their fried rice, chilli chicken, and dim sums are especially popular with families and large groups.
Location: Bhubaneswar (Sahid Nagar, Patia, Bapuji Nagar)
Specialty: Authentic Indo-Chinese dishes prepared by trained chefs
3. Hare Krishna Restaurant – Pure Veg Temple-Style Food
Known for its sattvik meals, this restaurant prepares food without onion or garlic, inspired by traditional temple offerings. Their thalis, paneer curries, and ghee-rich rotis are ideal for those seeking simple yet soul-satisfying meals.
Location: Puri (near Jagannath Temple)
Specialty: Temple-style vegetarian meals
4. Kanika Restaurant – Royal Odia Dining at Mayfair Heritage
Kanika offers an elevated dining experience with a curated selection of Odia dishes served in a luxurious setting. Signature dishes include chhena tarkari, mutton kasha, fish besara, and desserts like poda pitha.
Location: Puri
Specialty: Fine-dining Odia cuisine in a heritage ambience
5. Dalma Restaurant – Traditional Odia Meals
Named after Odisha’s iconic lentil-and-vegetable dish, Dalma Restaurant focuses on classic regional cuisine cooked with minimal spices and maximum flavour. Their vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis are both crowd favourites.
Location: Bhubaneswar (several outlets)
Specialty: Slow-cooked Odia meals featuring Dalma as the hero dish
6. Truptee Restaurant – Oldest Veg Restaurant in Bhubaneswar
A legendary spot, Truptee has served comforting vegetarian meals for decades. Known for its thalis, dosa, and snacks like aloo chop and singada, it’s perfect for a quick yet fulfilling meal.
Location: Bhubaneswar (Kalpana Square)
Specialty: Pocket-friendly vegetarian meals and snacks
7. Wildgrass Restaurant – Tribal & Coastal Fusion Flavours
Located inside a leafy garden setting, Wildgrass offers an impressive mix of tribal dishes, seafood, and classic Odia cuisine. Their prawn curry, bamboo chicken, and trekker’s thali are especially popular among tourists.
Location: Puri
Specialty: Tribal-inspired cuisine and coastal seafood served in a rustic ambience
8. Trupti Restaurant, Bhubaneswar
Location: Saheed Nagar
Speciality: Authentic Odia vegetarian meals
A long-time favourite among locals, Trupti serves simple yet flavour-packed thalis featuring dalma, pakhala, saag, tomato khatta and rice. The food is homely, light, and ideal if you want a pure-veg, traditional Odia dining experience without fusion or frills.
9. Dalma Restaurant, Multiple Cities
Location: Bhubaneswar, Puri, Cuttack
Speciality: Traditional Odia cuisine
Named after Odisha’s iconic lentil-and-vegetable dish Dalma, this chain is popular for serving regional comfort food like besara, chokha, santula, crab masala, and mutton curry. A reliable stop to taste true Odia home-style dishes during your travels.
10. Chung Wah, Puri
Location: VIP Road
Speciality: Chinese cuisine by Tibetan chefs
This is where Puri locals head for authentic dim sums, chilli garlic noodles, and Tibetan soups. Run by an old Tibetan family, Chung Wah offers flavourful Asian comfort food and is a refreshing break after days of temple-side prasad and thalis.
11. Honey Bee Bakery & Café, Bhubaneswar
Location: Jaydev Vihar
Speciality: Desserts, coffee & continental dishes
A cosy, European-style café perfect for brunch, pastries, wood-fired pizza, and cold brews. It’s a favourite among youngsters and travellers looking for international flavours in a relaxed ambience.
12. Nimantran Restaurant, Puri
Location: Near ISKCON Temple
Speciality: Seafood, thali & sweets
A crowd favourite for its massive seafood platters, Odia thali, tiger prawn curry, and classic desserts. Tourists love its family-friendly setup and the consistent quality of its dishes.
13. The Chocolate House, Bhubaneswar
Location: Kharvela Nagar
Speciality: Chocolate desserts & shakes
If you have a sweet tooth, this is paradise. Their brownies, handcrafted chocolates, sizzling chocolate plate, and thick shakes are extremely popular—especially after a day of sightseeing.
14. Hare Krishna Restaurant (ISKCON), Bhubaneswar & Puri
Location: Near ISKCON Temples
Speciality: Pure veg sattvik meals
Offering sattvik, no-onion-no-garlic meals, this restaurant is known for its clean flavours, peaceful ambience, and soulful thalis. Perfect for those seeking simple, devotional-style food during temple visits.
15. Bonus: Pahala Rasgulla Market
Location: On the Bhubaneswar–Cuttack highway
Speciality: Odisha’s famous Rasagola
You cannot leave Odisha without trying the original Odisha Rasagola. Soft, spongy and mildly sweet, these are prepared fresh in dozens of shops lining the highway—heaven for dessert lovers.
Conclusion
Odisha’s food scene is a beautiful blend of tradition, coastal flavours, temple-inspired cooking, and hidden local gems. Whether you’re savouring pakhala by the seaside, indulging in seafood feasts, or exploring iconic sweet shops like Pahala, every bite reflects the state’s rich culture and warmth. For travellers looking to experience these flavours effortlessly, choosing the best tour service provider India can make your food journey seamless, authentic, and unforgettable. Let Odisha surprise you—one plate at a time!
