20+ Food Places in India You Must Try [Street Food to Royal Cuisine – 2025 Guide]

India’s culinary map is as vast and diverse as the country itself. From North to South and East to West, every state boasts a distinctive flavor, a traditional cooking style, and dishes steeped in heritage. For those exploring India tour packages online, diving into its food scene is non-negotiable. From roadside stalls in Old Delhi to royal kitchens of Rajasthan, this journey will fill your plate and soul with unforgettable tastes.

Why You Should Explore India Through Its Food

Indian cuisine isn’t a single identity—it’s a beautiful collection of stories told through spices, age-old techniques, and community dining. Street foods like chaat or golgappa offer bursts of flavor, while regional thalis showcase balanced local diets. Then there’s Mughlai, South Indian temple food, tribal cooking, and everything in between. Eating your way through India is the most intimate way to connect with its culture, people, and traditions.

1. Karim’s – Delhi

Located near Jama Masjid, Karim’s is a 100+ year-old culinary institution. The mutton burra, nihari, and kebabs carry the richness of Mughal-era recipes. Dining here is like stepping into history, where every bite is infused with royal flavor and authenticity.

Best time to visit: Evenings
Highlights: Mughlai classics, old-world charm, culinary legacy

2. Indian Coffee House – Kolkata

Steeped in nostalgia, this place on College Street is more than a café—it’s a cultural hub. Known for cutlets, omelets, and strong filter coffee, it has been frequented by writers, thinkers, and students since the 1940s.

Best time to visit: Morning to early evening
Highlights: Colonial vibe, old-school menu, affordable bites

3. Tunday Kababi – Lucknow

Tunday is synonymous with Lucknow’s famed galouti kebabs—so soft, they melt on your tongue. With over 100 spices blended into minced meat, it’s a royal dish served humbly. Don’t miss the biryani either.

Best time to visit: Lunch and dinner
Highlights: Galouti kebabs, biryani, traditional Awadhi cuisine

4. Chappan Dukaan – Indore

A haven for foodies, this street is lined with dozens of stalls offering everything from poha and jalebi to dahi vada and sabudana khichdi. It’s clean, bustling, and a great way to sample Madhya Pradesh’s flavors in one walk.

Best time to visit: Morning to late evening
Highlights: Variety of street snacks, family-friendly, vegetarian

5. Bademiya – Mumbai

A late-night food legend, Bademiya operates out of a small stall near Colaba. Their seekh kebabs, chicken rolls, and spicy gravies draw crowds from all over, especially after hours. A must-visit for non-veg lovers.

Best time to visit: 10 PM onwards
Highlights: Street-side meat delicacies, Mumbai night-life favorite

6. Paragon – Kozhikode

A Kerala icon, Paragon serves Malabari cuisine at its finest. Their biryani, prawn curry, and appam with stew reflect coastal cooking at its best. The balance of spices and coconut milk will stay with you long after.

Best time to visit: Lunch
Highlights: Malabar biryani, seafood, legacy restaurant

7. Shree Thaker Bhojanalay – Mumbai

Hidden in the lanes of Kalbadevi, this thali-only restaurant serves authentic Gujarati meals on gleaming steel plates. With rotating menus of farsan, sweets, and vegetable dishes, the hospitality is as generous as the servings.

Best time to visit: Lunch
Highlights: Unlimited thali, home-style flavors, cultural depth

8. LMB (Laxmi Misthan Bhandar) – Jaipur

Located in Johari Bazaar, LMB is known for its Rajasthani thali and signature sweets like ghevar and mawa kachori. It offers a slice of regal dining and festive flavors in a bustling bazaar atmosphere.

Best time to visit: Midday
Highlights: Rajasthani thali, iconic sweets, vegetarian heaven

9. Ameer’s – Hyderabad

While Hyderabad is known for biryani, Ameer’s offers a lesser-known gem—haleem and pathar ka gosht. Their meat dishes are slow-cooked, layered in spices, and full of Nizami heritage.

Best time to visit: Evenings
Highlights: Hyderabadi meat dishes, Ramzan favorite, rich spices

10. Dilli Haat – Delhi

Dilli Haat isn’t just a crafts bazaar—it’s a showcase of India’s culinary diversity. Each state has its own stall, offering dishes like momos from Sikkim, litti-chokha from Bihar, and bamboo chicken from Nagaland.

Best time to visit: Evening
Highlights: Regional food sampling, handicrafts, cultural vibes

11. Saravana Bhavan – Chennai

This international chain originated in Chennai and is known for its crispy dosas, fluffy idlis, and sambar that hits all the right notes. It’s hygienic, fast, and true to its roots.

Best time to visit: Breakfast
Highlights: South Indian filter coffee, dosa varieties, efficient service

12. Bhatiyar Galli – Ahmedabad

This narrow lane is packed with grills, tandoors, and open-flame cooking stalls. You’ll find classic Mughlai dishes like boti kebab and mutton samosa served with green chutney and piping hot rotis.

Best time to visit: After dusk
Highlights: Historic food lane, meat specials, local secret

13. Oh! Calcutta – Kolkata

For an elegant take on Bengali food, Oh! Calcutta is unmatched. From mustard prawns to kosha mangsho and mishti doi, the menu highlights the sophistication of Bengali cuisine with grace.

Best time to visit: Dinner
Highlights: Bengal gourmet, fish lovers' paradise, fine-dining charm

14. Ram Ki Bandi – Hyderabad

A humble food cart turned city legend, Ram Ki Bandi is known for its cheese-laden dosas and spicy chutneys. Open from the crack of dawn, it’s the go-to for post-party breakfasts.

Best time to visit: Early morning (4–7 AM)
Highlights: Street dosa variety, local favorite, spicy punch

15. Pandit Gaya Prasad Shiv Charan – Varanasi

Situated near Kachori Gali, this is a legacy kachori and sabzi shop that’s been dishing out crispy, spice-loaded breakfasts for decades. Finish with jalebi, and you’ll know why it’s spiritual food for a spiritual city.

Best time to visit: Morning
Highlights: Authentic kachori breakfast, Varanasi street magic, heritage eatery

16. Amrik Sukhdev – Murthal (Highway Dhabha)

A legendary stop on NH1, this dhaba is famous for buttery parathas, fresh curd, and chai served roadside-style. It offers a comforting Punjabi food fix that truckers, tourists, and families all swear by.

Best time to visit: Breakfast or lunch
Highlights: Highway parathas, lassi, vibrant roadside ambiance

17. Trincas – Kolkata

This Park Street institution marries nostalgia with a menu of continental and Anglo-Indian favorites. From baked fish to chicken steak and live piano music, it’s where old Calcutta lives on.

Best time to visit: Dinner
Highlights: Retro menu, live music, iconic venue

18. Britannia & Co. – Mumbai

Serving Parsi food since 1923, this Irani café is a time capsule. The berry pulao and mutton dhansak are legendary, and the charming owner’s stories are part of the experience.

Best time to visit: Lunch
Highlights: Parsi food legacy, vintage vibe, rare finds

19. Sree Annapoorna – Coimbatore

Famed in Tamil Nadu for its ghee roast dosa, filter coffee, and coconut chutney, this family restaurant is the heartbeat of Coimbatore. Locals swear by its consistency and quality.

Best time to visit: Breakfast or dinner
Highlights: South Indian purity, fast service, generations of trust

20. Kesar Da Dhaba – Amritsar

A vegetarian gem near the Golden Temple, Kesar Da Dhaba serves rich dal makhani slow-cooked overnight, buttery parathas, and silky phirni. The food is so soulful it’ll make you want to come back.

Best time to visit: Lunch or early dinner
Highlights: Traditional Punjabi thali, Golden Temple proximity, legendary dal

Conclusion

From bustling roadside stalls to elegant dining rooms with a view, India’s culinary journey is unmatched in depth, diversity, and delight. Booking with the best travel service provider in Gurugram ensures you not only explore India’s scenic and cultural highlights but also taste its heart at every step. Because here, food isn’t just fuel—it’s tradition, hospitality, and love, served hot.