Varanasi’s affair with food is best discovered in its narrow lanes and streets. For a city considered the oldest city in India, it’s obvious that the cooking styles and the taste are one among the best. The ambience in the narrow lanes of this holy city is filled with the tempting aroma of lip-smacking chaats to sweet, heavenly desserts! So, to all the food lovers out there, here are some of the street foods in Varanasi that you ought to try.
You Must Try These Street Foods In Varanasi
1. Kachori Sabzi
A popular breakfast dish in Varanasi, Kachoris are served at almost every street-side stall in the city! Kachoris are round, fluffy puris stuffed with a spicy lentil mixture called dal ki pitthi. You’ll find two types of Kachoris – Badi (big) Kachori and Choti (small) Kachori. While the Badi Kachori is stuffed with the lentil mixture, the Choti Kachori is stuffed with a spicy mashed potato mixture. Both are equally flavorful and aromatic.
The reason that Kachori is so famous in Varanasi is because of the tangy, aromatic potato curry it is served with. With generous amounts of clover and black pepper, the potato curry is the highlight of the dish. Imagine starting your day with a freshly fried Kachori and a piping hot ladle of potato curry! Yum!
Best Place To Eat In Varanasi: You should definitely try the Kachori Sabzi from Kachori Galli, Ram Bhandar in Thatheri Bazar, and Madhur Milan in Dashashwamedh Ghat.
2. Baati Choka
You will find that some parts of the Varanasi cuisine are influenced by the foods of the neighboring states like Bihar and West Bengal. One such food item is Baati Choka. A highly popular dish in Bihar, it makes for one of the tastiest street foods in Varanasi. Baati essentially is a type of Indian bread made of wheat, and Choka is a spicy vegetable mix.
The Batti are wheat balls normally stuffed with roasted chana dal and some spices, and then roasted over charcoal to enhance their flavor. It is then dipped in desi Ghee and served hot with the Choka mixture, which is mainly a mixture of mashed potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, and various spices. Baati Choka is a widely loved street food and can be found at the street-side stalls as well as popular restaurants.
Best Place To Eat In Varanasi: You must try the Baati Chowka served at the Baati Choka Restaurant in Teliyabag or the street-side stalls on Puran Das Road.
3. Tamatar Chaat
One of the most popular and loved street foods in Varanasi, the Tamatar Chaat is a must-try while exploring the street food scene of Varanasi. A Varanasi version of Aloo Chaat, the Tamatar Chaat uses tomatoes for its preparation, hence the name. This tangy, spicy chaat is made from tomatoes, mashed potatoes, ginger, green chilies, and a variety of spices like hing (asafoetida), garam masala, black pepper, and red chili powder.
The patty is then shallow-fried and topped with a pinch of chaat masala, sweet chutney, fresh coriander leaves, and a dollop of desi ghee. Served in a bowl made of dry palaash leaves, this spicy street snack is perfect to activate your taste buds and is a Varanasi speciality found in every corner of the city!
Best Place To Eat In Varanasi: Kashi Chaat Bhandar in Godowlia and Deena Chaat Bhandar in Ramapura serve the best Tamatar Chaat in the city.
4. Choora Matar
Another popular breakfast street food in Varanasi, the Choora Matar is Varanasi’s version of the Maharashtrian poha or the Bihari poha chiwda. Choora Matar is made with flattened rice, which is soaked in desi ghee and is cooked along with aromatic spices, green peas, raisins, and saffron. Spices like hing (asafoetida), black pepper, and garam masala are added to enhance the flavor.
Some vendors also add milk or fresh cream to elevate the flavor and add texture to the dish. One major difference between Choora Matar and its Maharashtrian and Bihari counterparts is that no onions are used in its making. This breakfast dish is quite stomach-filling and one of the healthier street food dishes to try.
Best Place To Eat In Varanasi: If you want to try Choora Matar, you can try it from Kashi Chaat Bhandar in Godowlia and Deena Chaat Bhandar in Ramapura.
5. Lassi
While Punjab’s lassi is extremely popular all over the country, Varanasi lassi has to be a close second. The thick and creamy lassi in Varanasi is like a drop of nectar from the heavens! Usually served in traditional earthen glasses and topped with a copious amount of rabri, malai, fresh fruits, and pistachios, the Varanasi Lassi is a whole other ball game! It’ll come as no surprise that there is a lassi shop every two minutes in the lanes of Varanasi.
When Varanasi Lassi is talked of, the Blue Lassi Shop is immediately recommended. It’s one of the oldest lassi shops in Varanasi and has been making lassi for over three generations. Additionally, the shop offers over 83 varieties of lassi and is sought by locals and tourists alike.
Best Place To Eat In Varanasi: You should certainly try flavored lassi from Blue Lassi Shop in Govindpura and also the Pahalwan Lassi at Ravidas Gate.
6. Dahi Chutney Golgappe
No one can say no to Golgappe! Whether you call them puchkas, golgappe, or pani puri, it’s everyone’s favorite street food and the very sentiment of Indian street food. Also known as meethe golgappe, this sweet and tangy chaat is similar to the popular papdi chaat, except the crispy papdi is swapped for a wafer-thin golgappa (puri).
The crispy Golgappas are filled with a spicy mashed potato mix, which is topped with tangy tamarind and mint chutneys, curd, spices, and sev. Some joints even add pomegranate over it all as a refreshing garnish. Every Golgappa is like a burst of flavor and is refreshing. This street food is found on every chaat corner and street stall in Varanasi, so be sure to try it!
Best Place To Eat In Varanasi: The Dahi Golgappe at Deena Chaat Bhandar in Ramapura, and Kashi Chaat Bhandar in Godowlia are uber popular.
7. Chena Dahi Vada
Another Varanasi version of a popular chaat, Chena Dahi Vada, is a sweet street snack that can be enjoyed while exploring the city. This delicious variation of Delhi’s dahi bhalla is made from chena (cottage cheese/ paneer). This soft paneer fritter is doused in sweet and tangy curd and topped with some fresh coriander leaves, jeera masala, and black salt, which adds a refreshing flavor to it.
An exciting blend of textures, this dish is soft, crispy, and creamy all at once, and is no less of a party in your mouth! And if you’re a curd lover, then you should definitely try this iconic Varanasi version of Dahi Vada.
Best Place To Eat In Varanasi: You can find this street snack at almost every street stall. Deena Chaat Bhandar in Ramapura also serves a delicious serving of Chena Dahi Vada.
8. Thandai
Made from milk, which may be flavored or not, and several aromatic spices, Banarasi Thandai is a popular drink all over India. This cold milk beverage is served in a traditional Kulhad cup and topped with malai, dry fruits, and nuts.
You can also get it in various flavors depending on the seasonal fruits available. Condiments like black pepper, fennel seeds, cardamom, and saffron are added for an enhanced flavor. In Varanasi, you will also get Bhang Thandai, a drink that has a mild mix of marijuana. The Bhang Thandai is a super popular drink during the Holi festivities.
Best Place To Eat In Varanasi: Baba Thandai and Thandai Ghar in Godowlia Chowk are popular shops to try Thandai from.
9. Malaiyo
A super light and flavorful street dessert, Malaiyo is a popular winter dessert in Varanasi. As the name suggests, the dessert is made from milk but in a never-before-seen form. The dessert is made from milk that has continuously been churned. Then this foamy and airy milk base is flavored with cardamom, saffron, almonds, and pistachios. The dessert is decadent and simply melts in your mouth!
Served in the traditional earthen cups called kulhad, Malaiyo is found in every narrow lane of the city during the winter. For those with a sweet tooth, make sure to add this scrumptious dessert to your must-try list. You won’t be disappointed!
Best Place To Eat In Varanasi: You must try the dessert from Markandey Sardar in Chaukhamba Gali.
10. Rabri-Jalebi
Rabri-Jalebi is a popular dessert combination in Varanasi and can be found in every lane of the city. The jalebi is made up of a deep-fried flour batter that is then dipped in a sweet sugar syrup, while the rabri is sweetened condensed milk. The hot jalebis paired with the chilled rabri is a match made in heaven. And once you have them in a pair, you can never go back to having them separately!
Best Place To Eat In Varanasi: You can find this dessert at any street-side shop and any renowned sweet shop in the city. Shri Madhur Jalpan serves some amazing Rabri-Jalebis that will certainly sweeten up your Varanasi trip!
Summing Up
A city’s street food is reflective of all the goodies the city has to offer. So it’s safe to say that Varanasi has to be one of the destinations you must visit at least once. While most go there for the holy reverence, make sure you visit it for its tastiest food scene. And the best way to do it is by relishing Varanasi’s street food. Get going and enjoy your food coma!
FAQs
Which Street Food Is Famous In Varanasi?
Hot, crispy kachoris, sweet and tangy dahi chutney golgappe, and spicy tamatar chaat are some of the most popular street foods in Varanasi that you ought to try.
What Is The Famous Sweet Of Varanasi?
Malaiyo is the most popular dessert in Varanasi and is made exclusively in this city, during the winter months (November to February). The dessert is made by churning milk until it turns frothy and light and is flavored with saffron, cardamom, almonds, and pistachios.
Where Can I Eat Malaiyo In Varanasi?
You will find several vendors in every corner of the city selling Malaiyo during the winter months. The Malaiyo at Markandey Sardar in Chaukhamba Gali is quite popular in Varanasi.
What Is The Speciality Of Varanasi?
Varanasi is famous for its Banarasi silk sarees that are embroidered with gold and silver threadwork. Apart from this, wooden toys, colorful glass bangles, and beautiful ivory works are also famous in Varanasi.
How Many Days Are Enough For Varanasi?
Typically, 5-6 days or one week is a good enough time to explore the city in detail and try out the various street foods here. Varanasi is such a city that you can spend just 2 days, one week, a month, or even months together and still find something new or unique to explore!
