15 Popular Indian Street Food You Should Try

Indian street food is legendry. With a large and diverse landscape, the kind of food that people eat across India varies. That means that while some of the Indian street food is popular across the length and breadth of the country, the way it is made and by default the flavours of the same Indian street food differ from place to place.

I find that the variety of items, the spices, the smells and the flavors of the street food is part of the whole Indian experience and trying as many of these items is something that you should indulge in. In fact you will find that many quotes and captions about India revolve around food!

That is the reason why, we have gotten together with a number of travel bloggers to talk about the popular Indian street food you should try on your next visit.

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Read my disclaimer for further information.

Tips Not To Fall Sick When Eating Indian Street Food

As a child I remember my parents being rather strict when it came to eating Indian street food. The reason was and still is the same. You can find yourself falling really sick.

While the sickness could just be traveler’s diarrhea, you could also contract a lot of food borne infections. I found myself hardly eating anything outdoors as a child because of this fear.

When I shifted to Bombay (also known as Mumbai) to study, eating street food became a part of my life. I guess it is a phase that every hostel resident goes through. We did follow a couple of rules when it came to choosing a place to eat.

Avoid eating street food during the monsoons

No matter how well you try to ensure that you eat at the best possible place, eating Indian street food in the rainy season invariably raises your risk of falling ill. In fact, a lot of people will complain of falling ill after eating in the local restaurants too. That is one of the reasons most Indians avoid eating out in the rainy season.

Check your surroundings

A lot of street food stalls exist in almost every corner of the country. Before you decide that the food in the stall is too tempting, look around. Ensure that there are no garbage piles close by or that the drain isn’t close by either. Now people may say that it is hard to find a clean place, but I would rather choose not to eat than take the risk with one in a questionable location.

Cooked food is safer than raw vegetables

If you have a very sensitive stomach, I would suggest staying away from food items that use raw vegetables. This would include bhel, sandwiches and the like. Remember that steamed food is generally the safest but cooked food is great too. Coconut based products get spoilt easily especially in the hot weather so watch out for those too.

I have a whole detailed guide to not falling ill in India. I suggest you check it out if you headed to the country. Especially if you are thinking of eating Indian Street food!

Popular Indian Street Food You Should Try

With the precautions you should take out of the way, let’s take a look at some of the popular Indian street food that travellers believe you should try. Just to make it easier for you to browse through, I am dividing the whole article into three sections: Snacks, Drinks and Sweets.   

Snacks

Indian street food comprises of a large variety of snacks. Most of the snacks are deep fried and you can see people standing around the vendors as the hot snacks are pulled out of the hot oil. The aromas are unmistakable, and your nose alone can lead the way to where the stalls are in every city. Let’s take a look at some of the popular Indian snacks that people love.

1. Samosa

Samosa is one of the popular Indian street food items you find across the country.

Samosa was the first Indian dish we ate, and it is definitely our favorite. It is a perfect snack that you can eat on the run, take for light lunch, and is what makes it ideal for travelers to eat warm or cold.

Samosa usually has the shape of a triangular dumpling; however, it may vary depending on the region. It is said that the form of Samosa resembles the Pyramids of the Middle East called “samsa”.

Samosa can be stuffed with spicy vegetables (lentils, mashed potatoes, peas, onion, and spices), paneer cheese, chicken and fried in deep vegetable oil. It tastes excellent with green chutney made of mint or coriander. Traveling across India, you may encounter different sizes and types of Samosa.

The biggest ones you can find in Delhi, they are filled with masala potatoes, peas, and dried fruits. In the eastern part of India, Samosas (called shingadas) are smaller and crispy, made of thin dough and filled with mashed potatoes. In South India, Samosas have different sizes and fillings, depending on local habits.

Samosas made with good quality ingredients shouldn’t have more than 300 calories! They are popular street food in India, and you can find them almost everywhere. Follow the locals and check where they are buying their best quality ones!

By Marta and Milosz from Backpackers.wro

2. Papdi Chaat

The street food in Delhi is legendary. And while the food – including the street food – is fantastic all over India, Delhi is known to be the culinary capital of India. I lived in Delhi, on and off, for several years so it was really hard for me to choose just one of the many delicacies I savored there, but papdi chaat is definitely one of my favorites.

What’s not to love? Potatoes and wafers smothered in creamy yogurt, and slathered with tangy, piquant, and sweet gooey sauces – creating a swirl of colour and flavour. It’s one of those India foods that lives up to the saying, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”

All the various flavours and textures combine to create a sensation in your mouth that makes you feel excited to be alive. These kinds of dishes are what make Indian food a favourite all over the world.

In fact, to many (me included) the phrase “Indian food” is magical, connoting a sensuous riot of pleasures and delights that no other cuisine matches. And all of this is contained in one small dish, usually served in a throw-away bowl.

By Mariellen from Breathedreamgo

3. Chaat Katori

Chaat Katori is another one of the Indian street food items that you should try.

We can understand a bit about this dish already just from its name. In India, “chaat” is a generic term that refers to any kind of savory street snack. There must be dozens of different types of chaat eaten in India, with many of them being local to a particular region or city.

The word “katori”, on the other hand, means “small bowl”. This particular chaat is served up in a crispy, fried shell shaped like a small bowl, which can be filled with a variety of different ingredients, sauces and toppings.

Some popular fillings for chaat katori include potatoes, tomatoes, onions, black beans, chickpeas, spring onions, and corn. Sauces and toppings such as chutneys, yoghurt, pomegranate seeds and cilantro are often added on top of the base fillings. 

The crunchy bowl is usually made from just flour and oil, although a unique variation is the aloo lachha chaat katori, in which the bowl is made not from flour but from strands of grated potato. Chaat katori is popular throughout north India and is sold at roadside food stalls.

It’s a good option for vegetarians, and, depending on the toppings used, it’s often suitable for vegans traveling in India as well.

By Wendy from The Nomadic Vegan

4. Masala Dosa

Another popular Indian Street food is the famed masala dosa.

Masala dosa is An Indian street food item that is very popular in South India. I have had it for breakfast all over the country while traveling in India. Masala Dosa looks like a big, crispy, filled crepe and has two parts: the dosa and the filling, Masala refers to the popular Indian spice used as seasoning.

Dosa is a cooked flat thin layered rice batter similar to a crepe in appearance and is made by soaking rice and lentils overnight in water and then grinding it. The filling consists of boiled potatoes with a seasoning of mustard seeds and garnishing of grated coconut, coriander, and lemon juice. Preparation of masala dosa varies from city to city.

How do you eat a masala dosa? The Indian way, by hand break off a piece of dosa with aloo filling in it and dip the entire thing in chutney and eat it! You can also eat this by using a knife and fork too. Just make sure you dip the dosa along with the potato filling in the delicious chutney!

By Campbell and Alya from Stingy Nomads

5. Pani Puri

Pani Puri is another amazing item on our list of popular Indian street food items that you should try.

Pani puri is a common Indian street food that started in north India but can be enjoyed around the country.

Stands that serve pani puri are often recognizable by a large plastic bag filled with little ‘puris’, or small deep fried dough puffs that are hollow in the middle. The street food itself requires several steps to put together and has to be done one pani puri at a time.

First, one of these ‘puri’ puffs is opened by crushing the top of it with the thumb, then filled with a sour mint, coriander, and tamarind-flavoured water or ‘pani’. The pani puri is then topped with chickpeas, a mixture of onions and coriander, and a sweet and spicy chutney.

Each piece of pani puri is put together on the spot then handed to you in a small bowl for you to consume whole.

The burst of different flavours, sweet, sour, and spicy, plus the crisp of the puri is what makes this street food such a hit. On the streets of Bangalore and Pondicherry where I had pani puri, a set of six costs 20 rupees ($0.30 USD).

I had pani puri at Punjab Sweet House & Restaurant in Mumbai, which claims to have the best pani puri in the world – it still only cost 40 rupees, ($0.60)!

By Erika from Erka’s Travelventures

6. Kathi Rolls

Kathi rolls are an Indian street food item that come from Kolkata.

Known outside Kolkata as the “Kolkata Kathi roll”, with weird spelling variations, this is a lip-smacking snack that originated in Kolkata in the 1930s. Office commuters wanted to some quick pick-up food, instead of the traditional roti curry.

So, one day someone (allegedly a Nizam restaurant owner) put the skewered chicken kebabs wrapped in Parathas. Thus, started the tradition of Kolkata Kathi rolls. Funny thing is it’s just called egg roll, chicken roll or mutton roll in Kolkata.

The egg roll is a simple recipe. A paratha put on omelette sprinkled with onion rings, chopped cucumber, and carrot. Then add some green-chilli sauce and mustard sauce and roll it up. Optionally you can have chopped chicken kebabs or mutton kebabs inside. The essence of the roll is the paratha – an Indian bread made with a kneaded dough of maida (white flour).

You can get it anywhere in Kolkata, but now you can find it anywhere in India. Just don’t go to those fancy restaurants which will spoil the fun by adding unnecessary stuff like broccoli, bell pepper or Mayonnaise. That’s not egg roll or Kathi roll at all.

By Sinjana from Backpack & Explore

7. Phuchka

Phuchka is the Kolkata version of the famous Indian street food named Pani Puri.

The man breaks open a crispy round deep-fried wheat-based ball with the gentle push of his fingers. A little hole has now been punched on the surface of the ball. Using the carefully curated opening, he now fills the ball with some stuffing of mashed potatoes mixed in different spices.

If you prefer, he can add some onion, coriander, grams and other garnishing. He will also customize the spice level of this mix according to your preference.

Now, he dunks this stuffed crispy ball in a steel vessel full of tamarind water. Then, in a matter of seconds, that water and potato filled crispy ball travels from the steel vessel to your paper plate. And in another second, it travels from your plate to your mouth. With the immediate first bite, you can savor the burst of flavors of this awesome street food.

In Kolkata, we call this Phuchka. And the man serving you this piece of heaven is your Phuchkawallah. You will find some variations of Phuchka in other parts of India as well, called by different names like Paanipuri or Golgappa.

Sure, you may find Phuchkas on the menu cards of some snacks centers, food courts or even restaurants (like in the photo). However, if you want the tastiest, try the ones from the Phuchkawallas. They are standing at the corners of almost every street in Kolkata. Some of our personal favorites are at Deshapriya Park, Esplanade and College Street.

By Pubali and Indranil from Paradise Catchers

8. Medu Vada

Medu vada is another classic example of popular Indian street food

Medu vada is what I would describe as a savoury donut. You can find it all over India but are rare in the north compared to the south where they’re abundant in both restaurants and street side stalls. Medu vada (they make for the perfect snack), is made out of black lentils which are ground into powder before being mixed with a variety of spices and moulded into a donut shape. Sounds healthy enough right? That’s until they’re popped into the deep fryer!

So they’re relatively easy to make and the final product is a soft donut that should be vegan, though you’ll need to check what they fry them in. The sizes vary, but they’re always soft after being deep-fried (I really like the texture).

You’re normally provided with a vegetable stew and coconut chutney as a dipping sauce (big fan of the chutney), and you can comfortably walk and eat with them. I first discovered these in Kochi and eat them at least once a day whenever I’m in India.

By Jub from Tiki Touring Kiwi

9. Boiled Chickpeas/Channa

It may seem like an odd snack to some but boiled chana was one of my favourite snacks in Bombay when I lived there. They are served in a variety of ways. One particular chaat/ snack that was very popular was a mix of boiled chana served with finely cut onions, chili, tomato, spices, coriander leaves and sprinkled with loads of lemon juice.

Ahhh… That taste of heaven brings back a lot of nostalgia. In fact, I loved it so much that I used to carry a container just to buy it on my way for my night shifts. It gave our hostel food some omph! and I certainly looked forward to eating it.

There are many ways in which Indians enjoy this snack. One innovative way was recently published by my friend on Yuzu bakes where she talks about Tea Infused Chana Masala! It  is something I really want to try making at home soon.

10. Paratha

Another popular Indian snack that you can find on the streets of big cities is the paratha.

Paratha, meaning layers of cooked dough, is literally that, a stretched and cooked Indian flatbread usually cooked on a griddle and found all across the country and abroad as one of the most popular foods.

Parathas can be eaten on their own or accompanied by small spicy curry bowls, usually vegetables but also fish. They can also be filled with cheese or egg, or both, and are a common breakfast staple.

I eat paratha all the time in Singapore where the Indian community is large, but in India you can be sure you will find it anywhere. The last time I had paratha in India it was in Chennai where the proximity to the sea means you get nice flavourful fish curry with it.

By Mar from Once In A Lifetime Journey

Drinks

You would be surprised by the number of different drinks that are available across India. From the yoghurt based drink called lassi to a variety of juices to quench your thirst in the Indian heat.

Most juices are safe especially if you can see them being squeezed in front of you and yes! They form a part of the Indian street food culture. Let’s take a look at some of the popular ones that travel bloggers have tried during their visits to India.

10. Cane Juice

Quenching your thirst on a hot day with one of the best Indian street food. Namely Cane Juice!

Cane juice is sold from street-stalls all over India and costs anything from Rs10 to Rs50. It’s that perfect sweet refreshment from the heat, particularly on those humid days. 

Sugar cane is crushed through a hand-operated machine with a turning drum and the squeezed juice is then collected in a glass. It’s perfectly safe to drink, but for hygiene, you may want to clean the glass yourself, and say no to ice. Otherwise pour into your own bottle to take away.

Even though it contains sugar, it’s a natural sugar, and the juice is packed with nutrients and antioxidants to boost the immune system and give you a natural kick of energy – the perfect healthy snack!

We travelled all over India with kids (aged 2 and 3) and our boys absolutely loved cane juice. The sellers would often give them a cutting of the actual sugar cane to chew after drinking their glasses.

By Jenny from TraveLynn Family

11. South Indian Coffee

South Indian coffee is one of the Indian street food items that pairs well with a lot of other items.

While most Indians are tea drinkers, people in Southern India, mainly Tamil Nadu and Karnataka like their coffee – strong with milk and sugar. Traditional South Indian coffee also called filter coffee has been enjoyed for generations here.

Readily available everywhere in South Indian filter coffee is brewed in a unique metal device and served in a tumbler and dabarah.  It is usually poured back and forth between one receptacle to another to create more foam and froth!

Also called kaapi, you can find street side kaapi shops that serve up this delicious concoction pretty much everywhere you go (in South India), enjoy it with some Idli, vadas and dosas and you will be addicted too. I grew up in Chennai and the smell of this type of coffee always reminds me of home!

By Priya Vin from Outside Suburbia

12. Chai

Indian Chai is one of those items of Indian street food that comes in so many different variations.

Chai is synonymous with India, and it’s one of those “must sample” local beverages. Influenced by the British East India company in the 20th century, India took the traditional British milk tea and gave it a glorious twist full of depth and flavour.

Traditional Indian chai includes boiling milk (buffalo milk or full-fat cows’ milk) with water, black tea leaves (most often Assam black tea), and sugar along with a combination of ground ginger and cardamom. 

Different households and tea vendors have their unique recipes and methods for brewing the beverage. Depending on the region other spices are added including, but not limited to, cinnamon, peppercorns, nutmeg, and cloves.

Chai is primarily served in the morning, but you’ll find tea vendors serving the scalding hot, divinely scented, delicious beverage throughout the day. As chai is boiled, the tea is a safe but tasty drink.

With India’s move toward the abolishment of plastic, most tea-vendors are starting to use disposable ceramic cups, but if you want to take extra precautions, bring your own and make sure the chai is served piping hot.

Just watching tea vendors pour the blistering hot milk from copper kettles into teacups is an art-form and entertainment in itself that shouldn’t be missed.

By Asher from Asher & Lyric

13. Lassi

Lassi served in clay cups or in glasses is one of the well known items of street food in India.

Lassi is definitely one of the popular favorites when it comes to street food in India. Made out of curd, this beverage has a very smoothie-like texture. The best lassi is usually thick, milky and served chilled. 

You will find people enjoying a lassi in summer and it is considered one of the best ways to beat the heat. Traditionally the lassi was usually made either sweet or with a bit of masala or salt. The latter was usually drunk by diabetics.

Nowadays you come across a lot of different types of flavored lassi. The badam flavored is pretty amazing. My grandmother used to love this and I would always get some home for her whenever I went out to one of the cafes in Margao. 

My favorite flavor however is the mango lassi. This is something that can be caught in many of the markets and is usually found during the mango season in south India.

14. Falooda

If you want street food in India that kids can’t resist, you won’t go wrong with falooda.

If you have not tasted a falooda then you are missing out. Faloodas are another milk based drink that is popular throughout the country. My favorite faloodas can however be found in Badshah’s in Mumbai. Honestly, they are the best in the country.

A falooda is made using milk, sugar syrup, ice cream, jelly, sabja seeds, vermicelli and sometimes even nuts and fruits. Served chilled, this is another drink that helps us locals survive the hot Indian summers.

In fact, falooda was one of our favorite treats when we visited the markets with our parents during the summer vacation.

Sweets

Indian sweets are legendry. Every part of India has its own specialities and its own favourites. It therefore does not come as a surprise that travel bloggers chose to add some of these delicacies to the list of popular Indian street food that you should try when you are in the country. Trust me… I am going to try to keep adding to this list as and when I can.

15. Gulab Jamun

If you love sweets then gulab jamuns are an item of Indian street food that you should try.

I’ve always loved Indian flavours so when I finally got to visit, I was so excited to try all the street foot. Needless to say, It did not disappoint. One of my favourite dishes that I discovered while in India was Gulab Jamuns.

These are a sweet made of powdered milk, flour, and butter, deep fried, and then dipped in a sweet syrup. Healthy? No. Delicious? Absolutely!

After trying these sweets once I couldn’t get enough of them. Lucky, they are popular throughout India and can be found at most restaurants as well as on the street. They are especially popular during the time of Diwali, when sweets are given as gifts to loved ones.

Pictured below is a fresh batch of Gulab Jamuns being made during Diwali in the charming city of Pushkar. If you visit India, you must try these delicious sweets at least once!

By Lora from Explore With Lora

Have you tried any Indian street food? What was your favourite? Let us know in the comments below

*This post contains Affiliate links

** Most of the photographs in this post are not the property of Globetrove and have been provided by the individual contributing authors.