Pani Puri or Golgappa. Probably the most famous food in India?
The urban Indian streets are full of two things: people and food. Men and women of all ages and sizes standing around a small roadside food stall and eating is a common sight everywhere. Every market, big or small, upscale or otherwise, has several street food stalls. The trend is slowly growing in Kathmandu valley over the past few years (re: stalls selling momo, chatamari, bara etc. in New Road, Khicha Pokhari, New Baneshwor etc.) while the same is not new in Tarai parts of Nepal. In India, its the number that is intimidating. Perhaps that’s all understandable. It’s a country of more than a billion people. The street food culture is very much mainstream here. In these photos taken by my iPhone, one street food that is popular in several Indian cities including Delhi and Calcutta but is not considered really THE Indian, is missing. No prizes for guessing. That will be featured in a separate entry soon.
That yellow noodle-like thing was new to me. And also the way they served..in a plate.
There’s always a crowd in front Natraj Dahi Bhalla (I tasted it first time here) that sometimes blocks a small alley leading up to the Chandni Chowk Metro station.
Near Jama Masjid: Best street tea in Delhi, I say. Gokul, you agree, no? 🙂 But go there only in the evenings. During day time you will see the ugly atmosphere and dirty surrounding which will ruin the taste.
If you think poori means the puri as in roti, you are mistaken.
One thing that I noticed everywhere Delhi that is not found in Nepal so widely is that virtually every food that is sold on the street could be packed for home.
In the scorching heat of Delhi, chilled Kulfi Faluda comes as a blessing.
That yellow noodle-like thing was new to me. And also the way they served..in a plate.
One of the most popular foods in India. Equally savoured by people of all ages, I think!
Pani Puri or Golgappa, if you didn’t know, is sweet and sour liquid served in small hollow flour balls
paranthe wali galli is an interesting place. i used to get things packed from one of the parantha shops most of the time but recently i ate paranthas on their table. that gave me chance to observe the place more minutely. they have pasted photos of some of the celebrities who had gone there and eaten the food.
karim’s is also a good place though i found difference between quality of food served in jama masjid karim’s and nizamuddin karim’s. the former is better, i feel.
nepalidiot
mouthwatering piece. Panipuri, Golgappa, Phulki and in Kolkata it’s Phuchka. As for “Faluda”, u can find that on the way to asan through Indra Chowk but only during summer.
I dont know which other street food u have missed here. There are plenty of them on streets of Indian cities. Rolls of Nizam in Delhi and Kolkata, Biryanis (probably has more varieties than pizza), chats of bombay (oops! Mumbai), dosas, idlis, and uttapams from south. The list is endless.
Every city has its own food culture. I havent been to New York but have heard and read a lot about hotdogs from downtown Manhattan.
I would like to know if anyone knows where to find “Kathmandu like” momo in Delhi, kolkata and banglore. I still keep going to new stalls but the “filling” is tasteless. Its bland.
Being from restaurant industry myself, I would like to add one more thing.
People in Indian cities have this culture of enjoying street food as well as in restaurants with entire family, at least once a month.
In kathmandu, its still “friends circle” who enjoy.
Families get together only when they are out shopping, that too may be once or twice a year.
(I am talking about the middle class)
sanjiv wagle
a buda testo pani puri khane ho….? jsndis lagla ni… tyo indian haru le hamro des lai nai jandish lagaidi sake tapai lai baaki na raakh lan ni…. moj garnu. tyo wagle street journal re continue garnu na yar plz….. yo bhai co request la
[…] I mention that we have similar foods in Nepal and India (north India, that is)? What we call bhat is known as chawal in India. [In Nepal, uncooked chawal is called […]
Dinesh Wagle on Nepali Society 
10 responses to “Street Food of Delhi (and India)”
“Never dare to give a buri jajar to anyone.”
Wrong – Never dare to give a buri najar to anyone.
Hhhmm, where to start. foood .. delhi food. That’s the only one thing that i miss from Delhi.
Karim’s, Parathe Wali Gali, Chandni Chowk,
You brought back the memories.
Btw, Panipuri is also called Fulki in some parts of Nepal.. if u didnt knew.
And that yellow noodle like i think is Faluda. They are easily available in Terai Areas of Nepal. Hard Luck to Find it in KTM though.
yes, buri najar 🙂 thanks for pointing that out.
paranthe wali galli is an interesting place. i used to get things packed from one of the parantha shops most of the time but recently i ate paranthas on their table. that gave me chance to observe the place more minutely. they have pasted photos of some of the celebrities who had gone there and eaten the food.
karim’s is also a good place though i found difference between quality of food served in jama masjid karim’s and nizamuddin karim’s. the former is better, i feel.
mouthwatering piece. Panipuri, Golgappa, Phulki and in Kolkata it’s Phuchka. As for “Faluda”, u can find that on the way to asan through Indra Chowk but only during summer.
I dont know which other street food u have missed here. There are plenty of them on streets of Indian cities. Rolls of Nizam in Delhi and Kolkata, Biryanis (probably has more varieties than pizza), chats of bombay (oops! Mumbai), dosas, idlis, and uttapams from south. The list is endless.
Every city has its own food culture. I havent been to New York but have heard and read a lot about hotdogs from downtown Manhattan.
I would like to know if anyone knows where to find “Kathmandu like” momo in Delhi, kolkata and banglore. I still keep going to new stalls but the “filling” is tasteless. Its bland.
Being from restaurant industry myself, I would like to add one more thing.
People in Indian cities have this culture of enjoying street food as well as in restaurants with entire family, at least once a month.
In kathmandu, its still “friends circle” who enjoy.
Families get together only when they are out shopping, that too may be once or twice a year.
(I am talking about the middle class)
a buda testo pani puri khane ho….? jsndis lagla ni… tyo indian haru le hamro des lai nai jandish lagaidi sake tapai lai baaki na raakh lan ni…. moj garnu. tyo wagle street journal re continue garnu na yar plz….. yo bhai co request la
Hmm… धन्यवाद बाबु, for reminding me 🙂 thnx for writing.
[…] I mention that we have similar foods in Nepal and India (north India, that is)? What we call bhat is known as chawal in India. [In Nepal, uncooked chawal is called […]
hmm mouth watering post !
Whats that dish you talking about ? Chowmien ???/
Momo 🙂 click on the link above (No Nepali Food in Delhi?)
Oh got it wrong ! Momo, have seen them many times also here in Meerut (West U.P) where i live, but have not eaten them, will try them soon.
[…] Past entries: 1. Hustle and Bustle of Chawri Bazaar, Old Delhi 2. Street Food of Delhi (and India) […]