Not Just Butter Chicken: Regional Dishes in India You Must Try
Food tours are becoming increasingly popular and India is one of the top destinations. With huge variations in cuisine across the land, India offers some of the best desserts, curries, dumplings, and more.
If you want to learn more about Indian cuisine and experience it in all its glory, visit India with a Tourist Visa for India Visitor Visa and taste the authentic dishes.
The Essence of Indian Regional Cuisine
With Mughal, Colonial, Mediterranean, and Arabic influences, combined with its own unique culture and taste, Indian cuisine is world-renowned. Marked and identified by the use of a wide variety of local spices and ingredients, Indian cuisine varies significantly across the subcontinent.
Listing the Top Food Destinations
The top locations to visit across the country for the best food scene are as follows:
- Delhi
- Kolkata
- Lucknow
- Hyderabad
- Goa
- Mumbai
- Kochi
- Chennai
- Bangalore
The best option is to try the most popular dishes for each of these cities at the local restaurants. While the bigger restaurants do serve excellent dishes, the smaller restaurants offer the more authentic versions.
However, before you get started on your food tour, you need to reach India and the specific cities.
Traveling to India for your Food Adventure
For locals, a food adventure can be simply traveling across the city, state, or country to experience the popular foods, the way they were originally made. However, if you are traveling from abroad, you will have to opt for an India Visitor visa or Tourist Visa .
For people visiting from abroad, the India Visitor Visa or Tourist Visa allows a 30-day stay with double entry. You may also opt for a 1-year visa or a 5-year visa. These are valid for the specified time frames but allow only a total stay of 90 days with multiple entries.
Applying for an India Visitor Visa
For visitors from the neighboring countries of Bhutan, Nepal, and Maldives, you need not apply for a visa to visit India. While the consular method and online application route are both available, only people from 170 plus countries are eligible for an eVisa.
To file an application, gather the following:
- A valid passport (6 months from the date of arrival)
- 2 blank pages in your passport
- A recent photo
- Proof of sufficient funds to support your travels
- Proof of return
- A proper travel itinerary
To apply for the India Visitor Visa, the steps are simple:
- Visit the site
- Select the correct visa category
- Fill in your details
- Upload all specified documents
- Cross-check to make sure that your application has no mistakes
- Submit and pay the fees
Preparing for Your Travels
For your trip to India, make sure to pack the below:
- The approved India Visitor Visa (Tourist Visa)
- ID proofs
- Clothes, medicines, cell phone chargers, and other essentials
- Spares for the above
While guides are available for all kinds of trips across most locations in India, the best spots for trying regional delicacies are known only to the locals. So it is best to seek some trusted local guides for the locations that you intend to visit.
Also, be sure to book all the hotels and travel arrangements in advance.
Must-Try Regional Dishes Across India
Now that your travel arrangements are done, it is time to know which are the top local delicacies and the best cities to try them in.
Northern India
With a strong Central Asian influence, North Indian dishes are moderately spicy, rich, and moreish. From parathas to curries to kebabs, the Mughal and Kashmiri styles of cooking are popular in Northern India.
Chole Bhature (Delhi & Punjab)
With golden deep-fried bread (the bhature) and rich, spicy chickpea curry (the chole), this is one of the most popular North Indian dishes. Served as both breakfast and lunch, chole bhature is often enjoyed with a side of pickled onions and green chutney.
Makki Ki Roti & Sarson Ka Saag (Punjab)
A popular Punjabi dish, Makki ki roti and Sarson ka saag is a popular winter delicacy. Perfect to match the cold Punjab mornings, Makki ki roti and Sarson ka saag are really healthy dishes. Sarson ka saag is made from a spicy medley of different leafy greens like mustard leaves, spinach, fenugreek, and more. This is complemented perfectly by the Makki ki roti which is made from maize flour.
Rajasthani Dal Baati Churma (Rajasthan)
A three-part dish popular in Rajasthan, the Dal is made using a mix of lentils and served along with Baati, a baked wheat ball. This is often served along with a sweet Churma, made from coarsely ground wheat cooked in ghee and sugar. To try the best Dal Baati Churma, a visit to Rajasthan is a must.
South India
Spicy and sour, South Indian food sees a lot of variation from light dishes like Rasam to fiery dishes like Chettinad chicken. To experience the best in Southern cuisine, you can either visit the megacities of Hyderabad, Chennai, Kochi, and Bangalore, which have multiple restaurants, or the smaller towns to taste authentic local delicacies.
Masala Dosa (Tamil Nadu)
Stuffed with a spicy, tangy potato filling, this is served along with the traditional sambar and coconut chutney. However, on your trip to Chennai, you can find the top restaurants and breakfast chains serving these with chicken and even paneer (cottage cheese) fillings. Perfect for a snack and lunch, as well, Tamil Nadu serves some of the best dosas available anywhere.
Prawn Curry (Kerala)
Tangy, spicy, and slightly sweet due to the addition of coconut milk, the Kerela Prawn Curry is a popular dish and a must-try. A comfort food for many, Kerala Prawn curry is best served with some plain rice.
Hyderabadi Biryani (Telangana)
A popular dish made with spiced meat and fragrant basmati rice, the Hyderabadi Biryani originated from the royal kitchens of the Nizams. One of the more popular variations of biryani, Hyderabadi Biryani is served alongside a spicy mirch ka salan and a cooling raita.
East India
The eastern part of India is popular for its deserts as well as its fiery curries. While everyone knows of Rasgulla from West Bengal, another sweet must-try dish is the Chenna Poda from Odisha. To add, you can also enjoy a spicy Kosha Mangsho (made from chicken or mutton) or some juicy, fiery momos.
Chenna Poda (Odisha)
A sweet delicacy, Chenna Poda is made from baked fresh chenna (cheese) combined with semolina and sugar. Almost like a soft, dense, decadent cake, Chenna Poda is authentic to Odisha.
Momos (Sikkim)
Either steamed or fried, the roots of momos lie in Tibet and Nepal. Being their neighbour, Sikkim provides the best and most authentic momos that you can try. Filled with either winter veggies, chicken, prawn, or pork filling, and served with a spicy red chili chutney, momos are one of the best dumplings to try.
Kosha Mangsho (West Bengal)
Made from both chicken and mutton, depending on your preference, every household has their own recipe for Kosha Mangsho. Cooked in a spicy onion and tomato gravy, Kosha Mangsho is best when served with a plate of hot rice or some thin, light chappatis.
West India
With significant Portuguese and local influence, the variation of taste among the dishes in the western part of India is high. Some of the most popular dishes are:
Pav Bhaji (Maharashtra)
Originating as a popular lunch in the 1850s, the Bhaji is a spicy curry made from mixed vegetables in a tomato gravy and served with toasted and buttered bread rolls (Pav). This is now a popular street food and a must-try on your trip to Mumbai.
Goan Fish Curry (Goa)
Spicy yet sweet, the Goan fish curry is packed with coastal flavors and is a staple in many homes. Best served with a plate of rice, the Goan fish curry packs a punch with a perfect blend of spices.
Dhokla (Gujarat)
A spongy, savory dish made from fermented Bengal gram flour batter, Dhokla is the signature dish of Gujarat. Complete with a tempering of mustard seeds, curry leaves, and chilies, Dhokla can be a light snack as well as a filling meal.
Exploring the Rich Indian Cuisine
Whether you are an Indian trying to rediscover and explore the cuisine of your country or someone visiting from a foreign land and curious about Indian food, Indian cuisine has a lot to offer.
From spicy curries to sweet rasgullas and chenna poda, Indian cuisine offers something for everyone.
Get an India Visitor Visa (Tourist eVisa), plan your travels, and get started on a food tour today.
Ensure you have checked your eligibility for Indian e-Visa.