Famed for being the cleanest city in India, Indore is a wonderful vacation destination whether you are travelling with loved ones or on your own. The city is peppered with many popular attractions and is particularly famous for its temples, palaces, handloom industry, night markets and street food. When it comes to food, Indore is a delight for connoisseurs looking to taste some lip-smacking preparations. The street food stalls and eateries around the city serve a wide range of snacks, sweets and dishes, the very sight and aroma of which can make you drool!
So, if you are thinking of visiting Indore soon, make sure you explore different street food stalls and restaurants around the city for some delectable snacks and dishes. To make things easier for you, we have shortlisted 15 Indore foods that are a must-try.
1. Sabudana Khichdi
This light, healthy and yummy snack is a favourite among people of all ages. Made with soaked sabudana or sago, boiled potatoes, curry leaves, cumin seeds, ginger, green chillies and other ingredients, the sabudana khichdi available in Indore is a treat for your taste buds. Wondering how? Well, this simple dish is topped with some crunchy chips, namkeens, chopped coriander leaves, spices and a dash of lemon juice at different Indore street food And yes, it is as appetising as it looks and sounds.
Best Places to Try:
- Sawariya Seth Khichdi, Sarafa Bazar
- Mukesh Fariyali Centre, Kalani Nagar
2. Dal Bafla
If you like Rajasthani dal baati, the dal bafla in Indore is a must-try. The round baatis or baflas are prepared with whole wheat flour, semolina, curd, ghee and other ingredients. The raw baflas are first boiled in water for a while and baked thereafter until done. Served with generous amounts of ghee and a spicy and flavourful dal, this Indore famous food item is a wholesome and delicious meal that you are sure to enjoy.
Best Places to Try:
- Hotel Rajhans, Sarafa Bazar
- Rajkamal Dal Bafla, Sarwate
3. Poha Jalebi
While Poha is a popular Marathi breakfast item made from beaten rice, vegetables and spices, Jalebi is a delicious sweet widely relished in North India. Although these two dishes are usually served separately in other states, people in Indore prefer having poha and jalebi together. The spicy and tangy poha tastes amazing with small bites of crispy jalebis. You must try it to find out how yum it is. Some Indore street food joints also top the poha with a crispy mixture for that additional flavour and texture.
Best Places to Try:
- Vijay Chaat House, Sarafa Bazar
- Ravi Alpahar, Kothari Market
4. Dahi Bade
Dahi bade is one such Indore food item that you can dig into at any time of the day. This street food is prepared with deep-fried lentil fritters that are dunked in lots of yoghurt and topped with spices and flavourful tamarind and mint chutneys. Try dahi bades at least once on your trip to Indore to experience an awesome burst of flavours in your mouth. You can either relish it as a snack or as a side dish with meals; it tastes wonderful either way.
Best Places to Try:
- Joshi Dahi Vada House, Sarafa Bazar
- Vijay Chaat House, Sarafa Bazar
5. Khatta Samosa
If you are a fan of samosas, the ones available in Indore will blow your mind and taste buds. The special khatta samosas here have a unique tangy filling and this is what makes them different from the samosas available elsewhere. Apart from the regular ingredients, these samosas contain pomegranate seeds that add a distinctive sweet-tangy flavour to them. Instead of the regular mint or tamarind chutneys, khatta samosas are served with a sweet chutney that helps balance the tangy flavour. Sounds delish, doesn’t it? Khatta samosa is undoubtedly one of the most popular Indore street foods and a must-try.
Best Places to Try:
- Samosa Corner, Sarafa Bazar
- Vijay Chaat House, Sarafa Bazar
6. Moong Bhajiya
Fritters or bhajiyas are counted among the most popular snacks in India and the moong bhajiyas available in Indore are no different. These crispy and flavourful fritters are made with moong dal or yellow lentils, green chillies, red chilli powder, spices and other ingredients. Relish some with a hot cup of tea and you will surely come back for more. Some of the Indore famous food joints also serve moong bhajiyas with an onion-radish salad and coriander chutney.
Best Place to Try:
- Shree Mahalaxmi Moong Ke Bhajiya, LIG Colony
7. Garadu
Prepared with deep-fried yams, Garadu is a crispy and delectable street food loved by locals and tourists alike. The fried yams are flavoured with an assortment of Indian spices and some lime juice for that perfect spicy-tangy taste. This healthy snack is best enjoyed in the winter season with a hot cup of tea or coffee. It is served at almost all street food stalls across Indore, so you can easily try some during city tours.
Best Places to Try:
- Jain Garadu, Rajwada
- Hari Om Nashta Centre, Sarafa Bazar
8.Khopra Patties
This unique, innovative and delectable snack is something that you will find only in Indore and nowhere else. As the name suggests, the snack is made with khopra or dry coconut and other ingredients like potatoes and spices. To make the patties, potato patties or aloo tikkis are stuffed with grated coconut and then deep-fried to perfection. Khopra patties are served hot with a tangy-spicy red chutney. This perfect teatime snack is undoubtedly one of the most popular street foods among both locals and tourists.
Best Places to Try:
- Vijay Chaat House, Chappan Dukan
- Vijay Chaat House, New Palasia
9. Bhutte Ki Kees
Bhutte ki kees is yet another special and delicious Indore street food that you can’t miss. To prepare this delicacy, corn kernels are boiled, mashed and fried in ghee. They are then topped with gram four and tempered with cumin seeds, asafoetida, curry leaves, green chillies, fennel seeds and other spices. Grated coconut and a dash of lemon juice are also added towards the end for some extra zing. Palatable and easy on the pocket, this famous Indore street food is a must-have.
Best Places to Try:
- Joshi Dahi Bada House, Sarafa Bazar
- Sawariya Chaat House, Bada Sarafa
10. Egg Benjos
Among all the popular vegetarian foods and snacks available in the city, Egg Benjos is one of the rare non-vegetarian snacks relished by many. It comprises a spicy masala omelette sandwiched between fresh buns. Egg Benjos is best enjoyed in the evening with some tomato ketchup. The food joints selling this popular snack have vegetarian options as well. They are equally tasty and a must-try for burger lovers.
Best Places to Try:
- Johnny’s Hot Dog, Chappan Dukan
11. Malpua
Visit Indore’s Sarafa Bazar at night and you will see scores of food stalls selling golden-brown pancakes sweetened with sugar syrup. These are the luscious malpuas that people in Indore are crazy about. Malpuas are fried pancakes made with semolina, all-purpose flour, milk, cardamom seeds, fennel seeds, sugar and other ingredients. They are soaked in hot sugar syrup and topped with rabri and lots of chopped nuts. We can confidently vouch that these malpuas are delicious and perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth.
Best Place to Try:
- Sarafa Night Food Market
12. Mawa Bati
Another sweet delicacy that draws scores of people to the popular Indore street food joints is mawa bati. This soft and delicious sweet is made with mawa, all-purpose flour, milk powder, sugar, ghee and other ingredients. Although it may look like a simple Gulab jamun to you, there’s something special about this delicacy. Mawa bati has a rich stuffing of chopped dry fruits and mawa and will delight your taste buds.
Best Places to Try:
- The popular food stalls in Chappan Dukan
13. Kulfi Faluda
If you visit Indore during summer months, the kulfi faluda sold here can give you that perfect respite from the sweltering heat. This extraordinary combination of creamy kulfi and faluda is one of the most popular street foods in Indore and a must-try for all. So, if you find yourself craving something cold and sweet during city tours, rush to the nearest sweet shop or street food joint selling kulfi faluda and relish this delicacy with your loved ones.
Best Places to Try:
- Nema Kulfi and Faluda, Sarafa Bazar
- Maduram Sweets and Namkeen, Chappan Dukan
14. Jaleba
This is basically a giant form of the regular jalebi found in the sweet shops and street food stalls of Indore. A jaleba is almost three times the size of a jalebi, so one piece is enough for two or more people. Yes, it’s that big! The sweet is so popular that you can easily find it in many Indore famous food If you are looking to enjoy it as a sweet dish after meals, remember to have a light meal so that there’s enough space in your tummy for this yummy dessert.
Best Places to Try:
- Sweet Stalls in Chappan Dukan
15. Indori Namkeen
Apart from all the delectable sweets and street foods, Indore is known for a large variety of deep-fried namkeens, such as chikkis, mathris, Indore sev, aloo bhujia, hing peanuts and khatta meetha. They are tasty, crispy and perfect for any time snacking, especially with a hot cup of tea or coffee. Apart from trying them in the city, you can also get some packed to take back home for yourself and your loved ones.
Best Place to Try:
- Om Namkeen, New Palasia
By now, you know why Indore is considered a foodie’s paradise by many. So, whenever you are in the city next, you must try the famous Indore street foods at the popular joints and make the most of your stay. And if you are particularly keen on the best local foods, visit the night market of Sarafa Bazar for a mind-blowing range of delicacies. You are sure to fall in love with the city!
