Boasting an interesting blend of culture, tradition and modern appeal, Ahmedabad or Amdavad is one of the most amazing places to visit in India. And that’s not all; the city scores high on the street food scene and is considered a haven for foodies. From dhokla and fafda to vada pav and locha, the delicacies available here are endless. It goes without saying that Gujaratis are known for their love for both sweet and savoury foods. So, if a trip to Ahmedabad is on the cards, make sure you explore the eateries peppering the city and relish your favourite street foods.
Here’s a list of the top 15 must-try street foods in Ahmedabad:
1. Fafda – Jalebi
When it comes to Ahmedabad food, fafda-jalebi tops the list. This amazing sweet-savoury snack is counted among the best breakfast items in the city. While fafdas are made with chickpea flour and spices, jalebis are prepared with a batter of chickpea flour and all-purpose flour and dipped in sugar syrup. Although you can have them separately, they are best enjoyed together with a hot beverage. So, the next time you are in Ahmedabad, fafda-jalebi is the first thing you must try for breakfast. And yes, you need not go to any high-end rooftop restaurant for this; every street food joint in the city serves this popular snack.
- Quick Tip: Try fafdas with fried green chillies, chutney and papaya sambharo for that authentic taste.
- Best Places to Try:
- Oshwal, Ashram Road
- Iscon Gathiya joints in the city
2. Khaman
Popularly known as khaman dhokla, khaman is among the most relished street foods in Ahmedabad, and for good reason. This steamed, soft and fluffy savoury cake is made with chickpea flour batter, spices and a leavening agent. The tempering of mustard seeds, curry leaves, chillies, coriander leaves and grated coconut add a distinctive flavour to khaman and make it a must-try. It is served in many restaurants and street stalls around the city, so you can easily enjoy some during city tours.
- Quick Tip: Remember to try different varieties of khaman in Ahmedabad, such as nylon khaman, masala khaman and vati dal khaman, all equally palatable.
- Best Places to Try:
- Das Khaman Since 1922, Nikol
- Shri Jay Jalaram Khaman House, Maninagar
3. Dhokla
A traditional Gujarati meal is incomplete without certain snacks, and dhokla is one of them. Often confused with khaman, very few people know that dhokla is prepared using different ingredients. The dhokla batter is a mixture of rice, channa dal and spices. Although a little harder than khaman, dhokla is equally delicious and a favourite among foodies. It is tempered the same way as khaman and best enjoyed with green chutney. The street food joints serve different types of dhoklas, such as khatta dhokla, rava dhokla, toor dal dhokla and sandwich dhokla, all worth trying. You will not get the authentic taste anywhere else in the world. It is undoubtedly one of the best street foods in Ahmedabad.
- Quick Tip: Relish dhoklas with some tamarind chutney for that sweet-tangy flavour.
- Best Places to Try:
- Das Khaman Since 1922, Nikol
- Oshwal, Ashram Road
- Lijjat Khaman House, Maninagar
4. Khandvi
This delicious, light and high-protein Gujarati snack is a favourite in Ahmedabad. Prepared with chickpea flour, curd, ginger-green chilli paste, and spices, Khandvi is a low-calorie snack that you can enjoy guilt-free. It looks like a tightly rolled-up sheet that is neatly cut and tempered with mustard seeds, sesame seeds and other ingredients. As appetising as it looks, you are sure to relish at least a few. Khandvis are available in almost all Ahmedabad food joints, so make sure you try this delectable snack whenever you are in the city.
- Quick Tip: Enjoy khandvi as a tea-time snack with some lip-smacking coriander-mint chutney.
- Best Places to Try:
- Das Khaman Since 1922, Nikol
- Swati Snacks, Law Garden and Ambli Road
5. Sev Khamani
If you love Gujarati snacks, this savoury street food is a must-try. In simple words, sev khamani or amiri khaman is an extension of khaman. It is basically prepared with crumbled khaman and is equally delish. The snack is tempered with garlic, mustard seeds, sesame seeds, curry leaves and chopped green chillies and garnished with pomegranate, coriander leaves, grated coconut and lots of sev. It tastes better than it sounds, as sev khamani is a perfect combination of spicy, sweet and sour flavours. Hence, when you are looking for a quick snack during city tours, the yummy sev khamani is what you must go for.
- Quick Tip: Sev khamani can be a bit spicy for kids, so keep that in mind.
- Best Places to Try:
- Das Khaman Since 1922, Nikol
- Shri Jay Jalaram Khaman House, Maninagar
- Lijjat Khaman House, Maninagar
6. Locho
A staple in Gujarat, locho is one of the most loved street foods in Ahmedabad. This steamed snack or farsan is available in most street food joints and restaurants in Ahmedabad; you can enjoy it for breakfast, as a side dish with lunch or dinner, or as a tea-time snack. Locho is prepared with chickpea, split black gram, flattened rice, sour curd and other ingredients. Cooked locho is topped with melted butter, locho masala, coriander leaves, onions, and lots of sev. Sounds drool-worthy, doesn’t it?
- Quick Tip: Locho is best enjoyed hot with a dash of mint-coriander chutney.
- Best Places to Try:
- Neelkanth Surati Locho and Khaman House, Gurukul Road
- Jani Locho & Khaman House, Satellite
7. Vada Pav
This popular street food from Maharashtra is a hot favourite in Ahmedabad as well. The snack is prepared by cutting a bun or pav along the middle, applying generous amounts of green and garlic chutneys, and then placing a fried batata vada in between. Vada pav is served with fried green chillies and green chutney. As a popular evening snack, vada pav is best enjoyed with a hot cup of tea or coffee.
- Quick Tip: If your tongue is sensitive to spicy foods, try vada pav with tamarind chutney or tomato ketchup.
- Best Places to Try:
- Shreeji Krupa Bombay Vada Pav & Fast Food, Sargam Marg, Vastrapur
- Riddhi Siddhi Mumbai Misal & Vada Pav, Prahlad Nagar
8. Dabeli
Popularly known as kutchi dabeli, this lip-smacking Ahmedabad street food is a must-try. Dabeli is prepared with pav bun and a unique blend of potato mixture which can be sweet, spicy or mild. Just like in vada pav, green chutney and tamarind chutney are applied in the slit pav, and the potato mixture, pomegranate and masala peanuts are stuffed inside. The pav bun is then roasted in butter and rolled on sev before serving. Dabeli is both delicious and filling. So, whenever you find yourself hungry while exploring the city, you can dig into this appetising snack at a nearby street food joint.
- Quick Tip: Dabeli tastes best with a hot beverage and some tomato ketchup.
- Best Places to Try:
- Karnavati Dabeli Centre, Maninagar
- Mewad Dabeli & Snacks, Navrangpura
9. Maska Bun
This simple yet delicious roadside snack is a favourite among both locals and tourists. Although it may look like a regular bun, it has a mixture of butter and fresh cream inside. This mixture is what the locals call maska. The snack is prepared by heating buns over a medium flame and applying generous amounts of maska inside. When you are in Ahmedabad, maska buns with a cup of hot chai is all that you need for a memorable evening.
- Quick Tip: Try the roadside stalls for the best maska buns in Ahmedabad.
- Best Places to Try:
- New Irani Restaurant, Salaphat Road
- Lucky Tea Stall, Mirzapur Road
- Iscon Gathiya joints in the city
10. Jini Roll Dosa
This is a delectable fusion of South Indian dosa with the street food of Mumbai and Gujarat. The dosa is packed with lip-smacking stuffing, which is made of vegetables like carrots, cabbage, onions and capsicum, sauces, spices and cheese. It is then rolled neatly and served with coconut chutney. Jini roll dosas are available at many street food joints in Ahmedabad, so you can easily visit one in the vicinity and relish this delicacy with your loved ones.
- Quick Tip: The IIM Road food stalls in Ahmedabad are famed for serving the best Jini roll dosas in the city.
- Best Places to Try:
- Devi Dosa Palace, Gangotri Circle, Nikol
- South Amma, Thaltej
11. Dal Vada
If you are a fan of fritters or pakodas, you will surely fall in love with the crispy and delicious dal vadas in Ahmedabad. This popular evening snack is loved by locals and tourists alike, thanks to its crispy covering and delectable taste. They are served at most street food joints around the city, so you will not need to travel too far to enjoy this lip-smacking Ahmedabad street food. These deep-fried vadas are prepared with split yellow and green gram dal, ginger, garlic, green chillies and spices. They are served with chopped onions and fried green chillies and taste awesome with a hot cup of tea or coffee.
- Quick Tip: Dal vadas taste great on their own, without any chutney or ketchup.
- Best Places to Try:
- Shree Ambika Dalvada Centre, Vasant Nagar
- Balaji Dal Vada Centre, Satellite
12. Chola-Kulcha
This Punjabi delicacy is one of the most popular street foods in Ahmedabad. Although chola-kulcha is available in many restaurants around the city, none can beat the taste of the ones available at the street food joints. The soft and flavoursome kulchas are served with piping hot Punjabi-style chola, chopped onions and lemon slices. A complete meal, chola-kulcha can be relished for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. So, whenever you see a street food joint selling this delicacy, head over and enjoy a plate full of Amritsari chola-kulcha.
- Quick Tip: You can find the best chola-kulcha on C.G. Road, Ahmedabad.
- Best Places to Try:
- Shiv Chole Kulche, Science City Road
- Haanji Amritsari Kulcha joints in the city
13. Handvo
If you are someone who enjoys healthy meals, you ought to try handvo in Ahmedabad. Prepared with fermented rice and lentil batter and infused with the nutrition of fresh vegetables, chillies and spices, this savoury cake will delight your taste buds. Just like khaman, dhokla and some other Gujarati snacks, handvo is tempered with cumin seeds, mustard seeds, sesame seeds and curry leaves. This soft and fluffy cake is quite a delicacy in Ahmedabad and a must-try for every street food lover.
- Quick Tip: Handvo is best savoured as a teatime snack with some spicy green chutney.
- Best Places to Try:
- Swati Snacks, Law Garden and Ambli Road
- Das Khaman Since 1922, Nikol
14. Sev Puri
Counted among the best street foods in Ahmedabad, sev puri is something you can relish at any time of the day. The city is dotted with street food joints and eateries selling some amazing sev puris. Hence, whenever you’re craving something sweet and spicy, you can head to the nearest food stall and dig into some palatable sev puris. The crispy flat puris topped with boiled potatoes, chopped tomatoes and onions, chutneys and lots of sev is truly a delicacy in Ahmedabad. And once you taste it, you will come back for more.
- A Quick Tip: Enjoy sev puris as soon as they are served to prevent the puris from getting soggy.
- Best Places to Try:
- Diwan Bhel Pakodi Centre, Jodhpur Village
- Jagdish Chaat Pakodi Centre, Navrangpura
- Swati Snacks, Law Garden and Ambli Road
15. Ragda Patties
This popular snack made with potatoes and white chickpeas is something you can’t afford to miss in the city. The flavoursome and crispy street-style potato patties are topped with ragda or white chickpeas curry, chopped onions, some lip-smacking coriander and tamarind chutneys, spices and sev. And since this delicacy is available at many Ahmedabad street food joints, you can easily try some whenever you are in the city.
- Quick Tip: You can visit Arpit Ragda Patties, a popular street food joint, to enjoy the best ragda patties in Ahmedabad.
- Best Places to Try:
- Arpit Ragda Pettis, Naranpura
- Swati Snacks, Law Garden and Ambli Road
Apart from the street foods listed above, you must also try samosa pav, khakhra, pani puri, bhelpuri, cheese Maggi, batata poha, thepla, bread pakoda, mirchi vada and other street foods in Ahmedabad. The city is a treasure trove for foodies; it is peppered with food stalls and street food joints that are worth exploring. So, whenever you are in Ahmedabad next, make sure you try the local delicacies here with your loved ones. It will surely make your trip a memorable one.
