Street Foods in Lucknow: Once a mighty stronghold of the Nawabs, Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh is one of India’s most historically significant and multicultural cities. Apart from taking pride in a golden past and rich cultural heritage, this vibrant city is known for its wide array of delicious street food and other delicacies that attract foodies from across the country. With a scintillating selection of delectable cuisines available at every corner of the city, a culinary tour of Lucknow is something that food connoisseurs have been longing for. After all, savoring the famous Mughlai and Awadhi cuisine in the old world ambiance of the city is a unique experience. So, read on to know about the famous food items of Lucknow that one must try.
Famous street food of Lucknow
1. Biryani
The mouth-watering Lucknowi Biryani is something you cannot miss out on. This delicious dish is prepared by slow cooking rice with various spices, vegetables, curd, mint leaves, fried onions and other ingredients. It is then topped with fried potatoes, coriander leaves and nuts and served hot with raita or gravy. The non-vegetarian varieties with marinated pieces of chicken or mutton are a specialty dish in the city. And you don’t have to go far to taste the best biryani in Lucknow. The popular street food joint of Lucknow is known for serving some of the best biryani at pocket-friendly rates. From non-vegetarian varieties like Butter Chicken Biryani, Seekh Kebab Biryani, Sufiyani Chicken Biryani and Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani to vegetarian dishes like Veg Handi Dum Biryani, Paneer Biryani and Veg Kofta Biryani, there are plenty of options to choose from. Lucknowi Biryani can be spicy. So, if your tongue is sensitive to spicy food, remember to order one with medium or low spiciness.
Best Location:
Idris Biryani, Raja Bazar
Wahid Biryani’s joints in the city
2. Kebab
When you are in Lucknow, you get a chance to enjoy Kebabs. A delicacy in the city, Kebabs are counted among the most delicious and versatile Lucknowi food items, relished by all. This popular snack can be prepared in different ways with vegetables, meat, spices and other ingredients to give it different flavours. Locals and tourists both blindly vouch for this melt-in-the-mouth street food; No wonder most of the street food stalls and eateries in Lucknow that sell this item are always crowded. Tunde Kebabs, Galavati Kebabs and vegetarian Shami Kebabs are some of the top favourites.
Best Location:
Tunde Kababi, Khayaliganj
Dastarkhwan of Awadh, Gomtinagar
Street food stalls along the square area
3. Chole Bhature
This popular dish of Punjab is also a delicious dish in Lucknow. While chole is made from chickpeas, onions, garlic, tomatoes and a variety of Indian spices, bhaturas are prepared from all-purpose flour, semolina and plain yogurt. Various street food joints in the city serve this wonderful combination with some chopped onions, lemon slices and pickles. Though you must have tasted this delicious dish in other Indian cities, we can confidently say that nothing can beat the taste and flavor of Lucknowi style Chole Bhature. Chole can be a bit spicy, so keep a glass of lassi with you.
Best Location:
Shree Lassi And Sons, Chowk
Sardarji’s famous Chole Bhature – Punjabi Flavors, Lalbagh
4. Veg Kebab Paratha
Ever heard of anything like this before? Well, Veg Kebab Paratha is one of the most loved street food not only in Lucknow but in entire Uttar Pradesh. This popular vegetarian snack is prepared by stuffing soft rumali rotis with some crispy and delicious kebabs. Veg Kebab Paratha is best enjoyed with tea or coffee. Though it is a popular breakfast item in the city, it is also good for evening snack. And apart from the veg kebab parathas, you must try the vegetarian kebab rolls, which are a variant of this famous Lucknowi street food.
Best Location:
Deva Food Mart, Chandralok
Tunde Kababi, Khayaliganj
5. Basket Chaat
Also known as Tokri Chaat, it is a popular dish from Lucknow. This spicy chaat is prepared by filling crispy baskets with mashed potatoes, bhalla, boiled moong dal, various chutneys and curd. Finally it is garnished with pomegranate seeds, sev and spices and served immediately. So, if you find yourself craving for a lip-smacking chaat item while visiting the city, you should go for the basket chaat.
Best Location:
Royal Cafe, Hazratganj
Shukla Chaat House, Hazratganj
Fast Food Joints in Gomti Nagar
6. Poori-Kachori
A favorite among street food junkies, Lucknow’s Puri-Kachori is something you will remember for a long time. This delicious and economical dish is a popular breakfast and evening snack in Lucknow; In fact, you can enjoy it at any time of the day. The crispy puri-kachori is served with a side of potato curry, chickpeas and salad, so it is quite filling. The city is dotted with street-food stalls and eateries serving this dish. So, if you find yourself hungry while touring the city, head to the nearest eatery and enjoy a plate full of this delicious dish.
Best Location:
Bajpai Kachori Bhandar, Hazratganj
Rattilal, Aminabad
7. Malai Makhan
Malai Makhan, also known as Nimish, is a creamy, fluffy and delicious dessert available only in the winter season in Lucknow. It is prepared with freshly obtained unsalted butter, powdered sugar, cardamom powder and yellow colour, and is topped with lots of khoya and chopped nuts. Sounds delicious, doesn’t it? This wonderful, melt-in-the-mouth dessert is indeed a delight for the palate. If you plan a trip to Lucknow during the winter season, Malai Makhan is something you must try at least once.
Best Location:
Bajpai Kachori Bhandar, Hazratganj
Moti Mahal Restaurant, Lalbagh
Near Gol Darwaza in Chowk
8. Kulcha Nihari
If you enjoy non-vegetarian food, then you must try Kulcha Nihari in Lucknow. Nihari is a popular Mughlai dish prepared with marinated mutton pieces and a variety of herbs and spices. The great thing about this meat curry is that it is simmered overnight with herbs and spices, and the result is utterly delicious. This delicious curry is served hot with kulchas, fried onions and lemon slices. This dish is so popular that it is readily available in many of Lucknow’s famous eateries, so remember to try some whenever you get a chance.
Best Location:
Rahim’s Kulcha-Nahari, Chowk
Mubin Chowk
9. Chicken Shawarma
There is something special about the spicy chicken shawarma found in the cuisine of Lucknow, it is prepared by marinating thin slices of chicken with spices, ginger-garlic paste, curd, lemon juice and other ingredients. The marinated pieces are then deep fried on a low flame till soft and fully cooked. The chicken pieces are then arranged in pita bread along with salad and a variety of sauces. The bread is lightly rolled up and served with some delicious tahini sauce. Lucknow’s delicious Chicken Shawarma is a must try for every non-vegetarian lover.
Best Location:
The Manish Eating Point, Gomti Nagar
Al Baike, Aliganj
10. Shahi Tukda
This scrumptious royal dessert has been relished since the Mughal times. It was reportedly a favorite among the emperors of Lucknow, and hence, the name Shahi Tukda. Prepared with fresh milk, sugar, bread, desi ghee, saffron, cardamom and rose water, this simple yet delicious bread pudding is a must have for all. To make this dessert, fried bread slices are dipped in sugar syrup and then topped with flavored condensed milk and garnished with chopped pistachios and almonds. Savor it after a meal or at any time of the day, it really is amazing!
Best Location:
Dastarkhwan of Awadh, Gomtinagar
Tunde Kababi, Khayaliganj
Street food and sweet shops in Aminabad
11. Kulfi Faluda
When it comes to savoring sweets on a hot summer day, nothing can beat the cool and delicious Kulfi Faluda. In Lucknow, Kulfi is prepared the desi way with lots of chopped dry fruits, saffron, cardamom powder and other ingredients. Though available in various flavours, such as butterscotch, mixed fruit, strawberry and paan, the traditional Kesar Kulfi remains a top favourite. Choose the flavor of your choice and enjoy this melt-in-the-mouth dessert with some soft falooda. You’ll definitely be back for more.
Best Location:
Moti Mahal Restaurant, Lalbagh
Food stalls in Aminabad
12. Sheermal
Fluffy, sweet and aromatic sheermal is a one-of-a-kind soft bread or naan available in the famous cuisine of Lucknow. street. Today, this sweet naan is a popular part of the Awadhi and Mughlai cuisine of Lucknow and is enjoyed with spicy meals such as biryani, kebabs and korma. If you are tired of eating regular naans and rotis in the city, then this sweet tandoori naan prepared with cardamom flavored milk and saffron is a perfect alternative.
Best Location:
Salman Sheermal Wale, Chowk
Rahim’s Chowk
13. Handi Chicken
Prepared with a rich spicy gravy and cooked to perfection, Handi Chicken is one of the most loved non-vegetarian dishes in the city. The dish is slowly cooked in a special clay pot to allow the spices to seep into the chicken more effectively for that authentic taste and aroma. Handi Chicken Gravy prepared with Garlic, Onion, Tomato, Yogurt, Cardamom, Cinnamon and a variety of Indian spices, Marinated chicken pieces cooked to perfection and garnished with chopped coriander leaves . You can enjoy this dish with naan, lachha paratha, sheermal or steamed rice for a satisfying and nutritious meal.
Best Location:
Kalika Hut Restaurant, Gomti Nagar
Champaran Meat House, Gomtinagar
14. Thandai
Thandai and Tasty Thandai is the best summer drink in town. Made with milk, nuts, whole spices and seeds, it is packed with nutrients and is filling too. From almonds, cashews, pistachios and cardamom to fennel, poppy seeds, rose petals and saffron, Thandai has it all. If you feel tired and sick while touring the city, a glass of thandai can do the trick. You can also eat it with food; Thandai can cool your stomach and improve digestion.
the best place:
King Cooling, Square
15. Imarti Rabri
This heavenly combination of crispy Imarti and creamy and delicious Rabdi is one of the must-try foods of Lucknow, especially if you have a sweet tooth. Being an important part of Nawabi cuisine, this traditional sweet is easily available at sweet shops across the city. Gol imrati is made from a batter of black lentils (urad dal), cornflour and saffron, deep fried in ghee, and then soaked in sugar syrup with cardamom powder. Once prepared, Imarti is garnished with slivered almonds and rose petals and served hot with chilled rabdi on top.
Best Location:
Moti Mahal Restaurant, Lalbagh
Ram Aasre Sweets, Hazratganj
Neelkanth sweets shops in the city
Overall, if you are someone who loves tasting different cuisines, then you must plan a trip to Lucknow soon and relish some of the best Awadhi and Mughlai cuisines listed above. Most of the street food and other dishes of Lucknow explode with tempting flavors and are a treat for the taste buds. So, get ready for an unforgettable experience.
Source: newstrack.com”