A trip to Varanasi will always feel incomplete without visiting the streets of Varanasi and trying its spectacular food. This city is quite popular for temples and ghats but one of the most underrated things the city will offer you is its food. It will blow your mind. Every tiny lane seems to deliver a food spot that will blow your mind. It could be an old sweet shop, or a vendor or family-run place. If you take a minute and sit there, you will be shocked in the best way possible.
Now if you are planning to visit Varanasi and if you are looking to try Banaras famous food, this guide will cover some very unique dishes and where you can find them. There are so many food spots you can explore, even if you’re visiting for a few days. Here is a list of the best food and great spots you need to try if you’re visiting Varanasi.
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ToggleNow one of the first dishes you need to try as soon as you visit this Varanasi is kachori sabzi. It’s crispy, deep fried and flaky on the outside with a filling of dal. You get this delicious kachori with spicy potato sabji with tangy chutneys. This is the breakfast staple of the locals and also tourists but you can eat any time of the day because it just hits the spot irrespective of time.
Where you can try: Although kachoris throughout the city of Varanasi hit the spot, if you want to try some famous spots like Ram Bhandar in Thatheri Bazaar, Kachori Gali near Chowk, and local breakfast stalls around Godowlia. The best time to reach is before 9 am
If you want to try authentic Varanasi street food, starting your morning with Kachori Sabzi is the only way to go.
Now this is definitely a very unique dish for most of us. Unlike regular chaats,Tamatar Chaat just doesn’t sit well with you until you try it because it tastes delicious. The tomatoes are cooked with potato and you sprinkle it with namkeen, some masalas and lemon. It’s a flavour bomb of tanginess, spicy with a crunch.
It might sound like a very unusual dish but as soon as you try it, you will fall in love with it.
Where can you try: Now there are some very popular spots where you can try this tamatar chaat like Deena Chaat Bhandar near Dashashwamedh Ghat and Kashi Chaat Bhandar in Godowlia.
Now a lot of people who come to Varanasi specially visit the old food lanes of the city just to try this famous street food in Varanasi. You will definitely find very delicious underrated food spots.
Although Baati Chokha is not an authentic dish of Varanasi, this dish is quite popular in Uttar Pradesh. Baati Chokha for a while has taken over the streets of Varanasi, and for better because it is quite delicious. This dish is basically you make round shaped balls with wheat flour and then roast it. The chokha with mashed potatoes, onion, garlic mustard oil and chilly. The warm Baati is served with dripping ghee on the top and chokha. It’s simple yet delicious and also healthy compared to a lot of deep fried dishes that you get on the street.
Where to try: You can find a lot of places near Assi Ghat where you can find various restaurants and local street vendors who serve Baati Chokha.
Chena Dahi Vada is not your ordinary Dahi Vada. It’s very different, also a little more delicious than your normal Dahi Vada. Thi Dahi veda is actually made with chena which is actually a kind of cheese/paneer. You deep fry it with cold, chilled curd with spices and tamarind chutney. This dish is perfect for summers.
Where to try: You can try this dish at Madhur Milan in Godowlia. You can also try it in various traditional sweet shops around Chowk.
Now if you’re visiting Varanasi between November and February, you will come across this dish and when you do, make sure you try it.
You can only find this dish in the winter season. Malaiyyo is made using milk, saffron, and dry fruits. This dish basically feels like a cloud, so light weight that it almost melts in your mouth as soon you put it in.
Where to try: You can find this dish in the Winter stalls in Chowk, Thatheri Bazaar, Godowlia, and around Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
In the category of Banaras famous food, Malaiyyo remains one of the most unique dishes you’ll find here.
Banarsi Lassi is so popular that a few bollywood movies have mentioned it too. This lassi is served in earthen cups that enhance its tastes. The lassi is served with fresh cream, rabri, dry fruits, and sometimes saffron. It is so delicious a bit on the heavy side that you can almost count it as a dessert.
Where you can try: You can try this delicious Lassi at various spots like Blue Lassi Shop near Manikarnika Ghat, Pahalwan Lassi near Lanka, and Pehlwan Lassi at Godowlia.
A winter speciality that a lot of people do not try because it doesn’t look as appealing as it tastes.
It is basically poha which is also called flattened rice cooked with green peas, different kinds of spices, ghee.
Where can you try: Local breakfast stalls around Chowk, Godowlia, and Lanka. Mostly during the winter season.
Honestly Banarasi paan is not only popular in India but it’s quite popular all over the world.
Banarasi Paan is prepared using betel leaves. You can have different kinds of paan. One of the popular paan is definitely gulkand, fennel, coconut, cherries, cardamom, and several other sweet ingredients.
Where to try: Keshav Tambul Bhandar near Dashashwamedh Ghat and the famous paan shops around Godowlia and Chowk. A must before leaving the city.
Now if you’re searching for the best places to eat in Varanasi, you can definitely try some places like Dashashwamedh Ghat, Godowlia, Lanka, Assi Ghat, Chowk, and Kachori Gali.
The best part about this city is that no matter where you are you can always find delicious Street Food nearby. You can walk around the city and find really good street food in every lane.
