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Northeast India is a melting pot of cultures and cuisines. With strong influences from its neighbouring states and countries, Assam has developed some unique foods that you rarely find anywhere else in India.
You’ll find Tibetan-, Burmese- and even Bangladeshi-inspired dishes at street food stalls all over Assam, and even some very interesting indigenous recipes. So let’s have a look at the top 10 street foods to try in Guwahati.
Quick Facts about Food in Guwahati
Quick Facts about Food in Guwahati
- Flavours: Assamese flavours can be pretty peculiar. Fermented fruit and vegetables are often used, and many spices are avoided altogether. If you’re the experimental type, you will absolutely love it.
- Types of food: Assamese food is great for both vegetarians and meat lovers. There’s plenty of fresh local produce for excellent vegetarian meals and Assamese love their meat. From pork to fish to duck and even silkworm, it’s all available here.
- Where to eat: If you want to really taste the culture of a place you have to visit its local markets. In Guwahati you can find hundreds of food vendors on street corners, with hand carts and bicycles, especially in the crowded market areas.
From the famous momo to the familiar jhal muri here are some of the local street foods in Guwahati you absolutely have to sample.
Assam Tea
Assam Tea
Home to the largest tea gardens on the planet and Assam’s indigenous crop, tea from this region is the finest you will find anywhere. Enjoyed in the state and country, even exported the world over, Assam tea can be prepared in many ways, some distinctly Assamese.
You cannot escape a good cup of tea in Guwahati. Around every corner, at every stall and restaurant, and in every home, tea is the beverage of choice morning to evening. Served in some remote places with yak’s milks and sometimes made salty rather than sweet, you will be surprised and inspired by the unique and traditional ways in which it is prepared and served.
- Where to get it: If you are looking for souvenirs to take home, you can find dozens of varieties of tea grown locally in decorative packaging, especially perfect for gifting someone the true taste of Assam.
Jhal Muri
Jhal Muri
Every corner of India has its own variation on chaat. This sweet, sour and spicy mix of puffed rice, nuts, herbs and delicious sauces or chutney, jhal muri in Guwahati is very similar to bhel puri in Mumbai.
However, the flavours and combinations found in Guwahati are even more mouthwatering. Some made with mustard or local star fruit called kodoi, the Jhal Muri here is an explosion of flavor.
- Where to eat: You should not have any trouble finding Jhal Muri around Guwahati. Its popularity as an evening snack with the locals rings true a custom the nation over. Served in paper cones and cheap as chips, you can easily find street vendors or hole in the wall shops all over.
Momos
Momos
Momos served with sauce in a Platter
Relished by all and the most popular of any northeastern dish by far, the versatile Momo traces its origins back to Tibet. You can find this traditional dumpling, steamed or deep fried, around any street corner in Guwahati and is a favorite snack with locals and visitors.
Stuffed with anything from mushrooms, paneer or vegetables to chicken, prawn or pork, these tasty, mildly flavored morsels are usually accompanied with a traditional Assamese chilli dip.
- Where to eat: At the Ganeshguri Market in the southern part of Guwahati, you can find some of the best Momos you will ever eat.
This street market, a favorite among tourists and locals, where you can buy anything from garments to groceries, is worth a visit just to experience the local street food if not the bustling bazaar.
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