PUNJAB

Golgappas is every chaat lover’s favourite. The crispy and hollow puris, filled with sweet and tangy chutneys, dahi, chaat masalas, potato or chickpeas, when served with flavoured water brings about a burst of taste in your mouth. The Punjabi ones are bigger and more tangy and spicy.

Where to eat: Garg Chaat, Ram Chat Bhandar, Snacks Corner, Shami Chat & Sweets, Krishna Chat Bhandar, Chilli Chaats

Light on the stomach, but oozing with sweet and tangy flavours, Dahi Bhalla is a favourite street food of Chandigarh. The deep-fried, crisp hollow puris are filled with sweet and tangy tamarind sauce, spicy chutneys, and topped with creamy sweet dahi, to make them juicy and mouth-watering.

Where to eat: Snacks Corner, Garg Chaat

The chaats have so many dishes like Papdi Chaat, Bhel Puri, Pani Puri, Bhalla Papdi, Aloo Tikki, Ragda Patties, Kachori and others. They have a delicious filling of sweet and saucy chutneys, flavored water, mixture of potato, onions, corn, sprouts, pulses and other vegetables, topped with dahi or curds, and garnished with herbs.

Where to eat: Garg Chaat, Krishna Chat Shop, Matru Tikki Vaala, Ram Chaat Bhandar, Krishan Chat Bhandar, Shankar the Chat Shop, Chilli Chaats

Chole Bhature

A must-have when in Chandigarh, Chole Bhature combines the richness of gravy-laden chickpeas with that of the fluffy bhature. When eaten together, they form an essential North Indian dish, which can be had anytime, morning breakfast, lunch or dinner. The bhatures are cooked on tandoors or clay ovens and can be plain, or with a filling of paneer or potato.

Where to eat: Sodhi’s Ziaka, Sai Sweets, Roadside stall (Khirki/Rehri), Nukar Dhaba, Gopal’s

Kesar Pista Kulfi

Made of condensed milk, and loaded with nuts, raisins, pistachios, saffron and other dry fruits, Kulfi is a dessert item usually served after dinner. In the searing heat of Chandigarh, there is nothing like licking the cold sweet milk and biting chunks out of the bar of kulfi.

Where to eat: Krishna Chat Shop, Sai Sweets

Pav Bhaji

The most popular street food in India, Pav Bhaji is a thick vegetable curry, topped with butter, and served with soft bread. The ones that are prepared in North India is more spicy and more butter. The red coloured bhaji when had with crispily fried bread makes it a favourite snack of Chandigarh.

Where to eat: Sodhi’s Zaika, Wow, Snacks Corner, Neelam Fast Foods

This tandoori street food is famous in India, even more in Chandigarh. Paneer cubes are char-grilled on skewers and served with mint chutneys and other sauces. Other vegetables like capsicum, tomatoes, are also added to the paneer.

Where to eat: Pal Dhaba, Tikka Freaks, Katani Dhaba, Gopal’s, Chaplin Fast Food, Sindhi Sweets

This favourite street food of Chandigarh can be had anytime for a quick bite. Essentially it is a Kathi roll, filled with an assortment of different vegetables and spices. It can be vegetarian or non-vegetarian, but both of them are equally juicy and delicious.

Where to eat: Tibbs Frankie, Kathi Junction, Roll Xpress

This famous Punjabi lassi is best enjoyed chilled in the hot summer months. Favourite among people of Chandigarh, Lassi is a yoghurt based drink, prepared with fruit and spices, and garnished sometimes with flavours and other toppings.

Where to drink: Pal Dhaba, Sindhi Sweets, Gopal Sweets, Shiv Sweets and Bhojanalya, Talwar’s, Verka Lassi, Shiv Mistan Bhandar, Baba Dairy, Ram Dairy, Vijaya Dairy

Gobhi ke Paranthe

Nobody makes parathas better than the North Indians. In Chandigarh, you get the best Parathas with loads of butter and served with curries, pickles or raitas. Parathas are made of wheat flour and come in different varieties like plain, butter, cheese, paneer, keema, various herbs, dals, and others.

Where to eat: Pal Dhaba, Katani Dhaba, Gurbax Dhaba, Pahalwan Paratha Point

A typical north Indian street delicacy, Rajma chawal is essentially red kidney beans prepared in rich gravy and served with rice. It is the most nourishing dish and most popular among the street food fans of Chandigarh.

Where to eat: Sodhi’s Zaika, Khokha, Nukkar Dhaba, Pal Dhaba, Gopal’s, Deluxe Dhaba, Sindhi Sweets, Sai Sweets, Bholey Di Hatti, Talwar Dairy, Treat Point

Another Chinese favourite, Spring Rolls are deep fried pancakes, rolled and filled with veggies or meats, and served with various sauces and chutneys. It is a street food that is light on the stomach but dripping with flavour and aromas.

Where to eat: Toshib, Roll Xpress, Gopal’s, Khokha, Raju Chinese Fast Food, Kathmandu Chinese Fast Food, Lava Eat n Wrap, Pradhan Dhaba