Street Food

Every street in Lucknow has a row of eating joints offering you something special. Before Lucknow’s reputation as a foodie’s paradise is well known all across the country. The city welcomes you in great style with its Nawabi heritage, architectural brilliance and intoxicating mix of flavours. If you are visiting the city and you miss out on the famous Awadhi cuisine, you have an incomplete holiday in hand. Foodie or not, the city has so much to offer. From royal dishes to the yummy street food, exploring the city as a foodie is an exhilarating experience.

Here is a sneak peak of some of the local foods in Lucknow.

Khasta Kachori

One of the few delicacies found on the bustling streets of Lucknow, whipping up khasta kachori is truly an art. There are two types of Khasta, one made with desi ghee and the other made with dalda ghee. 

You must try the khasta kachori at Ratti in Hewett Road. With people thronging the small eating joint, you’ll know you are in the right places. Served with spicyaloo ki sabzi, this dish is absolutely mouth watering.

Chaat

A plateful of colours and spices. That is the first impression of the famous chaat. An appetising riot of spices and flavours, this fingerlicking snack is the saviour of many grumbling stomachs. Served all across India, chaat owes its origination to Uttar Pradesh. A mixture of boiled potatoes, crispy fried dough, peas and spicy chutneys, this Indian delicacy is found all across the country.

Indulge in a plateful of this delicious street grub and you are in for a surprise. 

Kulfi

You cannot help but close your eyes as the cold and creamy Kulfi explodes in your mouth releasing wondrous sweetness. Available in various flavours (Malai, Kesar, Pista, Rose , Elaichi and Mango) and kinds, its silky texture leaves a rich aftertaste lingering behind. It is the most popular frozen milk based dessert in India, made by thickening the milk so that its denser and creamier and then freezing it. Traditionally, Kulfi is served with Falooda (noodles/vermicelli), but you can also tryMatka Kulfi or Kulfi on a stick like an ice cream bar.

The search for the city’s tastiest kulfi will lead you to the buzzing streets of Aminabad at Prakash Kulfi. Enticing and mouthwatering, the kulfi here is simply out of the world.

, during or after long shopping and sightseeing tours, take a break for some delicious grub and replenish the much needed energy. Set out on this culinary journey for the city of Lucknow awaits.

Mughlai Touch

The cuisine of Lucknow has its own distinct individuality and identity. The traditional food of Lucknow was highly patronized by the Mughals thus giving it a very royal touch. The royal chefs and cooks were trained to give that distinct royal touch and regal look to anything they cooked. Every detail was accounted for and it was made sure that the food looked fit for the kings. A very high degree of flair and finesse was required to cook the elaborate Lucknow cuisine.

Cooking a meal for the kings required that extra flair and touch of difference and the presentation required that extra eye for detail. The style of cooking was called as Dum style. This basically means that food was cooked on low flame. This style is carried on till date. The blending of spices in the right proportion and the right way was also not easy. It is a skill that is acquired through rigorous practice and is something that was practiced by generations to come.

The most famous dishes of Lucknow are kormas, kaliya, nahari-kulchas, zarda, sheermal, roomali rotis and warqi parathas. It is not just the ingredients that are special but also the way they are made by expert hands and the way they are presented. Just looking at an elaborate layout of Lucknow cuisine will make your mouth water. The most famous of all dishes are the Kebabs or the meatballs that come in different varieties. Some of the most famous (and delicious!) varieties of Kebabs are Kakori Kebabs, Shami Kebabs, Boti Kebabs, Patili-ke-Kababs, Ghutwa Kebabs and Seekh Kebabs.