India's 3 best food streets & their monsoon delicacies

Picture this: raindrops gently tapping on your umbrella while you navigate the lively streets in search of the ultimate monsoon snacks. From crispy bhajiyas to piping hot chai, the monsoon food scene in India is a gustatory adventure waiting to happen. Let your taste buds take center stage as you indulge in various flavors and spices that will transport you to foodie paradise. So, buckle up your rain boots, grab an appetite as big as the rainy sky, and get ready to embrace India's quirky and mouth-watering world of monsoon food.

India’s street food journey is rich in history and culture. Did you know that chaat is one of the oldest street foods invented in Mathura, U.P? It’s believed that the age of this dish is as old as the ancient or medieval age. During the Mughal period, Kebab was one of the most famous street foods sold by vendors. In the colonial period, Indian street food began to include new ingredients and culinary techniques, such as flour, in preparing bread such as naan and paratha. It was the post-independence era when Indian street foods started experimenting with all the past’s cultural amalgamation in food. Pav bhaji to pakora, crispy Dhosa to golgappa started to dominate the streets of India. Simple household regular food has become a sensation with the zest of presentation and slight modifications. Even boiled eggs have become a street food served with various spices and chutney!

So, a journey through India's food streets has to be a compelling experience. The country's foods are diverse. It's difficult to choose one location over another. We've selected three famous sites to nurture your taste buds during this rainy season.

VV Puram Food Street, Bengaluru

A flavorful Bath Dosa from V.V. Puram in Bangalore (Picture - Booking.com)

Step right up, food enthusiasts! Brace yourselves for a monsoon extravaganza that will entice your taste buds and make you crave more. Welcome to the Monsoon Fun Food Fest at VV Puram Food Street, where the rain-soa ked streets come alive with the sizzle and aroma of irresistible monsoon snacks.

As the pitter-patter of raindrops sets the rhythm, the air fills with the scent of piping hot pakoras, crunchy chili and capsicum bhajjis, and steaming cups of masala chai. And we won’t judge if you like to dip your pillow soft sweet buns in your masala chai. Indulge in a symphony of flavors as you dive into crispy corn on the cob, adorned with a generous squeeze of lemon and a sprinkle of chaat masala. Sink your teeth into crispy medu vadas, drizzled with tangy coconut chutney. Another famous food in this vibrant street is the Indian version of the spicy, tangy gobi Manchurian roll. Enjoy the Chindian version of this roll with rumali roti and a generous amount of filling in this cool, rainy weather.

The ever-popular and tangy Pani Puri (Picture - Booking.com)

When you're in VV Puram, there's no way you can miss the crispy Bath masala dosa - A traditional dosa with potato filling that comes with a copious amount of butter served with lemon rice and potato palya. And Iet’s not forget India's national food - the famed panipuri, in all its glory with various fillings and spicy water.

Shimla Mall Road

Shimla Mall Road's juicy momos with tangy chutney (Picture - Cooking from Heart)

Imagine yourself strolling through the Shimla Mall Road and the drenched colonial buildings, with the rain-soaked Himalayas surrounding you. The damp earthy smell mixed with the spicy steamy alluring aroma of food. Embark on a monsoon food adventure in the heart of Shimla Mall Road!

Shimla’s air is alive with laughter and the clinking of tea cups as locals and visitors gather to relish the monsoon delights. Sink your teeth into piping hot momos, bursting with flavorful fillings and accompanied by zesty dips that pack a punch. You can accompany it with steaming hot thukpa, a traditional Tibetan dish like soupy noodles. Take a sip of adrak chai infused with the warmth of ginger and paired with crispy onion pakoras.

When in Himachal, especially in Shimla, Sidd u and Babru should be on your checklist to try. Siddu, an out-an-out Himachali dish made with wheat and different fillings of dry fruits or vegetables, is an authentic way to savor the local culinary flavor. On the other hand, Babru is a delicious Shimla delicacy and a lot like Kachori. It is made by stuffing soaked and ground lentil paste into kneaded dough patties, then rolled and deep-fried.

Shimla Mall Road's crispy, spicy, and scrumptious jabelis (Picture - The Better India)

And let's not forget the sinful indulgence of hot jalebis, freshly fried and dipped in a sugar syrup that oozes sweetness with every bite. Indulge your senses in the softness of the hot gulab jamuns of Baljee's while the green panorama awes you. So, grab your umbrella and join the monsoon food fun on Shimla's Mall Road. The rain-soaked adventure awaits!

Chandi Chowk, Delhi

 Delectable Ram laddu at Delhi's Chandni Chowk (Picture - Manjula's Kitchen)

Bring your umbrellas out, folks! It's time to dive into a monsoon food frenzy at the vibrant lanes of Chandni Chowk in Delhi. Bra ce yourself for an epicurean escapade as you navigate the bustling bazaars and indulge in a whirlwind of monsoon snacks that will tickle your taste buds.

As the rain cascades down, the aroma of chaat and kebabs fills the air, drawing food enthusiasts from every corner of the city. Sink your teeth into crispy aloo tikki, adorned with tangy chutneys and garnished with fresh coriander. Shakespear said, 'What's in a name?' Delhi's and Chandi Chowk's famous Ram Laddu does the utmost justice to this quote. It doesn't possess any characteristics of the Indian sweet dish laddu; instead, it's a soft pakora served with tangy, lovely green, red chutney, coconut, and coriander toppings.

Raj Kachori from Chandni Chowk, loaded with chutney and garnish (Picture - Chef Kunal Kapoor)

If you start your day early, have a rainy breakfast at Shiv Mishtan Bhandar or Shyam Sweets with their alluring Bedmi Aloo Puri or Tiwari's Raj Kachori. And let's not forget the iconic Jalebi and Rabri duo, a match made in dessert paradise. Nurture your Mughlai food appetite with Aslam Chicken or Al-Jawar's lip smacking chicken and mutton kebabs in the adjacent Jama Masjid area. Gorge in aromatic buttery Biryani and badam pasanda from Kareem’s. Dry fruit-filled Sheermal and soft-melting Shahi Tukda with rabdi is another way to fill your soul.

Congratulations, brave food explorer!

You have successfully navigated the enticing realm of street food fun in the monsoon of India. As you bid farewell to the rain-soaked streets and the tantalizing aromas that filled the air, may your memories be filled with the delightful flavors of those irresistible monsoon snacks. From the first bite of crispy pakoras to the last sip of steaming masala chai, you have experienced the true essence of monsoon food in India. The Hosteller is there to welcome you with its cozy backing hubs after your long food fest days. Rest well, unplug, and unwind with your fellow backpackers, and don't forget to share your food journey with them. Cherish these moments, and let them fuel your future culinary adventures. Wish you a happy eating fest, dear food enthusiast!