16 Famous Street Food in Varanasi You Must Try

Varanasi is renowned for its vibrant street food culture. Walking through the winding alleys and along the ghats of this ancient holy city, you’ll find countless street food stalls and carts dishing out flavorful snacks, meals, and drinks for incredibly cheap prices. From crispy fried banaras street food to spicy and tangy banaras famous street food, the street eats encompass the incredible diversity of flavours found in Indian cuisine.

In this ultimate guide, we will give you all the details you need to know about the best street food in Varanasi – from the must-try varanasi street food items to the best areas and timings to indulge in these banaras famous street foods.

Top 16 Varanasi Street Foods You Must Try

When it comes to the famous street food in Varanasi, there are some items that stand out above the rest. Here are the top 16 street foods you must sample when visiting Varanasi:

1. Kachori Sabzi

This beloved Varanasi street food breakfast dish consists of crispy fried flattened bread (kachori) served with spiced lentils (sabzi) and chutneys. Kachori sabzi is a flavor punch – the fried kachori provides a satisfying crunch while the sabzi is rich, savory, and complex.

• Where to try: Ram Bhandar, Kachori Gali
• Price: ₹30-50 per plate
• Timing: Early morning

2. Chole Bhature

Chole bhature features spicy curried chickpeas (chole) served with puffy fried bread (bhature). The contrast of the rich, buttery bhature and the flavorful chole is incredible.

• Where to try: Blue Lassi Shop
• Price: ₹50-80 per plate
• Timing: Breakfast hours

3. Samosa

The quintessential Indian snack, samosas are fried pastry shells stuffed with a savory filling of spiced potatoes and peas. Varanasi samosas are especially delicious, with the perfect crispy-crunchy shell and hearty filling.

• Where to try: Kashi Chaat Bhandar
• Price: ₹10-20 per piece
• Timing: 10am onwards

4. Gulab Jamun

For a sweet treat, don’t miss gulab jamun – fried dumplings made of milky dough soaked in rose-flavored syrup. Gulab jamun is incredibly soft, spongy, and packs the perfect sweetness.

• Where to try: Kesariya Lal Halwai
• Price: ₹100 per kg
• Timing: Evening onwards

5. Thandai

Cool off with a refreshing glass of thandai, a chilled Varanasi street drink made with milk, spices, rose syrup, fennel seeds, and cannabis leaves. Thandai is rich, creamy and aromatic.

• Where to try: Blue Lassi
• Price: ₹50 per glass
• Timing: Summer afternoons

6. Lassi

Varanasi’s lassis come in both savory and sweet varieties. Sweet lassis made with mango, banana, or rose are especially popular refreshments on hot days.

• Where to try: Blue Lassi, Madhur Milan Cafe
• Price: ₹30-60 per glass
• Timing: 10am onwards

7. Malaiyyo

Malaiyyo is a fluffy street sweet made by whipping milk into a cloud-like consistency. It comes in flavors like plain milk, saffron, rose, and kewda (pandanus flower).

• Where to try: Malaiyyo, Sidhra
• Price: ₹20 per serve
• Timing: Morning to evening

8. Baati Chokha

This hearty street food snack from Bihar features baked balls of flour (baati) served with spicy mashed eggplants and potatoes (chokha). It’s topped with coriander, mint chutney, onions and chaat masala.

• Where to try: Baati Chokha Stall, Assi Ghat
• Price: ₹50-80 per plate
• Timing: Evening

9. Tamatar Chaat

A type of chaat made with juicy tomatoes, crispy sev, spiced potatoes, curd and chutneys. It’s tangy, crunchy, sweet, and incredibly tasty.

• Where to try: Blue Lassi Shop
• Price: ₹60 per plate
• Timing: Lunchtime

10. Choora Matar

A varanasi street food favorite, choora matar features flattened rice flakes (poha) mixed with spicy green peas, onions, chaat masala, lemon juice and coriander.

• Where to try: Kashi Chaat Bhandar
• Price: ₹40 per plate
• Timing: Evening

11. Dahi Chutney Gol Gappe

These crisp hollow puris are filled with spiced mashed potatoes, dahi (yogurt), and sweet and tangy chutneys. They’re a fabulous crispy street snack.

• Where to try: Blue Lassi Shop
• Price: ₹30 for 5-6 pieces
• Timing: Evening

12. Rabri Jalebi

Indulge your sweet tooth with this combination of thick, creamy condensed milk (rabri) served with crispy, syrupy jalebis.

• Where to try: Jalebi Wala
• Price: ₹100 per plate
• Timing: Early morning, evening

13. Aloo Tikki

Spicy mashed potato patties fried until crispy. Eat them stuffed in bread buns or with chickpea curry and chutneys.

• Where to try: Darbhanga Ghat stalls
• Price: ₹20 per piece
• Timing: Morning to evening

14. Channa Bhatura

Chickpeas curry served with puffy fried leavened bread (bhatura). It’s a heavenly combination and staple Varanasi street food.

• Where to try: Bharat Channa Bhandar
• Price: ₹100 per plate
• Timing: Breakfast, lunch

15. Laaiya Channa

Chickpeas served with a dollop of creamy, slow-cooked yogurt laaiya. Garnished with coriander, chillies and spices.

• Where to try: Street carts near Dashashwamedh Ghat
• Price: ₹30-50 per plate
• Timing: Evening

16. Malai Toast

Thick slices of bread toasted with cream (malai), milk and sugar. A sweet, crunchy afternoon snack.

• Where to try: Malaiyo
• Price: ₹50 per plate
• Timing: Afternoon

Best Areas for Varanasi Street Food

Varanasi’s street food stalls are found all over the old city, but here are some of the top areas to find the very best street eats:

• Godowlia Chowk – Bustling market square with street food stalls serving kachoris, samosas, gulab jamun, and more varanasi street food items.
• Dashashwamedh Ghat – The busy ghat along the Ganges River has excellent chole bhature and chaat stalls.
• Vishwanath Gali – Alley near Vishwanath Temple selling varanasi famous street food like banana lassi, malaiyo, and rabdi.
• Thatheri Bazaar – Specializes in crispy Varanasi fried snacks like kachoris, samosas, and vadas.
• Bengali Tola – Area to try fish curries, chops, rolls, and other Bengali street food fare.
• Lanka Area – Famous for refreshing sugarcane juice and South Indian dosas and idlis.

Timing and Prices

Most street food stalls in Varanasi open early in the morning and run until late evening. Mornings are great for breakfast items like kachori sabzi and chole bhature. Evening is when you’ll find popular sweets like gulab jamun and malaiyyo.

Prices are incredibly cheap, with most snack items ranging from ₹10 to 50 per serve. Sit-down meals at basic restaurants range from ₹100 to 300.

So come hungry, carry small change, and be prepared to sample Varanasi’s incredible banaras street food to your heart’s content!

Staying Healthy and Safe

To safely enjoy Varanasi’s incredible street food, keep these tips in mind:

• Choose cooked fresh dishes over raw items
• Opt for bottled water and avoid tap water/ice
• Check food is cooked thoroughly before eating
• Look for stalls with high turnover of freshly made food
• Wash hands before and after eating

By following basic street smarts, you can feast on Varanasi’s flavorful banaras famous street food without tummy troubles!

Discover the incredible diversity of Indian flavors by sampling Varanasi’s lip-smacking street food. The next time you’re in this holy city, take an appetizing food tour through the alleys and ghats and indulge in the best street eats Banaras has to offer!

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FAQs Related famous street food in Varanasi

What is the famous food in Varanasi?
The most famous food in Varanasi is kachori sabzi. This deep-fried pastry stuffed with lentils is a beloved breakfast dish.

What is the famous sweet of Varanasi?
The most famous sweet of Varanasi is malaiyyo. This creamy, saffron-flavored milk-based sweet is a signature delicacy.

What is the Speciality of Varanasi city?
Varanasi is primarily known for its street food, renowned for its delicious vegetarian snacks and sweets.

What is the most famous street food?
The most famous street food item is kachori, the fried pastry often served with spicy chutneys or curry. Other popular options include samosas, chole bhature, jalebis, and more.

What are some famous street foods in Varanasi?
Some top areas to find street food in Varanasi are Godaulia, Dashashwamedh Ghat, and the narrow lanes around the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.

Where can I find the best chaat in Varanasi?
Among the best places for chaat in Varanasi are Blue Lassi Shop near Kachori Gali and Ram Bhandar near Thateri Bazaar. Famous chaats include dahi bhalla, aloo tikki, papri chaat, etc.

What are the must-try sweets or desserts in Varanasi?
Famous sweets to try in Varanasi include malaiyyo, rabri, kheer mohan, and baati churma. Thandai is a popular cold drink.

Is it safe to eat street food in Varanasi?
Eating street food in Varanasi is generally safe if you stick to freshly made, hot food from busy stalls. Avoid anything that looks stale or unhygienic.

Where can I find the best lassi in Varanasi?
Popular places for lassi in Varanasi include Blue Lassi Shop, Godowlia Chowk, and Ganga Lassi Bhandar.

What is the traditional breakfast food in Varanasi?
A traditional Varanasi breakfast includes puri sabzi, kachoris, jalebis, and lassis.

What are the popular vegetarian street food options in the city?
Popular vegetarian street foods include chaats, kachori, samosas, stuffed breads like kulcha and alu paratha, sweets like jalebi and rabri, etc.

What are the popular Non-vegetarian street food options in the city?
Popular non-veg options include kebabs, rolls, tikka, and biryani.

How much should I expect to pay for street food in Varanasi?
Street food prices can range from ₹10 to ₹150 per item, depending on the type of food. Small snacks may cost ₹10-30 while a full meal may cost ₹80-150.

Can I find street food vendors near the ghats of Varanasi?
Yes, you can find street food vendors and stalls all along the ghats in Varanasi.

Are there any street food markets or areas that I should visit?
Some areas known for street food markets are Godaulia, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Thateri Bazaar, and Chowk area.

What are the timings for street food stalls in Varanasi?
Most street stalls are open from morning till late night, around 10am to 10pm.

Do street food vendors in Varanasi accept digital payments, or should I carry cash?
Yes, but you can carry small change for convenience.

Can I watch the preparation process while ordering street food in Varanasi?
At small roadside stalls you can usually see the food preparation. For hygiene, pick stalls with high turnover.

What are some etiquette tips to remember while enjoying street food in Varanasi?
Some etiquette tips – wait your turn, confirm prices before ordering, pay promptly, and don’t waste food.

Where can I find the best street food experiences off the beaten path in Varanasi?
For a more local experience, wander into narrow lanes like Vishwanath Gali, Kachori Gali, Thateri Bazaar, etc off the main ghats.