A Foodies Guide to Banaras Must-Try Delicacies

Varanasi is not just a city of temples and ghats - it is a foodies paradise. From street food to fine dining, the city offers an incredible culinary journey that starts before sunrise and ends well after midnight.

Breakfast: Kachori Sabzi

Start the day the way the city does. A hot kachori, flaky on the outside and soft within, served with a spiced potato curry and a spoon of pickle is the classic Varanasi breakfast. Most stalls sell out early, so the honest advice is to arrive before nine. Pair it with a glass of milk tea and you will not need lunch for hours.

Street Food Adventures

Chaat is a serious subject here. Try the chat at the famous stalls near the ghats, where the balance of sweet, sour and chilli is adjusted to your face by the vendor as he assembles it. Golgappa, aloo tikki, dahi puri and the local version of sev puri all appear on the same stretch of road. Carry small notes and pace yourself - the portions are designed to be eaten one after another.

Sweets You Must Try

Banarasi sweets deserve their own section. Kachori and chaat are the loud part of the meal; mithai is the quiet triumph. Look for rabri, imarti, balushahi, malaiyo in winter, and the famous kesaria jalebi, best eaten warm. A classic laddu made with pure ghee makes an ideal gift to carry home. Buy from a shop that turns over stock quickly - freshness is everything with mithai.

Thandai and Summer Drinks

When the temperature climbs, thandai is the answer - a chilled milk drink thickened with nuts, seeds and spices. Jal jeera and sweet lassi are equally common, and a tall glass of lassi after a heavy meal will keep you going through the afternoon heat.

Evening on the Ghats

As the sun goes down, the ghats fill up. This is the time for a light snack and a warm cup of tea while the aarti begins. Keep dinner simple - a plate of chole bhature or a bowl of dal and roti is enough, because you will almost certainly want one more sweet before the day ends.

Tips for Eating Your Way Through Banaras

Carry cash for street stalls, drink sealed or bottled water, and eat at places with a visible turnover of customers. Go early for breakfast, save the sweets for mid-afternoon, and leave room for a second dinner. Most importantly, walk between stops - the city’s lanes are the best way to find the stalls that never advertise.

Banarasi Pratha brings the taste of Varanasi to your door, so the delicacies you discover on a trip can be ordered online and delivered across India.