Famous Food in Lucknow
-by Ishita Mondal
–Reading Time – 8 min Approx
–Edited by – Srishti Bhattacharyya
-“Bhaiya, Thoda aur chutney dena kebab mein!”(Brother, please add some more chutney to the kebab)
-“biriyani, do plate dijiye!”(Two plate Biriyani, Please!)
These phrases can be heard constantly in the streets of Lucknow. The city of Nawabs has classic gastronomic heritage along with its world-famous historical significance. Every corner of the city witnesses the richness of the taste of Lucknow-special foods. If you are a foodie and have not visited the place yet, you have surely deprived your taste buds. Take any famous food in Lucknow, and you will see how beautifully the cooking skills have been used in it. Be it Malai Pan or the world-famous Biriyani, the chefs at Lucknow bring in magical taste in every dish.
Generally, India itself is famous as a nation serving delicious delicacies. Whenever it comes to showcasing culinary skills, India nails it with versatility. From the rich, spicy Machher Jhol (Fish Curry) of Bengal to sweet, delicious daal-bati-churma (Sweet dish made of lentils and wheat rolls) of Rajasthan – one can find a rich diversity of food in India. The street food isn’t lagging in this aspect either. The kitchens in India emit the best smells of delicious delicacies every day.
Among all of the varieties across the country, Lucknow is one of those special cities having an unbeatable taste of food. Are you a die-hard fan of non-veg delicacies? A plethora of options awaits you here. Do you have a sweet tooth? Excellent items are available here to satisfy your cravings. Even if you are a vegetarian, you can enjoy famous veg food in Lucknow. Here, we have listed down some of the famous foods in Lucknow. Have a read!
Famous Food in Lucknow – The Signature Foods of the City:
As we said earlier, Lucknow is famous for its versatile delicacies. It has been a place of attraction for the foodies and the food bloggers, and food journalists. You can find people appreciating the treats across the world. Whenever you search the famous food in Lucknow, numerous videos and articles flood the screen in front of you. Now, which one is the best among all of these? Which food should you try there? If you have never been to the place before, it might be confusing for you to choose the must-try dishes. So, here we are. Let’s first have an idea about the signature foods of Lucknow.
Kebabs – A Must-Try for the Foodies:
If you are in Lucknow and have not tried kebabs yet, go for it now. With a wide array of kebabs, the city is now synonymous with this mouth-watering dish. Often, you will see people naming Lucknow as “the city of nawabs and kebabs”. Here, one can find the kebab stalls every ten steps you go or at any local market. But, yes, not all of the stalls provide the exceptional quality for which the city is famous. So, before trying the dish at some average shop and cursing the city for ruining your taste, have a look at our curated list of well-known places for kebabs. Find that list at the end of the article.
There is also a wide range of variety available for this dish. Majorly non-vegetarian, this dish is prepared by grilling the grounded meat. Among all of the types, the most popular one is Galawati Kebab. There is a unique historical fact associated with this kebab. It is said that the origin of this soft, delicious delicacy traces back to the 19th century. Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was the ruler then. As per the conventional myth, the Nawab wished to enjoy the taste of kebabs even after he had lost his teeth. So, to fulfill his wish, a one-armed chef named Haji Murad Ali prepared this kebab.
Tunday Kababi, established by his son 100 years back, still serves that special Galawati Kebab, prepared with that secret recipe. The dish mainly includes minced goat meat, green papaya, and some spices.
Another variant of kebab is Kakori Kebab. The kebab is also prepared in a similar way to Galawati. The only difference is that mango is used to soften the kebab. It is famous for its unique texture. There are Shami Kebab and Boti Kebab, both of which are made of minced meat. For Boti Kebab, lamb meat marinated in yogurt is used.
Biriyani – The Awadhi Treat to the Taste bud:
At Lucknow, it is the aroma of Biriyani that the foodies often fall in love with. The subtle flavor of this royal delicacy attracts many to the city. A plate full of steamed rice with meat pieces peeping out of it is absolute bliss. Often, it is served with a bowl of gravy and onion salad. You can find Raita as an add-on at some places. From Chicken Biriyani, Mutton Biriyani to the simple Egg Biriyani – you can try different variants.
Nihari Kulcha – A Lip-smacking Combination:
Think about a soft, thick piece of bread dipped into flavored mutton gravy rolling inside your mouth! Doesn’t it feel heavenly? That is what Nihari Kulcha is all about. It is a combination of thick bread pieces and flavored mutton gravy. If kebab is the dish representing Lucknow and its heritage, Nihari Kulcha is a perfect add-on.
Sheermal and Baqarkhani – The Unique Variations of Bread:
I hope you have got some of the good options to try as the main course. Now, let’s move forward with the desserts.
After having a lavish lunch with Awadhi biriyani, try Sheermal with your favorite kebab or korma at dinner. It is a famous food in Lucknow. You will absolutely love this dish. You can also have it as a stand-alone dish. It is like the regular bread sweetened with some interesting recipes. The saffron-colored, sweet nuns are baked in iron tandoor.
For Baqarkhani, the preparation and appearance are the same as Sheermal. What sets it apart from the Sheermal is that it is fried instead of baked.
Malai Pan – A Special Add-on after Heavy Awadhi Meal:
Keep aside the famous Banarasi Pan aside. Lucknow has its special Malai Pan for you. Well, it is a dessert looking like a pan. It includes milk and malai or the clotted milk as its ingredients. It is also known as Bilai ki Gilori. There are some famous shops where you can find this famous food in Lucknow. You can look at the names of the shops in the later section of our discussion.
Kulfi – A Sweet Dish you should not Miss:
When it comes to Lucknow famous sweet, you should not ignore the special Kulfi. The kulfiwalas at Lucknow adds a royal touch to the desi kulfis. There are innumerable variations of this dessert. You can try creamy kulfi with chopped dry fruits sprinkled on it. Kulfi with falooda is another amazing choice you can go for. No matter which one you try, you will get a delicious surprise every time.
Famous Food in Lucknow – The Not-so-discussed Vegetarian Delicacies:
Good news for the vegetarians! Although the city is well-known for its non-vegetarian delicacies, there are some tasty, one-of-its-kind vegetarian dishes in Lucknow too. Have a look at them!
Bhuni Matar:
It is perfect for evening snacks. It is a dish of peas sautéed in oil with spices sprinkled on top of it. This is a cost-effective snack that you can find on the streets of Lucknow.
Basket Chat:
Another delicious veg dish is Basket Chat. Amidst the howlings and cries of non-veg items, it can single-handedly beat them with respect to taste. It includes various items like mashed potato stuffing, chutney, yogurt, fresh fruits, vada. In the local dialect, it is known as Katori Chaat.
Khasta Aaloo:
It is a famous food in Lucknow mostly suitable for breakfast. However, you can try it as evening snacks as well. The dish consists of deep-fried pastries stuffed with mashed lentils, dry potato curry, and spicy chutney. This is a famous street food in Lucknow that you must try.
Veg Kebab Paratha:
Why should only non-vegetarians have all the fun? Vegetarians can also try kebabs at the alleys and lanes of Lucknow. There is the delightful veg kebab, a famous veg food in Lucknow. And a delicious veg dish is made of this kebab. It is Veg kebab Paratha. The veg kebabs are put inside a bread roll and served with different chutneys and sliced onions.
So these are the famous foods in Lucknow. Now have a quick look at the list of best places for them.
The Best Places for the Famous Foods in Lucknow:
Tunday Kababi:
It is famous for kebabs. It has two branches located at Aminabad and Aliganj. You can get the details from their official website. However, the original branch is located near the Chowk area on a narrow lane named Phool Wali Gali.
Dastarkhwan:
It is popular for Shami and Boti Kebabs. The shop is located at Hajratganj. Walk a few miles from Parivartan Chowk, and you will find this place.
Idris Hotel:
Try this place for the best Biriyani in Lucknow. You can find it the opposite of the Patanala Police Chowki, in Rajabazar, Chowk.
Rahim ki Nihari:
If you want to taste the best Nihari Kulcha, go for this place. You can find this shop at one of the lanes in Chowk, near the Tunday Kababi.
Sheermal Wali Gali:
It is the best place for different kinds of Sheermal. This is a popular alley to be found at Nakhas stretch.
Ram Asrey’s Shop:
If you want to try the finest Malai Pan in Lucknow, go to this place. It is a popular shop located at Hazratganj.
Royal Café:
Located at Hajratganj, it is the best place to try Basket Chaat. Also, you can find other famous dishes like Dahi Batashe, Dal Arhar etc.
Wrapping it Up – Test the Taste:
Have you noted down the names? I hope you got the detailed list of the famous food in Lucknow and the best places for them. Make sure you try them on your next visit to the royal city of Nawab. Taste the cuisines and find gastronomic pleasure at its best. Let us know in the comment section if you want to add more to the list.
-by Ishita Mondal
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