Being in Lucknow infuses one with a sense of pride. Food plays a vital role in the unhurried time that people enjoy to spend here. The best way to understand Lucknow’s culinary scene is to venture into the city’s lanes and eat where the residents dine. In the morning, go to Aminabad and Chowk for jalebi, samosa, and khasta. Pick up some kachoris for lunch, spend the afternoon exploring the chaat spots, and finish the evening with kebabs and biryani. Here is a culinary guide to eating out in the city of Nawabs. Additionally, make sure to visit Flyopedia to book affordable Canada to India flights round trip.
BREAKFAST & LUNCH
Netram Ajay Kumar, Aminabad
The more than 100-year-old shop in the heart of Aminabad starts making jalebis early in the morning like other shops in the city. The jalebis prepared here stand out because chefs cook them with pure ghee. After that, one should consume the flaky khasta, served with hot potatoes and mushy white peas and packed with urad dal. Additionally, Netram serves kachori—puris stuffed with dal and accompanied by potato curry, pumpkin sabzi, bottle gourd raita, and soonth chutney. In the evening, Imarti, which are oblong, crunchy, and covered in sugar syrup, take the place of Jalebis.
Sharma Tea Stall, Hazratganj
Lucknow has bun-makhana with samosas, similar to Mumbai’s vada pav and samosa pav. The samosas served at Sharma’s are spherical, filled with a flavorful potato, and served with tender buns smeared with white butter. Another draw is the potent, cardamom-flavored tea.
Durga Khasta Corner, Latoush Road
For khasta and dal bada, people swarm into this modest restaurant in the morning or around lunchtime. Garnished with onions and green chili, the spicy potatoes and pasty white peas are served with deep-fried, crisp khastas.
Samosa Stall, Chowk
In the byways of Chowk just before Ramasrey, two endearing old men run a business. The couple essentially pressures you to have just one of their evening-only samosas. Come here in the morning for kachori-subzi and jalebis.
KEBABS, CURRIES & BIRYANIS
Tunday Kebabi, Akbari Gate
There is no need to introduce the famed kebab maker, and people have been traveling to Lucknow just to taste his kebabs. While there are now many locations in the city, the ones highly regarded by the regulars specialize in buff galouti kebabs at Akbari Gate. You won’t regret eating them with hot, crisp parathas!
Raheem, Chowk
Residents of the old city frequently eat nalli nihari and kulcha here for breakfast. The stew and nihari are simple, with delicate flavors and well-cooked beef. The region is well-stocked with a variety of buff kebabs throughout the evening.
Idris, Chowk
The renowned biryani corner hasn’t changed all that much throughout the years. It is crowded and set up like a dhaba even at night. Large pieces of mutton are utilized in this recipe to give the biryani a mild flavor.
Alamgir, Aminabad
Expert diners in Lucknow go to Alamgir while tourists throng Tunday and Idris. Along with kebabs, mutton stew, and kheema, this restaurant also serves one of the best biryanis. So, book your flight tickets from Calgary to Delhi today and devour the world-famous biryani.
CHAATS
Shree Kalika Chaat House, Aminabad
One of the tiniest and oldest chaat shops in the city is situated on the corner of Naaz Cinema Chauraha in Aminabad. Naresh Gupta, the fourth-generation owner, works in the store. Almost everything here is a must-try, especially their papdi chaat with mashed potatoes, white peas, and sweet and sour chutney. You’ll adore the tiny, crisp batashas and the sour, hot water. Also, give the matar ki tikki a try—made from mashed white peas and cooked like a tikki with lime juice, coriander, and ginger on top. If you’re fortunate, you’ll also receive gulab jamuns; be sure to consume them before leaving. You also checkout Flyopedia.com for your next visit to India from USA to get cheap flight deals.
Pt. Ramnarayan Tiwari Chaatwala, Ganeshganj
When confronting the shops, you must go to the one on your right because it has been separated into two brothers. Start with pani ke batashe, which is Uttar Pradesh’s take on paani puri, gol gappe, and phuchkas. There are four flavors of pani available, with asafoetida being the best. Keep going with their deep-fried palaki-palak patta chaat, which is made of palak, dahi-chutney, and a thin layer of besan batter. The ideal way to finish it is with dahi bada, which has Lucknow’s softest badas and a thick, somewhat sweet dahi.
Pandit Chaat Corner, Naka Charbagh
This 40-year-old, inconspicuous store sells more rustic chaat. In contrast to other restaurants, the aloo tikki is mashed on the tawa and piled with dahi, chutney, and papdi. Try their pani ke batashe as well.
Jain Chaat, Lalbagh Chowk
This store usually closes at nine o’clock at night. Their aloo tikki and dahi wada are the stuff that makes dreams come true.
What to Bring Back
Visit Ramasrey in Chowk for the legendary malai gialuri, a thin sheet of malai folded like paan and filled with a sweet filling. You may find kali gajar ka halwa here in season, and the milk pedas are very delicious. Before you go, pack the kaju dalmoth for home.
Lucknow is known for its bakery goods just as much as it is for its kebabs and chaat. Smooth and fluffy muffins made by JJ Bakery in Hazratganj are the best. Also available is red velvet cake. Burma Bakery in Hazratganj is known for its butter cookies and cake rusks.
Getting Around
There are battery-operated rickshaws, bike rickshaws, and shared automobiles that charge you based on the distance.
How to Get There
Lucknow is well connected to all the major cities by trains and airplanes. The distance between Aminabad and Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport is 13.5 kilometers. The city’s central location is the Charbagh Railway Station. Additionally, you can visit Flyopedia to book cheap flights from Toronto to Delhi India.
Also Read: Tasting India: A Food Lover’s Adventure in Indian Flavors
