A mritsar lies in the heart of Punjab and is home to the iconic Golden Temple. It beckons travellers from all over the world in search of healing and happiness, a voice in the wind to tell them that everything will be alright. Not only is it the home of the Sikh religion, but Amritsar is also a culinary capital of India that seems to be shadowed by other cities. Perhaps it’s the fertile soil of Punjab, or the food preparation itself, or both, whatever is the reason, there’s no denying the fact that the quality of street food that you get in Amritsar us beyond any comparison. It might be the softness of the kulcha, the richness of its lassi, the dripping sweetness of its jalebis, or the juicy tandoori fish, every food is made with freshness intact, prepared on the spot, is clean and hygienic, and easily digestible. With such high-quality street food in Amritsar, no wonder that it unofficially is the ‘street food capital of India’. Let’s go then on this culinary tour of Amritsar to discover its famous delicacies
Contents
1. Langar Ka Prasad
When in Amritsar, start out with the Golden Temple. The best time to visit is during the morning when the Guru Granth Sahib is brought to the inner sanctum. After offering your prayers, head over to the langar, the largest free kitchen in the world! The volunteers here cook and serve a simple meal of dal, roti, sabzi and kheer to lakhs of devotees each day. Even if you don’t have the time for langar, don’t leave the Kara Prasad on your way out. You will have to jostle among a large crowd for this ghee-laden delicacy but a bite of it will prove to be totally worth it!
2. All India Famous Amritsari Kulcha
Amritsar is synonymous with Kulchas, the maida bread baked in a tandoor. Located beside the Golden Temple and the Wagah Border, the All India Famous is a place to have the butter drenched, potato and cauliflower stuffed kulcha. Touted by some to be a foodie’s pilgrimage spot, this place has been serving just kulchas over the many years of its existence. You can have kulchas for all your meals of the day here and each of it will be an experience incomparable to the other. They serve kulcha alongside chana masala, sliced onions and tamarind chutney. It is a perfect place for breakfast or lunch since they tend to run out of kulchas by 2 pm!!
3. Lassi
The best thirst quenching drink of Amritsar is famous all across.This drink of milk added with various nuts like cashew and almond is a treat in itself. It gives a completely different refreshing feeling that keeps you energetic to enjoy the tradition and culture of the city throughout the day. Try this at Gian Chand Lassi Wale amritsar
4. Beera Chicken
If you are someone who loves the smokiness of chicken, then you just can’t miss out this place. With their lip-smacking dishes like roasted chicken, tandoori chicken and seek kebabs, Beera Chicken is a paradise for chicken lovers and the options are unlimited!
5. Makhan fish and Chicken corner
Thinking of non-vegetarian food, the first thought that pops up is of Chicken or mutton, but this place has something even more delicious to offer. If you are a Fish lover and want to relish some amazing fish preparations, then this place is a must visit for you. What makes this place different from others is the delectable fish delicacies it offers like Amritsari Fish, Fish Tikka, Makhan Fish to name a few.
6. Pal Da Dhaba
A small, easy to miss shop at the Hathi Gate has turned into one of the local favourites for its Kharode ka Shorba. In other words, lamb trotter soup! Not something that you will easily get used to, but for those people who love a good Paya, this place is a must visit. It is run by the proprietor himself, who is also the chef here. The dish is laden with garam masala, chillies and lentil leaves. It is best paired with kheema paratha, so soft that it will break even before you eat it!
7. Kesar Da Dhaba
For all the vegetarians out there, Kaser Da Dhaba located at Chowk Passian and a 10-minute walk from the Golden Temple is nothing short of an epicure’s paradise. They serve the best maa ki daal in the city. Also, gorge on the delicious lachcha paratha, palak paneer and the smoky baigan bharta. If this wasn’t enough, or simply because you want to eat something sweet, don’t leave without tasting their phirni. This creamy delicacy is served in earthen pots and will definitely leave you asking for more.
8. Kulfa- A one kulfa
Making this rich and creamy dessert of Amritsar is an art in itself. It is a delicate combination of many ingredients, which must be taken in the right quantities to make the dish taste so awesome. It has a bed of phirni, on which there is a layer of ice-cold kulfi, and on this layer of kulfi, is an assortment of faluda, rabri, crushed ice, along with a mild essence. It’s served in a plate and has the most delicious of tastes.
9. Giani Tea Stall
Gurmit Singh has been running his tea stall very successfully for the last 58 years, and shows no signs of slowing down. When it comes to bubbling hot creamy chai, this man has the perfect formula.
