What’s Food in Lukhnow?

The city of Nawabs is a heaven for foodies… there is nothing, no flavor that you won’t find in Lucknowi Cuisine. It holds a special place among all the different flavors India has to offer. From finger-licking dishes to mouth melting desserts, Lucknow has it all but what’s actually good in Lucknow?
We talked to a few locals and tourists to find out the places they liked the most… the places, dishes that stood the test of time to become an integral part of food culture in Lucknow. From the numerous experiences and our own personal experience, we drew this list of must-haves when you are in Lucknow!
Let’s take a look –

CHOWK’S MAKKHAN MALAI

It will melt in your mouth. The Makkhan Malai available in the Chowk area of Lucknow is simply heavenly! This dessert has been a favorite among both locals and tourists for decades now and with good reason. Though it is really impossible to describe it in writing, the mellow sweet yet buttery taste is something you can’t miss. Stealing lines from a famous old commercial- Makkhan Malai Khao, Khud Jaan Jao.

BOMBAY PAV BHAJI

If you have a late-night craving while taking in the sights of the historical city, this is the place to go. You will find this amazing food point in Hazratganj, one of the city’s iconic places. You can find Pulao, Dosa and of course Pav Bhaji here… which from personal experience is absolutely delectable! Apart from the food, what’s good about this joint is that it is open for long hours from early morning to late night. So if you find yourself at a loss as to where to go, come and eat Pav Bhaji here.

TUNDAY KABABI

Ah… we all knew this was coming. I mean Tunday Kababi is quite well-known even outside Lucknow and on international level. One of the best places to get a taste of Lucknow’s food culture, Tunday Kababi has been a hub of foodies for years already. It has two outlets in city- you can either enjoy the classic Kebabs while scourging Old Lucknow in Chowk or while shopping in Aminabad, one of the city’s busiest markets.

CHOWK’S THANDAI

Thandai in Chowk is truly, truly one of the best. You can’t say you have visited Lucknow until you try this beverage! And if you are a resident of the city and still haven’t tried it…. well you are missing out a lot.

DASTARKHWAN

If you want to have a taste of authentic Mughlai food, Dastarkhwan is the place for you. While Lucknow has quite some places for non-veg lovers, few are on the same level as Dastarkhwan. The number of mouth-watering dishes here is off the charts. So if you are a non-vegetarian on the tour of the City of Nawabs, make sure to pay a visit to Dastarkhwan in Kaiserbagh.

SHUKLA CHAAT HOUSE

In Lucknow and didn’t try the Chaat at Hazratganj’s Shukla Chaat house? Impossible! The perfect place for snacking- you can’t miss the tikkis and chaats and dahi bhalles and pani puris and here. The flavor just explodes in your mouth with the first bite. A literal heaven for street food lovers, eat here if you want some spice amongst all the sweetness the city has to offer.

ROVERS

Remember that late night snacking bit? You can enjoy that here too. Rovers, also in Hazratganj, is one stop solution to all your cravings! Whether you want something sweet, or spicy or ‘cool’, visit the Rovers even in late hours… you won’t regret it. Just the place can sometimes be a bit crowded but hey that’s what happens when you are one of the most popular food hubs in the city.

RATTILAL

And now we have Rattilal ke Khaste, another dish you can’t miss out! Since 1937, this place and dish has been a favorite breakfast point for the city folks as well as many others who regularly pay a visit to the city. And it’s not just the khastas that are simply finger-licking good here- try their jalebis and badam milk… you will thank us later.

SARDAR JI KE MASHOOR CHOLE BHATURE

One of the oldest food joints in the city of Lucknow, you simple have to try Sardar Ji ke Mashoor Chole Bhature once in your life! You can find this iconic place in the Lalbagh area of the city and make sure to try the delicious sweet halwa after the mouth-watering chole-bhatures too!

PRAKASH KULFI

Any article on Lucknow food would be incomplete without the mention of this place. 55 years of history, if you want something cool, sweet and mouth-melting, Prakash Kulfi situated at Aminabad Market is the place for you! Different flavors all come in harmony to make your summer vacations cooler and winter vacations even more so. Though there are a number of sweets joints in the city, Prakash Kulfi is a must try if you want to have a taste of Lucknow.