One word can conjure up images of panipuri, golgappas, gupchups, or phuchkas. And it’ll make you want to dash down the street to get your fill of the food! Golgappas, or various other names for them, are by far the most popular in this multi-cultural country. The crunchy puris packed with tangy spiced water have wowed not only Indian audiences but also foodies all around the world.
Mumbai’s Elco
Following a shopping trip on Hill Road, Bandra, with some delicious panipuri is a great ritual to follow. Elco, dubbed the city’s best chaat establishment, will delight you with its delectable flavoured ‘water balls.’ Elco is little more expensive, at Rs. 60 per plate for six pieces, but it is well worth the money. You may savour this acidic, spicy delight in a clean environment that just adds to the allure.
Sindhi PaniPuri House at Mumbai’s Chembur Sindhi Camp
Mumbai, as a cosmopolitan metropolis, places a premium on variety. Sindhi PaniPuri House, for example, has been providing hatkepanipuris for more than 30 years. Sindhi House serves their famous ice-cold boondi-filled tangy panipuris from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. every day. The DahiPuri and MirchiBhajji at this modest roadside store are very popular.
Old Delhi’s PadamChaat Corner
Padamji or Panditji – PadamChaat Corner is a prominent panipuri joint in ChandniChowk’sKinari Bazaar. Panditji, as the regulars affectionately refer to him, will hand you a pattal (a little bowl formed of leaves) and take your taste buds on a wild rollercoaster. On the menu, he also offers a Kitty Party chaat selection. PadamChaat Corner serves four pieces of panipuri per plate, rather than the usual six, but don’t be fooled by the quantity; they’re a delicious combination of pale green masala water, saunth, chutneys, soft-boiled potatoes, and pickled guava.
Delhi’s Ashok Chaat Bhandar
Every day, more than 700 people visit Ashok Chat Bhandar, which is located just outside the Chawri Bazar metro station exit. This fact alone demonstrates why this over-70-year-old chaat corner requires no introduction. The obnoxiously popular shack is known for its fiery water with a mint flavour that lingers in your mouth long after you’ve finished eating.
Lucknow’s ShuklaChaat House
ShuklaChaat House is yet another gift from Hazratganj’s realm of delights. Pani-batasha (another term for panipuri in UP), Matarchaat, and alootikki are the only three things sold by the 45-year-old little stand. To counteract the heat, they also provide nimbupani. The golden casings of Lucknawipanikebatashe differ from conventional panipuris in that they are filled with a mixture of curd and chutney.
Marina Beach, Chennai, PaniPuri Stalls
Panipuris are delicious even if you aren’t in North India. The golden fried puris filled with tart tamarind water may also be found at kiosks along Chennai’s Marina Beach. When accompanied by a cool sea air, this food is unquestionably popular among the residents. Marina panipuris are more than just a snack; they’re a once-in-a-lifetime event.
Frazer Town, Bangalore’s Ramraj’sPaniPuri
Ramraj’spanipuri is the closest thing to true Kolkata phuchkas, with the perfect balance of crunchy puris and masaledar acidic water. It began with a single stand six years ago and has now grown to four locations in Bangalore. The beginning of Ramraj’spanipuri stall is a fascinating tale. After failing to make it big working at a diamond industry, the stall’s proprietor, Ramraj, from Allahabad, launched the booth. To make ends meet, he started working for a PaniPuri vendor from Kolkata. And, as they say, the rest is history.
Still if you don’t want to go out then simply buy pani puri masala online and enjoy the same taste at home.
