You cannot come to Punjab and not dig into some delicious Punjabi food. Some of the best places to eat in Chandigarh are its streetside Chaat bhandars and sweet shop turned restaurants dishing out Paapdi Chaat after Paapdi Chaat and Bhatura after Bhatura. If you want a taste of the famous street food in Chandigarh along with some sit down dhabas, sweet shops and old-school, iconic as well as modern-day cafes, then we have you covered.
Table of contents
Brothers Amritsari Kulcha Hub (Sector 9)
One of our first meals in Chandigarh was at this dhaba called Brothers Amritsari Kulcha Hub, where we couldn’t wait for our late lunch of our Aloo Garlic Chur Chur Kulcha and the classic Matar Paneer Kulcha. Our Kulchas took longer than usual as we requested them to be made with wheat flour and Amul butter. The attendants at the dhaba would come by frequently to help us with a generous serving of the Chana and the Imli-pyaaz chutney. It was drizzling and we were seated on a humble table and chair under a makeshift cover, sipping on some Lassi as we waited for kulcha to cool down for us to take a bite.
Chhole Bhature and Raj Kachori at Gopal’s (Sector 35)
Chhole Bhature is a must-eat in Chandigarh and no trip to the City of Beauty is complete without it. We skipped the touristy Sindhi Sweets and went to Gopal’s to try and eat Chhole Bhature amidst a smaller crowd and more local faces. We also dug into a plate of Raj Kachori, which stole the show.
Tikki Chaat and Paapdi Chaat at Garg Chaat Bhandaar (Sector 23)
We snacked on a plateful of Aloo Tikki Chaat at Garg Chaat Bhandaar and that was lip-smackingly flavourful. I think it was all about the Imli chutney that they had. We also balanced out all the flavours with a plate of Paapdi Chaat, however, we’d have preferred the Paapdis to be broken down further as they were quite a mouthful, yet the dahi and the chutneys made it worth the pit stop and eating underneath the August sun in Chandigarh.
Gol Gappas at Ram Chaat Bhandaar (Sector 34)
If you are a gol gappa fan, you must try the gol gappas at Ram Chaat Bhandaar which is one of the best places to eat in Chandigarh with 7 types of pani/ water. The seven types of pani include - Jeera (cumin) pani, Hing (asafoetida) pani, Pudina (Mint) pani, Lemon kewda pani, Rai (Mustard) pani, Amrood pani and Bharwan (Stuffed with potatoes) Golgappe. Amrood pani or guava-flavoured pani was my favourite and apparently this flavour of gol gappa is a thing in Chandigarh as we also attended a wedding that had this flavour of the gol gappa.
Brunch at Nik Bakers (Sector 35)
Nik Bakers is more than just a patisserie or a cafe as it is both of those along with being an upmarket confectionery brand. During our short stay in Chandigarh, we visited this place twice. Their brews are up to the mark or even better than a Starbucks and their croissants and gourmet sandwiches are worth that brunch pit stop. It is easily one of the best Millennial-Gen Zesque eating places in Chandigarh with a pastry chef trained in Australia who chose to start it in Chandigarh.
Cold Coffee at Indian Coffee House (Sector 17)
Indian Coffee House is a melange of an Irani cafe or an old-style cafe like Cafe Mondegar or Leopold Cafe back home in Mumbai. With the waiters being dressed in Indian formals almost representing the old Maharaja mascot of Air India, the menu is extensive and you can stop here for a wholesome snack. However, if you aren’t very hungry, you should stop by for their airy yet creamy cold coffee that is delicious without making you feel bloated. It is a great place to take a break from your shopping spree in Sector 17.
Last word
Chandigarh is a famous foodie’s delight, whether it is the street food markets or sweet shops or must-eats at upmarket cafes, there is something for all. There is also a growing fine and casual dining scene in the city which I will be parking for a next time. As being a girl from Mumbai, I was looking at more of the small city Chaats, no-frills dhabas and the humble stereotypical Punjabi fares to fill my tummy this time around.
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