Fall in Love with Gujarati Cuisine - A Bucket List of 17 Foods to Try on Your Trip

Gujarat has always been a popular tourist destination due to its rich heritage, hospitable people, and divine food. Whether you are in Vadodara, Surat or Ahmedabad, you will get to try so many food items that picking one Gujarati dish as your favourite would be a challenge. After exploring temples, monuments, and beaches in Gujarat, you will surely build an appetite. Here is a list of 17 items that you need to taste on your next trip to Gujarat:

• Khaman Dhokla
• Khakhra
• Dabeli
• Patra
• Khandvi
• Handvo
• Fafda-Jalebi
• Lilva Kachori
• Dakor Na Gota
• Thepla
• Gujarati Kadhi
• Khichu
• Undhiyu
• Dal Dhokli
• Murghanu Shaak
• Aam Shrikhand
• Mohanthal

1. Khaman Dhokla

We all know Khaman Dhokla is one of Gujarat's most famous dish items. Whether in Kanyakumari or Kashmir, you will get this delicious snack wherever you go! The lip-smacking and fluffy texture is why people love to enjoy it as a tea-time snack. Made of fermented lentils and rice, this savoury cake is incomplete without a generous drizzling of sugar syrup and fried green chillies. Salivating, aren’t you? While exploring Gujarat tourism packages online make sure you have sufficient information about the best places to try Dhokla at.

Recommendations: Shreeji Khaman House, Jani Locho & Khaman House

2. Khakhra

Next up is a crunchy snack that is part of every Gujarati’s families travel kit. That’s right, we are talking about Khakhra! This is west India’s answer to crackers that people all over the world claim to ace at. Let’s be honest, the flavours from methi, chillies, and other ingredients set khakhra apart any day. Have you ever had just one piece of khakhra? Do not overthink this, you really have not. Quite simply, it is a phulka that is roasted to perfection. The next time you are in Gujarat, make sure to try this special food item in its many varied flavours. P.S. - It’s going to be a helluva souvenir for your foodie friends and relatives!

Recommendations: Induben Khakhrawala, Kanidha Mahila Gruh Udhyog

3. Dabeli

The stylish and spicy cousin of the humble Vada Pao is Kutchi Dabeli or simply Dabeli. If you are a food connoisseur, then your palette deserves at least a dozen of dabelis from the founding towns of Bhuj and Nakhatrana in Kutch! Its filling is made using boiled potatoes and a bunch of chutneys that are then slapped on freshly baked ladi pav. That’s not all, Gujaratis like to layer dabelis with sev to bring a soul-satisfyingly good crunch. Dabeli is one of those food items in Gujarat that will surely make your vacation exceptional with its deliciousness.

Recommendations: Dilkhush Daabeli, Joshi Dabeli, FI Kachi Dabeli

4. Patra

The use of colocasia leaves for making wadis is a common practice across our country. These leaves are able to retain the flavour of gram flour or besan and easily get fried up too. Owing to this, Gujaratis have come up with a side dish or snack called Patra that is savoury and spicy. The traditional food of Gujarat is best enjoyed with some adrak chai or even with a plateful of dal bhaat. Its versatility makes it quite popular among the locals.

Recommendations: Jalaram Bardoli Patra, Swati Snacks

5. Khandvi

The preparation of food in western India, especially Gujarat and Maharashtra, has a lot of similarities mainly due to their proximity, shared resources, and cultural exchange. Khandvi is one of the most beloved snacks by the people of both these states because of how soft, delicate, and light on the stomach it really is. Prepared with gram flour, yoghurt, chillies, and coconut shavings, it is the first thing that will be served to you at a Gujarati get-together. What’s more? It’s gluten-free! So, if you are on a diet or have some allergies, fill up on khandvis as much as you can.

Recommendations: Chetna Ganthia Rath, Gajanand Food, Praful Sweets and Namkeen

6. Handvo

Gujaratis are very innovative and enterprising, not only in the business world but also in their food preparations. Since most of the population is vegetarian, they have come up with delicious appetisers that can be prepared with everyday ingredients. Handvo is yet another example of a Gujarati dish that is prepared with fermented lentils and rice. A savoury vegetable cake of sorts, it is available on every street food stall at affordable prices.

Recommendations: Sasuma, Gopi Dining Hall, Prajapati Live Handvo and Maggie

7. Fafda-Jalebi

If you have watched an episode of Taarak Mehta ka Ulta Chashma, then you would have seen the characters raving about Fafda-Jalebi at least a couple of times. The sheer obsession over this combination of sweet jalebis and crispy fafdas is so amazing that every person ends up loving it. Enjoyed during breakfast by the locals, it is one of the most famous foods of Gujarat.

Recommendations: Oshwal, Bhavnagari Fafda & Jalebi Shop, Iscon Gathiya

8. Lilva Kachori

This is a winter farsan that Gujaratis like to enjoy with a piping hot cup of chai. Just like a typical kachori, it is a fried food item but the only difference is its filling - tuvan beans or lilva, green peas, ginger, chillies, and a myriad of spices. This is a traditional food item of Gujarat that is still a hidden treasure, so do give it a shot on your next trip.

Recommendations: Azad Sweets & Restaurant, Jayhind Sweets, Chetna Ganthia Rath

9. Dakor Na Gota

Pakodas are relished by people all over our country. While Maharashtrians like to call them bhajia, Gujaratis refer to them as Dakor Na Gota. They have a number of local spices mixed with gram flour, semolina, and sesame seeds, these fritters are the perfect evening snack after a long day of exploring tourist attractions in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Gandhinagar, etc.

Recommendations: Bapalal Gomtighat Gotawala, Jalaram Khaman House

10. Thepla

This is one food item of Gujarat that has reached a celebrity-level status, not only in the Indian subcontinent but also abroad. If Kal Ho Na Ho was recreated in real life, then Rohit Patel (Saif Ali Khan) would bring a dabba of theplas to Naina (Preity Zinta) every single day. That’s how serious Gujaratis are about these fenugreek flatbreads that are prepared for their entire clan in one go. If you visit a localite, then they will not let you leave without a box full of theplas for your journey ahead. Such is the warmth of Gujaratis and their mind-blowing food preparations.

Recommendations: Masi Na Thepla, Bajrang Thepla House, Thepla Junction

11. Gujarati Kadhi

This Gujarati dish is always in contention with its Rajasthani, Sindhi, and Punjabi counterparts because that’s how amazingly unique its flavours are. Unlike other versions of kadhi, this one’s a little sweet and a lot tangy! Once you have authentic Gujarati Kadhi, you will always come back for more. As one of the most beloved traditional foods in Gujarat and its diaspora across the globe, your trip would be incomplete if you give this a miss.

Recommendations: Jalaram Khichdi Kadhi Center, Iscon Food Mall, Agashiye - the House of MG

12. Khichu

This dish may not be as famous as other food items in Gujarat but its distinct taste cannot be underestimated. While exploring different towns and cities, make a pit stop at a local food joint to try out Khichu. It’s a gluten-free rice-based dish that has the texture of porridge with a lot of spices. Since it is easy on the stomach and the pocket, you can enjoy khichu without any worries!

Recommendations: Panditji Nu Khichu, Dhokla Khichu

13. Undhiyu

A speciality of Surat, Undhiyu is a medley of vegetables like green beans, unripe bananas, small eggplants, and many others. Besides this, Muthia or fenugreek-and-chickpea-based dumplings also add a lot of flavour to this one-pot Gujarati casserole. Served with pooris, rice or as is, Undhiyu is a quintessential dish during festivals, weddings, and other auspicious events. If you are planning to vacation in Gujarat with your parents, make them try this food item because they will surely appreciate its nutritional value (as all Indian parents do).

Recommendations: Ravi Chapdi Undhiyu, Gopi Dining Hall, Kansar Gujarati Thali

14. Dal Dhokli

If you meet a Gujarati in any part of India, their love for Dal Dhokli would make you realise how special this dish truly is. This lentil stew with wheat-flour dumplings is so heart-warming that your preconceived notions about Gujarati cuisine would change for sure. It’s a sweet and spicy food item of Gujarat that is special and you need to get some of it on your next trip.

15. Murghanu Shaak

A lot of travellers believe that getting chicken snacks and mains is next to impossible in Gujarat. But this is not the case! Several locals enjoy a good ol’ chicken curry with rotis and rice on a regular basis. So, if you are craving some non-vegetarian grub, Murghanu Shaak should be on your bucket list. It’s a Gujarati-style chicken curry that is easily available in the Kathiawadi region.

Recommendations: Vishalla, Moti Mahal

16. Aam Shrikhand

If you analyse an Indian’s heart, at least half of it would only consist of mangoes. The maddening love we have for this fruit is simply unmatched. Owing to this, there are a variety of sweet and sour dishes prepared in our country using mangoes. Gujarat’s love for this summer fruit is best reflected in its Shrikhand preparation. Ideally, aam shrikhand is served in a Gujarati thali or with wheat pooris. This is one of the most sought-after food items in Gujarat, so much so that it gets sold out at most sweet shops daily.

17. Mohanthal 

A sweet dish named after Lord Krishna (Mohan), this is every Gujarati grandma’s solution to all your troubles. Whipped up in no time by steaming ghee-roasted gram flour and sugar, Mohanthal can soothe your soul instantaneously. If you have a loved one with a sweet tooth, get some Mohanthal packed for them and they will bless you for it!

Recommendations: Kandoi Bhogilal Mulchand, Mohanlal S Mithaiwala, Jayhind Sweets

Now that you know the food culture of Gujarat pretty well, how about planning a vacation to try some heavenly delicacies? Book a travel package right away!