From crispy fried golgappas that burst in your mouth to thick, sweet lassi to beat the desert heat, Jaipur has the perfect menu for a backpacker on a shoestring budget. Just hit up any of these roadside eateries and before you know it, you’ll have a paunch any Rajasthani could be proud of!
Gulab Ji Chai Wala
Where: Opposite Ganpati Plaza on MI Road
What to eat: Bun maska samosa washed down with a quick gulp of delicious masala chai. Make sure you get there before 6 in the evening.
Sethi’s
Where: 220, Street No.1, Near Sidhwashar Mandir, Raja Park
What to eat: Squeeze a lemon wedge over a plate full of piping hot spicy chicken tikkas before dunking them in some good old fashioned mint chutney too combat the spice.
Lassiwala
Where: 315, MI Road
What to eat: So legendary, it defines itself. Rajasthan has a strong fondness for this thick, curd based sweet drink, and goes on to even add a layer of straight-up full-fat cream on top for some extra richness. You can’t leave Jaipur without it.
Chawla’s
Where: 349, Fashion Street, Lane No.1, Raja Park
What to eat: Custom made golgappas, tangy-sweet or fiery hot. If it looks too packed, you can head to their competitors Nand’s right across the road.
Sanjay’s Omelet Restaurant
Where: Janta Store, Bapu Nagar
What to get: Any of the countless reinventions of this simple egg dish served up by Sanjay Sharma, once a proud competitor in Masterchef India.
Falahaar
Where: A-1, Vasundhara Colony, Opp. Kamal and Co, Tonk Phatak
What to eat: The name literally means ‘food for people on fasts’, and it’s perfect for Jains and vegetarians. You can make a meal of their sabudhana khichdi, but don’t forget to finish off with their famous Shrikhand.
Saras Parlour
Where: Near Mahaveer Hospital, Malvaiya Nagar
What to eat: Paneer Pakoras and Doodh Jalebis. Each dish perfectly compliments the other, the sweet crunchiness of the jalebi putting out the fire that the spicy pakora started and the cold milk settling it all down.
Pav Bhaji Stalls
Where: Near Birla Mandir, Link Road, Nehru Bazaar
What to eat: Pav Bhaji, obviously. There’s some contention over which stall is the original Pandit Pav Bhaji, but the quality is more or less uniform across stalls.
Al Bake
Where: MI Road
What to eat: Pretty much anything with chicken in it. This one’s a great option for late night chicken lovers.
The old man at Raja Park
Where: Raja Park
What to eat: Not eat so much as gulp down, a cold fizzy glass of soda lemonade or Shikanji, a Jaipur favourite.
