Best Street Food in Pune for Every Gastronome

Food and culture walk hand in hand, and Pune manifests this statement in an exemplified manner. Almost every gali or alley has at least three to five small stalls and vendors selling delicacies in the city. From Maharashtrian specialties to snacks, chaat, and even drinks, the place is undoubtedly a food hub for every gastronome. By now, we can assume your mouth has started to water by simply thinking about savoring the flavors of the street food in Pune. So, without any more suspense, let’s explore some of the mouthwatering, heartfelt, and mind-boggling dishes you can try while wandering Pune streets.

Vada Pav is the dish that tops the list of famous street food in Pune. A classic Maharashtrian delicacy, it is a redefined American burger with the authentic desi touch you cannot miss. The vada is a deep-fried potato patty dipped in chickpea flour batter. It is stuffed in between two soft bun slices and served piping hot. To enhance the flavor profile, two Indian sauces, a green mint and coriander chutney, and a sweet tamarind chutney are spread on both bun slices.

Some sellers even add a crunch element in their roasted masala to send you into food heaven. Ask for the side element, i.e., a fried green chili that takes the spice profile to another level. A cup of hot piping tea or coffee can tag along with a vada pav for a complete food experience. Apart from this classic version, you can also try out other variations of this dish in Pune, like cheese Vada Pav, paneer Vada Pav, and many more.

Dating back to the 1850s, Pav Bhaji is one of the street foods in Maharashtra with a history. It is believed that a street food seller combined different Indian curries to form a bhaji and served it with bread or pav to the Mumbai mill workers as lunch. Since then, it has become a classic Maratha dish savored on the streets and in almost every Indian household. The rich profile of the bhaji is due to the Indian spice blend like coriander, cumin, red chili, and many more, which is added to a mix of cubed veggies, including potato, peas, tomato, cabbage, cauliflower, and so on.

This curry is cooked to perfection and then heated continuously on an iron cast tawa so that you can be served with a piping hot meal. A thick slice of butter is added as the topping to the bhaji and served with two soft buns toasted in butter. You will get chopped onions, green mint chutney, and fried chili as sides. Here, you can also find several variations that can be tried once, like cheese Pav Bhaji, Schezwan Pav Bhaji, and paneer Pav Bhaji.

Who doesn’t love momo, especially the ones served on the streets with a piping hot soup or an array of condiments? Momo is famous all over the country and although you might spot a momo vendor at every corner, finding one that has an authentic taste can be a challenge. Not when you have us, duhhhh. Known as the Indian version of Asian dumplings, momos are usually made with a filling of veggies or meat and then steamed continuously till they are ready to be served. Visit Seven Sisters Momos to enjoy steamed momos with sauces or chutneys like green mint, spicy red chili chutney, and mayonnaise.

Located in Viman Nagar, the rate is very affordable and the flavors are mouth-watering. What’s more impressive is that apart from the classic steamed ones, these momos also come with a variety of sauces for example manchurian sauce etc. Try a couple of these variations to savor the richness of flavors to the fullest.

Nothing can ever beat the flavors and textures in Indian chaats. Almost every food street in Pune has a chaatwala, whether it is pani puri or bhelpuri. These delicacies are packed with so many flavors. Just like when you eat one pani puri filled with potato mixture and tangy water, your taste buds will be bombarded with many flavors, like roasted Indian spices, chili powder, tanginess, saltiness, and more.

Similarly, dahi papdi chaat is also famous in Pune streets, where you will be served with five to six small crunchy papri and topped with curd. To enhance the flavor, most sellers add a tangy green chutney made from mint and coriander, a sweet tamarind chutney, aloo bhujia, fresh coriander leaves, a roasted spice blend, and pomegranate seeds. Apart from these two dishes, you can try several other chaats while wandering the streets, including bhel puri, kachori, aloo ki sabji, aloo tikki chaat, and samosa chaat. On top of everything, these are entirely customizable, meaning you can change the toppings and flavors per your needs.

The last and most popular street food on our list is Bhakarwadi. Savored primarily during the winter season with a cup of hot, piping tea, this crispy little snack is flavorful. The dough is made with all-purpose flour and spread over a flat platform, after which a coarse spice and chopped dry fruit blend is added. Once done, the dough is cut into thin strips and rolled to give the distinct Bhakarwadi shape. These small pieces are deep fried until golden brown is achieved and served hot.

These are usually served at sweet stores, but several street vendors make Bhakarwadi in Pune nowadays. Remember to ask for the sweet tamarind chutney that serves as a fantastic condiment to the snack, given its spice profile.

Pune is a magical city that will make you fall in love with itself with its beautiful streets, weather and the food. There’s a lot to explore in Pune and with this list in your pocket you don’t need to search street food near me in Pune to try the dishes we just mentioned above. These are packed with different flavors and ideal to fill your famished stomach while walking down the streets.

So whether you are traveling for work or to catch up with your loved ones, don’t forget to check at Bloom Hotels in Pune for an absolutely amazing trip.