Why Indore may be India’s most underrated street food capital

When conversations turn to India's great food cities, Delhi's chaat, Mumbai's vada pav and Kolkata's kathi rolls usually dominate the discussion. However, a growing number of travellers are looking beyond these established favourites and towards Indore, a city in Madhya Pradesh that has quietly built a reputation as one of the country's most exciting street-food hubs.

The city has become synonymous with cleanliness, earning the title of India's cleanest city multiple years in a row. For locals, food is just as central to Indore's identity.

Positioned in central India, Indore has long been a meeting point for traders, migrants and travellers from neighbouring regions. Over time, influences from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and the Malwa region blended into a food culture that feels familiar yet entirely its own.

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The result is a city where breakfast, lunch, evening snacks and late-night meals all have their own traditions.

A city that eats from morning until midnight

The day often begins with poha, perhaps Indore's most iconic dish. The flattened rice preparation is topped with crunchy sev, coriander and jeeravan masala, a local spice blend that gives it a distinctive tangy kick. Many residents pair it with hot jalebis, creating the sweet-and-savoury combination that has become a hallmark of the city's mornings.

Popular food zones such as Chappan Dukan draw crowds throughout the day. Originally home to 56 shops, the area has evolved into one of Indore's best-known culinary destinations. Here, visitors can sample everything from samosas and sabudana khichdi to inventive local takes on global favourites.

Among the most famous establishments is Johny Hot Dog, where potato patties replace traditional sausages, creating a uniquely Indian interpretation of the hot dog. Other local favourites include coconut-filled khopra patties, spicy kachoris and a range of chaat dishes that showcase the city's love of bold flavours.

As night falls, however, Indore's food culture enters another gear.

Sarafa Bazaar, a bustling jewellery market by day, transforms into an open-air food destination after dark. The change is almost theatrical. Once the jewellery shops close, food vendors take over the streets, serving everything from pani puri and aloo tikki to seasonal specialties that attract crowds well into the early hours of the morning.

The market is also home to some of the city's most celebrated culinary institutions. At Joshi Dahi Bada House, customers gather to watch plates of yoghurt-soaked lentil dumplings tossed dramatically into the air before serving. Nearby stalls specialise in local favourites such as bhutte ka kees, made from grated corn cooked with milk and spices, and garadu chaat, a winter delicacy prepared from fried yam.

For those seeking respite from the spice, coconut crush stalls offer cooling drinks made with fresh coconut water, ice and coconut flesh.

What makes Indore remarkable is not any single dish but the sheer variety on offer. The city's food culture reflects centuries of migration, trade and adaptation, while its thriving street-food scene continues to evolve with new ideas and flavours.

For travellers planning their next food-focused getaway, Indore offers a compelling reminder that some of India's most memorable meals are still found far from the spotlight.