Food guide

Famous food of Varanasi: what to eat in Banaras

Everything in Banaras has its time: kachori in the morning, chaat in the evening, malaiyo in winter.

Breakfast

The real Banarasi breakfast: crisp kachori, spicy potato curry, and hot jalebi on top.

Evening

Tangy, spicy and sweet, served in a kulhad. Hard to find the real taste outside Banaras.

Winter only

Milk froth set overnight in the dew. Light, saffron-tinted and melts in your mouth.

Any time of day

Thick lassi with a heavy layer of malai. Nothing beats it after a hot walk along the ghats.

After meals

If it's your first time, go for a meetha (sweet) paan. It's the signature of Banaras.

Morning or evening

A khoya-filled pastry sealed with a clove, fried and soaked in sugar syrup.

Holi & Shivratri

A chilled drink of milk, nuts and spices. During festivals you'll find it in every lane.

Lunch or dinner

Rustic Purvanchal food: fire-roasted baati, smoky brinjal-potato chokha and ghee.