Jaipur is known for its local delicacies and dining options that range from fine restaurants to street food and roadside dhabas. As a tourist in Jaipur, you should try as many of the local dishes as possible — and don’t be squeamish about eating from vendors’ stalls! Let’s take a look at some of the best places to eat, and the dishes you must try, when in the Pink City.Rajasthan Specialities
If you fancy trying some of Rajasthan’s regional delicacies, Jaipur has loads of options. One of the most common meals here is Dal-Baati-Churma, or lentil curry served with the charcoal-baked wheat flour rolls that often take the place of roti and chapati in Rajasthan. Churma, the desert, consists of crushed wheat balls rolled in jaggery and topped with ghee. You can enjoy this meal for a reasonable price in the roadside dhabas near the Sindhi Camp bus station.
Another Rajasthan specialty you shouldn’t miss is, a puff pastry filled with cream, nuts and sugar. Get the best mawa kachori at Rawat Misthan Bhandar, where you can also sit down to a traditional meal of Dal-Baati-Churma if you want or try their famous pyaz ki kachori — which is so good people queue up for it. Try sweet, deep-friend ghewar at Johri Bazar, Rawat Misthan Bandar or Sambhar Pheni Wala in the Haldiyon ka Rasta district. Ask for sugary pheni as well.
If you don’t have a sweet tooth, try the best samosas in Jaipur at Samrat, a food stall in Chaura Rasta. Plan to arrive early — they sell out quickly! Also try Mirchi Bada, green chilies dipped in besan and deep fried. You’ll find these sold at roadside food stalls and handcarts.
Best Restaurants in Jaipur
Enjoy some tasty laal maas lamb curry at the Chandravanshi Pavilion at Rajputana Sheraton. Suryaa Villa in Peelwa Garden in Moti Dongri Road serves the best smoked laal maas in the city, but you have to call ahead and give the chefs six-hours’ notice to prepare it.
If you’re shopping at the Chameli Bazaar, stop at the Moti Mahal Dhaba and try the creamy pepper chicken. Shoppers at the Anokhi textile store are advised to refuel at the Anokhi Café next door, where the food is locally grown and organic. The carrot cake is particularly good.
If you fancy a romantic meal accompanied by stunning views, try 1153 AD. One of Jaipur’s newer restaurants, 1153 AD is located on the top of Amber Fort. Here you’ll find breath-taking chandeliers, period furniture and gold-enamelled walls. Try the 10-dish thali.
For an opulent dining experience, try the four-course meal of curries, biryani and breads at The Oberoi Rajvilas’ Rajmahal. If you’re not a guest at the hotel, you’ll need to make reservations to eat here.
Cinnamon, in the Jai Mahal Palace, puts a modern spin on traditional Mughlai and Punjabi cuisine. This trendy, romantic restaurant decorated in silver and lavender is the perfect place to bring that special someone.
For an outdoor dining experience, consider The Verandah at Rambagh Palace in Bhawani Singh Road. You’ll have a view of the Moti Doongri Fort and the hotel’s gardens as you sip tea or champagne.
A meal at Chokhi Dhani Village is more than just a meal — it’s an experience. Bangle-makers, potters, folk singers and dancers provide dinner theater for diners enjoying a three-course traditional meal at three different tables.
Eat where the locals eat; dine at Niros, which has been serving up some of the best chicken tikka masala, laal maas and reshmi kebab in Jaipur for decades. They don’t take reservations, so you’ll likely have to wait for your table — especially if you arrive on a weekend evening.
The Pink City offers no shortage of culinary delights for visitors with discriminating palates. Try some of these restaurants to taste the best of what Jaipur serves up. Don’t miss some of the local delicacies served at dhabas, food stalls and sweet shops to sincerely savour the tastes of Jaipur!
About the Author: Contributing blogger and food writer Nisha Patil loves exploring new culinary worlds when traveling. She encourages her readers to find cheap Jaipur hotels on Expedia to save money for fine dining on their Jaipur holidays.
