A food lover’s guide to Chandigarh
If you are a food enthusiast, Chandigarh is the place to be. From spicy street food and chaat joints to cute cafés and fine-dine restaurants, the city has it all.
It isn’t easy to escape the charm of Chandigarh. The capital city of Punjab and Haryana, designed by Le Corbusier, is bathed in green, making it a welcome change from typically congested urban centres. Dotted with thematic gardens, including the Rock Garden which boasts sculptures made from recycled ceramics, the city has become a go-to destination for those who want to experience a blend of nature, art and culture.
There’s another reason why Chandigarh is popular—its vibrant food culture. The city is a gastronomical heaven, with street food joints and high-end restaurants serving elevated offerings, attracting food lovers across ages.
If you are in the metropolis for a short visit and don’t know what to eat and where to go, fret not. Here is a curated guide from YS Life that will give you a taste of Chandigarh in the best way possible.
Chaats galore
As Indians, we love our chaat. Whether it’s crisp aloo tikkis, pillowy dahi bhallas, or crunchy golgappas, most of us can’t get enough of these snacks. If you are in Chandigarh, be ready for a chaat party because the options are plenty.
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One of the most popular outlets in the city is Garg Chaat, which has been around since the 1960s. The shop in Sector 23 serves the tastiest chaat, according to Chandigarh’s foodies.
Bite into spicy tikki chaat or the fiery golgappe for that kick in the palate. But be prepared to queue up for a long time because the place is almost always crowded.
Another place you must not miss is Krishna Chaat Bhandar in Sector 18D. Indulge in its special stuffed golgappa with sliced potato and sweet and tangy chutneys topped with generous amounts of dahi. While you are here, try soya chaap, a dish made from soyabean chunks. There’s everything from Afghani chaap to malai chaap and more.
Kulcha hub
While kulchas are associated with Amritsar, Chandigarh isn’t far behind. Located in Sector 9, Amritsari Kulcha Hub has several options including aloo kulcha, mushroom kulcha, paneer kulcha, onion kulcha, and gobhi kulcha, best paired with spicy chole. Dunk it with a tall glass of lassi, and you are sure to slip into a food coma.
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Streetside meals
It's not just chaats that make foodies drool in Chandigarh. Punjabi fare, including rajma chawal and chole chawal, is equally a big hit in the city.
Khan Rajma Chawal and Biryani Point feature at the top of the list. The stall, located in the heart of Sector 15, offers a menu of rajma chawal, chole chawal, and matar paneer and chawal. You could also take your pick from vegetarian, non-vegetarian and egg biryanis.
For hardcore non-vegetarians, Old Pal Dhaba is the go-to place. Dig into creamy butter chicken with garlic naan or relish the spicy mutton Rogan Josh.
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The dhaba, which was started in 1968, serves food with a lot of butter and ghee; so come here with loose pants and eat away!
In winter, makki ki roti and sarson ka saag sell like hot cakes.
Fine-dining restaurants
Chandigarh has a good mix of fine dining restaurants, serving everything from Indian and pan-Asian to Italian and vegan cuisine.
Bookmark the hip Cottage in Sector 7, whose exteriors resemble a colonial-style chalet. Inside, it is warm and cosy, courtesy the liberal use of wood.
You could spend hours here trying out global fare that covers English, French, and Middle Eastern cuisine. Cottage’s signature dishes include kaffir lime chicken and lamb hummus.
Another great option in the city is Tin Tin Modern Asian Restobar cocooned in Sector 34. It’s a “mosaic matrix” as described by Renesā Architecture that has done the layout and interiors of the space.
While you are immersed in the many grids that define the restaurant, don’t forget to dive into its dizzying menu. From dimsums and sushi to clay pots and grills, there’s a lot to try here.
Pair the food with spirit-forward cocktails—choose from an eclectic selection of Plum and Kokum Martini, Green Mango Sour, Picante, and more.
For authentic Italian fare, explore Rojo Tomate or Cafe Sicily. Both these outlets serve non-vegetarian and vegetarian wood-fired pizzas that are full of flavour yet not incredibly heavy.
At Rojo, start your meal with the cheesy garlic bread with sauteed mushrooms and onions or the cheesy pepperoni garlic bread. Then move to the pizzas—Rojo’s most popular is Pizza di Montiana with homemade tomato sauce, porcini and champignon mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, crispy bacon, smoked chicken, mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
Coffee and desserts
American cartoonist Charles M Schulz said, “All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt.”
Softy icecream in Chandigarh | Image source: Geetika Sachdev
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When in Chandigarh, do not miss its wide range of softy ice creams. The most famous eatery is Softy Corner, which has outlets in Sector 17, Sector 9, Sector 22, and other places. Besides the usual vanilla and chocolate flavours, you could go for biscoff, red velvet, brownie, cookies and creme. Trust us, this is one of the best ice creams we’ve had!
Those who can’t do without caffeine can head to Willow Cafe or Cafe JCs for cold coffee. These outlets serve a balanced version that isn’t too sweet and offers indulgence in the right measure.
Tell us if you know of more eateries in the city that one must try. We’d love to hear from you!
Edited by Swetha Kannan
