Seven Classic Dishes to Eat in India

As one of the most flavorful destinations in the world, it was hard to narrow this list down to seven. From vada pav to chili chicken, be sure to try one of these classic dishes of Indian cuisine.

© Manubahuguna | Dreamstime

Vada Pav

A modern staple of Indian street food, vada pav is a fried potato fritter sandwiched between two buns and topped with chutney.

© Sergii Koval | Dreamstime

Chicken Tikka Masala

This is one of the most recognizable Indian foods prepared around the world. Similar to butter chicken (sometimes used interchangeably), chicken tikka masala is a tomato-based curry with grilled chicken marinated in spices.

© Feroze | Dreamstime

Biryani

Biryani is an aromatic rice dish prepared in a variety of ways depending on the region and culture. It originated from the Muslim communities of North India, typically served with mutton, before spreading across the entire country.

© Mike Linksvayer | Flickr

Masala Dosa

A staple of breakfast in South India, masala dosa is a thin, crispy pancake stuffed with potatoes and dipped into a red chutney or sambar. The dish is part of the wider Udupi cuisine, which is the traditional food of Tulunadu that uses locally-sourced vegetarian ingredients.

© Shaiith | Dreamstime

Samosa

These dumplings are a popular appetizer around the world, originally brought to India by Muslim merchants. Today, the South Asian variety is the most famous; deep-fried pastries filled with minced meat (often lamb) and/or potatoes, peas, onions and spices.

© Odua | Dreamstime

Chili Chicken

Separate from Indian cuisine (and nothing to do with Chinese cuisine) is Indian-Chinese food, the strange blend of South and East Asian dishes, popularly consumed in the form of chili chicken served with hakka noodles.

© Odua | Dreamstime

Chaat

Chaat is a Mumbai street food classic, eaten quickly with your hands at a roadside stall. Described as “Indian nachos,” the dish comes in many different styles, usually containing spiced potatoes, crispy fried bread, chickpeas and chutney.