Famous Food of Pune: A Culinary Journey through the Streets
Being a historically rich city, the cultural Dishes of This metropolitan hub could be savored and this city is a true gourmet’s delight.
Finally, the chapter focuses on the food culture that This metropolitan hub holds for locals as well as tourists alike.
Sharing its treasures that burst with flavors and aromas that can surprise with their diversity while being rooted in the Maharashtrian section, leaving alone the Indian one.
Right from roadside dish joints to cozy coffee shops, This metropolitan hub offers a very rich flavor of its virgin food culture.
So, it is high time to taste what one can and should definitely eat when being in Pune, let the culinary experiment begin. Here is the list of Pune’s best food!
Misal Pav – The Spicy Delight
People of Pune are really lucky to have many delicious food items but Misal Pav is the most popular.
Apparently a spicy curry wherein sprouted lentils are used as the base, Misal is then topped with sev, onions, coriander, and a squeeze of lemon and is traditionally eaten with pav, a soft bread roll.
That is why each piece inspires such delight –it is spicy, tangy, crunchy, and soft all at the same time.
Misal Pav is available all over the city of Pune but to enjoy the best Misal Pav there are three best joints in This metropolitan hub for Misal Pav namely- Bedekar Misal, Katakir and Shree Uphar Gruh.
Misal Pav is usually served in huge quantities, on an average a good Misal Pav may cost anywhere between ₹50 to ₹120.
Suggested reading:- Misal Pav recipe.
Vada Pav – Mumbai Pune Connection.
It will be unfair to talk about street Dishes in This metropolitan hub without paying our respects to the Vada Pav.
Also known as the Indian burger, Vada Pav features close to what most burgers are made of; where the vada, a spicy potato filling is sandwiched between two slices of bread but is first coated in a crispy chickpea batter.
Include a little bit of chutneys and fried chillies and you have made a snack that needs no introduction and it is cheap.
This hot favorite is available for as little as ₹20 to ₹40 at tourist-frequented vendors such as Garden Vada Pav Center and Joshi Wadewale, to name but a few.
One of these traditional meals is bhakri with pitla and this is arguably one of the easiest meals to cook.
To anyone with an intention to have the real Maharashtrian food experience, one must try out Bhakri with Pitla.
Bhakri is a flat round coarse bread prepared with jowar or bajra ( millet) and Pitla is a hot chickpea flour curry or a meal.
This is a simple meal that many people enjoy and thecha, spicy green chili relish, is normally served with this dish.
Several traditional restaurants in This metropolitan hub prepare this dish, and some of the best places to taste it are Hotel Shreyas, Durvankur Dining Hall where the charges range from ₹150 to ₹300.
Suggested reading:- Vada Pav & Misal Pav on the Expressway
Pune’s Famous Bakarwadi
If there is one dish that has been discovered to be a favorite amongst snack lovers then it has to be Bakarwadi of This vibrant city.
A twisted crisp that is perfect for your palate because it has a savory and spicy filling inside.
Some of the local stores in This vibrant city that sell Bakarwadi include Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale which is the most famous brand.
And for as little as ₹60 or up to ₹100 for a packet depending on the size, you can buy this colorful and tasty snack.
Suggested reading:- Famous for Bakarwadi
Finally Mastani – The Sweet Conclusion
Mastani is one of the popular sweets that tourists need to taste when they are in Pune there is none like Mastani.
This fruity combined with dry fruits and ice cream thick milkshake to the last drop is the best end to a meal.
Mastani is one of the Readymade Name Brand that is inspired by the strong and brave warrior princess Mastani.
There are two places which are famous for Mastani in the city, Sujata Mastani and Gupta Mastani and a glass of Mastani costs between 80 to 150 Rs.
Suggested reading:- Mango Mastani Recipe
Pav Bhaji – Mumbai’s Favorite Pavement Eats
Another interesting eatery that one should not miss while in Pune is Pav Bhaji.
A scrumptious and rich spread of mashed vegetables with spices, the dish is Pav Bhaji is served hot; accompanied with buttered pav.
The flavors are hearty and the dish is satisfying and warm.
There are several eateries in town that will offer you plates of this divine food at about ₹100 to ₹200.
Suggested reading:- Best Pav Bhaji in Mumbai
Shrewsbury Biscuits: Pune’s Most Famous Sweetdish
This biscuit is called Shrewsbury Biscuits and this product also originated in This vibrant city.
These biscuits, which are soft crumbling in texture, perfect to have with a sip of tea, were popularized by the Kayani Bakery.
People from different parts of the country even require to spend 3-4 hours in a queue to get a box of these appealing snacks.
A pack of these biscuits costs about ₹ 200 but believe you me, it is worth it.
Suggested reading:- Misal Pav To Shrewsbury Biscuits
Poha – A Light Breakfast Delight
Flattened Rice or Poha as it is more known to the locals is a preferred breakfast meal that is easy on the tummy and easy on the pocket as well, it is prepared with flattened rice, mustard seeds, curry leaves, coriander and a splash of lemon juice.
This is one of the things you can try out in This metropolitan hub; it is light, nutritious and will do you well in the morning.
People of Delhi can buy this healthy breakfast dish from small food stalls all over the city for ₹ 20 to ₹ 40 only.
Flour mixed with fine semolina, refined coconut oil, sugar and raisins stuffed with the same ingredients and wrapped in wheat flour paste make delightful Puran Poli treats for festivals.
This metropolitan hub also has not been left behind when it comes to festive foods and Puran Poli are a favorite among the Maharashtrian people especially on special occasions.
It is a kind of sweet roti which is filled with a stuffing prepared from jaggery and split chickpeas popularly known as chana dal and aromatized with cardamom and nutmeg.
One can have Puran Poli at restaurants bearing such names as Shabree or Shreyas, and the cost can be between ₹100 and ₹200.
Suggested reading:-poha recipe
Sabudana Khichdi – The Fasting Favorite
Sabudana Khichdi is a unique dish that we predominantly eat during fasts though the food is mouth-watering and we eat it all year round.
It contains tapioca pearls, peanuts, and contains a mild form of spices and can be taken in the morning, afternoon or late evening.
It is available in the various mid range restaurants such as Prabha Vishranti Grah or Vaidya Upahar Gruh, it ranges approximately from ₹50 to ₹120.
Suggested reading:- sabudana khichdi recipe
Review of cultural impact on food of Pune
It can also be observed that food in relation to culture and history is an essential aspect of the locality of This vibrant city.
The city represents a culmination of the Peshwa rule, the British influence and many more which have placed their stamp on the culinary culture of the city.
People can actually feel these aspects while eating some of the flat and sweet items that include a combination of traditional Maharashtrian style cooking with more contemporary and global experience.
It is this combination that makes This vibrant city unique from other cities, and thus making it a hub for everyone in love with food wanting to taste new dishes as they indulge in the historical past of the city.
Fusion Food: Blending the traditional interior design with a contemporary style would only make perfect sense.
Not only that, for those who have their taste buds for something other than the typical sorts, Pune is fast developing its fusion food trend.
Through the years, many cafés and restaurants have tried to incorporate traditional maharashtrian cuisine and infuse it into new age dishes making lip smacking delicious.
Can you think of having Misal Pav burger on your tongue or having Bhakarwadi-stuffed croissants?
This kind of fusion is not only creative, it also signifies the current trends of Pune’s Dishes industry, which is young but has not lost its touch.
Street Food: Pune Beat
Taking Dishes on the street in Pune is a different ball game altogether.
The spirit in areas such as J.M.
Fergusson College Road, and Viman Nagar is very vibrant.
Every vendor has his or her respective dish, where Ragda Pattice is spicy and tangy, Bhel Puri is refreshing and crunchy.
These are places where more or less everyone wakes up in the evening to make freshly made delicious snacks.
It is not only a meal; it is the environment around it; the company one has, the satisfaction one gets from taking a bite from a tasty morsel while standing next to a busy roadside café
Sustainability and Farm-to-Table Trend
There is, however, one more factor related to eating habits of This vibrant city, which can be considered as a quite modern tendency – that is the concept of sustainable Dishes diets and farm markets.
A few restaurants in the city have adapted to the use of fresh and locally grown organic Dishes, not only improving the quality of the Dishes they offer to customers, but also encouraging local farmers.
This has especially been fashionable with the young generation more so the food enthusiasts who consider the health impact of their meals besides environmental conscious eating.
This vibrant city farm to table restaurants are most famous for its fresh salads, farm fresh sandwiches, even dairy free and gluten free meals which have been keeping pace with the demand of healthy Dishes.
Sweets of Pune: Something for everyone’s taste
However, for dessert lovers, it has been found that Pune will serve them well as well.
There are some of the finest sweet shops such as Ganesh Puran Poli, Modak, and Shrikhand which are most famous in Maharashtra.
These sweets are actually tasty and are very much incorporated in the festivals and other occasions in the region.
There are many sweet shops including Chitale Bandhu and Kaka Halwai through which one can get the famous Shrikhand and Modaks of This vibrant city.
If it is a hot new Modak fresh from the oven or the smooth feel of Shrikhand in the mouth, then the Pune sweets carry the perfect touch to any meal.
Pune Dishes and Its Relations with Neighboring Areas
Geography also plays its part as a reason with This vibrant city located in the Western part of India it has a distinct taste in Dishes as well.
Due to its location in the vicinity of the coastal areas of Maharashtra, Puneri food prefers fresh fish and this gives a special taste to the dishes.
Moreover, they have borrowed culinary from neighboring regions like Goa and Gujarat which include Seafood Thalis, Prawn Koliwada and Gujarati snacks such as Dhokla and Fafda.
These cross regional influences further add to the culinary hub of the city and make it even more colorful and tempting for people to taste different flavors of the country without really moving out of Pune.
Pune’s Modern Café Culture: Features of Geocentric and Polycentric Approaches
Over the past few years, new cafes have been in high demand in This vibrant city that presents a new concept of cafes with global and local food trends.
These young and fashionable cafés are usually preferred by youths, which provide highly specialized services and products: from highly selected coffee, tea, pastries and snacks, to the uniqueness and variety of fusion meals with spices and ingredients found in the particular region.
Places such as German Bakery and Vohuman Café which give a relaxed feeling with Dishes derived from international cuisines with hints of Maharashtrian influence.
If you are the type that would love to have a quiet place to enjoy your sumptuous sandwich or an espresso with SHREWSBURY BISCIT, Pune has got it all.
From a hot vada pav, bought from a street side stall, to an authentic Maharashtrian meal in an air-conditioned restaurant, not only is the food satisfying, but it doesn’t pinch much in the pocket.
Conclusion
Like culture, the Dishes variety in Pune is as rich and colorful as can be painted in the easiest of descriptions.
This is another city that has the combination of tradition and the new age and the food well and sufficiently captures that aspect.
Whether it has to do with spicy street- Dishes, healthy home-cooked Maharashtrian food or creamy desserts, This vibrant city has it all.
The types of meals served are diverse, and accommodate the city’s history, culture, as well as contemporary life giving it a taste of heaven for every Dishes lover both residents and visitors.
Right from the hot Misal Pav that shuts your senses for a while to the sugary delight of Puran Poli, each prepared dish is a history of the Farsis and their valiant efforts of restoring their culture for generations.
Pune’s food definitely contributes significantly to the city’s appeal and the best thing is that it is quite cheap.
From a hot vada pav, bought from a street side stall, to an authentic Maharashtrian meal in an air-conditioned restaurant, not only is the Dishes satisfying, but it doesn’t pinch much in the pocket.
Pune is definitely among those cities whose famous food can be called a journey in its own right regardless of whether you are a beginner traveler or you have already traveled quite a lot.
Every meal lets customers take a tour through the city’s history while the fast pace of contemporary life is also highlighted in this vibrant city region.
Thus, next time you are in Pune do not only go sightseeing, drop by and taste the delicious meals that the city has to offer.
For those who love street food, Pune is the place to be, FC Road, Juna Bazaar, Viman Nagar. Pune is known for its street food such as Pav Bhaji, Dabeli, Bhel Puri, Bun Maska, and these are the places where one could find the best street food in Pune.
Some of Pune’s special places include Vaishali on FC Road for South Indian, Bedekar Misal for Maharashtrian, and Chitale Bandhu for sweets. If you’re looking for authentic Pune food, these spots will give you a true taste of the city.
It is one of the most famous street foods in Pune. In fact, such is this humble snack that it dots almost every part of the city. From ‘JJ Garden Vada Pav’ to ‘Katakir Misal’, head to any such popular street food destination in Pune.Â
When you come to Pune you HAVE to eat misal pav, vada pav and shrewsbury biscuits from kayani bakery. These are some of the top foods in Pune, which tourists always go crazy about.
The food stalls and vendors don’t really get started until around 5 PM, so the best time to sample Pune’s street food is in the evening. But then again some of the most famous street food in Pune such as Misal Pav should be eaten for breakfast.