Say goodbye to your dreams of managing weight by experiencing food in Amritsar. Everything here will make you wonder if there’s ghee and butter in your food or some food in your ghee and butter. Okay, we’re exaggerating a little. But seriously, you’ll find the best Punjabi food here, without having to visit a huge or fancy restaurant.
From snacks to desserts, everything here is rich, flavorful, and supremely satiating. Kebabs, chole, chaap, lassi, and so much more. They have everything. So we’re going to share with you some amazing dishes you should try here in Amritsar and some great places to try those dishes. Here we go!
If you’ve had the fortune of eating kulchas in Amritsar, you have eaten the best kulchas available on the entire planet. It’s something you can eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, evening snacks, when you get the munchies - just about any time. Kulchas here come with a very huge dollop of butter. They’re often served with mint or tamarind chutney, chole, or even onion chutney. Some places even give slices of radish. It all depends on the place you visit.
There are so many varieties and each one is crazy delicious. You can try potato or paneer stuffed kulcha or gobi kulcha or the countless other types available in Amritsar. There’s also something called Geela Kulcha. This is basically a kulcha that’s drowned in chole gravy for a minute or so, topped off with some chutneys and chole gravy, then served. Here are some which stand out for their kulchas, and rightly so.
Also read: Traveling To Amritsar - The Amritsar Travel Guide (unstumbled.com)
Limited menu and seating. Unlimited chole and chutney refill. Small place. Huge satisfaction. Kulcha Land in Ranjit Avenue is arguably the best in Amritsar.
A true example of “The smaller the place, the better the taste”. They also serve Muli ka Aachar (radish pickle) alongside kulcha. Ashok Kumar Kulche Wala is the other place in Amritsar that is arguably the best for kulchas. This also happens to be in Ranjit Avenue.
Once again, a place similar to Kulcha Land and Ashok Kumar, in terms of its size. But a great place and one of the best for Geela Kulcha. It comes garnished with minced paneer and chopped onions. Vaishno Bhojan Bhandar is situated in Hall Bazaar.
We’re great fans of this food in Amritsar. But there’s literally just one reason why this makes it to our list. Imagine creamy and savory paneer bhurji that’s cooked with generous amounts of butter and a secret masala. Sounds drool worthy, doesn’t it? Oh, and it comes alongside slices of bread, sweet-and-sour tamarind chutney, mint chutney, and some onions. One of those unmissable dishes in Amritsar. You should look no further than one place for this.
Situated in the narrow lanes of Katra Ahluwalia, Tara Chand Paneer Bhurji is famous for exactly what its name suggests. Although the place does offer some other snacks which are good, their paneer bhurji is in a different league of its own.
Here’s something for meat lovers. There are variations to this also and you can get it dry and the kind with gravy. This spiced meaty delight is often cooked in desi ghee or butter on a pan. Oh, one more thing. Here in Amritsar, mutton chaap is a little different than the kind you might be used to eating usually. The more apt description would be mutton chaap cutlet. Here are some of the best places in Amritsar to enjoy a melt-in-your-mouth mutton chaap.
A small-time street food stall that has been around for years. Don’t let the place deceive you. The chaap here is just great. Shinda Meat Corner has a reputation of grinding and making their own spices. There’s no seating here and it’s not on Google Maps yet, but it’s near the old telephone exchange opposite Tara Chand Paneer Bhurji.
Another street food stall that is just as good and one you shouldn’t miss. Their mutton chaap is also delicious. On a side note, the stall also serves good mutton kheema kaleja. Suraj Meat Shop is situated in the Somnath Singh area. You can find it on Google Maps too.
Definitely a bigger establishment than the previous two. It’s considered one of the best in the city of mutton chaap and non-vegetarian food in general. Here, mutton chaap comes with the bone. The meat is so tender that it sometimes just slides off the bone. Queues here are common but their food is worth the wait. Adarsh Meat Shop is located on Ranjit Avenue.
A popular winter snack item for Punjabis. The Amritsari Fish Fry packs a great deal of tangy and savory flavors. Its spicy flavors go well with the zing. The fish is marinated overnight in spices then dipped in a batter made of rice and gram flour before being deep-fried. If you’ve never tried this before, you’d be surprised at how good this dish really is. Here are places where you should try this:
It’s the first name that comes to everyone’s mind when they talk about fish in Amritsar. Located in Besant Nagar, Makhan Fish & Chicken Corner sprinkles their dish with a unique chaat masala. This chaat masala is made of 32 spices which they make themselves. Oh and also, they’ve been around since 1962.
As the name suggests, it’s not a place that is famous for its Amritsari Fish Fry. But it’s good nonetheless. This is also situated in Besant Nagar. While you’re here, try their Chicken and Fish Tikka too. To be fair, they serve great food in general.
There’s no way that we can skip Dal Makhani when talking about food in Amritsar. This tasty comfort food is made with black lentils that are soaked in water overnight before cooking it. Dal Makhani in Amritsar is creamy, rich, and full of ghee. The taste is a combination of both sweet and savory, and absolutely heavenly. Here are the places in Amritsar which serve some of the best Dal Makhani you’ll ever have:
One of the most legendary places in Amritsar, Kesar Da Dhaba has been around since 1916. Do try their palak paneer too. Situated in Chowk Passion, Kesar Da Dhaba is a pure vegetarian restaurant with simple and basic tables and seating arrangements. Their Dal Makhani goes through a slow 12-hour cooking process which makes it so amazing!
Another famous dhaba in Amritsar. A very popular choice amongst tourists who want to have authentic Punjabi cuisine. Their Dal Makhani is also amazingly delicious. Bharawan Da Dhaba is also a pure vegetarian restaurant and their food is phenomenal. Makki Di Roti with Sarson Da Saag is really good here. The dhaba is situated near Town Hall.
A glass full of sweet creamy magic, anyone? The perfect beverage to have after a spicy flavorful meal to wash it all down. Just like everything else in Amritsar, Lassi also is served in copious amounts. Be it in restaurants, dhabas, or street side stalls, you will find Lassi across the city. It comes topped off with malai. You get great Lassi at most places in Amritsar. But here are a couple of iconic places where having this beverage is an experience of its own:
Nothing prettier than the sight of Lassi being churned. Even more so when you see a Peda (yup, the sweet dish) being used to prepare the huge steel glass of Lassi. Gian Di Lassi is situated at Hathi Gate. You can also pack some other sweets for yourself while you’re there.
Situated at B.K. Dutt Gate, Ahuja Milk Bhandar is arguably the most famous place in Amritsar for Lassi. A proper sweet shop, Ahuja Milk Bhandar is where you can get a variety of snacks too. But their Lassi is the clear showstopper.
Another famous Indian sweet that you can easily get all around Amritsar. A deep-fried dish that’s soaked in a sweet sugary syrup, Jalebi in Amritsar is made using rich desi ghee. This definitely shouldn’t come as a surprise. Crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, warm freshly made Jalebis are the best way to treat your sweet tooth in Amritsar. Here are a couple of places that are worth visiting:
Located at Katra Ahluwalia Street, Gurudas Ram Jalebi Waale is a local sweet shop. Want to have fresh, hot Jalebis? This is one of the best places in the city. Their Gulab Jamuns are just as good, so don’t forget to try that.
This sweet shop in Lawrence Road has a lot of mouthwatering treats worth trying. Sharma Sweet Shop is another one of our favorite places for Jalebis and sweets in general.
This is much like Kulfi but then it gets an Amritsari makeover. Basically, it becomes all the more amazing. Kulfi is a famous Indian dessert which is our own version of ice cream. Kulfa in Amritsar is served with a topping and rabdi and one of the falooda toppings. Basically those sweet springy noodles. Where should you try this dessert?
The most famous place in Amritsar for this dessert. A-One Kulfa is situated in INA Colony.
This one is not as popular a choice for Kulfa but it’s also a good option to have this cool dessert. King Kulfa is located in Sultanwind Road.
Visiting Amritsar and not experiencing this is not acceptable. Simple but good vegetarian food which makes for a unique culinary experience.
It’s a tiny local establishment located near Jallianwala Bagh which serves a simple but one of the best tasting Chole Pulav.
This is the best place to have the unique 7 layered Samosa Satpura Samosa. A super crunchy snack that comes with a filling of aloo masala.
Yes, we know you’re thinking that we’ve left out some obviously great Punjabi dishes. The only reason is that food in Amritsar, no matter what dish, is just heavenly. The list we shared consists of dishes and places you definitely must try. Do you have any favorite dishes or places to eat in Amritsar? Go on then, share with us!
What Is The Famous Food Of Amritsar?
Some of the most famous foods of Amritsar are kulchas, paneer bhurji, mutton chaap, and the meal served at the langar.
Which Sweet Is Famous In Amritsar?
Jalebis, Phirnis, and Gulab Jamuns are some of the most famous popular sweets in Amritsar. You can also try out some kulfa.
What Is Amritsar Famous For?
Amritsar is primarily famous for the Golden Temple, the holiest place for Sikhs. The city is also known for its colonial history and proximity to the Wagah-Attari Border.
What Can I Do In 2 Days In Amritsar?
Day 1 - Visit the major attractions of the city, including the Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh, Hall Bazaar, and Guru Ke Mahal
Day 2 - You can explore the city and the streets, and in the evening, visit the Wagah Border to witness the Wagah-Attari Border Retreat Ceremony.
Is There Uber In Amritsar?
Yes, cab services like Ola and Uber are available in Amritsar.
What Should I Shop In Amritsar?
Phulkari Apparel - Phulkari is the traditional embroidery style of Punjab, so it’s only obvious that you should get your hands on some flower-patterned Phulkari dupattas and shawls.
Punjabi Jutti - These brightly colored and intricately designed shoes would make for pretty keepsakes from your trip to Amritsar. Also, pairing them with ethnic wear would be just fabulous!
Religious Accessories - A kada (bracelet) or kirpan (ceremonial knife) are also something you could buy too!
Which River Flows Through Amritsar?
Amritsar is located between the rivers Beas and Ravi. Beas flows along the south of Amritsar while Ravi is to its north.
What Is There To Do In Amritsar At Night?
Amritsar isn’t a city that offers a lot in terms of nightlife, but you can visit the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple), which looks particularly beautiful at night!
What Should I Wear In Amritsar?
Punjab as a whole can get hot in the summer and cold in the winter, so we recommend light cotton clothes for the former and woolens for the latter. But if you plan on visiting the Golden Temple, remember to dress modestly (no exposing of arms or legs) and wear a headscarf.
Which Month Is Best For Amritsar?
The winter months of November to March are the best time to visit Amritsar. It’s when the weather is quite pleasant, which would make sightseeing enjoyable.
Which Hill Station Is Near To Amritsar?
Amritsar doesn’t have any hill stations in its immediate vicinity, but if you’re willing to travel a bit, consider visiting Thaneek Pura (160 km), Bakloh (180 km), Dharamshala (201 km), and Dalhousie (202 km).
