The land of Maharajas and Rajas, Rajasthan is rich and diverse in culture. Just like the diverse culture, its cuisine is highly unique and famous. The immense love for food that Rajasthanis have is eminently shown in its preparation. The food is spicy and as royal as Rajasthan itself. There is so much variety that you just can’t have enough. Whether you love spicy food or are a dessert person, this state has a variety of tantalizing dishes in its arsenal for you. So, are you ready for a gastronomical ride through the platters of this royal Indian state? I’m going to introduce you to the eight most popular Rajasthani foods so that while you are in Jaipur, you don’t miss out on these. Sit back and grab some napkins for you are going to be salivating by the end of the post.
Don’t forget to check out the amazing accommodations featured in Jaipur, including hotels with hot tub and Airbnb vacation rentals.
1. Lassi
Lassi is a refreshing and healthy drink popular in the whole Indian subcontinent. It is a combination of water, yogurt, spices, and sometimes, fruits. There are two types of lassi—a salted one and a sweet one. The former is just plain lassi and flavored with just salt. The latter is usually prepared with sugar and different kinds of fruits like strawberries, lemons, mangoes, or sometimes even mixed fruits. The sweet kind also sometimes uses saffron, rosewater, ginger, or turmeric.
Where: Lassiwala
Address: 312, MI Rd, Jayanti Market, New Colony, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302001, India
Opening Hours: 7 AM to 4 PM
Highlights: Drinks
2. Daal Baluchi
Daal Baluchi (or Dal Baluchi) is a known comfort food and is a signature Baluchi delicacy. It is said to be a take on Dal Bukhara, which is prepared the same way but with tomatoes. Daal Baluchi is made out of pureed black lentils usually slow-cooked overnight with ginger and garlic, traditionally over charcoal, and then finished off with cream and butter. This rich and creamy concoction is usually served with fresh garlic naan, a flatbread just out of the tandoor.
Where: Baluchi Jaipur
Address: The LaLiT Jaipur, 2B & 2C, Jagatpura Road, Jaipur, Rajasthan India
Price for 2: Approximately 20 USD (~1,500 INR)
Opening Hours: 12 PM to 11:30 PM
Highlights: Naan, Daal Baluchi
3. Dal Bhatti Churma
The most famous Rajasthani dish is dal baati churma. Baatis are flaky round breads usually baked over firewood or kandas. These baatis are served with ghee for dipping and accompanied by panchmel or panch kutti dal and churma. The dal is also cooked in ghee, beginning from frying masala in ghee, to adding additional ghee before serving. The churma is made from unsalted dough, shaped into a round. The dish also features deep fried baatis that are then crushed and sugar or jaggery is added. No Rajasthani occasion is complete without dal bhatti churma.
Where: Santosh Bhojanalaya
Address: Near Central Bus Stand, Station Road, Sindhi Camp, Jaipur
Price for 2: Approximately 4 USD (~261 INR)
Opening Hours: 10 AM to 11 PM
Highlights: Vegetarian only
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4. Ghewar
You will absolutely fall in love with ghewar if you have a sweet tooth like me. This is a traditional Rajasthani sweet associated with the Teej Festival, with its roots from Jaipur. It is a round, cake-like sweet made with the all purpose flour soaked in sugar syrup. Ghewar is available in various varieties like plain, mawa, and malai. This creamy sweet dish is one of India’s finest and is loved by people from different cultures and countries.
Where: Rawat Mishthan Bhandar
Address: Opposite Polovictory Cinema, Station Road, Sindhi Camp, Jaipur
Price for 2: Approximately 8 USD (~522 INR)
Opening Hours: 6 AM to 10:30 PM
Highlights: Takeaway only
5. Mawa Kachori
Mawa kachori is an exotic dessert that is loved by people in Rajasthan. Stuffed with khoya, rich dry fruits and nuts, mawa kachori makes for one of the most royal desserts of all times. It is sometimes dipped in sugar syrup or cream to give it that typical Rajasthani zing.
Where: Rawat Mishthan Bhandar
Address: Opposite Polovictory Cinema, Station Road, Sindhi Camp, Jaipur
Price for 2: Approximately 8 USD (~522 INR)
Opening Hours: 6 AM to 10:30 PM
Highlights: Takeaway only
6. Mirchi Bada
Mirchi bada, chilli cutlet, is a very spicy snack from Rajasthan. It is made of green chillies stuffed with potatoes, with a coating of besan or gram flour over it. Sounds too much to take? Well, this dish is prepared in such a way that the spicy taste doesn’t make your eyes or nose run. It is usually served with mint and tamarind chutney. I suggest you don’t miss out on this lovely snack while you are in Jaipur.
Where: Kanji
Address: Opposite Polovictory Cinema, Station Road, Sindhi Camp, Jaipur
Price for 2: Approximately 5 USD (~326 INR)
Opening Hours: 9 AM to 10:30 PM
Highlights: Breakfast, desserts, and baked goods
7. Gatte Ki Subzi
Using gram flour as the base ingredient, gatte ki sabzi is an authentic Rajasthani dish. Gatte cooked gram flour dumplings. These dumplings are then added to spicy gravy. This combination of gatte and the spicy gravy makes it the most irresistible delicacy. Doesn’t that make you drool already?
Where: Lakshmi Mishtan Bhandar
Address: 100, Johari Bazaar, Pink City, Jaipur
Price for 2: Approximately 12 USD (~783.50 INR)
Opening Hours: 8 AM to 11 PM
Highlights: Vegetarian only, home delivery
8. Rajasthani Thali
The Rajasthani thali is royal in all ways. The thali consists of delicacies from all over Rajasthan, be it the juicy bikaner rasgulle or malpuas from Pushkar. The thali consists of 16 items including the gatte ki sabzi, dal baati churma, khichda, laal maas, bajre ki roti, and everything purely Rajasthani. It is an experience of a lif time to have all the tasty Rajasthani food items on one platter. Make sure you are ready for this ride to food heaven before you order one!
Where: 1135 AD
Address: Level 2, Jaleb Chowk, Near Sheela Mata Temple, Amer Palace, Amer, Jaipur
Price for 2: Approximately 40 USD (~2,611.80 INR)
Opening Hours: 11 AM to 10:30 PM
Highlights: Luxury dining
9. Laal Maas
Laal maas is mutton curry from Rajasthan that is a prepared in a sauce of curd and hot spices such as red chillies and garlic. It is very spicy and red in colour due to the red chillies. Traditionally, laal maas is made using wild game meat such as boar or deer. You can team this spicy non-vegetarian dish with bajra roti or plain rice to instantly experience gastronomical bliss.
Where: Replay
Address: SB 57, 5th Floor, Ridhi Tower, Opposite SMS Stadium, Tonk Road, Jaipur
Price for 2: Approximately 20 USD (1,305.90 INR)
Opening Hours: 11 AM to 1 AM
Highlights: Rooftop seating
10. Keema Baati
Keema baati is another popular Rajasthani dish. It is filled with minced meat together with hard, unleavened bread called baati. The keema is cooked with a large number of spices over low heat. Rajasthani food gets it mouthwatering flavor from the unique style of cooking and keema batti displays this fact at its best.
Where: Spice Court
Address: Achrol House, Jacob Road, Civil Lines, Jaipur
Price for 2: Approximately 10 USD (~652.95 INR)
Opening Hours: 12 PM to 10:30 PM
Highlights: Outdoor seating
Food experiences in Jaipur:
Kitchens of Rajasthan (from 24 USD)
Skip the usual rooftop restaurants just this time and join this tour for an unforgettable Rajasthani culinary lunch or dinner experience. Hosted by a local family in Jaipur, it starts with a welcome drink in their lovely home, followed by a three-course meal which is carefully thought of to include dishes for authentic Rajasthani meal and inspire the inner chef in you. Learn cooking tips from your host, engage in good conversation about life in India, discover more about the area and feel their love for Jaipur. You have the option to choose either a vegetarian or non-vegetarian meal. Lunch is at 12:30 pm, while dinner is at 7:30 pm.
Kitchens of Rajasthan
Price: from 24 USD
Duration: 2 hours
Home Cooked Jaipur (from 77 USD)
Do you want to experience that genuine feeling of being a local in Jaipur? Join us for a day of fun, games, food shopping, home cooking and masala secrets! The tour itinerary covers playing Karrom a board game where players flip a large weighted disc at smaller wooden discs. The objective is to sink your 9 karrom-men, as well as the Queen, in the four corner pockets. It is some sort of a ‘finger-billiard’. Next, we will head to the market to get the freshest ingredients for home cooking. Then, we will walk back to our local host’s family home for a cooking demonstration and partake in a lovely traditional meal with rest of the family members. While you are still raving about the hearty meal, your experience will not end there. You get to bring home a packet of homemade masala that will surely entice the inner chef in you. At the end of the tour, your local guide will drop you off back at your local Jaipur hotel, or assist you in finding transportation onwards to your next evening activity.
Home Cooked Jaipur
Price: from 77 USD
Duration: around 4 hours required.
Tempted?
The spice rich, royal cuisine of Rajasthan should be a must on the “to eat” list for every foodie. In addition to these eight dishes, you can even try a few others like dahi bhalla chat papri, boondo raita, ker sangri, mohas maas, Rajasthani kadi, mohalthaal, and badam ka halwa. Rajasthani food can be stored for several days and can also be consumed cold. Before you pick a restaurant, make sure you check out their cleanliness standard to ensure that you will eat safe, good quality food. You may even want to create a list of popular and recommended places before visiting Jaipur. This will save you time and the hassle of finding good eateries. Don’t forget to check out some 5-star hotels and hotels for couples for your accommodation needs.