5 Best Street Foods To Try In Ranchi - Updated 2024

1. Try lip-smacking dhuskas

A deep-fried delicacy that is wildly popular all over the state of Jharkhand, dhuskas are one of my favorite breakfast options. Although people also enjoy it with a variety of chutneys, I find it best paired with a spicy chickpea curry.

You’ll find many roadside stalls selling this affordable dish, but, for the tastiest options, I would recommend visiting Nepal House in Doranda. You can also find many other delicious foods to try here, including a range of Himalayan food and some of the best momos in the city!

2. Chow down on Bihari littis

A Bihari delicacy that’s stuffed with delicious gram flour, or sattu, littis are so filling, you can eat them as a proper meal! I usually prefer mine with a generous dollop of ghee and a side of chokha, which is made with roasted brinjals and/or potatoes. If you’re sensitive to spices, I would suggest either leaving out the chokha or requesting that yours be made without the usual helping of green chillies.

One of my favorite picks for littis in Ranchi is Bhola Litti on Tulsi Chowk, Doranda, which has been around for decades and has a variety of littis to try.

3. Sample soft pitthas

A simple but comforting dish, pitthas are the regional version of dumplings. They’re made with rice flour and can have different stuffings to give them a delicious flavor. I love a simple arhar daal with ghee and pitthas on cold days. It’s quite filling, so you won’t need much more. Those with a sweet tooth will be delighted to know that pitthas also come stuffed with coconut and jaggery.

I really enjoy the options available at Desi Pitha in Lalpur, so do give it a try!

4. Delight in the sticky sweetness of malpuas

The Indian version of pancakes, malpuas are made of flour and coated with sugar syrup, making for a delicious dessert that often led to my family squabbling over the last pieces. They’re consumed most on Holi, so if you’re in town around March, many eateries will be offering variations.

If you prefer something less sweet, there’s also a version of the same dish called pua, which comes without being dipped in sugar syrup. To make it even more indulgent, I drizzle just a little bit of condensed milk over the top, along with a handful of crushed pistachios.

5. Bite into delectable thekuas

Prepared during the festival of Chhat in Bihar and Jharkhand, thekuas are made of wheat flour (maida) and jaggery or sugar. Post Diwali (which usually falls in the month of October or November), I would look forward to sitting with my family and chattering away happily as batch after batch of thekuas were prepared and arranged to either be offered to the Gods or gifted to loved ones.

If you can, I would highly suggest getting your hands on homemade thekuas, as there’s nothing quite like biting into one hot off the stove. However, store-bought ones are also delicious and can be found in places such as Gupta Bhandar on Ranchi’s Main Road.

Taste the best of Ranchi

Whether you’re in Ranchi for business or pleasure, the food here is unmissable. Try one of the above-mentioned delicacies for a taste of the best of what Ranchi has to offer.