Famously known as ‘the City of Pearls’ Hyderabad is flocked by thousands of tourist annually who wish to catch a glimpse of the popular Charminar and also taste the highly reputed Hyderabadi Biryani! However, Hyderabad is not all about Biryani’s as it is also home to some of the best street food and street food joints in the nation; some of which are so delectable and delicious that you will just not be able to get enough of it!
We have compiled a unique list of the best street food in Hyderabad along with the top-notch places to try it in. Not only are these joints pocket-friendly and conveniently located but are also full of authentic flavours and offer a plethora of options to all its guests. Do take the help of the friendly locals for some insider tips and tricks who are always more than happy to help in the city of Nizams.
15 Deliciously Sinful Street Food in Hyderabad
1. Hyderabadi Biryani
What could be better than the world-famous Hyderabadi Biryani to start the list of the most famous Hyderabad street food items!
This is one of the most famous Hyderabad street food which can be found in almost every corner of the city. It is a delicious and yummy meaty main course made of rice and is served with the perfect blend of spices and flavour which is hard to forget.
- Best Places to Try: Pragati Gully, Madina near Charminar and Sindhi Colony
Also Read : 20 Examples of The Best Food in Hyderabad
2. Phirni
This is one of the most popular street foods in the city and is served in some of the best street food places in Hyderabad. Made especially during the Ramadan festival, Phirni is also available throughout the year and is a must-try delicacy here.
It is made up of rice, milk and sugar and is an extravagant treat for your taste buds. It is both made and served in small clay pots giving it a unique earthen flavour altogether. We assure you, you won’t be able to stop at just one!
- Best Places to Try: Hotel Shah Ghouse, Grand Trunk Road
3. Hyderabadi Haleem
Hyderabad Haleem is a street food in Hyderabad which is found in a plethora of areas, each one being better than the other. Being immensely popular since the Nizam rule when it was first introduced in the city, this is an Arabic dish which boasts of traditional spices thereby giving it a local touch.
Lentils, pounded wheat and meat are together boiled to make the stew and then a thick paste which is a hot favourite amongst the locals during the holy month of Ramadan.
- Best Places to Try: Shah Gouse Café, Pista House and Hotel Shadab
4. Boti Kebab
These delectable and meaty kebabs are just what you need to turn a bad day into a great one. These kebabs are intensely marinated lamb pieces which are served on sticks and are a must-try for any meat lover.
- Best Places to Try: Bade Miya Kebab, Siddique Kebab Centre and Kebab-e-Bahar
5. Iranian Chai with Biscuits
This is a light coloured tea which consists ¾th parts of whole milk and 1/4th parts tea decoction and is in the face of a superb dessert in a cup. Served with some of the most buttery and melt-in-the-mouth biscuits, this Iranian Chai is a very popular Hyderabad street food.
- Best Places to Try: Alpha Café, Shah Gouse, Charminar Market and Paradise Café
6. Fruit Flavoured Ice Cream, Cassata and Falooda
Being a popular Indian dessert which boasts of vermicelli in milk and rose syrup, falooda is topped with sweet basil seeds and jelly pieces. To this, a scoop of ice-cream is added to make it a heavenly delight.
No matter how full you are after a scrumptious meal in the city of Hyderabad, you will always find some place for this dessert in your stomach!
- Best Places to Try: Bilal Ice Creams or Paradise Bakery
7. Qubani ka Meetha
Another one of the most sought-after Hyderabad famous street food is Qubani ka Meetha. People say that your trip to the city of Nizams is incomplete if you do not try this authentic dessert!
Dried apricots are used to make this sweet and are topped with almonds. Served with ice-cream or garnished with thick cream or malai, Qubani ka meetha will not allow you to stop at just one serving!
- Best Places to Try: Mozamjahi Market, Parivar Dhaba and Utsav in Secunderabad
8. Andhra Dosas
Simply head to any of the tiffin stalls which are spread throughout the city and order the dos of your choice – masala, paneer, cheese and much more – and take our word for it you are going to love it. Even if you have cooked dosas at home before, they will simply be no match for the ones served here.
One of the Hyderabad famous street food which is commonly served as breakfast in the state, these dosas are healthy and yummy at the same time. Also, do try the Pesarattu Dosa which is a nutritious variant made of moong dal and is served with mouth-watering ginger chutney.
- Best Places to Try: Pragati Gully, Lakshman ki Bandi in Begum Bazaar or Charminar Market
9. Mirchi ka Salan
As popular as the Hyderabadi Biryani, Mirchi ka Salan is a side dish which is served with this flavourful Biryani in the best street food places in Hyderabad. Made with its main ingredient which is long hot chillies, it also contains peanuts, coconut and sesame seeds and is quite spicy yet really tasty.
Some of the locals will advise you to eat this side dish with the main dish of Biryani to get the perfect taste of Hyderabadi cuisine.
- Best Places to Try: Hotel Nayaab, Hotel Shadab
10. Lukhmi
Lukhmi is a non-vegetarian variant of the age-old snack item in India, samosa. Being a unique Hyderabad street food which boasts of spices infused lamb meat minces which is quite tangy to eat.
The outer layer is crispy and fluffy while the inner layers contain the meat mix which is soft and delectable. Popularly served at all Hyderabadi weddings, it is a must-try when in the city.
- Best Places to Try: Azampura, Charminar Market and Hotel Madina
11. Chaats
Hyderabad street food is just incomplete without the variety of snacks that it serves from pan India. Be it the regular samosas, masala puri, hot Mirchi bajji, kachoris, missal pav or simply anything under the sun which will make a chaat lover fall in love with chaat all over again! Try out any of these items any time of the day and your day will be made.
- Best Places to Try: Sardaarji’s Chaat at Gachibowli, Gokul Chaat at Koti and Bikanerwala
12. Nihari
Nihari is a mouth-watering lamb stew which is an Eid speciality and is just going to leave your taste-buds asking for more. The marrow and the brain of the lamb are usually used when cooking Nihari.
Cooked overnight and even buried underground to allow the spices and flavours to seep deep into the meat, this is one dish which you simply cannot miss, especially if you are a meat lover!
- Best Places to Try: Hotel Shadab, Sindhi Colony and Charminar Market
13. Double ka Meetha
Popularly known as ‘Double Roti’, this is a dessert which speaks of flavours and spices which will blow your mind! Bread slices are first soaked in milk after which they are infused with cardamom and saffron.
The name ‘Double Roti’ has been given to it because the bread pieces swell up to double its actual size after being baked. You are sure to find this dessert almost anywhere and everywhere in Hyderabad.
- Best Places to Try: Lakshman ki Bandi, Hameedi Confectioners in Mozamjahi Market and Pragati Gully
14. Keema Samosa
This is the Hyderabadi version of the famous Indian snack which has a filling of mutton keema in it. Available at the best street food places in Hyderabad, Keema Samosa can be ordered just about anywhere in the city and is sure to be as tasty as ever.
- Best Places to Try: Madhapur Main Road and Golkonda Fort stalls
15. Chicken Shawarma
Chicken meat is stuck on an iron rod and then places over a heating mechanism which keeps roasting the chicken until it is tender enough to be eaten. Generally served with a roti, this is a Hyderabad street food in which vegetables and mayonnaise are also added in order to make it tasty.
Hyderabad is extremely famous for such shawarmas with several variants of the same being easily available everywhere in the city.
- Best Places to Try: Palamuru Grill, Sindhi Colony and Charminar Market
Hyderabad is one city which is just perfect for food lovers as it offers an array of dishes from India while also being home to some of the most delicious Mughal and Arabic dishes the nation has seen. Meat lovers are in for a complete treat as most of Hyderabad Street food delicacies boast of the choicest of meat, spices and flavour difficult to find anywhere else!
So, the next time you book your tickets to Hyderabad, you know exactly where to treat yourself and what to taste! Try to save a day or two extra just to ensure that you taste them all!
Already plunged into the best street food places in Hyderabad and think we missed out on any place? Loved the experience? Do let us know about it in the comments section given below! We would love to hear from you.
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