Craving chaat like hell during the lockdown? Let us take you on another culinary tour of Lucknow that promises some chatpata entertainment as we explore the best chaat in Lucknow! Before we begin, make sure to follow us on Instagram at My Yellow Plate.
So, you probably know that Lucknow is famous for its Nawabi fare including kebabs, parathas and biryani. However, that’s not all that the city has to offer. The city loves its spices and nowhere else is this combination of flavours more evident than in the city’s iconic chaat. The taste in the food here doesn’t just come from the recipes, it comes from a culture that loves to eat and loves to feed.
So, if you are a big fan of chaat with all its various combinations and components then Lakhnawi Chaat will have you drooling with its flavoursome offerings and the perfect balance of sweet, spicy and tangy flavours. The chaat is rich, piquant and topped with a generous sprinkle of masala, julienned ginger or fried potato strings, chopped coriander and freshly-squeezed lime juice.
So, without any more delay, here are the 7 legendary places that serve the best chaat in Lucknow:
7. Shri Kalika Chaat House
An old chaat shop in Aminabad, Shri Kalika Chaat House is a tiny shop that is currently being run by fourth-generation owners. They are famous for their papdi chaat and tiny, crispy pani batashe served with spicy, tangy water.
Their matar ki tikki is extra-crispy and just another reason why their food is counted among the best chaat in Lucknow.
Where: Fruit Wali Lane, Aminabad Chowk, Nazirabad Crossing, Khayali Ganj, Lucknow,
6. Pandit Chaat Corner
Pandit Chaat Corner serves some of the city’s best papdi chaat and aloo ki tikki with a twist. The potatoes are smashed and fried instead of being cooked as tikkis and offer an exciting twist on the traditional aloo chaat.
Their matar ki chaat and pani ke batashe are equally good and a must-try for all chaat-lovers.
Where: Pandit Chat Corner, Gurudwara Road, Naka Charbagh, Lucknow.
5. Pandit Ramnarayan Tiwari Chaat Wala
This old chaat shop in Ganeshganj is like treasure island for chaat lovers and serves the best chaat in Lucknow. You get to enjoy your favourite pani ke batashe in 5 different flavours. While there are the traditional sweet, spicy and sours varieties, the hing ka pani here is a novelty you won’t find elsewhere.
The batashas are further filled with spiced mashed potatoes and boiled chickpeas that take them a step further.
We also recommend trying the dahi bade and palki for an authentic taste of Lucknow.
Where: Pt. Ramnarayan Tiwari Chaat Wala, Ganeshganj, Lucknow.
4. King of Chaat
Another chaat shop with a long history, King of Chaat is another place that deserves its own spot among the legends of street food.
Crispy aloo tikkis swaddled in fresh yoghurt, delicious chutney and pani batashe or golgappas filled with spicy water are some of the things you should try here. They are also known for their papdi chaat that is piled high with delicious accompaniments.
As the name indicates they are truly the kings of great taste and serve some of the best chaat in Hazratganj, Lucknow. When you visit them, don’t forget to order a plate of their soft dahi badas either!
Where: Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Hazratganj, Lucknow.
3. Jain Chaat Bhandar
Another beloved spot for the best chaat in Lucknow is Jain Chaat. Everything here sells out by 9 p.m. and we’re not surprised as the chaat here is truly delicious. The aloo tikki here is extra crisp and served piping hot with fresh yoghurt, chutney, herbs and spices.
The pani puri or pani ke batashe are also highly recommended and they are also famous for their great dahi-batashe that are served with sweet tamarind chutney.
Where: Jain Chaat, Lalbagh Chowk, Near Novelty Cinema
2. Shukla Chaat House
A hotspot for all chaat lovers, Shukla Ki Chaat is literally the chat hotspot in the city. Everything is cooked in pure, desi ghee and you can taste it in their chaat.
Apart from their delicious and crispy aloo tikki, dahi-batashe and of course pani batashe, they also serve matar tikkis, a speciality of Lucknow. The matar or white peas are boiled, mashed and shaped into a round tikki and fried before being topped with yoghurt, tamarind-jaggery chutney and a generous sprinkling of special masala.
However, that’s not all! Shukla Ki Chaat also has delicious
papdi chaat and palki, i.e., batter-fried palak leaves topped with yoghurt, chutney and spices. Another dish you will find here is tokri chaat a smaller version of basket chaat, but equally delicious and definitely worth trying if you're looking for the best chaat in Lucknow.
Where: Shahnajaf Road, Church Building, Hazratganj, Lucknow.
1. Royal Cafe Ki Basket Chaat
You must have seen stories bout celebrities visiting Lucknow and trying a larger-than-life basket overflowing with a delicious menagerie of treats.
A culinary masterpiece that embodies Epicurean philosophy at its best, the basket chaat has been a perennial favourite through the decades. Enjoyed by celebrities and localities alike, this monster chaat is with an edible basket made of deep-fried potato strings filled up the brim with crispy fried tikkis that are topped with yoghurt, sweet chutney, and boiled potatoes and garnished with fried toppings and pomegranate seeds.
Their regular chaat is worth trying too, the pani puri or pani ke batashe as they are called in U.P., are crispy and the water hits just the right spot between tangy and spicy. Certainly, the best chaat in Lucknow.
Where: Royal Cafe, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Sushanpura, Hazratganj, Lucknow.
Honorary Mentions: Chappan Bhog, Sadar, Lucknow.
Radheylal Parampara, Chowk, Lucknow.
So, which place serves the best chaat in Lucknow? Tell us in the comments section below or inbox me on Instagram at My Yellow Plate.