Benaras Food Notes: Kachori, Jalebi, Chai and Thandai

Benaras, also called Varanasi or Kashi, was one of those places where food, faith and street life all blended together. This post focuses mainly on the vegetarian food memories from the trip.

Street view from Benaras travel diary — Benaras felt full of food, lanes, temples and everyday movement.

Quick summary

Place: Benaras / Varanasi
Food memories: kachori sabzi, jalebi, chai, baati chokha, chole chawal and thandai
Good for: vegetarian street food and old-city food walks
Vegetarian notes: many of the food stops in this diary were vegetarian-friendly
Vegan notes: check carefully because ghee, curd, milk and cream are common
Family notes: the lanes can be busy, so this is better as a slow food walk rather than a rushed plan

Kachori, sabzi and jalebi

The breakfast memory that stands out most is kachori sabzi with hot jalebi. In Benaras, the kachori felt closer to a puri-style breakfast, with sabzi on the side and fresh jalebi to finish.

Kachori sabzi breakfast in Benaras — Kachori sabzi breakfast from the Benaras food walk.

Fresh jalebi being made in Benaras — Fresh jalebi being made hot.

Chai in a kulhad

Another simple memory was chai served in an earthen cup. The flavour of tea in a kulhad always feels different, especially when you are walking through an old city.

Chai stall in Benaras — A small chai stop during the Benaras walk.

Baati chokha and simple local meals

We also tried baati chokha, served in a simple setting. The chokha had potatoes, brinjal and tomatoes with mustard oil and spices. It was rustic, filling and very different from restaurant-style food.

Baati chokha in Benaras — Baati chokha from the Benaras food trail.

Another stop was chole chawal, a simple chickpea curry with rice. These are the kind of meals that make an old city food walk feel practical as well as memorable.

Chole chawal in Benaras — Chole chawal from the trip.

Thandai note

Benaras is also known for thandai. The version from this trip was rich, creamy and full of dry fruit flavour. For vegan travellers, this is usually not suitable unless a shop specifically offers a dairy-free version.

Thandai shop in Benaras — A thandai stop near the temple lanes.

Vegetarian and vegan notes

Benaras is a strong city for vegetarian food memories. Kachori, sabzi, jalebi, baati chokha, chole chawal and chai were all easy vegetarian options from this trip.

Vegan travellers should ask clearly about ghee, curd, milk, cream and butter. Many dishes that look plant-based may still include dairy or ghee.

Related recipes

For full vegetarian recipes, visit SecondRecipe. This Benaras food diary pairs well with simple chole, jalebi, Indian breakfast and street-food style recipe ideas.

Final note

This Benaras post is a personal food memory from the trip — kachori, jalebi, chai, baati chokha and thandai stayed with me the most.