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7 min
19/11/2025
Not only is Indore the business centre of Madhya Pradesh, but it is also a street food lover's delight. This lively city street stays active until the early hours of the morning, serving everything from fluffy poha to tangy chaat that keeps the city buzzing. Now is the perfect time to make the most of your trip to Indore, and if you already live here, this guide might reveal some new food spots for you.
Indore, located in the heart of Madhya Pradesh, is a city that offers much more than just cleanliness. As exciting as it sounds, the city is best known for its cuisine, especially its almost-healthy yet delicious street food. Nowhere else is the city’s culinary soul more alive than in its two famed food hubs, Chappan Dukan, the daytime snack haven, and Sarafa Bazaar, the unmatched late-night market.
This is a city where every corner shop and street vendor has perfected a regional speciality or created a dish worth craving. Be it poha, dahi vada, or garadu, the simple and unpretentious flavours of Central India can be found on the streets of Indore.
Let’s talk about the basics first. A morning in Indore is not complete without the combination of poha and jalebi. With a hint of spiciness, flattened rice is mixed with curry leaves, mustard seeds, and turmeric. They add jeeravan masala, a spicy-tangy mixture, to their poha that is almost too good to resist.
To get the best poha in Indore, look for street sellers who pile on the sev (crispy fried chickpea noodles), chopped onion, and jeeravan masala. A side of jalebi, a deep-fried sweet drenched in syrup, is a common accompaniment, making for a famous sweet-and-savoury combo that kicks off the Indori day.
Chappan Dukan typically stays open from morning until late evening. This famous stretch, which translates to “56 Shops”, offers a carefully selected assortment of Indore's favourite foods, including savoury kachoris, luscious shakes, spicy chaats and sweets. From dawn to dusk, it's tidy, well-organised, and full of life. Visit Vijay Chaat House for the world-famous dahi puri, Madhuram Sweets for the soft-as-a-melon mawa bati, and Johnny Hot Dog, a beloved spot for veggie and egg burgers with a desi spin.
Chappan stands out because of the way it combines modernity and cleanliness with the charm of street cuisine. Those on the Indore taste trail, whether they're hardcore foodies or not, will love this spot.
Sarafa Bazaar, a street in Indore that changes into something completely new and beautiful each night, is the city's gastronomic crown gem. During the day, Sarafa is a peaceful, old-fashioned bazaar where local jewellers deal in precious metals. However, as soon as the shutters are down at about 8 PM, the street lights up, and merchants selling food take over, creating a magnificent night market that stays up until 2 AM or later.
This duality is what sets Sarafa apart; the jewellers have such faith in the market's regulars that they let the food sellers set up shop without providing costly security, and vice versa.
Here are some dishes at Sarafa Bazaar that you must not miss:
Garadu: The deep-fried yam dish known as 'garadu' is a wintertime staple; it's crunchy, spicy, and accompanied with a touch of lemon.
Bhutte ka Kees: Sweet and savoury, this dish is made with mildly spiced grated corn boiled in milk and garnished with lemon and coriander.
Sabudana Khichdi: This street food staple, originally enjoyed during fasting, consists of tapioca pearls mixed with peanuts, potatoes and green chillies.
Khopra Patties: Served with sour chutneys, these potato balls are filled with sweet coconut and cooked till golden.
Dahi Vada: Although it is well-liked all throughout India, the Sarafa rendition is really special. A generous amount of bhujia and spices is sprinkled on top of the fluffy lentil fritters (bada), which are soaked in thick and creamy yoghurt (dahi). On top of that, there are sweet tamarind and mint chutneys that add sweet, tangy, and spicy flavours.
If you're planning your first visit to Sarafa Bazaar, the market starts to bustle around 9 PM and stays lively well past midnight. A perfect tip is to go hungry — with so much variety, you’ll want to taste everything. Wear comfortable shoes, as you'll be walking, standing, and weaving through crowds, and carry cash since most vendors prefer it over digital payments. To avoid slipping into a food coma too soon, share plates with your companions so you can sample more dishes.
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