Amidst the majestic architecture of Lucknow’s historic monuments and its literary legacy, lies another facet of its rich and diverse cultural heritage – an unmatchable Lucknow cuisine. Lucknowi dishes take you on a journey out of this world, with each bite filled with a unique blend of ingredients, leaving you craving for more.
Lucknow cuisine is heavily influenced by the Mughals, Persians, and Awadhis. Their age-old techniques and flavours are relished not only by Lucknowites, but all over the world, to this date.
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Lucknow cuisine: Kebabs
Kebabs have become synonymous with Lucknow’s cuisine, be it the delicious Galawati Kebab, melt in your mouth Shami Kebab or the flavourful Seekh Kebabs. These are just the tip of the iceberg- Lucknow offers unending varieties of this dish, including Kakori Kebabs, Boti Kebabs, Patili-ke-Kebabs and Ghutwa Kebabs. These delicacies are made with love and the fusion of rich spices, and are savoured by all.
Read more on where to get the best tasting kebabs in Lucknow
Lucknow cuisine: Biryani
Lucknow’s biryanis taste like a burst of flavour in your mouth. Its fragrant aroma lures people to keep coming for more. Its specialty lies in the technique of using Dum style to cook the gravy and rice over a slow flame, while sealed in a handi. The tender meat cooked to perfection, with a unique blend of ingredients ranging from cumin seeds and star anise to rose and kewra water, makes Lucknow’s biryanis unmatched to anywhere in the world. Whether you prefer chicken, mutton, or vegetarian, there’s an option for everyone in this city of nawabs.
Find out the top places to have biryani in Lucknow
Lucknow Street food and chaat
Want to experience the food as a local? Take a stroll through the city streets and let the wafting aromas guide you to the lively street food shops. Lucknow offers a wide assortment of chaats and snacks including aloo tikki, matar chaat, pani puri, and the famous basket chaat. Watching the vendors in front of you skillfully mix spices and ingredients together to prepare your dish adds to a next-level experience.
Read more about Lucknow’s scrumptious street food
Sweets from Lucknow cuisine
No meal is complete with a sweet touch, and Lucknow cuisine is no exception. Sweet dishes including, but not limited to shahi tukda, malai gilori, kulfi falooda, makhan malai and revdi are commonly served, making it a haven for anyone with a sweet tooth. These rich and creamy decadent desserts make for a satisfying end to one’s meal.
In Lucknow, food isn’t just a meal—it’s an experience. Plan your next trip here to treat your tastebuds and experience the delightful flavours of Lucknowi cuisine firsthand.
Authored by: Rida Farooqui | Photos by: Qais Mujeeb
Rida Farooqui is a Grade 12 student interning at Lucknow Pulse. She strives to use her passion for storytelling to craft stories that will inspire and touch the heart of Lucknow Pulse readers.
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