What to eat in Haridwar: famous food and where to find it

Haridwar special: what the town is known for

• Kachori with aloo sabzi: the classic Haridwar breakfast, sold hot from early morning in the lanes near Har Ki Pauri
• Puri with aloo or kaddu (pumpkin) sabzi: what most families eat after the morning snan
• Chole bhature: for a bigger late breakfast or lunch
• Jalebi: fried fresh in the mornings, often eaten with kachori
• Lassi and rabri: thick, served in kulhads, best in the afternoon heat
• Kulfi and chaat: evening snacks around Moti Bazaar after the Ganga Aarti

Where to find it

The small shops in Moti Bazaar and Bara Bazaar, close to Har Ki Pauri, are where most of the kachori, jalebi and lassi is sold. Go in the morning when everything is fresh. These are mostly stand-and-eat counters, so they work best for a quick bite.

Many of the older shops near the ghats cook without onion and garlic. If that matters to you, ask before you order, it is a normal question here.

A full sit-down meal

For a proper meal with the family, with a table, a fan and a menu to choose from, people look for a restaurant on the way between the station and Har Ki Pauri. That is where we are.

At Chotiwala, since 1968, the dishes people order most are the Fixed Veg Thali, chole bhature, paneer curries with naan, masala dosa, and a glass of lassi to finish. Everything on our menu is pure vegetarian.

Eating on a temple day

• Keep it light before the ropeway temples and the Ganga snan, a heavy meal and a long queue do not go well together
• Have your main meal after darshan, around lunch
• In summer, drink lassi, chaach or nimbu pani through the day
• On big snan days, shops near the ghats get very crowded, eat a little away from Har Ki Pauri

Questions people ask

What is the famous food of Haridwar?

Kachori with aloo sabzi and jalebi for breakfast, puri sabzi after the morning snan, and lassi or rabri in the afternoon. For a full meal, a veg thali or chole bhature.

Is non-veg food available in Haridwar?

Not in the main pilgrimage area. Meat and alcohol are not sold around Har Ki Pauri and the old town, so the food you find there is vegetarian.

Where can I eat a pure veg meal near Har Ki Pauri?

Chotiwala Restaurant is at Lalita Rao Pul near Shiv Murti, 19 minutes' walk from Har Ki Pauri and 10 minutes from the railway station. It has been serving pure vegetarian food since 1968.