Taste Atlas’ 2024/25 awards have placed six Indian cities among the world’s top 100 food destinations, showcasing the country’s rich culinary diversity. Mumbai, known for its vibrant street food scene and local delicacies like vada pav, pav bhaji, and chaats, secured the 5th spot. Amritsar, ranked 43rd, is celebrated for its hearty Punjabi dishes such as butter chicken, sarson ka saag, and makki di roti. New Delhi (45th) and Hyderabad (50th) are famous for their diverse street food offerings—think kebabs, chaats, biryanis, and samosas. Kolkata (71st) is renowned for its sweets like rasgulla and mishti doi, while Chennai (75th) is known for its south Indian specialties like dosa, idli, and sambar.
These rankings highlight India’s culinary richness, blending traditional flavors with modern tastes. Mumbai’s food scene is particularly iconic with its bustling streets filled with stalls offering everything from crispy dosas and spicy pavs to tangy chaats. Amritsar’s food, deeply rooted in the Punjabi culture, is a testament to hearty and flavorful cooking, epitomized by dishes like dal makhani and kulcha. Delhi and Hyderabad, meanwhile, offer a mouth-watering mix of Mughlai and Hyderabadi cuisine, each a delightful exploration of spices and textures. Kolkata enchants with its sweets and seafood, reflecting the city’s cultural diversity and colonial history. Chennai’s food, with its emphasis on rice-based dishes and aromatic spices, offers a taste of South India’s rich culinary heritage.