Situated in the Kheda district of Gujarat, Nadiad is popularly referred to as a temple town as it’s the site of several intricate and beautiful houses of worship. The culture of Nadiad is further enriched by its impressive culinary offerings. From mouthwatering street foods like dabeli to savoury farsans like khaman dhokla and khandvi to mouth-melting desserts, such as shrikhand, the food scene of Nadiad is composed of the best that Gujarat has to offer.
To indulge in different flavours of dabeli available in Nadiad, such as cheese dabeli and butter dabeli, drop by the local establishment Karnavati Dabeli. Like other major cities of Gujarat, Nadiad is also renowned for its grand Gujarati thali. This thali, which will be explored in detail below, represents the culinary abundance of the state of Gujarat on a plate, making it an absolute must-try. As Nadiad is mostly settled by Hindu communities, its specialties are predominantly vegetarian.
Take a look at the top 7 culinary gems of Nadiad.
Methi Na Gota
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Methi na gota is a beloved street food snack of Gujarat. Crafted from ingredients, such as besan, black pepper, coriander seeds, fenugreek, salt, and eno, these bite-sized fritters are deep-fried. These delicacies are treasured for their complex texture, which is crispy on the outside whilst being tender and fluffy on the inside. Some traditional recipes also incorporate banana. These fritters are usually served with a tangy chutney, and enjoyed with evening tea.
Recommendations: Saurashtra Gathiya & Bhajiya
Type: Vegetarian
Cost For Two: ₹200, approx.
Dabeli
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Although dabeli originated in the Kutch region of Gujarat, this mouthwatering street food is beloved throughout the state. Popularly considered the Gujarati version of Mumbai’s famous vada pav, the dish is prepared by stuffing soft bread rolls called “pavs” with a spiced potato mixture. The mixture is tossed in flavourful sweet chutney as well as garlic chuntey, and garnished with peanuts, onions, pomegranate pearls, and sev to give the dish a crunchy texture.
Recommendations: Karnavati Dabeli
Type: Vegetarian
Cost For Two: ₹150, approx.
Khaman Dhokla
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Khaman dhokla is a vibrant yellow “farsan” or snack food from Gujarat. This soft and fluffy, melt-in-the-mouth delicacy is prepared from chickpea flour or besan. The flour is infused with herbs and spices, such as turmeric powder, ginger paste, green chilli paste, and hing. Subsequently, the batter is steamed to give rise to the savoury cakes known as khaman dhokla. This dish is usually garnished with sesame seeds and grated coconut, and is served with a spicy green chutney.
Recommendations: Jay Yogeswar Khaman House
Type: Vegetarian
Cost For Two: ₹150, approx.
Gujarati Thali
The ornate Gujarati thali represents the diverse foods and flavours of Gujarat on a single plate. Traditional Gujarati thalis provide a wholesome meal to consumers, typically comprising local specialties, such as multiple fresh vegetables dishes, a dry dal, a wet dal, and some sort of moong dish. Side dishes, including rice, rotis, crunchy papad, farsan snacks, and sweets, such as shrikhand or a mithai also feature prominently in most Gujarati thalis.
Recommendations: Vangi Dining Hall
Type: Vegetarian
Cost For Two: ₹200–₹400, approx.
Nadiadi Bhusu
A quintessential creation of Nadiad, Nadiadi bhusu is a savoury snack item composed of a staggering ten different forms of munchies. A type of “chavanu,” Nadiadi bhusu is made up of sev, tam tam, bundi, fulwadi, chevdo, moong, chutney chevdo, gathiya, chana dal, and more. The crispy and flavourful delicacy, akin to trail mix served in western countries, forms a light and an invigorating evening snack. The dish has also received significant international acclaim.
Recommendations: Navinchandra Somabhai Bhavsar
Type: Vegetarian
Cost For Two: ₹150, approx.
Fafda-Jalebi
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Fafda-jalebi is an enticing Gujarati specialty that comprises two main components: a crunchy deep-fried snack made from gram flour called “fafda” and a delightfully sweet and syrupy dessert item called jalebi. Many local Gujarati establishments serve these delicacies together because of their contrasting tastes and texture, which help balance each other. This dish is commonly relished as breakfast among Gujarati families. This dish is also a fixture during festivals like Diwali.
Recommendations: Bhavnagri Farsan Mart
Type: Vegetarian
Cost For Two: ₹70, approx.
Shrikhand
Shrikhand is a dense and creamy sweet dish made primarily from strained yoghurt. Other ingredients that go into preparing the dessert include sugar, and spices, such as cardamom powder and saffron. The velvety concoction is typically garnished with crushed nuts, including pistachios, almonds, and cashews which give the dish much-needed crunch and bite. Shrikhand is usually served with Gujarati thalis, and can also be relished as a standalone dessert item.
Recommendations: Aadarsh Dairy
Type: Vegetarian
Cost For Two: ₹350, approx.
