Ranchi city in Jharkhand is a good mixture of ancient tradition and modern ways of doing things, just like its culinary practices. Local cuisines portray the diverse tribal culture and rich agriculture within this area. With a list of the best food in Ranchi, the city offers everything from wholesome traditional meals to lively fast foods, which makes it a foodies’ heaven on earth. If you are a real gastronome, there are some cuisines that are a must-have whenever you visit this place to make your journey even more delightful.
10 Best Food In Ranchi
Here is a list of the best food in Ranchi that you must explore to make your journey a delightful one.
1. Litti Chokha
Photo: Harshit Sharma / Wikimedia Commons
No trip to Ranchi is complete without trying the litti chokha. This is a classic dish made of round balls of wheat stuffed with roasted gram flour, which is known as sattu. Usually, the littis are cooked on a charcoal fire and have a smoky taste with crispy covers. For the sake of serving them, they are accompanied by chokha, which comes from mashed eggplant that has been mixed with garlic, tomatoes and some spices. The delectable combination of earthy flavours makes it a must-try famous food in Ranchi.
Best Place To Eat: Baba Litti, Bhola Dhuska Dukaan
2. Dhuska
Photo: Rashid Jorvee / Wikimedia Commons
In Ranchi, another legendary dish that one ought to order is dhuska, a crispy rice flour pancake loved by all inhabitants. Rice flour, water and salt make the batter that is flattened into small thin discs before being deep-fried to achieve the golden brown colour. At times, dhuska is accompanied by spicy chutneys like tomato or garlic chutney which make it taste even better because of its crunchiness.
Best Place To Eat: Bhola Dhuska Dukaan
3. Pittha
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Pittha is a kind of dumpling that is very common in Ranchi. It is made out of rice flour and filled with assorted lentils, spices and herbs. The dumplings are then steamed in banana leaves, where they obtain an imperceptible flavour and smell scent into the dish. Most of the time, it is served as a snack or side dish, although pittha is one of the in-demand meals during festivals or other forms of celebration. Easily available at local street shops, it is, undoubtedly, worthy of adding to the list of best street food in Ranchi.
Best Place To Eat: Anand Bhavan or at local street shops
4. Malpua
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A sweet delicacy is a must for anyone visiting Ranchi; and malpua is an excellent treat to bring your culinary odyssey to an end. This delicious pancake is made from batter containing flour, milk and sugar that is deep-fried till it becomes brownish-yellow. The malpuas are then soaked in sugar syrup flavoured with cardamom and saffron. It is often associated with different celebrations where it is served along with other sweet dishes like rabri.
Best Place To Eat: Kaveri Restaurant or at sweet shops
5. Thekua
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Thekua is an essential treat served to the gods at the Chhath festival, an important yearly observance celebrated in Ranchi. The recipe consists of a wheat dough, mixed with jaggery and flavoured with spices before being deep-fried until crispy. To signify wealth and well-being, these pieces are garnished with sesame seeds. They are very sought-after presents during this season of fun that is characterised by joyfulness for all generations ranging from babies to the elderly.
Best Place To Eat: Taj Hotel
6. Samosa
Photo: Mustafa Fatemi / Unsplash
Ranchi’s favourite snack is Samosas; they are filled with slightly spiced potatoes and peas which are then deep-fried till they become perfect in taste and texture. People usually serve them along with mint chutney and tamarind sauce, thus making them suitable for the time as brief snacks were taken out. Samosas have gained great popularity due to their crunchy outer crust that goes together perfectly with their mouth-watering stuffing. It is, undoubtedly, a must to add to your list of street food in Ranchi.
Best Place To Eat: Among street vendors, Nanak Dhaba
7. Pakoras
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Pakoras, also referred to as fritters, are prepared from several vegetables which are then dipped in a spiced gram flour batter and fried until crispy. Often enjoyed with a cup of tea during the rainy season, these snacks are deliciously crunchy. The appeal of pakoras is enhanced by the variety of vegetables used to make them like potatoes, onions or spinach.
Best Place To Eat: Street stalls, Vyanjan Restaurant
8. Momos
Photo: Kushal Goyal / Wikipedia
Momos, a kind of dumplings whose origin is grounded on Tibetan food, have risen to remarkable fame in Ranchi. These dumplings come with fillings of vegetables or meat; they can either be steam-cooked or deep-fried. It is not very surprising that momos are sought-after by most of the young people in town since they are served alongside a spicy dipping condiment.
Best Place To Eat: Momo Junction, Tibetan Kitchen
9. Handi Gosht
Photo: Prabal Pratap Singh / Pexels
Handi Gosht is a traditional mutton delicacy made in an earthen pot over a slow flame. This dish is uniquely spiced and slow-cooked; it is an absolute treat for all hardcore meat fans out there. When prepared this way, there’s no doubt that all the flavours come alive resulting in a rich savoury aroma-filled fare.
Best Place To Eat: Ajam Emba
10. Chicken Lababdar
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The Chicken Lababdar is an Indian cuisine consisting of chicken cooked in a mix of flavorful spices and sauce that has tomato as its base ingredient. This dish may be served with naan (Indian flatbread) or rice, which makes it quite heavy when eaten. It’s a blend of rich creaminess and smell-inducing spices, which makes it a must-try non veg food in Ranchi.
Best Place To Eat: Angithi
Ranchi offers a beautiful fusion of traditional and contemporary tastes that there are so many options to choose from. Each dish serves as a reflection of these different tastes. Regardless of whether you are a local or a tourist visiting this place, exploring the best food in Ranchi should be among your list of to-do activities as it makes you understand more about the city’s culture and its people. So, if you want to hop on a gastronomic journey, connect with TripXL now.
Cover Photo: Kabir Cheema / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only