10 Best Street Food In Guwahati For A Culinary Adventure

The gateway of Northeast India, Guwahati, houses a vibrant street food scene that is very much assimilative of the city’s rich cultural identity. As Assam’s biggest city, street food in Guwahati merges traditional Assamese flavours with those from neighbouring regions. Streets come alive with an array of savoury snacks and sweet treats, displaying a culinary chart that underlines the rich heritage and creative gust of the city. From local delicacies to innovative fusion dishes, Guwahati offers a unique opportunity to dig into the flavours of the region.

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10 Best Street Food In Guwahati

Here are the 10 best street food in Guwahati which you should not miss to let your your taste buds enjoy:

1. Khar

Khar has a distinctive tangy flavour and is often served as a starter or side dish.

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Khar is a traditional Assamese dish that holds a special place in the list of best street food in Guwahati. This unique preparation is made using raw papaya, pulses, and khar (an alkaline solution extracted from burned banana peels). The dish has a distinctive tangy flavour and is often served as a starter or side dish. Khar’s origins trace to ancient Assamese cuisine, where it was valued for its digestive properties. The use of banana peel ash showcases the innovative cooking techniques to utilise local ingredients. Today, it’s a popular street food, offering a true taste of traditional Assamese flavours.

Best Location: Uzanbazar area
Timings: 11 AM – 7 PM
Price: ₹30 – ₹50 per serving

2. Tekeli Pitha

Tekeli Pitha, one of the best street foods in Guwahati, has a soft, spongy texture with a hint of sweetness.

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Tekeli Pitha is a famous street food in Guwahati, especially during winter months. These are rice cakes steamed in small earthen pots called “tekeli.” The batter, made from rice flour and jaggery, is poured into the pots and steamed until cooked, resulting in a soft, spongy texture with a hint of sweetness. Originally prepared during the Bihu festival, it has now become a popular year-round street food item. The transition of Tekeli Pitha from a household delicacy to a street food favourite symbolises the adaptation of home-cooked specialities to urban food culture.

Best Location: Fancy Bazar
Timings: 4 PM – 9 PM
Price: ₹20 – ₹30 per piece

3. Ghila Pitha

Ghila Pitha are golden, crunchy treats, often served with a side of spicy chutney or sweet jaggery syrup.

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Ghila Pitha is a crispy, deep-fried snack made from rice flour, shaped into intricate patterns. These golden, crunchy treats are often served with a side of spicy chutney or sweet jaggery syrup, offering a delightful contrast of textures and flavours. The art of making Ghila Pitha has been passed down through generations in Assamese families. Its popularity as a street food item grew in the mid-20th century as urbanisation brought traditional recipes to city streets. Today, it provides a perfect blend of traditional taste and modern convenience.

Best Location: Paltan Bazar
Timings: 3 PM – 8 PM
Price: ₹40 – ₹60 per plate

Suggested Read: Places To Visit Near Kamakhya Temple

4. Luchi And Aloo Dum

Luchi and aloo dum tops the list of the best street food in Guwahati, also eaten as breakfast.

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While not originally Assamese, Luchi (deep-fried flatbread) paired with Aloo Dum (spicy potato curry) has become one of the best veg street foods in Guwahati. The fluffy, golden luchis complement the rich, tangy potato curry perfectly, making it a favourite breakfast and snack option. This dish showcases the influence of Bengali cuisine on Guwahati’s street food scene, a result of historical migrations and cultural exchanges between Assam and West Bengal. This shows the ability of Guwahati’s street food culture to embrace and adapt cuisines from neighbouring regions.

Best Location: Chandmari area
Timings: 7 AM – 11 AM, 4 PM – 8 PM
Price: ₹30 – ₹50 per serving

5. Pani Pitha

Pani Pitha are rice flour dumplings with a soft, slightly chewy exterior and a sweet, coconut-like filling.

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Pani Pitha is a unique Assamese delicacy that’s gaining popularity as street food. These are rice flour dumplings filled with a mixture of grated coconut and jaggery, then boiled in water. The result is a soft, slightly chewy exterior with a sweet, coconut-like filling. Traditionally a homemade dish, Pani Pitha has found its way to the streets of Guwahati in recent years, offering a taste of authentic Assamese cuisine to locals and tourists. Its growing popularity reflects the increasing demand for traditional Assamese flavours in a convenient format.

Best Location: Ganeshguri market
Timings: 4 PM – 9 PM
Price: ₹20 – ₹30 per piece

Suggested Read: Places To Visit Near Assam

6. Jolpan

Jolpan is a quick and energy-boosting meal enjoyed by farmers, adopted and loved by tourists.

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Jolpan is a traditional Assamese snack platter that has been adapted for street food consumption. It typically includes items like Chira (flattened rice), muri (puffed rice), pitha (rice cakes), and doi (curd), often served with jaggery or milk. Jolpan has its roots in the agricultural tradition of Assam, where it was consumed as a quick, energy-boosting meal by farmers. Its transition to street food reflects the urbanisation of traditional dietary habits. Today, it’s a popular breakfast option that offers a variety of textures and flavours in one serving.

Best Location: Uzan Bazar ghat area
Timings: 6 AM – 10 AM
Price: ₹50 – ₹80 per platter

7. Khorika

One of the delicious street foods in Guwahati, Khorika has marinated pieces of meat.

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You can find Khorika at the best street food places in Guwahati especially during winter. It consists of small pieces of meat (usually chicken or pork) marinated in spices and grilled on skewers over an open flame. The result is a smoky, flavourful dish that’s often enjoyed as an evening snack. The tradition of grilling meat on skewers has been part of Assamese cuisine for centuries, with influences from tribal cooking methods. Its popularity as street food grew in the late 20th century with the rise of urban food culture.

Best Location: Lokhra area
Timings: 5 PM – 10 PM
Price: ₹80 – ₹120 per serving

Suggested Read: Nambor Doigrung Wildlife Sanctuary

8. Bilahi Maas Aru Bhaat

You can enjoy Bilahi Maas Aru Bhaat as roasted tomatoes served with mashed fish and rice.

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This flavourful dish consists of roasted tomatoes (bilahi) served with mashed fish (maas) and rice (bhaat). The tangy tomatoes complement the savoury fish perfectly, creating a balanced and satisfying meal. Bilahi Maas Aru Bhaat represents the essence of Assamese cuisine – simple, nutritious, and flavorful. Its popularity as street food grew from the need for quick, affordable meals for the working class in urban areas. This dish showcases how traditional Assamese home-cooked meals have been adapted as one of the best non veg street foods in Guwahati.

Best Location: Machkhowa area
Timings: 11 AM – 3 PM
Price: ₹60 – ₹80 per plate

9. Banh Mi

Banh Mi, one of the best street foods in Guwahati, consists of a crusty baguette filled with meat.

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While not traditionally Assamese, Banh Mi has found a special place in Guwahati’s street food scene. This Vietnamese sandwich, adapted to local tastes, usually consists of a crusty baguette filled with meat (often pork), pickled vegetables, and spicy sauces. The presence of Banh Mi in Guwahati is a testament to the city’s evolving food culture and openness to international influences. It was introduced in the early 2000s and has since become a popular fusion street food item. Banh Mi represents the globalisation of Guwahati’s street food with a taste of international cuisine with local adaptations.

Best Location: GS Road
Timings: 11 AM – 9 PM
Price: ₹70 – ₹100 per sandwich

Suggested Read: Pani Dihing Wildlife Sanctuary

10. Gahori Khorika

Gahori Khorika is smoky, spicy, and an incredibly flavorful dish, favourite among meat lovers.

Photo: Franklin Rainier / Wikimedia Commons

Gahori Khorika is a popular pork dish in Guwahati’s street food scene. Chunks of pork are marinated in a blend of local spices, skewered, and grilled over charcoal. The result is a smoky, spicy, and incredibly flavorful dish that’s a favourite among meat lovers. Pork has long been a staple in many tribal cuisines of Northeast India. The adaptation of tribal cooking methods to create Gahori Khorika as street food represents the blending of various culinary traditions in urban Guwahati. It’s a prime example of how tribal cuisines have influenced and enriched the city’s street food culture.

Best Location: Beltola area
Timings: 4 PM – 10 PM
Price: ₹100 – ₹150 per serving

The street food in Guwahati is a vibrant reflection of Assam’s rich culinary heritage and its openness to diverse influences. From beloved local snacks to innovative fusion creations, the city’s streets offer a tantalising adventure for food lovers. Let TripXL guide you through Guwahati’s best street food spots. Book your food tour today and savour the authentic flavours of Assam’s largest city.

Cover Photo: Saurav007 / Shutterstock

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some vegetarian street food options in Guwahati?

Guwahati offers several vegetarian street food options. Some popular choices include Tekeli Pitha, Ghila Pitha, Luchi and Aloo Dum, Pani Pitha, and vegetarian versions of Jolpan.

Where can I find the best ethnic Assamese street food in Guwahati?

For authentic Assamese street food, explore areas like Uzanbazar, Fancy Bazar, and Paltan Bazar. These localities often have vendors selling traditional items like Khar, various types of Pitha, and Jolpan.

Can I find traditional Assamese street food in Guwahati?

Yes, you can find traditional Assamese snacks like pitha, narikol pitha, and jolpan at various street stalls.

What is the best time to explore street food in Guwahati?

The street food scene in Guwahati is active throughout the day, but it's particularly vibrant in the evenings, from around 4 PM to 10 PM. For breakfast items like Jolpan, early morning is the best time.

Are there any food festivals in Guwahati celebrating street food?

Yes, Guwahati hosts several food festivals throughout the year. The Rongali Festival, typically held in April, often features a wide array of traditional Assamese street food. Additionally, during Bihu celebrations, you can find special street food stalls set up across the city.

10 Best Street Food In Guwahati To Let Your Taste Buds Savour