To continue with the series of food/travel posts from my recent big fat vacation… I had been eating my way around Kumaon and Amritsar and in my earlier post I had written about some of the traditional
Kumaoni dishes. So this one is dedicated to Amritsar… And do I have
a lot to share! In fact, I’m splitting this post into two. I was in Amritsar
for three days and quite frankly that’s not enough to do justice to the wide
variety of food available there. I will have to make another trip, in the
interest of this blog!
Kumaoni dishes. So this one is dedicated to Amritsar… And do I have
a lot to share! In fact, I’m splitting this post into two. I was in Amritsar
for three days and quite frankly that’s not enough to do justice to the wide
variety of food available there. I will have to make another trip, in the
interest of this blog!
 |
| At Kesar da Dhaba |
We had travelled from Nainital to Kathgodam to Delhi to Amritsar
and most of the journey was by train. So we were exhausted by the time we
reached, which was around lunch time. We decided to have our first lunch at
Crystal Restaurant on Queens Road, which was at a walking distance from our
hotel. The restaurant is quite highly rated on TripAdvisor and we went with
high expectations – and everything we ordered met or exceeded them, except the lassi. Our first lassi in Amritsar and it was a resounding failure. However, their Murg Tawa Frontier is delicious and so
is the Kheema Naan (naan stuffed with mince). The black Daal (called maa ki daal
or mom’s daal, a Punjabi
specialty) and Paneer
Tikka that we ordered were also very good. Overall, recommended – but steer
clear of the lassi!
and most of the journey was by train. So we were exhausted by the time we
reached, which was around lunch time. We decided to have our first lunch at
Crystal Restaurant on Queens Road, which was at a walking distance from our
hotel. The restaurant is quite highly rated on TripAdvisor and we went with
high expectations – and everything we ordered met or exceeded them, except the lassi. Our first lassi in Amritsar and it was a resounding failure. However, their Murg Tawa Frontier is delicious and so
is the Kheema Naan (naan stuffed with mince). The black Daal (called maa ki daal
or mom’s daal, a Punjabi
specialty) and Paneer
Tikka that we ordered were also very good. Overall, recommended – but steer
clear of the lassi!
 |
| Murg Tawa Frontier |
 |
| Kheema Naan |
 |
| Black Daal |
After lunch, we headed to the Golden Temple, the beauty of which
is to be seen to be believed. I won’t go into that now and just stick to the ‘food
trail’! Since we had had a late lunch, we decided to go for a light dinner and
ended up outside one of the most recommended dhabas in Amritsar – Bharawan da Dhaba (near the Town
Hall). First up, I was disappointed that it didn’t look like a dhaba at all. Just another crowded
restaurant… We ordered paranthas,
black daal, jeera rice and lassi to
go. Er, did I say light dinner?! Anyway, the food was good (the daal was excellent), but I wouldn’t rave
about it. The lassi was a definite
improvement over the one we had for lunch, so plus points for Bharawan!
is to be seen to be believed. I won’t go into that now and just stick to the ‘food
trail’! Since we had had a late lunch, we decided to go for a light dinner and
ended up outside one of the most recommended dhabas in Amritsar – Bharawan da Dhaba (near the Town
Hall). First up, I was disappointed that it didn’t look like a dhaba at all. Just another crowded
restaurant… We ordered paranthas,
black daal, jeera rice and lassi to
go. Er, did I say light dinner?! Anyway, the food was good (the daal was excellent), but I wouldn’t rave
about it. The lassi was a definite
improvement over the one we had for lunch, so plus points for Bharawan!
The next day was Sunday and we absolutely had to recover from our
sleep-deprived state. So we woke up late and then headed out to lunch to
another recommended dhaba – Kesar da Dhaba (in Passian Chowk). At least this one looked like a dhaba!
sleep-deprived state. So we woke up late and then headed out to lunch to
another recommended dhaba – Kesar da Dhaba (in Passian Chowk). At least this one looked like a dhaba!
We were a group of four so we
ordered some Paneer kadahi, black daal, sarson da saag (another Punjabi specialty, holding pride of place
in many a Bollywood movie!) and individual ‘bread’. I ordered an aloo paratha (always a safe bet in
Punjab), the husband ordered makke di
roti (made of maize flour) and our friends V & S ordered tandoori rotis. And of course lassi! The towering glasses of lassi came first, topped with heavy
cream. This was, hands down, the best lassi
we had in Amritsar. The food was excellent as well and I’d definitely recommend
Kesar.
ordered some Paneer kadahi, black daal, sarson da saag (another Punjabi specialty, holding pride of place
in many a Bollywood movie!) and individual ‘bread’. I ordered an aloo paratha (always a safe bet in
Punjab), the husband ordered makke di
roti (made of maize flour) and our friends V & S ordered tandoori rotis. And of course lassi! The towering glasses of lassi came first, topped with heavy
cream. This was, hands down, the best lassi
we had in Amritsar. The food was excellent as well and I’d definitely recommend
Kesar.
 |
| Towers of Delicious Lassi! |
 |
| Behind the scenes at Kesar |
 |
| Phirni |
We had to work off our heavy lunch so we walked about (and
shopped) in the local markets and then headed for a Heritage Walk of Amritsar
(more info here). Whilst on our walk, we came across Gurdas
Ram – a sweet shop that is supposed to have the best jalebi (wheels of dough, deep fried and
then sweetened in sugar syrup). In fact, the shop is called ‘Gurdas Ram Jalebiyan wale’!
shopped) in the local markets and then headed for a Heritage Walk of Amritsar
(more info here). Whilst on our walk, we came across Gurdas
Ram – a sweet shop that is supposed to have the best jalebi (wheels of dough, deep fried and
then sweetened in sugar syrup). In fact, the shop is called ‘Gurdas Ram Jalebiyan wale’!
We watched the master at work and then ordered
two plates – burnt our tongues a bit, but there were really delicious jalebis. The gulab jamuns (deep fried balls of khoya dipped in sugar syrup) here are also worth a try. In other
words, do not miss!
two plates – burnt our tongues a bit, but there were really delicious jalebis. The gulab jamuns (deep fried balls of khoya dipped in sugar syrup) here are also worth a try. In other
words, do not miss!
More on this food trail in a couple of days. Until then, have a
Happy Diwali! And say ‘no’ to crackers, for heaven’s sake 🙂
Happy Diwali! And say ‘no’ to crackers, for heaven’s sake 🙂
awesome post. looking at your pictures is making me hungry. (And, yay, I've been to Kesar da dhaba too. Amazing kulchas!)
Thanks! Kesar was awesome 🙂
went to amritsar ages back on work before i discovered food blogging or my love for grunge eating…ate in the hotel then…your post makes me wish I hadn't
Time for another trip? 😉
It all looks so amazing!!!!!!!
Thank you! Part 2 up on Friday, stay tuned 🙂
Indian food is one of my favourite cuisines – and the food in your post looks absolutely delicious. Off to raid the fridge now… 🙂
Haha, thanks Suzanne! If you plan a trip to India any time, shout out 🙂
Just loved the post !!!! guess my next trip is gonna be to amritsar !!! 🙂
Thanks, Darshana!! Part 2 coming up on Friday; plan a trip soon 🙂 It's worth a visit!
Good post. Great collection of Amritsar goodies.
A pedantic correction. Its not Maa Ki Daal (someone had an erroneous epiphany moment & the internet is propagating it).
It's Maha di dall (in Punjabi tonal pronunced a very different Ma'a) to Maa (mother).
Thanks for letting me know 🙂
Amritsar is a very beautiful city made up of loving and welcoming people which attracts lots of people from other cities to come and visit. also not leaving out the places to eat you can get a proper guide from Mister Tikku as to how you can go about the beautiful places and eat good food in Amritsar