Eat Like a Local

Surat's Legendary Food Scene

There's a local saying: "Surat nu jaman ne Kashi nu maran" — roughly, "eat in Surat, and you'll have lived well." Tap any dish for the full story, and recipe videos for a few icons.

Locho, Surti street food

Locho

Veg

A steamed, spiced gram-flour snack unique to Surat — soft, savory, and topped with chutney, sev and pomegranate.

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Undhiyu, Gujarati winter dish

Undhiyu

Veg Winter special

A slow-cooked mixed-vegetable dish with purple yam, beans and fenugreek dumplings — a Gujarati winter classic.

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Ghari, Surti sweet

Ghari

Veg Festival sweet

A rich, ghee-soaked sweet stuffed with khoya and nuts, traditionally eaten on Chandni Padva.

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Ponk, roasted tender millet

Ponk

Veg Winter special

Roasted tender green millet, served with garlic chutney and jaggery — a seasonal roadside treat.

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Khaman and Sev Khamani

Sev Khamani & Khaman

Veg

Steamed, fluffy gram-flour cakes — a Gujarati breakfast staple, crumbled with crunchy sev on top.

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Surti Chinese noodles

Surti Chinese

Veg

A wildly popular, spicy-sweet street-style take on Indo-Chinese noodles and Manchurian.

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Surti Chicken Handi

Surti Chicken Handi

Non-Veg

Chicken slow-cooked in a clay pot with a rich, spiced gravy — a signature Rander and Nanpura dish.

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Rander mutton curry

Rander Mutton Curry

Non-Veg

Rander's historic Muslim quarter is the city's go-to destination for slow-cooked mutton curry.

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Seekh kebabs and tandoori

Seekh Kebabs & Tandoori

Non-Veg

Charcoal-grilled skewers with a Mughlai influence, widely available after sunset.

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Dumas fish fry

Dumas Fish Fry

Non-Veg

Fresh catch from the nearby coast, lightly spiced and pan-fried at the Dumas Beach shacks.

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Ice gola and kulfi

Ice Gola & Kesar-Pista Kulfi

Veg

Shaved-ice syrup treats and saffron-pistachio kulfi — the city's favorite way to beat the heat.

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Fafda-Jalebi

Fafda-Jalebi

Veg

The classic Gujarati Sunday breakfast: crispy gram-flour strips with syrup-soaked jalebi.

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Surat is one of India's most vegetarian-friendly cities — these are the essentials.

Locho

Steamed spiced gram-flour snack topped with chutney & sev.

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Undhiyu

Slow-cooked mixed vegetables, winter classic.

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Ghari

Rich khoya sweet, eaten on Chandni Padva.

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Ponk

Roasted tender millet with garlic chutney.

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Khaman / Sev Khamani

Steamed gram-flour cakes, everyday staple.

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Surti Chinese

Spicy street-style noodles & Manchurian.

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Ice Gola & Kulfi

Classic cold treats for Surat's hot months.

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Fafda-Jalebi

Sunday morning sweet-and-savory combo.

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Head to Rander, Nanpura or Bhagal after sunset for the city's best non-veg spreads.

Surti Chicken Handi

Clay-pot slow-cooked chicken in spiced gravy.

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Rander Mutton Curry

Generations-old recipes from the old port quarter.

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Seekh Kebabs & Tandoori

Charcoal-grilled Mughlai-style skewers.

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Dumas Fish Fry

Fresh coastal catch, pan-fried with local spice.

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Where to go: Athwalines & VIP Road for upscale dining and desserts · Rander & Nanpura for the best non-veg · Bhagal, Gopipura & Chowpatty for classic street snacks · Piyush Point for the famous local drink "Piyush."

Time your trip around a festival

Some of these dishes only appear during specific festivals. See what's happening when.

View Festival Calendar