10 must-try street foods in Pune, Maharashtra

The streets of Pune offer a lively foodie paradise, with vendors dishing out mouthwatering snacks from sunrise to sunset.

From spicy vada pav to tangy tawa pulao, Pune's street food scene showcases the best of Maharashtrian cuisine and modern twists.

Food lovers simply must try these 10 iconic street foods that capture Pune's addictive flavors and vibrant food culture.

Let your tastebuds guide you through Pune's can't-miss street food treats. With each flavorful bite, you'll understand why locals and visitors alike can't get enough of the city's incredible street food experience.

1. Vada pav

A visit to Pune is incomplete without having the mouth-watering Vada Pav. People sometimes refer to it as an Indian burger, as it features a spicy, deep-fried potato patty (vada) wrapped in a soft bun (pav). Typically, it comes with several chutneys and hot garlic powder sprinkles. Crispy vada, soft pav breads, and tangy chutneys combine to create an irresistible snack that you can enjoy anytime, anywhere.

Where to eat?

Almost everywhere you can have Vada pav in Pune, but if you ask us the famous one then JJ Garden and Joshi Wadawale are two of the well known Vada Pav sellers in Pune.

2. Pav bhaji

Pav bhaji is a mixture of mashed vegetables served with buttered pav buns that will keep your taste buds begging for more. The bhaji comprises potatoes, peas, tomatoes, and capsicum cooked together in typical spices.

Many, including both locals and tourists, find this dish to be tasty when topped with lots of butter and served hot alongside buttered pav breads, with some outlets renowned for their exceptionally delicious versions.

Where to eat?

A few of the best places to try are MH 12 Pav Bhaji, Shree Krishna Pav Bhaji, Siddharth pav bhaji.

3. Ragda pani puri

Ragda Pani Puri is one popular street food among Punekars; it’s just pani puris stuffed with ragda instead of potato filling, which results in some powerful flavors here! The crispy puris are filled with tangy ragda, a spiced white pea curry, and then immersed in sour and chatpata pani, or water, creating a burst of flavors with each bite. Moreover, ragda pani puri is garnished with sev, chopped onions, and various chutneys, making it an irresistible snack.

Where to eat?

Natraj Bhel & Chaat House, Viman Nagar, Pune, serve some of the best Ragda Pani Puri in Pune. If you are in Pune, then do try Ragda Pani Puri of this place.

4. Misal pav

Misal pav consists of hot curry made from sprouted lentils topped with farsan (a mixture of fried snacks), onions, tomatoes, and coriander. It comes with pav bread as an accompaniment and is a staple food in Maharashtrian households.

The combination of the flavorful misal and soft pav creates a unique experience for the taste buds, guaranteeing satisfaction with each bite. Additionally, this dish is healthy because it has a high protein content and is vegetarian.

Where to eat?

Some of the best places for enjoying the best misal pav in Pune are Katakirr Misal, Malhar Misal House, and Morya Misal.

5. Dabeli

Dabeli is not originally from Pune, but from Gujarat, and today it is one of the most popular street foods there! The dish consists of a sandwich filled with mashed potatoes mixed with unique spices, presented in a pav alongside various chutneys.

If you haven't tried it yet, you should definitely add it to your list. Sweet-sour-spicy dabelis are a delicious snack that reveals amazing textures when you bite into them, such as the crunchiness of the toppings contrasting with the tenderness of the pavs. We topped it with more sev (crunchy gram flour noodles) and sprinkled it with juicy pomegranate seeds for added freshness!

Where to eat?

You can find this street food in pune almost everywhere, but some of the best eateries for Dabeli are Ganesh bhel, Varsha Bhel, Yashwant Dabeli.

6. Bhel puri

Puffed rice, vegetables, and a sour tamarind sauce combine to create the savory snack known as Bhel Puri. It is a common street food that blends various tastes and textures in an amazing way.

The crunchiness of the puffed rice, the freshness of the vegetables, and the tangy spiciness of the chutneys make Bhel Puri an ideal snack at any time. Pune’s street food sellers have their own twist on this traditional dish to ensure it remains unique as one bites through each serving.

Where to eat?

Here are some of the all time favorite places for bhel puri in Pune: Ganesh Bhel, Jogeshwari Misal, Marne Bhel, Jhatka Bhel Center, Jay Ganesh Bhel Panipuri

7. Kanda bhajiya

Kanda Bhajiya is a favorite rainy-season snack in Pune, Maharashtra, India, especially among the locals. It is a kind of deep-fried fritter made from gram flour batter after dipping sliced onions into it and frying until golden brown.

On a wet day, you can serve Kanda Bhajiya hot with chutneys as a crispy savory treat, enjoying it even more when you prepare it at home or purchase it from a nearby street vendor. You will love its crispiness outside and tenderness inside due to the presence of onion rings within them, which makes this dish very popular amongst people living in any part of India, including Maharashtra.

Where to eat?

You can easily find Kanda bhaji anywhere in Pune street food stalls, but the best among them would be S Kumar wade-wale and Rohit wade-wale. 

8. Tawa pulao

Tawa Pulao (also known as tava rice) is a famous Indian street food made on a large flat griddle called 'tawa'. This dish necessitates the complete cooking of basmati rice, mixed with a variety of spices and vegetables.

The resultant product appears to be fragrant rice with rich flavors that are both filling and tasteful. Because of this, people typically eat it hot with raita, chutney, or papad, among other accompaniments, making it a perfect meal option for those seeking quick bites during hectic office hours.

People believe that tawa pulao is a must-try when visiting a city like Mumbai, where one can easily find these items at various corners of the streets!

Where to eat?

If you are looking to eat some mouth watering Tawa Pulao in Pune, then Siddharth Pav-Bhaji and Cream Craver are the two best outlets where you can find amazing Tawa Pulao in Pune.

9. Bun maska

Bun Maska is a simple yet awesome delight loved by many people, especially Punekars! A soft bun served with butter and accompanied by a hot cup of tea! Heavenly!!! Yes, you heard us right.

To enjoy it, dip bun maska into your tea, then take a bite and sip together so that sweetness, saltiness, richness, creamy graininess, and all flavors just explode inside your mouth, making it impossible to resist such stuff either during breakfast or evening time when hunger pangs start tickling our taste buds.

Where to eat?

Although you can find Bun maska almost everywhere in Pune, however, Good luck cafe and Irani cafe are renowned street food places in pune to try bun Maska.

10. Sujata Mastani

Mangoes or any other fruit(s) combined with milk, sugar, ice cream, and garnished with chopped nuts and dry fruits. Although it originated in Pune, Sujata mastani has gained popularity throughout Maharashtra state, particularly among individuals living in hot climate areas like Pune, where the summer season can be oppressive, leading them to explore various ways to stay cool.

Use these shakes to cool the body and satisfy the taste buds. Richness, fruitiness, creaminess—everything mixed up together gives a really amazing feel while drinking this Sujata mastani.

Where to eat?

Sujata Mastani has various outlets in Pune, but you must try it at the main branch which is at Bajirao Road.

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