Placeholder canvas
 
Close
Igniting Ideas For impact

Embarking on a transformative journey through six chapters, we traverse India's landscape, exploring pioneering startups and their revolutionary...

8 months

Foodie Alert: 15 Fabulous Food Festivals in India That You Just Can’t Afford To Miss

Celebrate all things delicious with a visit to any of these 15 Indian food festivals.

Foodie Alert: 15 Fabulous Food Festivals in India That You Just Can’t Afford To Miss

Food and travel go hand-in-hand. There is probably no better way to experience the soul of a place than through its food – how better to do that than to attend a food festival, where one can attend hands-on cooking demos, meet upcoming chefs, interact with fellow foodies and sample local specialties?

In the past couple of years, food festivals in India have come a long way. Cities across the country have become ‘foodie centrals’ with an exciting lineup of food festivals that will leave you spoilt for choice.

Photo Source

So, celebrate all things delicious with a visit to at any of these 15 fabulous food festivals. Whether you want to brush up on your cooking skills, learn about the latest health food fads, or simply sample the goods, these epicurean extravaganzas are sure to be an experience you will remember for a long, long time!

1. National Street Food Festival

Photo Source

Be it chaat, momos or the spicy chole kulcha, Delhiites just love their street food. The NASVI National Street Food Festival brings much-loved street delicacies from different regions of India to one place. Little wonder the foodies in the capital are gung ho about hosting this festival!

Where: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi
When: December-January

2. Mei Ram-ew

Photo Source

A little-known ethnic food festival of Meghalaya, Mei Ram-ew is an effort by North-East Slow Food and Agro-biodiversity Society (NESFAS) to preserve and promote the various forest-foraged and locally-grown foods that are cooked and served by indigenous communities of the Northeast India.

Where: Sacred Grove, Mawphlang, Meghalaya
When: December

3. Asian Hawkers Market

Photo Source

Spread over three days, the Asian Hawkers Market is a unique, one-of-its kind al fresco food festival with sights, sounds, smells and tastes that could easily be mistaken for the streets of a busy Southeast Asian market. With food stalls serving a variety of dim sums, sushi rolls, tempura, stir fries and seafood platter, this fiesta brings the best of Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese cuisines under one roof.

Where: Select Citywalk, Delhi
When: October

4. Great Indian Food Festival

Photo Source

With over 75 food stalls from over 12 states – from paranthas to butter chicken, halwas to ice creams, galouti kebabs to a multitude of chaat – the Great Indian Food Festival has enough variety to send you straight into a culinary coma. The festival also hosts exciting competitions such as golgappa-gulping competitions and vada pav-eating competitions!

Where: Dilli Haat, Delhi
When: January

5. The Grub Fest

Photo Source

The Grub Fest is a perfectly enthralling assemblage of food, fun and entertainment. Along with culinary workshops, an organic food market, music performances and a host of popular restaurants, the festival also has a special arena for mini-food trucks called the Grub Mile. To top it all, they also screen films about food – imagine slurping up some spaghetti while watching Ratatouille!

Where: New Delhi, Pune, Mumbai
When: March

6. Goa Food and Cultural Festival

Photo Source

A Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) initiative, Goa Food and Cultural Festival is a celebration of the sunshine state’s authentic cuisine, rich heritage and vibrant folklore. With over 70 stalls serving much-loved traditional delicacies, the festival showcases why Goan cuisine is much more than just fish curry and rice.

Where: DB Bandodkar Grounds, Campal, Panaji
When: April

7. Palate Fest

Photo Source

A much-awaited three-day food and music festival, Palate Fest brings together some of the most loved restaurants, food stalls and even some embassy kitchens from across Delhi. There is also a Palate Fest Mini, a smaller version of the main festival, that sees Delhites coming over in huge numbers for a high dose of fun, food and frolic, in no particular order.

Where: Nehru Park, Delhi
When: February

8. Ahare Bangla

Photo Source

Food is a subject that evokes extreme passion in Bengalis. A five-day food festival organised by the West Bengal government, Ahare Bangla is a great place for foodies to get a taste of classic Bengali dishes (like bhapa ilish and kosha mangsho) alongside unique delicacies that they had never tried before (like emu steaks and aromatic tulai panji rice).

Where: Milan Mela Grounds, Kolkata
When: October

9. Foodistan, 10 Heads Festival

Photo Source

A miniature gastronomic fiesta, Foodistan is a part of a massive super-festival, the 10 Heads Festival. The name 10 Heads owes itself to the fact that this actually a constellation of 10 different festivals, created by 10 handpicked curators! From high-end restaurants and quirky food trucks to street food proprietors from Chandni Chowk, they all come together at Foodistan to take visitors on a memorable culinary adventure.

Where: Dhanchiri Camping Resort, NH-8, Gurgaon
When: October

10. Bengaluru Food Fete

Photo Source

The city’s biggest food festival, Bangalore Food Fete brings together the city’s top cafes, restaurants, bars and food trucks. Other than creating a platform to help home chefs, amatuer bakers and aspiring restaurateurs, the fest also play host to stand-up comedians, flamethrowers, live music and dance performances. This year, it will stage the city’s biggest Zumbathon!

Where: Karle Infra Cricket Grounds, Bengaluru
When: April

11. Bhukkad Flea

Photo Source

A unique meeting ground for foodies from every part of Mumbai, Bhukkad Flea is exclusively organised for home chefs, food start-ups, small eateries, street vendors and women entrepreneurs. At this awesome fest, one can taste 100 different types of food in one platter while enjoying some great live music!

Where: Corona Garden, Bandra West, Mumbai
When: January

12. Sattvik Food Festival

Photo Source

Organised by the NGO Sristi for the past fourteen years, Sattvik Food Festival has over 75 stalls selling healthy, delicious and innovative dishes from across the country. Popular specialities include oats tikki chaat, makai na paania, soya cutlets,spinach roll, beetroot halwa, dates biscuits, pineapple jalebi, tomato halwa, aloe vera pickle, red bhindi juice and organic soya paneer.

Where: AES ground, Ahmedabad
When: December

13. Itsy Bitsy Food Festival

Photo Source

India’s first zero-wastage food festival, Itsy Bitsy allows customers to enjoy a wider spread of dishes while reducing food wastage. At this unique festival, over 30 food stations (set up by some of Mumbai’s most popular eateries) serve bite sized portions of regular dishes. After the festival, all non-reusable material from each food station is donated to the Roti Bank team and Robin Hood Army, an organisation that supplies surplus food to the underprivileged.

Where: High Street Phoenix, Lower Parel, Mumbai
When: February

14. Restaurant Week

Photo Source

A celebration of the finest culinary experiences at formal fine dining restaurants across India, Restaurant week is currently held across Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune. It showcases specially- curated, prix fixe, three-course menus priced at a fraction of a la carte rates, allowing foodies to partake of cuisines as varied as Vietnamese and Persian.

Where: Across India
When: Get more info here.

15. Food Truck Festivals, Across India

Photo Source

Food truck festivals are taking over Indian cities big time, with Delhi recently hosting its first ever food truck festival – Horn OK Please. The Bangalore Food Truck and Music Festival is being organised for the last four years while Mumbai and Ahmedabad hosted their first food truck festivals last year. With scrumptious meals on wheels, foot-tapping music and a lively ambience, it’s not surprising that this festivals are huge crowd-pullers!

Note: Dates and venues vary for food truck festivals


Also ReadFrom Colleges to Diplomatic Enclaves, These 14 Iconic Canteens Are Among the Best in India


Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
NEW: Click here to get positive news on WhatsApp!

This story made me

  • feel inspired icon
    97
  • more aware icon
    121
  • better informative icon
    89
  • do something icon
    167

Tell Us More


We bring stories straight from the heart of India, to inspire millions and create a wave of impact. Our positive movement is growing bigger everyday, and we would love for you to join it.

Please contribute whatever you can, every little penny helps our team in bringing you more stories that support dreams and spread hope.

Support the biggest positivity movement section image Support the biggest positivity movement section image
Shorts

Shorts

See All
 
X
 
Sign in to get free benefits
  • Get positive stories daily on email
  • Join our community of positive ambassadors
  • Become a part of the positive movement