DISHES MUST TRIED FROM AMRITSAR

1. Amritsari Kulcha - The choice of breakfast in Amritsar also happens to be the most famous dish to be originated in the city—Amritsari kulcha. Stuffed with potato or cottage cheese and baked to a golden crisp in the tandoor, the hot kulchas are crumbled by hand until flaky and topped with a generous helping of desi ghee. Served with a side of chole and spicy chutney, kulchas are a must-have. While most spots serve this dish, Kulcha Land has some of the best. Operational since before the Partition in Lahore and later in Amritsar, Kulcha Land has been dishing out this delight for four generations now.

2. Chole Puri and Pinni - Another Punjabi breakfast staple from Kanha Sweets, the puris are fried in pure ghee, and served with chole and a tangy potato curry. They also serve pinnis to satiate sweet cravings, prepared with lentil and jaggery, pinnis are rich and delectable.

3. Makki di roti and sarson da saag - A winter speciality, the smooth and ghee-soaked saag is made of mustard leaves fresh off the farm, and is served with wholesome corn-flour rotis at Bharawan da Dhaba. Located in the old town, which is a 10-minute walk from the Golden Temple, Bharawan da Dhaba has been around since 1912, and serves some great vegetarian fare.

4. Mah ki dal - If there’s one eatery in Amritsar that rivals all others in popularity, it’s the hole-in-the-wall Kesar da dhaba. Founded in 1916 in Sheikhupura, Pakistan, and then reopened in Amritsar after the Partition, this legendary dhaba has hosted the who’s who of India, from Lala Lajpat Rai and Jawaharlal Nehru to Rajesh Khanna and Yash Chopra. The specialty here is the mah ki dal—a preparation of whole black gram lentils that is simmered for 12 hours and served with lachcha paratha or butter naan.

5. Amritsari fish tikka - Amritsar is not all about vegetarian food. The fish tikkas here are fresh, perfectly spiced and sprinkled with masala. Another must try here is the fried sangara (fried fish)

6. Ghee roast chicken - A stone’s throw from Makhan, Beera Chicken House is another must-visit for non-vegetarian food. The whiff of roasted chicken being basted with pure ghee lingers around here. The taste of the ghee roasted chicken, with a texture so soft that it falls off the bones, will more than make up for it.

7. Mutton Chaap - Some of the best joints in Amritsar are decrepit structures tucked away from your sight. Adarsh, too, belongs to the same brigade. A plate of their mutton chaap is worth to taste—slow cooked, shallow fried, spicy, tangy, and tender.

8. Jalebi - An easy-to-miss rundown shop, Gurdas Ram Jalebi Wala has only two things on its menu—gulab jamuns and jalebis. But it does such a good job with the both of them that you’ll find it hard to choose. The jalebis, though, are a sure win. Fried piping hot in a wok full of desi ghee and dipped in a syrup that is just the right amount of sweet, the jalebis are a good way to end your culinary adventures.