Cuisine / Dish

Restaurant

Specialty & Remarks

Avadhi

Tunde Kababi

(Original shop is located in Chowk at the extreme end of Gol Drwaza where the lane opens up into Akbari Gate. Though one shop of Tunde’s grandson is in Nazirabad (Aminabad) where they serve lamb and water buffalo’s meat, but in Chowk they only serve water buffalo (traditionally authentic)

Lip-smacking Galawat Kebab – a soft minced meat patty shallow fried on a special pan over charcoal fire. Here it is served with Parantha – unleavened Avadhi bread. Be prepared to close your eyes to surroundings and hygiene, though they make and serve fresh but your eyes will not appreciate the location, surroundings and condition. We tell you it is worth ignoring all these parameters and just biting into this preparation.

Avadhi

Rahim’s

(Located in the Akbari Darwza lane on your right when you enter from Nakhaas side. This is a small hard to locate shop – be sure to enter the right one)

They serve a combination of Kulchey-Nihari, a traditional breakfast curry made of soft boneless meat pieces in a light gravy served with baked pizza type leavened bread that is fluffy and very light. This too is a traditional shop some 100 years old and still maintains a secret recipe. Mind you the dish is quite heavy for breakfast, it is not a bad idea to have it for lunch or dinner. 

Avadhi

Mobeen’s

(This too is located in Akbari Darwaza lane and is a double storey shop and fairly large is size)

Mobeen serves many dishes from Avadhi menu and all are quite nice too, but their Pasanda Kababs and Phirni is the best that we can recommend. Pasanda Kababs are thin flakes of a buffalo’s hind legs cut and marinated in spices to be wrapped on steaks and baked in earthen ovens. Try them without a bread as a starter if you have to enjoy the musing taste and aroma. Phirni is a sweet milk and rice preparation served after meals. It is hard to have just one but you need to be careful as it is made of milk which is a strict no-no when traveling in India.

Avadhi

Bismillha

(In Nazirabad by the side of Tunde's shop is a small biryani outlet of Bismillha)

Biryani in Lucknow is a softer form of the one served in Hyderabad. Traditionaly it is flavoured rice cooked with Avadhi spices, coloured with saffron and mixed with small pieces of Goat-Meet. Biryani in Lucknow is cooked by Dum process where pots are sealed to cook on slow fire. Try it here and you will find it quite different in taste as softness if you compare it from elsewhere.

Avadhi

Chanakya

(Located by the side of K.D.Singh Babu Stadium near Clarks Avadh crossing on M.G. Marg)

Kulfi is a traditional ice-cream frozen in wooden or earthen pots by shaking the box filled with syrup, sealed with flour dough and shaken with crushed ice till the syrup freezes. This shop has surpassed the fame and quality that once was associated with Prakash Kulfi. Prakash Kulfi is go down in quality and services drastically - it is a strict NO-NO today for Kulfi.

Chaat

(Evening brunch)

Sharma

(Located on the very Lalbagh crossing, on the road that leads from the crossing to Hazratganj)

King Chaat

(On M.G Road opposite DM’s bungalow – it is a

road side kiosk)

‘Chaat’ is a vernacular world for licking and so very true to its meaning the dish is a tangy preparation which is sweet-n-sour sometimes with lots of chilly powder to challenge your taste buds. This preparation is an eaten during the evening outings or winter afternoons. Not a replacement of any major meal but is a good early evening brunch. Try their, ‘Aaloo Tikki’ and ‘Mattar, you can not stay away from licking the plate after it is over.  

Sweets & Snacks

Radhey

(Chowk main crossing just before the Gol Darwaza)

Chappan Bhog

(Saddar Bazar off Military Cantonment Area)

Malai Gilori is an out of this world preparation served almost at all sweet shops of Lucknow but none could beat this one in taste. They are the ones who developed this cream wrap filled with dry fruits and milk solids.

This shop is a very popular and an innovative sweet shop. They are pricy but give you value for money in terms of quality, presentation and packaging. The products from this shop are available at different up-market Lucknow shopping malls too. Every now and then you will find their mention in local news papers in interesting articles like a sweet meat covered with gold foil or a laddo weighing 50 Kgs et al.

Lassi

(Fore-Noon & Evening Drink)

Sri Lassi Corner

(In Chowk – diagonally opposite Gol Darwaza is a very small shop of Shri Lassi Corner)

This is a sweet whipped yogurt served with cream topping in summers. Ask them to serve in ‘Kulhad’ – earthen drinking bowls to get a different muddy taste.

Thandai

(Fore-Noon & Evening Drink)

Raja Thandai

(In Chowk – Opposite Gol Darwaza on the road side that leads to Chowk Stadium. Look for this empty shop with scanty furniture and no décor)

Milk based preparation with some Indian cool spices – a sort of flavoured milk with real ingredients, this drink has cooling effect of sorts. You are free to try it as they use pasteurized milk.

Chinese

(There is hardly any place in Lucknow, were one can find an authentic Chinese spread. One reason is the Lucknowites love their Awadhi food and another is that Lucknow taste-buds are used to host of spices and chefs here just do not follow thumb rules but love to experiment) 

Chung Fa

(Gole Market – Mahanagar)

Shanghai Surprise

(Located at the end of Sapru Marg, at the intersection of Sapru Marg and Shahnajaf Road, dead opposite SSP Office)

Cool Break

(On Ashok Marg opposite Shakti Bhawan)

Chung Fa is operated by a Chinese family. The best thing is they try and offer you true Chinese taste, but with just a blend of Sino-Indian menu to suit the Indian taste buds. You are free to speak to the owner, he will be more than happy to dish out an authentic Chinese meal with no Indianised version such as Munchurian & Paneer Chiles (Sino-Chinese dishes very popular in India).

Shangahai Surprise too is good and offer a mix Chinese and Thai platter.

Cool Break is a Chinese, Continental and a Mix-Cuisine Restaurant – they do not master any particular array of food but try their Onion Rings and of course there Sino-Indian dish Chicken Munchurian. Mini meal is the best bet that is light on your pocket and quite a filling meal.     

Awadhi

(Up-market Eatery) 

Oudhyana

(At The Taj Residency)

If you wish to dine in style – its here. An Speciality Restaurant with the finest Décor and great taste. You get all that you desire from a great restaurant. They serve an array of best Kababs that include Kakori, Gilawat, Hariyali et al.  

Multi Cuisine & Fusion Cuisine

Royal Café

(Main Hazratganj by the side of Kapoors. The other branch is opposite Sahara Ganj Mall

They offer a mix of everything in a cool ambience and great service. Just that it is quite crowded, specially during weekends. Their Indian Platter is quite an affair and an experience when in India.

Punjabi Style Dhaba Food

(Dhaba's are highway side eateries serving fresh Indian food - catering to truck drivers and highway travellers)

Break-Point Dhaba

(On Lucknow-Barabanki highway after crossing Babu Banarsi Das Nagar - bridge [1km ahead of the bridge] on the right side you will find a few thatched canopies and a few dinners' cars parked)

Do not miss their Dal-Fry, Paneer Butter Masala, Chicken Masala with Tandoori Rotis or Missi Roti. You will find the taste just out of the world and one that you will always miss in upmarket restaurants. Dhabas are eateries located on highways, but today quite a few people venture out on highways just to try out the freshly prepared food served in a no frills style. Break Point is very Indian in taste and gives you a glimpse of how India is limping to embrace modernity of its own even at the rural levels.