Indian Street Food: What to Order

There is one big question to consider when thinking about Indian street food: what to order. Here you'll learn exactly what roadside treats to buy if you happen to find yourself in India. As in any foreign country, travelers often find themselves at a loss for edible treats. Menus are in a different language and the food is often different from what's available at sit-down ethnic restaurants back at home. Luckily, street food offers the quick pit stop needed to sate your hunger while giving you an opportunity to try something new.

1. Pakora. Most street food in the world often consists of random bits of fried goodness. India is no exception to the rule, and if you like fried food, Pakora is what to order when it comes to Indian street food. This fried treat consists of cauliflower, onion, sweet potato or even chicken dipped in a spicy curry batter and deep fried. The vendor will often serve pakora with a sweet and cooling tamarind sauce or a spicy chutney made with mint, green chillies and garlic.
2. Samosas. Samosas are the most well-known of the Indian street foods on this list, and their unique shape makes them a safe bet when your not sure what to order. Samosas are savory, triangular-shaped pastries packed with a spicy potato curry and deep fried. Samosas are particularly hot and dangerous when you first bite into them, as the insides will sear your mouth, so make sure to let them cool or dunk them into one of the cooling sauces offered by the vendor.
3. Puri. There's nothing quite as good or safe as fried bread if you absolutely have no idea what to order on the streets of India. Known as a southern specialty, puri has spread all throughout India as a satisfying and crunchy street food. While the standard breads of the country are baked, puri is fried and is often served with a mild chickpea curry and lends a satisfying crunch to any meal.
4. Jalebi. If you're craving sweets, Indian street food is a godsend to you, and Jalebi is one of the many curbside sweets made quickly and before your eyes. Jalebi is made with dough with a sweet outer crust. You can spot jalebi by it's bright orange color, and you'll see street vendors throwing spools of the stuff into a pan for a quick fry.
5. Murukku. A southern specialty, murukku is sort of a savory version of jalebi in that it's fried dough. But where jalebi is sweet, murukku has a satisfying crunch and is packed with spices. Murukku is easy to spot as Indian street food in that it is almost always displayed as tight fitting, perfectly circular spirals of crunchy goodness, safe and easily recognizable if you're uncertain of what to order.