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For the outsider, Aurangabadi food is a beautiful convergence of Mughlai and Marathi cuisines. Thanks to the city’s past, which witnessed Maratha and Mughal rule for a long time. However, there’s more depth to it than what meets the eye.
Owing to its geographical position in the north of Maharashtra, Aurangabad’s culinary landscape is also influenced by its neighbouring state of Gujarat. So, it wasn’t surprising to find Gujarati dishes such as Khandvi and Thepla in some of the local stores during our visit.
Having gone on a vegetarian food trail during our 3-day Aurangabad trip, here are the top 15 veg dishes I would recommend among the famous foods of Aurangabad.
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1. Thalipeeth
Thalipeeth is Maharashtra’s famous flatbread that can be both super healthy and indulgent. Usually made with a blend of grains and legumes like wheat, jowar, rice, bengal gram and more, the Thalipeeth is more rustic and textured compared to the regular rotis. Plus, it’s often stuffed with a variety of fillings, including sesame seeds and sometimes, even vegetables.
Though it’s generally roasted on a pan, we tried a thick, fried version of Thalipeeth in Aurangabad’s Pratham Swayampak Ghar, an all-women run kitchen. It had stuffed onions and was served with a carrot pickle and Maharashtrian thecha, altogether making for delicious bites.
Where to find it in Aurangabad: Pratham Swayampak Ghar & Purnabramha Maharashtrian Restaurant
2. Moong Bhajiya
How can a fried snack like Moong Bhajiya melt in your mouth as soon as you pop it in? That’s what we asked ourselves when we tasted these small gram flour-lentil balls at Aurangabad’s famous food joint, Tasty Bhaje Usman Bhai.
Crisp on the outside and soft inside, they are served with two slices of Pav and are truly a must-try when in Aurangabad.
TWT Trivia: Interestingly, the iconic owner Usman Bhai was just closing shop at 8 pm and had packed up when we arrived. Immediately after us, another group landed as well to relish his popular bhajiyas. Very graciously, he actually opened up his shop again and served us the leftover snacks.
Where to find it in Aurangabad: Tasty Bhaje Usman Bhai
3. Misal Pav
I have personally tried so many different versions of Misal Pav across Maharashtra and at two places in Aurangabad. One was a spicy and rich version, with oil floating on top of the dark gravy (at Trimurti Appa Nashta Centre). Another was a lighter and healthier version, with more generous use of moong sprouts and less of the oil and sev.
Honestly, I liked the second one at Twist In Flavors, because the original taste of the sprouted mung beans stood out, without getting overpowered by the usually spicy gravy. The ladi pav was almost the same and soft at both places.
Where to find it in Aurangabad: Trimurti Appa Nashta Centre, Twist In Flavors & Purnabramha Maharashtrian Restaurant
4. Puran Poli
Puran Poli is one of Maharashtra’s and Aurangabad’s most famous desserts. These sweet flatbreads stuffed with a mixture of jaggery and chana dal are an absolute delight to bite into.
You will find them in several eateries and sweet shops in Aurangabad. The one we tried at Pratham Swayampak Ghar was made freshly from scratch on order. It was served hot and was melting in the mouth.
Where to find it in Aurangabad: Pratham Swayampak Ghar & Purnabramha Maharashtrian Restaurant
5. Samosa Pulav
I remember watching a video of this fusion dish before our trip, as it’s among the most popular street foods of Aurangabad. So, we decided to visit Trimurti Appa Nashta Centre to find out what the hullabaloo was all about.
Two samosas were crushed on a plate, pulao was added on top of it and then a spicy curry was poured on top. Honestly, it felt slightly overrated. Though the pulao was flavorful, the crushed samosa got lost somewhere inside. The curry also made it soggy by the time we ate it, losing the crunchy texture. Nevertheless, if you’re curious to taste it, you could definitely try it out.
Where to find it in Aurangabad: Trimurti Appa Nashta Centre
6. Patodi Rassa
One of my favorite Maharashtrian curries, Patodi Rassa is a must-try dish in Aurangabad. Steamed gram flour cubes are dipped in the traditional Kala Masala or Saoji Masala, making for a flavor-packed dish that goes well with both rotis and rice.
In Aurangabad, we had a strong and tangy version in Pratham Swayampak Ghar and a more subtle version in Purnabramha Maharashtrian Restaurant.
Where to find it in Aurangabad: Pratham Swayampak Ghar & Purnabramha Maharashtrian Restaurant
7. Maharashtrian Thali
How can we visit a place in Maharashtra and not relish a traditional Maharashtrian thali? Surprisingly, after doing a lot of research, we found only one restaurant in Aurangabad serving Maharashtrian thali! In fact, there were a lot more places for Gujarati and Rajasthani thali.
Nevertheless, Purnabramha turned out to be a wonderful experience. The restaurant mainly serves Maharashtrian cuisine and its interiors are done in a traditional style. Coming to the thali, it was quite wholesome and delicious, with Kothimbir Vadi, Bharli Vangi, Rassa Patodi and a lot more.
Where to find it in Aurangabad: Purnabramha Maharashtrian Restaurant
8. Aurangabadi Naan
The traditional Aurangabadi Naan, which is part of the famous dish Naan Khaliya, is very different from your usual restaurant naans (flatbreads). They are not even flat. Instead, they are round and puffed up like a puri, fluffier and yellow in color, thanks to a turmeric coating.
Baked in traditional tandoor, the most authentic version of the naan can be found in the old city, around the Buddi Lane area. However, most of the places only serve it with the meat curry called Khaliya. Hence, if you’re a vegetarian, you can pick up the naans and pair it with any vegetarian curry from another eatery.
Where to find it in Aurangabad: Bismillah Naan Qalia House
9. Sol Kadhi
If you’re a tourist and exploring the historical city under the blazing sun, you must try this refreshing local drink called Sol Kadhi. The probiotic drink is made with coconut milk, kokum and spices, resulting in a beautiful light pink-colored beverage.
We tried Sol Kadhi at Purnabramha and it was absolutely heavenly, with hints of ginger shining through and coriander leaves adding a burst of freshness.
Where to find it in Aurangabad: Purnabramha Maharashtrian Restaurant
10. Methi/Palak Thepla
This dish may be a result of Gujarati influence, but the methi and palak theplas at Pratham Swayampak Ghar were simply fabulous! The green leaves were used generously, plus a beautiful blend of spices added to its flavors.
We tried them hot off the pan and also got them packed for next day’s breakfast at Ellora Caves. Even the cold ones tasted incredible.
Where to find it in Aurangabad: Pratham Swayampak Ghar
11. Maharashtrian Pickles & Thecha
These are quite underrated, but I highly recommend that you do not leave Aurangabad without trying or taking home some Maharashtrian pickles and thecha. Both act as condiments for your main course dishes like rice, and rotis.
What I found unique about Maharashtrian pickles is that they are more tangy and less spicy compared to their South Indian counterparts. Also, the thecha created with chillies and spices adds a nice punch and kick to every bite.
TWT Tip: If you wish to pick up something to take back home, do pick up the carrot pickle at Pratham Swayampak Ghar. You won’t regret it.
Where to find it in Aurangabad: Pratham Swayampak Ghar
12. Rice Bhakri
If you haven’t travelled to the interiors of Maharashtra and Karnataka, you might not be aware that rotis or bhakri can even be made of rice. Yes, flatbreads made of rice flour are commonly consumed in Maharashtrian households. They are usually paired with spicy curries.
In Aurangabad, we got to taste these rice bhakris in Purnabramha along with some local brinjal curry. They were soft and melting in the mouth on the first bite.
Where to find it in Aurangabad: Purnabramha Maharashtrian Restaurant
13. Shev Bhaji
Clearly, Maharashtrians love their sev (fried gram flour snack). I have seen them use it in Misal, Poha, eat them as is and also make a curry out of them.
I found this interesting curry called Shev Bhaji at Pratham Swayampak Ghar. Teamed with rotis, they had a partly crunchy and partly velvety texture with a generous amount of gravy.
Where to find it in Aurangabad: Pratham Swayampak Ghar & Purnabramha Maharashtrian Restaurant
14. Kothimbir Vadi
This popular Maharashtrian snack is slightly crisp on the outside and soft inside when consumed hot off the pan. A paste of gram flour, coriander leaves and spices is first steamed and then fried.
We tried these at Purnabramha and they turned out to be absolutely delicious with a crispy coating.
Where to find it in Aurangabad: Pratham Swayampak Ghar & Purnabramha Maharashtrian Restaurant
Note: In case you’re a vegan looking for options in Aurangabad, all the items listed above are plant-based except Aurangabadi naan. Plus, you can always check for usage of ghee/curd before ordering.
15. Imarti
Imarti is one of the most famous sweets of Aurangabad. You will find these deep-fried Jalebi-like desserts at most sweet shops of the city.
Made with gram flour batter, these spiral sweet meats are dipped in sugar-syrup after frying. They can be partly crisp and partly soft with a delicate bite.
Where to find it in Aurangabad: Uttam Mithai Bhandar
TWT Experience Summary Of Aurangabad Food
Though Aurangabad’s culinary journey has majorly been shaped by its Maratha and Mughal history, I’ve mainly listed the Maharashtrian dishes we found during our visit. This is because it’s hard to find vegetarian Mughal food in the popular eateries of the Old City.
Some of the best street foods to try in Aurangabad are Moong Bhajiya and Misal Pav. For breakfast and main course, you must not miss Thalipeeth, Thepla, Rassa Patodi, Rice Bhakri and Maharashtrian thali along with some thecha and pickles.
Among desserts, two absolute must-tries are Puran Poli and Imarti. While Sol Kadhi is the perfect summer or daytime drink.
Which ones are you trying? Let us know in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions About Aurangabad’s Famous Food
- Can Puran Poli be found in Aurangabad only during festivals?
Puran Poli is generally found in Aurangabad at several places throughout the year and not just during festivals. You can find them at Pratham Swayampak Ghar and Purnabramha Maharashtrian Restaurant.
- Is it possible to get vegetarian versions of famous Aurangabadi dishes such as Naan Qalia or Biryani?
I did some research on this before visiting and unfortunately, I didn’t find any places that serve vegetarian Qalia. So one option is to pack the naan and try it with some other vegetarian curry. You will find vegetarian biryani at several places.
- Can Vada Pav be found everywhere in Aurangabad?
Vada Pav can be found in many eateries and street side stalls in Aurangabad. However, we noticed that Misal Pav is more common here.
- Which are the best restaurants in Aurangabad?
Some of Aurangabad’s most popular and top-rated restaurants are Purnabramha Maharashtrian Restaurant, Thaat Baat, Naivedya and Twist In Flavors. Some of the famous small eateries are Pratham Swayampak Ghar, Tasty Bhaje Usman Bhai and Trimurti Appa Nashta Centre.
- What is Misal Pav made of & where can we find the best one in Aurangabad?
Misal Pav is basically Indian buns served with a spicy curry made of sprouted mung beans and sev. I personally felt the best Misal Pav was at Twist In Flavors cafe. However, you will find them at many street side stalls.
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