I tried Ramzan street food in Bengaluru for the first time…and it was not what I expected!

Bengaluru is the go-to destination for delactable street food during Ramzan. (Deeksha Devadiga/South First)

For someone who has spent the better half of their life in Mumbai, street food, in any other city, is pale in comparison. Moving to Bengaluru did not change my perception, until I tried the famous Ramzan street food in the city.

Ramzan is more than halfway through and the streets of Bengaluru are lined with a variety of mouth-watering options to choose from.

 

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This was my first time trying Ramzan food and, with little-to-no knowledge, I embarked on this journey to find some of the best Ramzan street food in Bengaluru.

Shivaji Nagar: Beginners jitters

I started my journey at Shivaji Nagar in Bengaluru, where people from the Muslim community are in majority. The streets come alive every evening after prayers, with colourful lights and tents, giving the streets a market fair-type makeover.

Right from the start, you’ll be welcomed by a smorgasbord of different meats marinated in delicious spices and delectable sauces.

Dahi Malai is made of equal parts milk and sugar. (Deeksha Devadiga/South First)

It was hard not to be overwhelmed by all the options presented in front of me and the vendors can be very persuasive in their ways. I decided to take a tour of the street before I started eating and, in retrospect, that was a wise move.

The first thing I tried was Dahi Malai, which was a safe bet. Dahi Malai is a sweet dish made of milk and sugar and it tastes very much like lassi but much sweeter. For ₹25, they gave me a small bowl of this sweet dish.

I also saw an assortment of Bengali sweets like sandesh, roshogolla and rajbhog, along with many other traditional sweets.

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Camel meat: Expect the unexpected

When I asked the local vendors about the best meats that are a must-try here in the market, camel meat was the unanimous answer. They were even kind enough to guide me to the shop that sold it.

There was only one shop that was selling camel meat in Shivaji Nagar, which, despite being famous, has a makeshift tent for a stall.

Camel meat bought from Rajasthan was marinated in different spices. (Deeksha Devadiga/South First)

They had people buying raw camel meat from them, but they also had marinated camel meat on skewers for sale. I opted for the seekh and although I was sceptical in the beginning, the taste took me completely by surprise.

The meat was served with chopped onions and cabbage leaves. Two seekh kebabs cost ₹120. The dish was absolutely heavenly and my only criticism would be the lack of green chutney.

Talking to the seller, who did not want to be named, I learnt that they have been selling camel meat for the past 25 years at Shivaji Nagar. “For the past 25 years during Ramzan, we get camel meat from Rajasthan and people buy it because the meat is very delicious when cooked as a curry,” he told South First.

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Haleem: An anti-climatic experience

Shivaji Nagar offered various meat, prawn, and fish dishes. (Deeksha Devadiga/South First)

My next stop was just outside Hotel Prince that had its own makeshift shanty. They were selling haleem and all social media platforms had been raving about haleem since the beginning of Ramzan.

Haleem is a festive favourite and is prepared with lentils, pounded wheat, and spices, and can be made with different kinds of meats — chicken and mutton being the most common.

I picked up chicken haleem for myself. However, turns out, I did not like it much. The texture of the haleem was pasty and chewy, which made it difficult for me to eat it.

Shivaji Nagar also had a whole range of rich rolls, which looked exquisite and were truly delicious. The place really comes alive post 10 pm and I would absolutely recommend a visit over the weekend with friends.

Also Read: Ramzan 2023: Here are the 5 best places in Hyderabad to eat haleem

Frazer Town: The ultimate place for meat lovers

Tiger prawns fried in butter and garlic at Frazer Town. (Deeksha Devadiga/South First)

The next — and the most recommended — place was Mosque Road at Frazer Town. As we approached the food stalls, we caught a glimpse of vendors setting up their huge grills, ablaze with roaring fires to cook the meats.

If I thought Shivaji Nagar was something, Frazer Town was just next level. The streets were lined with slabs of stones on an open fire for various types of meat to cook, seekhs on skewers, sizzling kebabs, and more.

The entire road easily had more than 50 stalls to choose from. I started with king prawns that cost ₹150 for two pieces. The prawns were available in two different varieties — hariyali and masala.

Although they were marinated in different spices, they tasted very much alike. My bad luck, the hariyali prawn was undercooked, but the masala prawn was cooked well and tasted good.

Pathar-ka-gosht is a must-have at Frazer Town. Pathar-ka-gosht is prepared with mutton by heating it on a wide stone, on a flame. It was served with shavings of cabbage and carrots. The meat was a bit dry and chewy, but it was very well-seasoned. A full serving costs ₹200, but you can also ask for a half plate.

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The healthiest snack of all

Ram Kand Mool is a drum-shaped tuber found in South India, (Deeksha Devadiga/South First)

While roaming the streets, I came across a person who was selling a peculiar kind of fruit. Intrigued, I enquired and learnt it was Ram Kand Mool, which is a root fruit that grows under the earth.

The seller had a unique way of cutting a slice of the fruit from the root he had. It was intriguing to watch him prepare it, but that is where all the fun ends, because it tasted like nothing. Literally. It was like eating a wet piece of paper.

The fruit itself is not great to taste but it apparently has many health benefits.

Manoj, the seller, told South First, “It can cool your stomach and satisfy your thirst.”

Wouldn’t particularly recommend this one but hey, if this peculiar root fruit piques your curiosity… give it a go!

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Desserts galore: A much-need break from the meat coma

Kubani-ka-Meetha is an Indian dessert made from dried apricots. (Creative Commons)

Besides the non-vegetarian feast, Frazer Town also has a wide range of desserts available, ideal for anyone with a sweet tooth.

Khubani-Ka-Meetha is a traditional Hyderabadi dessert with three rich layers — the bottom layer is a jelly-like consistency made of dried apricot, the second layer is falooda, and the last layer had rich cream mixed with dry fruits.

This was my first time trying the sweet dish and it did not disappoint. It was delectable and had just the right amount of sweetness to it.

They also had jalebis, milk pedas, along with a variety of smoothies and flavoured drinks like kiwi, strawberries and so on.

Tip: Buy a flavoured drink before you begin your food journey. I used it as a palette cleaner before trying different meats.

Albert Bakery: Goat brain puff

Albert Bakery is a 120-year-old bakery known for its classic goat brain puff. (Deeksha Devadiga/South First)

If you are in Frazer Town, don’t miss Albert Bakery, which is just a minute’s walk from Mosque Road. During Ramzan, they serve their famous mouth-watering goat brain puff.

Go early as these special puffs sell like hotcakes. They open for service at 5 pm and close around 9 pm.

Their menu also has other snacks like mini samosas and baked biscuits that are worth trying.

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Johnson Market: Go for the rolls

Johnson Market is a year-long paradise for any meat lover, but come Ramzan, this place elevates to another level.

At Johnson Market, the kebabs are grilled to perfection. (Deeksha Devadiga/South First)

The first thing I tried was the mutton paya (trotter) soup and it was the perfect balance of earthy and spicy to hit you in the gut. One taste of the soup and I couldn’t put the spoon down until the last drop was polished off.

Also available in the market are beef kebabs, haleem, puffs, and many desserts.

Many shops also served khichda, which was available with all kinds of meat. You can try it if you fancy yourself a thin, runny version of haleem.

The rolls I tried at Johnson Market were by far the best I have tried anywhere in Bengaluru. They had a choice of veal, chicken, beef, and mutton rolls. You will not be disappointed by any of these choices.

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Pro tips for first-timers

Food is the centre point of any celebration and when certain foods are available only during a particularly festive occasion, the appeal is slathered on thick.

Tip 1: If you are planning a food walk on any of these streets, carry cash. Not all places allow digital transactions.

Tip 2: While the early bird gets the worm, the early foodie gets a chance to try all the best delicacies, which will get snatched up at the blink of an eye once the streets start filling up.

Tip 3: If crowded places aren’t your thing, you can get the food packed and enjoy it in the comfort of your home. Although, fair warning, the food might lose some of its taste/juiciness and probably won’t taste as good when it’s eaten much later.

So, what are you waiting for, hit up your friends, and make plans to go on a binge-eating drive.