For all Gujju food lovers part-1

To all my Tasty Food loving Gujjus---From the soul of my stomach

By Himanshu Acharya

By default, Gujju’s are food loving guys. They always in the mood of exploring new food spots and at the same time they don’t let go their original or you can say their fix food spots. So keeping in mind the same, herewith I will give you some very food spots across whole Gujarat, not only in Ahmedabad or Gandhinagar. Readers are not only encouraged but requested to fill the list at the max so that all are benefited. I mean to say comment more and more by giving more and more good places for food all over Gujarat. Let’s do it together both increase sales of these guys and our west size (tummy).

Let’s start it with in traditional style, from holy place called “DAKOR”:

You all have heard and tasted “MAGANVALLABH NA GOTA” from Dakor,, yes that very spicy in taste, very big, dark and served with curd opposite to Main temple in DAKOR. Many ladies bought “GOTA no LOT” from Dakor and later make it at home. But here I would like to inform you all about some other places in same DAKOR, which you tested once, will never forgot.

There is one place called VADABAZAR in Dakor and there one old temple under Baniyan Tree, exact adjacent to that temple there is one traditional gotawala called “CHETAN GOTAWALO”, who opens his shop only during morning 8 to 11 during whole day. But his gota is excellent, I visits Dakor generally 4-5 times during a year, but till date I had hardly tested MAGAN na gota 2-3 time but I visit CHETAN GOTA center each time without fail.

Second one is “BAHERA BOBDA’s VATIDAL NA KHAMAN”. This one is my most favorite as this khaman is soft and very spicy. This person is totally Deaf and Dumb, he only talk with us in terms of finger pointing. There is price list there, we have to point our finger toward 250G or 500G and he will pack accordingly. I can bet with you guys, you may buy from him once because of soreness, but you will surely buy second time because of taste. This place is near temple Gaushala, just ask anybody around the main temple he will definitely show you the way, it is very near to main temple.

If you go from Ahmedabad, both places com before the main temple

My Second one is Gandhinagar, as I am from Gandhinagar itself.

There is not any known place here like Dakor (gota). But I will tell you some places where you can find some very good one.

In sector-21, there is Saurashtra Pharsan House, in main Shopping Center. It is very famous and anyone in sector-21 can show you the way. Try here SAMOSA with his special Dalwali chutney, I have tested samosa at more than 100 places, but this one is unique in taste. I was generally visit the same once in a week. Specially hot samosa with chutney is really cool around 9AM

In sector-6, near Gh-2 petrol pump, there is one Rikshaw standing after 4PM everyday, his VADAPAV and DABELI is excellent. He uses special garlic dry chutney for vadapav. His vadapav is 1000% times better than original Mumbai VADAPAV. I can tell you the same as I am currently staying in Mumbai more than a year and eating vadapav regularly.

In Sector-22, Panchdev ni Panipuri, this panipuiriwalo is standing opposite to famous Panchdev Mandir, and his panipuri is highest TIKHKHI and tasty among all. Please note that there are so many puriwala’s standing there, you go to one where there is maximum crowd.

There is a TRIMANDIR (Dada Bhagvan one) near Adalaj chokdi. There is a restaurant in the mandir primacies, but go for BHOJANALYA of mandir itself, which is some 200-300 meter away from mandir, you can get the passes from mandir office (near shoe stand), it is relatively very cheap (15-20Rs). They give very simple food but taste is really good, it is worth tasting once. You can use this facility if you are coming or going from Ahmedabad-Mehsana highway.

To all Gujju Food Lovers part 2

For Ahmedabad, I would like to hear from readers. But I can’t stop myself referring one very good spot for Ganthiya lovers residing in satellite, bopal (new Ahmedabad).




Sanand is just 13KM away from Sarkhej, but this will be worth for food lover specially Ganthiya lovers. In sanand, on the main road itself (right side corner), near the Gadhiya Lake (talav), there is SAURASHTRA GANTHIYA HOUSE. His ganthiyas are as usual but main thing is his chutney (capcicum crushed chutney and special power on the ganthiya), which again I bet you will never find in original Saurashtra also. This one is my most favorite. You will surely not go to GANTHIYA RATH near to your house again once you taste this one.



If you are ahmedabadi, then will surely know Mother Dairy located near Indira Bridge(Bhat). Here I suggest you to go for AMUL PIZA, which is originally made in the same mother dairy as this dairy is affiliated to AMUL. Once you taste this 40 Rs or higher pizza, you will surely forget US pizza and pizzahut. I remember there was very small outlet outside dairy gate some 3-4 years ago and they sold daily 40-50 pizza when they started. Today they sold nearly 400-500 piza during weekdays and during weekend this touched to 1000 as well. It opens during morning 8 to night 11. Specialty thing here is their OWEN, which is very large and chain operated. You might have tasted Amul pizza somewhere else, but then also I suggest you too taste it once here, it is all different thing.





Now moving towards the Saurashtra region, on the Ahmedabad-Rajkot highway, there are so many hotels in between. There is one in Chotila called LALA RAGHUVANSHI KATHIAWADI HOTEL, which serves real kathiawadi food, specially at night. In one thali there is rotla, kadhi, khidi, special vadhvani marcha, and lot many other things. It requires 2-3 people to finish one thali. Taste is very good.





Now in Rajkot, there is one famous BHELWALo on Yagnik road, rest readers have to add.



Now this one from Kutch region, on the way to MATA NO MADH, just before the same (almost five kilometer before) on the turning there is one DHABA type hotel. Location is really good; some says District Collector would also like to eat here during the official visits in this region. Food is like full thali and chas with some very good sweet. There is a small hill exact behind the DHABA.



In Surat, LOCHO is famous but I like it least.



But you can find Fresh NEERO (previous state of TADI), near the SURAT railway station. There is one place called Neera Bhavan on first floor of building, where you can have fresh neero in early morning also. Actually morning is the best time to have neero. It tastes like carbonated nariyel pani.



There is also one shop (Jalaram Khidi House) where you can find varieties of only KHICHDI on rander road, near new pani ni tanki, near sahaj store.



In Vadodara, there is one very famous thing from MANGAL BAZAR, a KACHORI. You should have taste it once. Also LILO CHEVDO is altime famous, but you should beware of fraud one. Go for original JAGDISH, it really matters here in this case.



In Nadiad, near Santram Mandir, towards Dakor side, just opposite to one theatre, there is one shop (I think its name is Yashoda), where you can find very good dry KACHORI (tuver wali - small round one) and SEV KHAMANI with special chutney.



In Khambhat, you might have heard about Khambat’s HALVASAN and Suterfeni, these both things are good here. But I would like to draw your attention towards one special thing which got enormous appreciation wherever I carry it (in podicherry also people like it). There is one shop called RK chavan mart, which only sold PAPADIYU CHAVANU, I again bet you, will not stop after eating one bite of this chavanu. But go for original RK only hich is situated at PITH area, near Zanda Chowk. Friends of mine who are reading this post will surely remember it.



In Ambaji, there is Mandir trust run Bhojanalaya, which is the best place to eat there. It is situated on the main road.



In Surendranagar, Sikander ni SING (groundnut) is very famous on main bazaar road. Other thing is Rajeshwari Farsan’s SEV-MAMRA which is exported by them.





All above things are personally tasted by me at particular place, and not only once but frequently/whenever I got chance. I am sure real food/junk food lover has definitely read until this line and he will also write his favorite one from his own city in the comments.



But Above all, best food in the whole world I have ever tested and tested until writing this post is My Mother (who forgets salt, chilly and many thing frequently now because of age), my SAS (mother in law) and my wife. I am saying this not only because of affection towards them, but really tastewise they cook everything better then all above. Especially mothers’s Undhiyu, SaS’s Punjabi dishes and wife’s alu parotha, dal dhokli (generally we eat once in a week) and many more things.



Amir Khan can only tell you “ALL IS WEL”, but I will give the same by saying that “ALL ARE WELCOME” to my home for testing. Please populate this comments list so that this post becomes precious posts ever till date. Add maximum places so that everyone can be benefitted.



Author can be reached at himanshu.acharya@gmail.com