The Kachori Trail of India
From Jodhpur's puffy pyaaz kachoris to Kolkata's club kachoris, a first-hand map of how kachoris change shape, texture, and soul as you move east across India.
According to me, the kachori trail in India runs from west to east, with an exception of Indore & Kota, which are just out of the way.
I've noticed that the kachoris are crisp and puffed up as you start from Jodhpur, and then start getting flat and crisp by the time you leave Delhi and reach Aligarh. Aligarh has crispy flat kachoris, which are personally my favourite. After Aligarh, in Lucknow & Banaras, you will have almost puris (which is another dish entirely). And in Kolkata, on the far east, you will get kachoris (but they will be puris), in my language.
Indore & Kota too have the most amazing kachoris.
Map of India with pins marking the cities on the kachori trail
The full trail, one article per city:
- Kachoris of Jodhpur: 9/10, probably the best in India
- Kachoris of Kota: a solid 8/10
- Kachoris of Jaipur: 6.5/10
- Kachoris of Delhi: 8.5/10, with a bit of nostalgia
- Kachoris of Aligarh: 9/10, my personal favourite
- Kachoris of Lucknow: 7.5/10
- Kachoris of Varanasi: 6/10
- Kachoris of Kolkata: rating pending (more to explore)
- Kachoris of Indore: 7.5/10
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Kachoris of Aligarh
Flat, large, slightly doughy inside, Aligarh kachoris are unlike anything else on the trail. Served with spicy aloo sabzi and raita, and weighted with personal memory. Rated 9/10.
Kachoris of Delhi
Delhi serves two distinct kachori styles, khasta dal kachori with fiery aloo subzi, and flat kachoris topped with chole. A decade of eating at Shri Ganesh Corner has made it personal. Rated 8.5/10.