Warangal is a delightful slice of history nestled in Telangana, India. This charming city envelops you in verdant fields and rolling hills dotted with lakes and rock formations. The mouthwatering local cuisine artfully blends traditional and modern flavours to delight your taste buds. Drawing on Persian influences, the traditional dishes showcase locally sourced ingredients like tamarind, corn, sugarcane, lemon, curry leaves, nuts, spices, and green chillies.
You must try classics like nimma pulihora (lemon rice), succulent mutton kormas, the famous Warangal biryani, mirchi salan, jalebi, pachi pulusu (tamarind soup), uppudi pindi (poha), baghara baigan, ragi sangati and more. Don't pass up the scrumptious street snacks either - mirchi bajjis, sakinalu, and gongura vadiyalu are lip-smacking! With fascinating heritage sites, picturesque landscapes, and delicious food, Warangal captivates your senses. Here, rich history and modern comforts blend seamlessly for an unforgettable travel experience. Telangana's glorious past shines in this charming gem of a city.
Here are the ten delicious traditional dishes from Warangal, Telangana for you to try on your visit:
Sakinalu
Sakinalu is a traditional snack from Warangal. This crunchy treat is made with rice flour and sesame seeds, creating a savoury taste that the locals love. The sesame seeds give sakinalu its signature nuttiness, while the rice flour makes it perfectly crispy.
Image credit: Freepik
Restaurant Recommendations: Kalyani Sweets & Home Foods, Battala Bazar, Sherpura, Warangal
Type: Vegetarian
Budget: ₹100–200 approx.
Pesarattu
In the city of Warangal in India, a favourite breakfast food is pesarattu. This tasty dish is made from green grams that are soaked overnight and then ground into a batter. The batter is spread thin on a hot griddle to make a crepe-like pancake. Pesarattu is served with a spicy ginger chutney that adds a zing of flavour.
Restaurant Recommendations: Stuti Pure Veg Restaurant, Girmajipet, Warangal
Type: Vegetarian
Budget: ₹100–300 approx.
Malidalu
Malidalu is a sweet dish made by taking leftover chapatis and mixing them with jaggery, ghee, and dry fruits. The chapatis soak up the sweet jaggery syrup, becoming soft and delicious. Malidalu is loved for its simple yet flavourful ingredients. It's a thrifty way to use up leftover bread in a mouthwatering dessert. This dish is an iconic part of the region's cuisine.
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Restaurant Recommendations: Laxmi Chandamama Sweets & Home Foods, Subedari, Warangal
Type: Vegetarian
Budget: ₹200–400 approx.
Alasanda Vada
Alasanda Vada is a mouthwatering snack. These crispy fritters are made from black-eyed peas, then fried to golden perfection. What makes Alasanda Vada special is the spicy coconut chutney and tangy onion relish served alongside.
Restaurant Recommendations: Pot Kitchen, Ramannapet, Warangal
Type: Vegetarian
Budget: ₹100–300 approx.
Ragi Sankati
Finger millet balls called ragi sankati are loved by many in Warangal. These tasty little bites are common in homes here. What makes ragi sankati special is how simple it is to make. Ragi grows well locally and is nutritious. The dish fills you up, is good for you, and goes great with spicy curries and chutneys. This yummy but humble food has been made the same way for generations. It's still a unique part of Warangal's food traditions.
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Restaurant Recommendations: Sathish Ragi Java Stall, Nizampura, Warangal
Type: Vegetarian
Budget: ₹100–250 approx
Uppudu Pindi
This famous breakfast dish from Warangal is a tasty way to start your day. It's made with rice flour, split mung beans, and aromatic spices. First, the rice and lentils are lightly fried in ghee. Then, mustard seeds, curry leaves, and red chilies are added to give it flavour. The combination of rice, lentils, and spices is comforting and delicious. This dish is a staple in many homes in Warangal, enjoyed both in the morning and evening. It's simple ingredients come together to make a hearty, nourishing meal.
Restaurant Recommendations: Nandini Udupi Upahar, Shiva Nagar, Warangal
Type: Vegetarian
Budget: ₹200–400 approx.
Image credit: Freepik
Golichina Mamsam
Golichina Mamsam is a famous and tasty mutton dish from Warangal, a city in southern India's Telangana state. This yummy dish gets its special taste from how the mutton is cooked and flavoured. The key ingredient is golichina mamsam, which means small pieces of goat meat from the rib area. The dish is cooked slowly over low heat, so the flavours soak deeply into the meat. At the end, fresh coriander leaves and roasted peanuts are sprinkled on top, adding more texture and taste. Enjoy this mouthwatering dish with rice or flatbread.
Restaurant Recommendations: Arabian Knights, Kothawada, Warangal
Type: Non-Vegetarian
Budget: ₹200–400 approx.
Chapala Vepudu
This tasty fried fish dish has a tangy kick from the special marinade. The fish soaks up flavours from turmeric, tamarind, and spices before frying. Light frying makes the outside crispy and golden brown. But the inside stays soft and flaky. The tangy, spicy marinade gives this seafood dish its signature flavour. That's why it's so popular in Warangal. People love to eat this fish with rice.
Restaurant Recommendations: Bayleaf Fine Dine Restaurant, Vasavi Colony, Kothawada, Warangal
Type: Non-Vegetarian
Budget: ₹200–400 approx.
Pala Undrallu
Pala Undrallu is a famous dessert from Warangal in Telangana. People there love to eat it during festivals. To make it, you simmer small balls of rice flour in creamy milk. Then you sweeten it with jaggery. This dessert is cozy and rich. It reminds people of the past, but it still feels new. Making and eating Pala Undrallu is an important tradition in Warangal. It brings families and friends together to celebrate.
Restaurant Recommendations: Avantha Grand Family Restaurant, near Talla Padmavathi Pharmacy college, Warangal
Type: Vegetarian
Budget: ₹200–400 approx.
Pachi Pulusu
Tamarind soup, also called pachi pulusu, is a tasty dish from Warangal in southern India. This old soup mixes the sweet and sour taste of tamarind with spicy chili heat. The main ingredients are tart tamarind juice, hot green chilies, and fragrant spices. Its special flavour and rich taste make pachi pulusu a beloved staple that shows the cooking traditions of the area. Try it with a spoon of ghee over steamed rice and papad for a delightful meal.
Restaurant Recommendations: Shivani Mess& Family Restaurant, 5WRV+HV9, Warangal
Type: Vegetarian
Budget: ₹200–400 approx.