A moderate climate and its proximity to beautiful temples makes Coimbatore a sought-after destination. Besides these, the city also has a rich cuisine that reflects the diversity of the people that reside there. Be it North Indian chaat or traditional snacks from Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore is home to some tasty street food. If you’re in the city, we recommend trying these six street foods at selected stalls and hole-in-the-wall restaurants:
Dosa
Especially popular for breakfast, dosa is served at street stalls across Coimbatore. Best enjoyed with steaming hot sambhar and coconut chutney, dosa in the city comes in many varieties like podi, onion, tomato and even kaalan (mushroom). Find dosa vendors along TK Street or try the ones at Thala Thalapathy Dosa Shop in Lakshmi Mills.
Paniyaram
Also known as paddu, paniyaram is a popular Tamil street snack. It is made using a rice batter, onions and green chillies, and is spherical in shape. Paniyaram is best enjoyed with tomato or coconut chutney. Find paniyaram at Namma Veedu Paniyaram in Selvapuram, or Thaai Unavagam in Ganapathy.
Kothu parotta
A well-known Tamil specialty, kothu parotta is made by shredding flaky parotta and cooking it with vegetables, egg or chicken and masala. The dish originated in Madurai and Chennai, and is now served across Tamil Nadu. Find kothu parotta at Valarmathi Mess in Race Course, or Kovai Parotta Kadai near Avinashi Road.
Kalan
‘Kalan’ translates to mushrooms. Kalan varuval is essentially mushrooms stir-fried with pepper. Another Tamil mushroom dish is made by boiling fried mushrooms, onions and vegetables in a spicy broth until it becomes porridge-like. In Coimbatore, vendors selling kalan can be found near the VOC park area, or near Brookefields mall.
Bhajji
Bhajji can be prepared using plantain, chillies and even bread. They go well with tea, and are usually spicy. The ingredients are dipped in a spicy flour batter and deep-fried until they turn golden brown. You can find bhajji at nearly every street corner in Coimbatore.
Cheese murukku sandwich
Vendors selling different types of sandwiches are common in Coimbatore, but cheese murukku sandwiches are a local specialty. It is made using cucumber, tomatoes and onions, which are sandwiched between two discs of murukku and topped with a generous amount of grated cheese. Find cheese murukku sandwiches at The Cake Houz in Selvapuram.