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Known popularly as the “Steel Plant of India,” Rourkela in Odisha is famed for its industrial prowess, housing several industries, such as cement, fabrication, and sponge iron. The city is also marked by an eclectic food scene, boasting wholesome dishes like dalma as well as mouthwatering street foods, including gupchup and bara ghuguni, among its ranks. Drop by the local establishment, Bijay Fast Food, to get a taste of the flavourful gupchup dish.
Rourkela’s proximity to the famous Jagannath Puri Temple also has an impact on the city’s cuisine, with a majority of the local dishes being vegetarian. Foods such as rice, lentils, vegetables, and fresh greens are extensively used in the Odia specialties of Rourkela. Although these dishes are delicious and appetising, they are quite subtle in their flavour; they are known to satisfy the palate without overpowering one’s taste buds.
Check out the top 7 local delicacies of Rourkela.
Gupchup
The crunchy gupchup is Odisha’s answer to the universally beloved pani puri and golgappas of Maharashtra and Delhi, respectively. To craft this speciality, a hole is drilled at the centre of bite-sized puris; subsequently, the puris are stuffed with pungent tamarind water and chickpea filling. Available in almost every street corner of Rourkela, gupchup makes for a tasty as well as an invigorating evening snack.
Recommendations: Maa Durga Gupchup Centre
Type: Vegetarian
Cost For Two: ₹100, approx.
Dahibara Aludam
Image Credits: By Prateek Pattanaik - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0/Wikimedia Commons
Although this dish has roots in the neighbouring Odia city of Cuttack, it’s enjoyed in Rourkela as well. To craft this lips-smacking chaat, lentil-infused dahi vadas, known locally as "dahi bara,” are drenched in a mixture of dahi water, mustard seeds, and curry leaves. The dish is then topped off with spicy aloo dum, onions, and chilli powder. Some variations of the dish also incorporate ghuguni and crispy sev as toppings.
Recommendations: Mohanty Dahibara Stall
Type: Vegetarian
Cost For Two: ₹200, approx.
Bara Ghuguni
A treasured street food snack of Odisha, bara ghuguni comprises two components—lentil fritters known as “bara” and a yellow pea gravy called “ghuguni.” The crispy bara is typically made from urad dal, rice, and semolina, plus spices, including green chillies and ginger. Apart from yellow peas, the robust ghuguni incorporates ingredients such as tomatoes, onions, potatoes, and spices like ginger, turmeric, and cumin.
Recommendations: Jaga Balia Tiffin
Type: Vegetarian
Cost For Two: ₹100, approx.
Dalma
Image Credits: By Subhashish Panigrahi - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0/Wikimedia Commons
Dalma is an authentic Odia-dal-based speciality. The dish is prepared by boiling chana dal with a host of locally sourced vegetables, including elephant’s foot, eggplant, arbi, and pumpkin. Spices like turmeric, cinnamon, red chilli, and black pepper are also added to infuse the dal with added bursts of flavour. Typically eaten with rice and ghee, dalma is popularly served as “Mahaprasad” at the iconic Jagannath Puri Temple.
Recommendations: Dalma Restaurant
Type: Vegetarian
Cost For Two: ₹300, approx.
Santula
Santula is a traditional Odia curry-based dish crafted from mixed vegetables, including pumpkin, eggplant, potato, and tomato. These vegetables are simmered together and subsequently fried in oil alongside ingredients like green chillies, chopped onions, and a local Odia masala known as “panch phoran.” Despite using minimal spices, santula boasts smoky flavours, making it a staple across Odia households. The dish is usually enjoyed with rice.
Recommendations: Puspanjali Kitchen House
Type: Vegetarian
Cost For Two: ₹250, approx.
Rasabali
Image Credits: By Swetapadma07 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0/Wikimedia Commons
A cherished dessert of Odisha, rasabali is made by flattening and deep-frying cottage cheese dumplings and dousing them in a sweetened milk mixture. Flavourings like cardamom and saffron are also used in the preparation of this speciality. Rasabali is deeply entrenched in the culture of Odisha, having received the renowned GI tag. It is even famously served as part of the esteemed “Chappan Bhog” at the Jagannath Puri Temple.
Recommendations: Dalma Restaurant
Type: Vegetarian
Cost For Two: ₹300, approx.
Chenna Poda
Image Credits: By http://recipes.oriyaonline.com/content_images/chhena%20poda.JPG/Wikimedia Commons
Fondly referred to as the “Indian cheesecake,” chenna poda is a quintessential Odia dessert crafted from cottage cheese. To prepare this fluffy, melt-in-the-mouth delicacy, paneer pieces are blended with ingredients, such as sugar, semolina, and cardamom, and baked till the concoction takes on a golden-brown colour. The dish is a fixture during festivals, including Diwali, and also forms an offering at Odisha’s Jagannath Puri Temple.
Recommendations: The Rasgolas
Type: Vegetarian
Cost For Two: ₹300, approx.
