Jabalpur’s Old Train Coach Is Now A Beautiful Restaurant On Wheels; 5 Street Foods From The City&nbs

It was only a few weeks ago that we heard the news of Kolkata’s tram being revamped into a street food eatery for the residents and now we have another beautiful restaurant on wheels in Madhya Pradesh. Dining at fine-dining restaurants in posh markets and localities is probably passé. It is now time to enjoy hearty meals at train coaches. Although this is not the first time that train coaches are being converted into eating spaces, as West Bengal’s Asansol station was given a makeover in 2020. This time, Madhya Pradesh has been roped in by the Indian Railways, which plans to extend this initiative to six other coaches in the near future.  

Located at Platform 6 of the Jabalpur Railway Station, this old and unused coach is being put to a good and productive use under the Non-Revenue Policy of the Indian Railways. The policy states that the railways can incur more income through sources beyond passengers and freights. This not only allows the railway department to diversify their revenue sources, but also create an attractive spot for tourists and locals. The coach will continue to be operational under Indian Railways and provide the best experience to its customers.  

The Indian Railways recently tweeted from its official handle, stating, “Coach to Restaurant!! Indian Railways is refurbishing its old railway coaches, which are not fit for use in trains, by turning them into beautiful concept restaurants making them an attraction for travellers.” There are more such concept restaurants in the pipeline which will be expanded to Bhopal and other states. 

                 Source: Ministry of Railways/Twitter

Aren’t you inquisitive about what Jabalpur has to offer you now? We can see you slurping already so here are some of the most popular street foods of the city that you may get to devour at this restaurant too.  

1.   Falahari Chaat  

This chatpati chaat is a fabulous combination of fruits and vegetables. Potatoes are a core component of this chaat along with several fruits like pineapples, oranges and apples etc. Everything is diced into smaller cubes and mixed with salt, pepper, amchur powder and a dash of lime juice. The fruits and vegetables are tossed on a tawa in pure desi ghee and cooked in milk fat. The dish is garnished with some pomegranate seeds (anardana) and relished.  

2.   Aloo Bonda  

A tea-time snack that is devoured with a side of tomato chutney, aloo bonda can be found in every nook and corner of Jabalpur. The deep-fried potato ball is made with a mixture of potatoes, green chillies and a host of spices. This is then dipped in a thick, gram-flour batter and fried until it turns golden brown. The crispy treat is enjoyed as a breakfast item or during evenings.  

3.   Khopra Pak  

It is a popular Gujarati dessert that has carved a place in the hearts of the Jabalpuris too. Made from carped coconut and mawa, the sweet dish is flavoured with saffron and cardamom. The small, square-shaped cubes of this orange-coloured dry sweet dish have a soft texture, all thanks to the use of mawa.  

4.   Bhutte Ki Kees  

Although the Bhutte Ki Kees originated in Indore, it has spread to other parts of Madhya Pradesh too, including Jabalpur. This dish translates into grated corn which is stir-fried and cooked in milk. This is then garnished with grated coconut and roasted peanuts for the crunch. This mildly sweet and spicy snack is perfect for a filling breakfast as well as for evening hunger pangs.  

5.   Bhaji Vada  

The Bhaji Vada is a very popular and common street snack that is also made in households, especially during the rainy season. Just like most parts of North India satiate their cravings for pakoras during monsoon, several areas in Madhya Pradesh start frying bhaji vadas. Made from lentils like chana dal or gram dal, along with amaranth greens, the mixture is dunked into hot oil and deep-fried till they attain a crispy texture.