11 Food Tour Cities in India Foodies Will Love

India is one of the world’s most varied food playgrounds. Each region has its own recipes, markets, and eating rhythms that tell a story about local history and daily life. This list gathers 11 cities where food tours give you more than a meal; they serve context, culture, and hands-on learning from cooks who have passed techniques down through families. Expect everything from royal kitchens and royal kebabs to coastal fish markets and late-night vegetarian feasts. We built this list with tours in mind—walking routes, market crawls, langar visits, and cooking classes that pair taste with explanation. Practical tips are woven in so you know when to book, what to order, and how to stay comfortable while eating street-side. Many tours are short enough for a half-day and informative enough to change how you order at restaurants afterward. If you’re planning from North America, think regionally: northern cities for kebabs and breads, eastern cities for fish and sweets, southern cities for rice-based meals and filter coffee. Use this as a starting map: choose a city based on the food you can’t stop thinking about, then pick a guided walk or a market tour that focuses on that specialty. Safe travels and happy tasting.

1. Delhi — Old Delhi evening food walk

Old Delhi is where Mughal tasting rooms and immigrant kitchens merged into lanes full of flavor. Start with a late-afternoon or evening food walk around Chandni Chowk to try parathas at the Paranthe Wali Gali, mouthwatering kebabs from century-old stalls, and chaat that balances sweet, sour, and spice in perfect measure. These walking tours pair short historical notes with each stop, so you learn why certain spices or sweets became local favorites. Evening tours are popular because the streets cool down and vendors bring out their best dishes. A practical tip: wear comfortable shoes for narrow lanes and carry hand sanitizer for stops that are more casual than restaurant-style. Many tours are listed on TripAdvisor and include local guides who explain menu terms and ordering etiquette. Expect the pace to be lively and the portions tasting-sized, which makes it easy to sample many items without getting too full. For North American travelers, this is a clear entry point to India’s layered food history—samosas are fine, but try the slower, savory treats that have fed generations.