Shahidnagar Chaat

Bhubaneswar is one of the fastest growing cities in India. Food joints are popping out in the city almost every day like wild mushrooms. Before the concept of fine dining or even sit down casual dining found its feet in the city, it was always filled with plethora of roadside food vendors with an array of local food options. Age old traditional delicacies like singada (samosa), alu chop (alu bonda), pakodas, dahi bada, alu dum, paani puri, gugguni (white peas curry) and aloo chaat still are the staple breakfast and snack options for the quintessential Odia. Though chaat is available across the city in specific pockets, four shops near Rupali Square in Shahidnagar are probably the oldest and the most popular of them all. The menu is simple—aloo chat. A mix of white peas curry, potato, dahi bada, tamarind chutney, tomato chutney, curd, bhujia, mixture and paapdi garnished with onions and coriander leaves. This delightful dish attracts visitors every evening and the place is crowded with people from all strata and ages. To avoid the crowd, many people carry the plates to the cars and enjoy it by the roadside.