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Whether you are there on a holiday or for work, Ahmedabad isn’t without its surprises. A bustling city with wide roads, more shopping than you can handle and food that will make you gain a little weight, and not to mention the intense history of the city (It’s also India’s first UNESCO’s heritage city), there’s a certain quaintness about the city that is hard to ignore, despite the fact that it’s often referred to as a ‘smart city’.
Primarily a vegetarian State, Gujarat in itself is a treasure trove of food, especially when it comes to street food. And as the city develops, malls appear and so on, there’s a lot more Ahmedabad has to offer - from Asian delicacies to European food, albeit mostly still vegetarian. And the growing popularity of cafes, and thus coffee, paired with quite a wide range of sandwiches, pizzas are a thing here, and anything that has cheese and can be eaten as a snack.
But what took away all my attention is the city’s absolute love for its own food. From the dhoklas and khamans to an entire thali - Ahmadabadis LOVE to eat out. So while in Ahmedabad, you do as they do, eat! So if you’re in the city for a couple of days, here’s a list of places - from eateries to restaurants – that you must eat at. I did and loved each experience.
1: Das Khaman House, Navrangpura
Rocking the khaman scene in Ahmedabad since 1922, Das Khaman House is where you go to get some breakfast, and you go early lest they run out. There are at least eight branches of Das Khaman House in Ahmedabad, so pick the one closest to you, but if you can, go to the OG outlet at Navrangpura. From plain khaman to ones with red chillies or black pepper or curd spiced with more red chillies - this is a must-try. They also do khandavi and dhoklas, in case you want something else apart from khaman. Prices here come up to INR 250-300 approx for two people.
Where: Trade center, Shop No. 2, Stadium Cross Rd, Navarangpura Gam, Navrangpura
Details: www.daskhaman.com
2: Gopi Dining Hall, Satellite
Ever been to a restaurant where you’re treated like one of their own? Gopi is one such place where you’ll end up having to eat more than you’d bargained for simply because they ask so nicely. The whole ‘take some more food’ practice that makes Indian hospitality so endearing comes to life here. What you get here are thalis - Gujarati and Kathiyawadi, and depending on which one you pick, you get a plateful of sabzi, farsan, roti or puri, dal or kadhi, bharela ravaiya, bajra rotla, bhakhri, chaas and papad of course– the works. And when you’re sure you absolutely cannot eat more – yes they will keep asking you if you want more – make puppy eyes to get them to stop. A Gujarati thali here is priced at INR 360 and a Kathiywadi thali here would set you back by INR 390.
Where: Sahjanand Complex, 100 Feet Road, Satellite
3: Gordhan Thal, Bodakdev
One of the most popular places in Ahmedabad, Gordhan Thal serves one of the most wholesome Gujarati thalis in the city, a fact that’s proven by the sheer crowd the place attracts. The ornate environment is quite spacious and lends a rather traditional vibe. The good thing is people don’t quite linger here even though we’d recommend a reservation. And the thali is quite bottomless, but please leave some room for the Basundi, because no one leaves Gordhan Thal without trying some. A thali here is priced at INR 400.
Where: Sapath Complex, Ground Floor, Sarkhej - Gandhinagar Highway, Opposite Rajpath Club, Bodakdev
4: Agashiyeh, House of MG
Dress up for Agashiyeh – you’ll thank us later – and make a date with yourself. This stunning rooftop restaurant is probably one of the most premium places in the city for a Gujarati thali, even if it’s slightly more tuned for tourists. The thali comes in two versions – kansa and silver – and you pay in advance. The kansa thali has fewer dishes than the silver, but it’s still more than enough for one person. In fact, it’s a lot more. They love their refills and will be generous with the ghee and white butter – and delicious flavours of the chutneys and papad etc. It’s an experience, this restaurant, nestled in a heritage building that’s been converted into a hotel, which is why if you’re visiting Ahmedabad for the first time, you might want to check it out. The food however isn’t what sets this place apart, it's the whole grandeur of the experience. The kansa thali here is INR 1495 plus taxes and the silver thali will cost you INR 2195 plus taxes.
Where: House of MG, Lal Darwaja
Details: https://houseofmg.com
5: Atithi, Bodakev
A simple dining hall that’s motto is to focus on local food, Atithi, which is about 23 years old, serves traditional Gujarati thalis that visitors absolutely must try. The thali usually comes with four kinds of dishes with vegetables, roti, puri, dal, kadhi, rice, papad, salad, aachar etc – in a nutshell, it’s all about wholesome Gujarati khana and nothing else. A Gujarati thali here costs INR 350.
Where: Mohini, Zanzarwadi Rd, opposite Shraddha Petrol Pump, Bodakdev
Details: http://www.atithiindia.com