Danny FernandesThe street food scene has been elevated to a status quo of sorts with people from all walks of life wandering on the streets looking for something to savor and delight their tongues and tummies. Be it Pani Puris, chicken shawarma, or the ubiquitous wada pav, all and everyone wants to taste the street market delicacies.
Goa being a tourist haven and a regional culinary hotspot is way ahead of all small cities as a foodie’s paradise with exclusive regional fares that are not only healthy but unique in their preparation. Take for e.g. Ros Omelette, a quintessential egg-based street food dish that is scrambled and dunked in extremely unique trademark masalas scooped all around to create a culinary masterpiece.
The rage of the dish is so pervasive that people irrespective of social status swear by its taste and flavour. Goan street food is a league in itself with many dishes making it to the top of the charts not only in domestic circuits but in international cuisine as well. This credit goes to the Goan diaspora settled abroad from Europe, the Americas, Africa, Middle East who took the initiative of creating fusion-based street food by including the humble Goan ingredients and recipes.
The ever-encompassing presence of Gaddas aka street carts in every street corner dishing local fares like Ros Omelette and Mirchi Pav will make you crave for more. In the 90’s there were very few authentic Ros Omelette stalls stationed at fixed corners where only a few patrons could locate them. But nowadays, you will find the best Ros Omelette chefs in Goa everywhere and anywhere. Ros Omelette is a Goan tradition and a signature street food in itself and there will be hardly anyone in Goa who has not sampled it at least once in his lifetime.
Top 9 Goan Street Food Delicacies You Must-try
Ros Omelette
Ros Omelette is a Goan traditional and a signature street food in itself and there will be hardly anyone in Goa who has not sampled it at least once in his lifetime. A well-seasoned omelette dunked in flavorful mutton xacuti is what a match made in heaven would taste like. Ros omelette is hands down one of the best street food in Goa. Definitely a must-try when in Goa.
Some iconic places to try the best Ros Omelette in Goa are:
- Sandeep Gaddo, Navelkar Arcade Road, Panjim: This 25-year-old eatery is a behemoth when it comes to the authentic Ros Omelette with a finger-licking taste
- Khareband, Opposite D’silva Bar, Margao: According to people, this is the starting point of the Ros Omelette tradition in Goa. People swear by the spiced coconut-based gravy dish with largesse of mutton chops sprinkled here and there.
- Sirsat No.1, Along the Road from Vinayak Bar & Restaurant, Assagao: Not to let the coastal area down, we have also included this iconic eatery in Assagao where you will find a different level of Ros Omelette preparation.
Every place in Goa has a different recipe for creating Ros Omelette. Some prepare it using mutton or chicken or plain but the base remains the same – Coconut gravy with onion – and coriander grind.
With a special light and hearty masala base paste and a secret recipe passed down from generations, it’s the beeline of people who wait impatiently to eat it that makes it unique.
Choris Pao
A delicious Pork based snack, which is filling for a single person consisting of pork meat and tangy masalas. Traditional Goan pav filled with the exclusive Goan sausages(you can find these only in Goa) which is a burst of authentic Goan flavors. If you ask me for my go to Goan street food, I would vouch on choris pav at any given time.
Cutlet Pav (pao)
Also called the Goan burger variety, cutlet pav has attained a cult status at every nook and cranny on Goa’s streets. It normally uses meat like beef, minced mutton, minced chicken, or simple plain vegetables for the veggie folks. Succulent & juicy, the cutlet pav is a must-have item to try when suffering from hunger pangs. Deep fried to perfection, beef & chicken recipes loaded inside along with a smattering of vegetables make this dish a foodie’s delight.
Mutton Soup
Mutton soup also commonly called as cald apart from being tasty is one Goan street food that also has health benefits. You have cold go have mutton soup from a food cart in Goa and phew your cold will disappear. This Goan street food is what comfort feels like specially during the winter season. You can find this mutton soup on any Goan street food cart that sells ros omelette.
Fish Cutlets
Also known as fish croquettes, it is prepared by removing the flesh from fish bones and steamed before frying which makes it consume less oil. It is then combined with potatoes and spices, converted into patties, and kept for frying. The result is a golden, crispy food item to be consumed as a snack or appetizer at lunch, dinner, or even at evening tea time.
Bhaji Pav
This Goan street food is usually eaten during breakfast or as a light lunch or dinner side dish, this item is a Goan staple and is all-pervading at every hotel, street stalls, or even at big restaurants. Bhaji is normally runny or in thin consistency hence called Patal (thin) bhaji. It is usually made of dried peas (white or green peas), potatoes, Aysane Tonak (pigeon beans), or even simple, plain curry is what people consume without complaining. You can taste the best bhaji pav at Bhaiyyas Coner in Panjim, near Alfran Plaza.
Chicken Cafreal
A Portuguese-origin delicious & hearty dish and an all-time favourite Goan street dish, Chicken Cafreal was made famous at the legendary O’Coquiero fine dining restaurant, Porvorim. It is a spicy, tangy, rustic & aromatic chicken dish prepared using soft chicken pieces and dipped in a special, secret (not secret anymore like the East Indian red bottle masala) trademark green masala made of herbs and spices blended together and pan-fried or grilled. Not to forget the sprinkling of the lime juice and local Goan palm toddy which imparts a fiery taste to the mixture. You must definitely try this enticing and classy Goan delight for your trip to Goa.
Beef Stew / Chicken Stew
Spicy, tangy, and delicious, chicken stew is a mild flavoured stew that has chicken and vegetables in it. It is best served along with rice. A bowl of piping hot stew is always comforting with steamed rice as a combo.
Beef stew, an ultimate Goan white stew made using beef, pork, potatoes, and macaroni is simmered in a very mild consistency creamy sauce. This dish is loaded with protein and nutrients and is ideal for all age groups. The beauty of the stew lies in the combination of meats. You can make a stew with Pork & beef, Chicken & beef, Chicken & vegetables, and so on to create a perfect combo dish.
Xacuti (Chicken or Mutton Xacuti)
A Goan street food favourite, Xacuti is a flavoursome, wholesome, and hearty curry dish spiced with pepper, poppy seeds, chillies & coconut to be eaten at lunch or dinner. A specialty at hotels & restaurants and even on occasions, Xacuti is one of the favourite street food dishes in Goa.
We can’t single out any dish as the best street food in Goa as Goa is blessed with nature’s bounty and every street food vendor from the various talukas of Goa has their own distinct way of creating it. Take for eg, The Khola chilies of Canacona, South Goa, a special chili variety with a fiery taste. The chilies used in the preparation of any dish in the South will create a different taste and flavor profile than the one used in North Goa which has a different recipe for preparation although you get this chilly variety in North Goa too.
Being Street Smart in Goa:
Getting on the streets and not being part of its colourful characters, emotions, and dishes is a rarity. Be it North, West, South or East, Indians love to indulge in the street’s vibrant chatter and coalesce to be part of the crowd.
It’s not only the street foods, street plays and conversations that we Indians usually follow but we acknowledge it as an emotional connection, a pastime we religiously follow to release our innermost aches and pains through social gatherings.
Goa being a tourist hotspot is home to a number of day & night time activities wherein you can loosen your hair buns and be footloose and fancy-free for doing what you love the most – be on the promenades, walkways & alleys to sample some amazing Goan origin street food like Ros Omelette, Chicken roll dipped in red sauce and Mirchi Pav dunked in fiery green chutney from the GADDAS (local lingo for street carts).
Wherever you go and whichever place you belong to, you have to experience Goa to believe its wonders at least once in your lifetime. And what better way to do it than not tasting its local fares?
Soul Travelling guarantees you unforgettable street food trails and walking tours to iconic food hotspots and gastronomic venues wherein you will find the real olden days of Goa come alive right in front of you.
You will get to sample traditional and authentic dishes from the hearth of the local’s home to give you the feel of being a Goan for the day. That’s not all; you will also relieve the stories of olden Goa narrated from the mouth of a folklorist to enlighten you on the glorious past era.
Visit us at https://www.soultravelling.in to check our food trails and other offerings or DM us @soul.travelling. We will be pleased to host you for an unforgettable culinary journey right at the source – The rustic and earthy Goan home and the hole-in-the-wall eateries.
