Best places to get it:
George Restaurant & Bar, Altinho, Panaji; D’Silva Caterers, Miramar Beach(operates from a small window)
Goa’s street food market spells versatility as it not just offers lip-smacking dishes of crabs, squids or prawns, most of which are a reflection of its Portuguese connect, but also includes Maharashtrian, Chinese and North Indian varieties. Of all the places, North Goa’s Miramar beach, Mapusa, and Panjim Church Square as well as South Goa’s Margao, and Vasco are the famous street food hubs. Read on to get a glimpse of the list of top street foods in Goa.
Choris Pav – Delicious Goan Sausage
Especially famous among Goa’s Catholic community, choris is a spicy pork preparation made by seasoning precooked sausage in homemade vinegar, chilies, onions and sometimes even potatoes. Eaten with pav (soft buns), it is a favorite breakfast and tea time snack. Men and women selling choris pav on cycle as early as 7 in the morning is a common sight in Goa.
Approximate cost:
Rs 50 to 60 per plate with bread
Poi – Goa’s Local Bread
Prepared from the husk of rice, poi is a small bread roll, crusty outside and soft within, eaten with butter or spicy curries. Of late, this traditional bread of Goa has been facing fierce competition from croissants, and sliced bread and efforts have been made on the part of the government to keep the tradition going by implementing a subsidy on the sacks of flour, and increasing the selling price.
Best places to get it:
Bakeries and roadside vendors, selling pois on cycles in big baskets covered with a blue sheet
Approximate cost:
Rs 5 per piece (has been increased from Rs 3 since 2016)
Ros Omellete – A Special Gravy Omellete Preparation
This is not just a simple omellete with spices and chilies, but its USP lies in the ros (Konkani word for gravy) mostly made from spicy chicken into which the egg is dipped, and further topped with onion and coriander leaves. Goan pao serves as a perfect accompaniment for this delicious platter.
Best places to get it:
Ravi’s Ras Omelette Gaado (open from 7 pm till late night) adjacent to Panjim church; Fatima Fernandes’ food truck near Vaddi beach, Benaulim
Approximate cost:
Rs 40 per plate
Samosa – A Fried Savory
The specialty in Goa’s samosas lies in its fillings as beetroot, peas and also cabbage replaces the potato. Mint or tamarind dips served with it enhances its taste further.
Varieties: Veg samosa, chicken samosa, beef samosa
Best places to get it:Cafe Tato, Margao; Fatima Fernandes’ food truck near Vaddi beach, Benaulim; Swad, Margao; street outside the Jama Masjid, Panjim
Approximate cost:Rs 30 to 40 (for 2 pieces of veg samosa); Rs 80 to 100 (3 pieces of chicken samosa)
Rava Fish Fry – Goa’s Special Fish Delicacy
Seafood occupies a special place in Goa’s cuisine, and the famous rava fish fry, prepared by dipping fish fillets (prawns, Bombay duck, rockfish, red snapper, mussels) in a batter of rava (semolina) and seasoned with a whole lot of aromatic spices is indeed an instant hit. The golden or light brown crispy fries serve as a great side dish to feni (country liquor, exclusive in Goa) or a bottle of chilled beer.
Best places to get it:
Kuttikar bar, Panaji; Sheila Bar, Vidhyanagar colony; stalls around Morjim, Palolem, Baga and other sea beaches.
Approximate cost:
Rs 40 to 50 per piece
Shawarma – A Tasty Wrap
Though deriving its roots from Arabia, shawarma is one of the most popular and hyped street foods of the city. It is prepared on a vertical spin, by stacking pieces of lamb, beef or chicken. As the spin moves, the shavings are cut and served with mayonnaise, potato, and salad as a wrap or in buns. Tartar sauce or hummus often serves as toppings.
Varieties: Regular marinated chicken shawarma; spicy marinated chicken shawarma
Best places to get it:Haji Ali Restaurant, St Inez, Panaji; Shawarma King, Panjim
Approximate cost:Rs 70 to 90 per piece
Frankie – A Hot and Spicy Stuffed Flatbread
Similar to Kolkata’s roll, it is prepared by frying a flatbread and stuffing it with eggs or chicken alongside different kinds of sauces.
Varieties: Veg frankie, veg chilly frankie, egg frankie, chicken frankie, BBQ frankie
Best places to get it:Tibb’s Frankie, Penha de Franca, North Goa; Rolls Mania, Panaji; vendors in the areas of Mapusa, Margao and Panjim, selling rolls in big red carts bearing the name ‘Frankie’
Approximate cost:Rs 50 to 60 (veg frankie); Rs 60 to 80 (egg frankie); Rs 90 to 100 (chicken frankie)
Pork Sorpotel – Tasty Pork Curry
Popular during winter and Christmas, this mouthwatering pork curry becomes tastier when a whole lot of spices like ginger, dried red chilies, cinnamon sticks and garlic are added. Bread, buns, rice or sanna (spongy, steamy rice cake) serves as accompaniments.
Best places to get it:
Cafe Sussegado, Calangute; Mum’s Kitchen, Panaji
Approximate cost:
Rs 80 to 90 per plate
Goan Nevri – A Crescent- Shaped Festival Sweet
Mostly sold during festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali, and Christmas, it has shredded coconut, raisins, almonds, pistachio and cashew as its main ingredients. Crunchy outside and soft, and nutty within, it is often eaten as a snack, teamed with a cup of black tea.
Best places to get it:
Most sweet shops, particularly during festival seasons
Approximate cost:
Rs 10 to 15 per piece
Prawn Rissois – An Appetizing Seafood Snack
Influenced from Portuguese culture, the prawn rissois is a moon-shaped snack prepared from a flour-dough with a creamy stuffing of prawn. Rissois can also be made by stuffing squids, shrimp or crab paste instead of prawns.
Best places to get it:
Dom Pedros Vasco, Margao
Approximate cost:
Rs 15 to 20 per piece
Goa street food varieties highlight upon its religious diversity, as it not just excels in umpteen non-veg delicacies, but also delights you with veggie savories like chaats, cutlet pav, vada pav, pav bhaji, panipuri, and bondas. During Ramadan, specific areas in Panaji, Margao and Mapusa house a variety of chicken dishes and sherbets. Chinese dishes like chili chicken and Hakka noodles are available in most outlets.
Last reviewedAugust 10th 2018
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