I love a good paani puri – or 20 (because you know, no one can have just one). The crisp puri, the tangy water, the potato inside – it is just a lovely burst of textures and tastes all exploding inside the mouth. It is definitely a great street food option. However, I would hesitate to say that this is the best street food. I've eaten too many excellent kababs, tikkis, samosas, pakodas, chicken rolls, bheja fry, tandoori dishes off the street to put paani puri above those.
A lot of Indians would rate the paani puri above all other street foods.
Though some would say the picture is fake --- because who can wait to take a picture before eating those delicious orbs!
Some call it gol gappa, some call it phuchka…
For many it is vada-paav – especially if one is in Mumbai.
Now tandoori chicken happens to be one of human kind’s finest inventions – whether in a restaurant or off the street.
Pakodas, bhajji, daalwada, gota… so many other scrumptious options pop into the mind.
The options are so many!
There is also SBDP – sev batata dahi puri.
People have their own homemade versions as well – though many would say half the fun is someone quickly making those perfect mouthfuls and serving them speedily with no time to even draw breath in-between.
Chopped onions in Gol Gappa, asked this commentator (the same question occurred to me as well). However, others were like of course we put onions in there – no onions is a deal-breaker.
There is this pav bahji stuffed paani puri – some call it a new creation, some say it is destruction.
There’s something solid in there, in goes some mayo, and then some ketchup topped with grated cheese which is then blasted with a blow torch. Not sure if this qualifies to be called paanipuri at all.
The quality of water, the personal hygiene of the vendor and the surroundings… these concerns outweigh the taste factor for some.
There were many who were concerned about hygiene issues with street food in general and this in particular.
I have suffered some terrible consequences after paani puri – so I wouldn’t disagree with this assessment.
When such a discussion about fave food happens online – there are offline cravings. After all that talk about paani puri (never mind about the hygiene) many were overcome by the urge for those crispy, tangy, spicy things.
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