Where to Eat in Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar's best meals come from kitchens that cook Odia food and nothing else. These four cover a quick lunch near the temples through to a sit-down dinner.
1 place
Jaydev Vihar
1 place
Nayapalli
1 place
Old Town
1 place
Patia
1 place
Saheed Nagar
Not sure what to order? The Bhubaneswar food guide starts from the dishes — what each one is, when to eat it, and which of these kitchens is known for it.
Dalma, Nayapalli
The name tells you the speciality. Dalma is a local chain that grew out of one restaurant cooking home-style Odia food, and it is where many Bhubaneswar families take guests who want to try the cuisine. Order the thali at lunch for dalma, fries, fish curry and pakhala in summer. It is busy from 1 pm, so arrive a little before.
Odisha Hotel, Old Town
A plain eatery near the Old Town temples, useful after a morning at Lingaraj or Mukteshwar. There is no décor to speak of and the menu changes with what was cooked that day. Expect rice, dalma, a vegetable or two, macha besara and pakhala in the hot months, served fast and cheaply. Go at lunchtime; by late afternoon the good dishes run out.
Kanika at the Mayfair, Jaydev Vihar
The dressed-up option. Kanika serves Odia and coastal dishes in a hotel dining room, with prawns, crab and mutton alongside the everyday plates. It is the place to try a wider spread of Odia cooking in one meal, and it suits a dinner after the Udayagiri caves, which are not far away. Book ahead at weekends.
Truptee, Saheed Nagar
A long-running vegetarian family restaurant with a south Indian and north Indian menu, but the reason to come is the sweets counter. Chhena poda and rasabali are made fresh, and it is a good stop for breakfast before the Rajarani garden opens. Pure veg, so groups with mixed diets can all eat here.
Tips for eating out
- Lunch is the main meal in Odisha; thalis are at their best between noon and 2 pm.
- Many restaurants close for a break in the afternoon and reopen around 7 pm.
- Ask for dishes without onion and garlic if you want the temple-kitchen style.
Browse dishes first on the food page and pick a kitchen from there.
Questions
Bhubaneswar — FAQ
Where should I eat in Bhubaneswar?
5 places are listed here, across 5 areas. Each entry says what that kitchen is known for rather than reprinting its menu, so pick by the dish you want and the area you'll be in.
Are there good vegetarian restaurants in Bhubaneswar?
Yes — 1 of the places listed is pure vegetarian, and the food-type badge on every card tells you before you set out.
What should I order in Bhubaneswar?
Start from the dishes rather than the restaurants — the Bhubaneswar food guide covers what each dish is and when to eat it, then links to the places that do it well.
Which Bhubaneswar restaurant is closest to the Old Town temples?
Odisha Hotel in the Old Town is the nearest of these four. It suits a quick lunch after Lingaraj, Mukteshwar and Rajarani.
Where can I try a full Odia thali?
Dalma in Nayapalli is the easiest choice for a thali. Kanika at the Mayfair serves a larger, more formal spread.
Do I need to book?
Not usually for lunch at Dalma or Odisha Hotel. For dinner at Kanika, especially at weekends or in the wedding season, a reservation helps.