Where to Eat in Haridwar
Haridwar's food is sold from old family shops within a short walk of Har Ki Pauri. Most are small and fast, and the good ones have a queue at breakfast.
2 places
Bara Bazaar
1 place
Ram Ghat
1 place
Upper Road
Not sure what to order? The Haridwar food guide starts from the dishes — what each one is, when to eat it, and which of these kitchens is known for it.
Around Bara Bazaar
Bara Bazaar is the narrow market lane running down to Har Ki Pauri, and it is where the puri shops are. Hoshiyar Puri is the name most pilgrims know, famous for its puris with a potato curry and a pumpkin sabzi. Mohan Ji Puri Wale is another busy breakfast stop for puri and kachori. Both are counters with a few tables rather than restaurants. You order, eat quickly and move on. Mathura Walo Ki Pracheen Dukan is an old sweet shop for jalebi with rabri, chaat and boxed mithai to take home.
On Upper Road
Upper Road runs parallel to the river and joins the bazaar near the ghat. Chotiwala here is a sit-down restaurant with a long menu of North Indian vegetarian food and thalis. It is the easiest choice for a family meal, or if you want to sit in a fan-cooled room after the heat of the ghat.
How eating works here
Every kitchen in the pilgrim centre is vegetarian, and many avoid onion and garlic. There is no alcohol anywhere nearby. Prices are low, portions are large, and puri shops often refill your plate. Cash and UPI are both widely taken, but carry some change for small stalls.
Timing
Breakfast shops open early and are at their best before mid-morning. Around the evening aarti, the lanes near the ghat are crowded, and many visitors eat after it ends. During the Kanwar Yatra and the big bathing days, service slows, some shops run a shortened menu and queues get very long.
Choosing where to eat
Pick by the dish, not the shop. For breakfast, start with the puri counters. For lunch, go for a thali. For the evening, head to the sweet shop. The food guide explains each dish and when locals eat it.
Questions
Haridwar — FAQ
Where should I eat in Haridwar?
4 places are listed here, across 3 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 Haridwar?
Yes — 3 of the places listed are pure vegetarian, and the food-type badge on every card tells you before you set out.
What should I order in Haridwar?
Start from the dishes rather than the restaurants — the Haridwar food guide covers what each dish is and when to eat it, then links to the places that do it well.
Is there anywhere to sit down and eat near Har Ki Pauri?
Yes. Chotiwala on Upper Road is a proper sit-down restaurant. The bazaar puri and sweet shops are quicker, with a few tables at most.
Which shop is best for jalebi and rabri?
Mathura Walo Ki Pracheen Dukan, an old sweet shop near the ghat, is the listed choice. Go in the evening, when the jalebis are fried to order.
Do Haridwar restaurants take cards?
Sit-down restaurants usually take cards and UPI. Small bazaar counters take UPI or cash, so keep some notes with you.