Medium spiceDal Baati Churma
VegGhee-soaked baatis with spiced dal and sweet churma — the desert thali centrepiece.
₹150–350
Best around: Near Gopa Chowk and Nachana Haveli, Gandhi Chowk
Eat in Jaisalmer
What to Eat in Jaisalmer Today?
Search Jaisalmer dishes by craving — dal baati churma, ghotua ladoo, ker sangri and more.
Jaisalmer's food comes from the desert. Water and fresh vegetables were always scarce here, so the local kitchen relies on dried beans and berries, gram flour, millet, ghee and buttermilk. The result is rich, filling food that keeps well in the heat.
If you are wondering what to eat in Jaisalmer, start with the dishes that belong to the desert, like ker sangri, dal baati churma and the city's own ghotua ladoo.
Popular cravings
Diet
Best for
5 Jaisalmer dishes found
Medium spice
Ghotua Ladoo
VegA melt-in-mouth besan ladoo — a beloved Jaisalmer sweet.
₹300–500 / kg
Medium spiceKer Sangri
VegA tangy dry curry of desert ker berries and sangri beans with red chilli — the true taste of the Thar.
₹150–320
Best around: Near Gopa Chowk
Makhaniya Lassi
VegA thick saffron-malai lassi — cooling relief from the desert heat.
₹40–90
Best around: Hanuman Circle and Nachana Haveli, Gandhi Chowk
HotMirchi Vada
VegA stuffed chilli fritter in gram-flour batter — a fiery Rajasthani tea-time snack.
₹20–50
Best around: Hanuman Circle
Famous Food to Eat in Jaisalmer
Most of the local food is vegetarian and cooked with plenty of ghee. Try these during your visit.
Ker Sangri
A tangy, dry curry of ker, a small desert berry, and sangri, the bean of the khejri tree, cooked with red chilli and spices. It is the dish most closely tied to the Thar, and it is usually eaten with bajra roti or puri.
Dal Baati Churma
Hard-baked wheat balls (baati) broken up and soaked in ghee, served with spiced dal and churma, a sweet crumble of wheat, ghee and sugar. It is heavy, so it makes a full meal.
Ghotua Ladoo
A soft, melt-in-the-mouth ladoo made from gram flour and ghee. It is Jaisalmer's best-known sweet and a popular thing to take home.
Makhaniya Lassi
A thick, sweet lassi topped with cream and often flavoured with saffron and cardamom. On a hot afternoon it is more of a snack than a drink.
Mirchi Vada
A large green chilli stuffed with spiced potato, dipped in gram-flour batter and deep-fried. It is a favourite tea-time snack across Rajasthan.
Snacks and Cafés in Jaisalmer
The old town and the lanes around the fort have plenty of small sweet shops, snack stalls and rooftop cafés. A rooftop meal with a view of the fort at sunset is one of the simplest pleasures in Jaisalmer. Sweet shops in the market sell ghotua ladoo and other Rajasthani sweets by weight.
Food Tips for Travellers in Jaisalmer
- Try a Rajasthani thali to taste several dishes at once.
- Drink plenty of bottled or filtered water, especially in the heat.
- Local food is rich in ghee, so pace yourself if you are not used to it.
- Ask for less chilli if you prefer mild food, as some dishes are fiery.
- Choose busy stalls with fast-moving, freshly fried snacks.
- Carry cash for small sweet shops and stalls.
Questions
Jaisalmer — FAQ
What food is Jaisalmer famous for?
Jaisalmer is known for ker sangri, dal baati churma, ghotua ladoo, makhaniya lassi and mirchi vada. Ghotua ladoo is the sweet most closely linked to the city.
What is ker sangri?
Ker sangri is a dry curry made from ker, a small desert berry, and sangri, a bean from the khejri tree. It is tangy and spicy, and it is one of the signature dishes of the Thar Desert.
Is Jaisalmer good for vegetarians?
Yes. Most traditional food here is vegetarian, and all five of the local dishes listed on this page are vegetarian. Many restaurants in the old town are pure vegetarian.
Is Jaisalmer food spicy?
Some dishes, such as ker sangri and mirchi vada, can be quite hot. Others, like dal baati churma and the sweets, are mild. Most restaurants will reduce the chilli if you ask.