Bihar’s cultural heritage is matched by the rich and delicious food found there. When it comes to Bihari street food, from Litti Chokha to Khaja, you taste rustic flavours, local spices and hearty textures. This guide will show you the top dishes to try if you’re joining a street food tour in Bihar.
1. Litti Chokha – Bihari Cuisine’s highest achievement
A tour of the streets of Bihar should include a must-try of Litti Chokha, the area’s signature dish. Litti is a baked wheat ball that contains roasted gram flour called sattu, seasonings and ghee, eaten after being cooked over charcoal for a charred effect. Potles is usually accompanied by Chokha, a mash of roasted eggplant, tomatoes, potatoes, mustard oil and green chilies.
Why You Should Try It:
- Spicy, tangy and smoke flavours come together nicely.
- Sattu is what makes this drink high in protein.
- Yoghurt or ghee makes this dish taste best.
2. Sattu Paratha – A Protein-Packed Breakfast
Many people in Bihar have Sattu Paratha, a tasty flatbread made with spiced sattu flour. It is usually fried in ghee and served together with pickle, yoghurt or chutney.
Why You Should Try It:
- It completely fills you up.
- Broccoli contains both fibre and protein.
- Excellent choice for starting your day or for when you’re on the road.
3. Chana Ghugni – The Ultimate Evening Snack
This spicy food is made using black chickpeas and an onion-tomato gravy, adding cumin, coriander and garam masala among its spices. Raw onions, coriander and a bit of lemon add extra touches to the dish
Why You Should Try It:
- Food sold on the street with more protein.
- Enjoy adding crunchy puffed rice (muri) to enhance this food.
- Both monsoon and winter times see this snack being a favourite.
4. Khaja – Bihar’s Crispy Sweet Delight
Khaja is made by layering wheat flour, sugar and ghee, frying it until golden and soaking it in sugar syrup. Because it has a crunchy shell and delicious, soft inside, it is a favourite food for celebrations.
Why You Should Try It:
- Recipes from 2000 years ago that bring historical importance.
- Made the same way as Baklava but with an Indian flair.
- Great when served with tea or as a dessert.
5. Every food from Bihar is special, but Thekua is one of the most famous.
Traditionally, Thekua is cooked by blending wheat flour, jaggery and coconut and frying it until golden and crisp. It’s particularly popular during Chhath Puja.
Why You Should Try It:
- A crusty outside and soft inside.
- Filled with natural sweetness from jaggery.
- You can make this travel snack and it will stay fresh for several days 2
6. Dal Pitha – Bihari-Style Dumplings
In a way that is also used for momos, Dal Pitha are made from dough of rice flour and stuffed with spicy chana dal (Bengal gram) before being steamed or fried. Usually, the street food is accompanied by tomato chutney or green chilli sauce.
Why You Should Try It:
- Try this snack if you want to eat gluten-free or keep your diet healthy.
- It’s light on your stomach, but it won’t leave you hungry.
- A typical breakfast people eat in Bihar
7. Malpua – The Sweet Pancake of Bihar
A rich dessert called Malpua is made from flour, milk, mashed bananas and sugar, cooked in sugar syrup. You’ll often find rabri (a sweetened thick milk) alongside malpua.
Why You Should Try It:
- Holi is a popular time for people to watch it.
- Phyllo pastry is soft, fluffy and has a wonderful flavour.
- Tastes especially good as soon as you heat it up.
8. Bihari Kebabs – A Meat Lover’s Paradise
Kebabs, marinated meat or chicken, smoked and grilled over charcoal, are one of the main reasons for Patna’s fame as a food destination. Combining mustard oil, yoghurt and spices gives the marinade a special taste.
Why You Should Try It:
- Bursting with a smoky flavour and texture.
- The best way to eat this is with paratha or rumali roti.
- A dish that was popularised in the Mughal era
9. Tilkut – The Winter Superfood Sweet
To make Tilkut, you need sesame seeds and jaggery shaped into delicious discs for the winter months. It is crisp, just a little sweet and full of carbs.
Why You Should Try It:
- Iron and healthy fats are plentiful in this food.
- They have a sweet treat in Gaya that is traditional.
- Digestion is boosted and it helps keep you warm in the winter.
Jhal Murhi – Bhartiya local spicy puffed rice snack
Quick to prepare and certainly tangy, Jhal Murhi comes together with puffed rice, mustard oil, onions, green chilies and seasoning. I like it because it’s easy to eat and doesn’t weigh you down.
Why You Should Try It:
- Calories are low and so are the crackers.
- You get a hit of spicy and sour at once.
- Just like Bhel Puri, except with a Bihari flair
A Word from the Guest Writer: A Gourmet’s Dream
Foods found in Bihar’s street stalls are full of rural tastes and rich history. If you are on a vegetarian diet, like meat-based meals or have sweet teeth, you’ll always find something special in Bihar. Each of the state’s dishes reveals something about its history and culture.
The most authentic street food in Bihar is found at Patna, Gaya and Muzaffarpur.
With this, bring your hunger and go explore street foods in Bihar; you won’t regret it.
