India is a food lover's paradise where every region, city, and street corner tells its culinary story. This carefully crafted 7-day itinerary takes you through five iconic Indian cities—Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Jaipur, and Goa—experiencing their unique flavors, iconic dishes, and food traditions. From street-side chaat to royal Rajasthani thalis, from South Indian breakfasts to Goan seafood, this journey satisfies every craving while immersing you in India's incredible food diversity. Pack your appetite and prepare for a week you'll remember with every taste bud.
Day 1: Mumbai - Street Food Capital of India
**Morning: Breakfast at Irani Cafe (7-9 AM):** Start your food journey authentically at an Irani cafe—Kyani & Co. or Yazdani Bakery (both near Fort/CST). Order bun maska (butter-drenched bun) with Irani chai (₹50-80 total). The sweet milky tea with soft bread is Mumbai's breakfast soul. Watch locals catching up on morning news while sipping chai.
**Mid-Morning: Vada Pav Pilgrimage (10-11 AM):** Mumbai's iconic street snack. Visit Ashok Vada Pav (Kirti College, Dadar) or any street corner vendor. Spicy potato fritter in soft bun with chutneys—₹15-30. Eat standing by the roadside like a true Mumbaikar. Try batata vada (just the fritter) too.
**Lunch: Pav Bhaji at Sardar (12:30-2 PM):** Sardar Pav Bhaji (Tardeo) serves Mumbai's best pav bhaji—spicy vegetable mash with buttered pav (bread rolls). ₹150-250 per plate. The butter quantity is legendary. Squeeze lemon, add raw onions, and enjoy with extra pav.
**Evening Snack: Bhel Puri at Juhu Beach (5-6 PM):** Head to Juhu Beach for bhel puri (puffed rice chaat) from beach vendors. ₹50-80. Watch sunset while munching this tangy, crunchy, refreshing street snack. Also try sev puri and pani puri here.
**Dinner: Seafood at Trishna or Mahesh Lunch Home (8-10 PM):** Mumbai's seafood royalty. Order butter garlic crab (₹800-1,200), bombil fry (Bombay duck), prawn koliwada. Budget ₹1,500-2,500 for two. Book ahead. Alternatively, try Bade Miyan (Colaba) for late-night kebabs and rolls (₹300-600).
Day 2: Delhi - Mughlai, Chaat, and Paranthas
**Morning: Travel to Delhi:** Take early morning flight (6-7 AM departure, arrive 8-9 AM, ₹3,000-5,000) or overnight train (depart previous night 10-11 PM, arrive 6-7 AM). Freshen up at hotel.
**Breakfast: Paranthe Wali Gali, Chandni Chowk (9-11 AM):** Old Delhi's legendary parantha (stuffed flatbread) lane. Try potato, paneer, mixed veg paranthas with aloo sabzi, pickle, and lassi. ₹100-200 per person. The ghee-laden paranthas are an experience. Walk through chaotic Chandni Chowk markets.
**Lunch: Karim's, Jama Masjid (1-3 PM):** Historic Mughlai restaurant since 1913. Mutton burra (₹400), chicken jahangiri (₹350), mutton korma (₹400), roomali roti (₹20). Budget ₹800-1,200 for two. The meat melts in mouth. Vegetarians: try nearby Haldiram's for chaat and Indian Chinese.
**Evening Chaat: Bengali Market or Connaught Place (5-7 PM):** Delhi's chaat is legendary. Try aloo tikki (potato patty with chutneys, ₹50-80), dahi bhalla (lentil dumplings in yogurt, ₹60-100), papdi chaat (₹60-100). Nathu's Sweets or Bengali Market are excellent. End with kulfi (₹40-80).
**Dinner: Indian Accent or Bukhara (8-10 PM):** Splurge night. Indian Accent (Lodhi Hotel) for modern Indian cuisine (₹4,000-6,000 for two) or Bukhara (ITC Maurya) for Northwest Frontier cuisine (₹3,500-5,000). If budget-conscious, Khan Chacha (Khan Market) for amazing kebabs and rolls (₹300-500).
Day 3: Jaipur - Royal Rajasthani Flavors
**Morning: Travel to Jaipur:** Early train (Shatabdi Express, 4.5 hours, ₹800-1,200) or drive (5-6 hours). Arrive by noon.
**Lunch: Dal Baati Churma at Chokhi Dhani or Local Restaurant (1-3 PM):** Rajasthan's signature dish. Baked wheat balls (baati) with mixed lentils (dal) and sweet crumbled wheat (churma). ₹300-500 per person at good restaurants. Rich, filling, authentic. Some places offer unlimited thalis.
**Evening Snack: Pyaaz Kachori at Rawat Mishthan Bhandar (5-6 PM):** Jaipur's famous onion-stuffed kachori. ₹30-50 each. Crispy, spicy, addictive. Also try mawa kachori (sweet version, ₹40-60). Wash down with masala chai (₹10-20). Near Railway Station, always crowded—that's the quality sign.
**Dinner: Laxmi Mishtan Bhandar (LMB) or Rajasthani Thali (8-10 PM):** LMB (Johari Bazaar) offers traditional Rajasthani thali (₹400-700) with 15+ items. Try ker sangri (desert beans), gatte ki sabzi (gram flour dumplings), bajre ki roti (millet bread). Unlimited servings. Vegetarian paradise.
Day 4: Jaipur to Bangalore - South Indian Awakening
**Morning: Jaipur Breakfast:** Quick breakfast of poha (flattened rice, ₹40-60) or samosa with chai (₹30-50) at local stall before departure.
**Afternoon: Travel to Bangalore:** Flight (2.5 hours, ₹3,500-6,000). Arrive by evening. Check into hotel.
**Dinner: MTR or Vidyarthi Bhavan (7-9 PM):** Welcome to South India! MTR (Lalbagh Road) serves legendary masala dosa (₹80-120), rava idli (₹60-100), filter coffee (₹30-60). Vidyarthi Bhavan (Basavanagudi) has the city's crispiest dosa. Expect queues—worth it. Vegetarian heaven. Budget ₹200-400 per person.
Day 5: Bangalore - Filter Coffee and Dosa Heaven
**Breakfast: Brahmin's Coffee Bar (7-9 AM):** Hole-in-the-wall serving excellent idli-vada-coffee (₹80-120 total). Stand and eat at high tables, very local. Order set dosa (thin crispy dosas, 3-4 pieces) or khara bath (spicy semolina). Filter coffee here is perfection.
**Mid-Morning Snack: Benne Dosa (Butter Dosa) at CTR or Veena Stores (9:30-11 AM):** CTR (Malleshwaram) or Veena Stores serve legendary butter dosa—crispy, buttery, served with potato palya and chutneys. ₹100-150. The butter quantity is sinful. Pure bliss.
**Lunch: Banana Leaf Meal (12:30-2 PM):** Authentic South Indian thali on banana leaf. Mavalli Tiffin Room (MTR) or Kamat Bugle Rock serve unlimited rice, sambar, rasam, curds, multiple vegetables, pickles, papad, payasam (₹250-400). Keep asking for refills until you can't move.
**Evening: Pub Culture & Snacks (6-8 PM):** Bangalore's microbrewery scene. Toit, Arbor Brewing Company, or Windmills Craftworks. Order craft beer (₹250-400 per pint) with nachos, pizza, wings (₹300-600). Experience Bangalore's cosmopolitan side.
**Dinner: Biryani at Meghana Foods or Empire (9-11 PM):** Bangalore-style biryani (lighter than Hyderabadi). Mutton biryani (₹300-400) or chicken biryani (₹250-350). Empire Restaurant is everywhere, reliable, delicious. Meghana Foods has larger portions. Pair with raita and salan.
Day 6-7: Goa - Seafood, Beaches, and Portuguese Flavors
**Morning: Travel to Goa:** Flight from Bangalore (1 hour, ₹2,500-4,500) or overnight bus (depart previous evening, 12-14 hours, ₹1,000-1,800). Arrive morning, head to North or South Goa beaches.
**Day 6 Breakfast: Goan Cafe (8-10 AM):** Beach shack or Panjim bakery. Order poi (Goan bread, ₹20-40), Goan sausage (chorizo, ₹150-250), terracotta pot chai (₹30-50). Or try bebinca (layered Goan dessert, ₹80-150). Relaxed beach breakfast vibe.
**Day 6 Lunch: Fish Curry Rice at Local Joint (1-3 PM):** Goa's soul food. Simple beach shack or Martin's Corner, Souza Lobo. Fresh catch of the day in coconut-based curry with steamed rice. ₹300-600. Order fried fish, prawn balchão, Goan sausage pulao on side. Pair with King's beer or Sol.
**Day 6 Sunset: Beach Shack Snacks (6-8 PM):** Watch sunset from Anjuna, Vagator, or Palolem beach shacks. Order calamari fry (₹400-600), fish fingers (₹350-500), chicken cafreal (₹300-500). Sip cocktails (₹250-400). Goa's laid-back magic unfolds.
**Day 6 Dinner: Seafood Feast at Beach Restaurant (9-11 PM):** Choose fresh seafood (crabs, lobster, prawns, fish) from ice display, tell them cooking style (grilled, tandoori, butter garlic, recheado masala). ₹1,500-3,000 for two depending on choices. Brittos, Fisherman's Wharf, Pousada by the Beach are excellent.
**Day 7 Morning: Goan Xacuti & Vindaloo (11 AM-1 PM):** Authentic Goan restaurant. Try chicken xacuti (complex spice curry, ₹300-400), pork vindaloo (spicy-sour curry, ₹350-450), Goan fish curry (₹300-400), sannas (rice cakes, ₹50-80). Family-run places like Mum's Kitchen or Fernando's Nostalgia serve authentic home-style Goan food.
**Day 7 Afternoon: Feni Tasting & Goan Snacks (3-5 PM):** Visit local feni distillery or bar. Feni is Goan spirit made from cashew or coconut (₹100-300 per drink). Try with lime soda. Pair with Goan sausages, chorizo pao, ros omelette (Goan coconut curry with eggs). Acquire taste, unique experience.
**Day 7 Farewell Dinner: Sunset Beach BBQ (7-9 PM):** Many beach shacks offer BBQ nights. Choose seafood and meats, watch them grill. Live music, bonfire, beach ambiance. ₹1,000-2,000 per person. Perfect ending to food journey. Alternatively, fine-dining at A Reverie or Sublime for upscale Goan-Portuguese fusion (₹2,500-4,000 for two).
Budget Breakdown for 7-Day Food Journey
**Daily Food Budget:** Budget option: ₹800-1,200/day (street food, local restaurants, one nice meal). Mid-range: ₹1,500-2,500/day (mix of street food and good restaurants). Foodie splurge: ₹3,000-5,000/day (fine dining, premium experiences, no compromises). 7-day total: Budget ₹5,600-8,400, Mid-range ₹10,500-17,500, Splurge ₹21,000-35,000.
**Inter-City Travel:** Mumbai-Delhi flight ₹3,500, Delhi-Jaipur train ₹1,000, Jaipur-Bangalore flight ₹5,000, Bangalore-Goa flight ₹3,000. Total transport: ₹12,500-15,000. Booking advance saves 20-40%.
**Accommodation:** Budget (hostels, budget hotels): ₹800-1,500/night. Mid-range: ₹2,500-4,000/night. Premium: ₹5,000-10,000/night. 6 nights total: Budget ₹4,800-9,000, Mid-range ₹15,000-24,000, Premium ₹30,000-60,000.
**Total 7-Day Trip Cost (Food + Transport + Accommodation):** Budget traveler: ₹23,000-32,500. Mid-range: ₹38,000-56,500. Luxury: ₹63,500-110,000. Solo travelers pay full accommodation; couples/groups split hotel costs significantly reducing per-person expenses.
Essential Food Traveler Tips
**Digestive Preparation:** Start with cooked street food, avoid raw vegetables initially. Carry digestive tablets (Gelusil, Pudin Hara), anti-diarrheal medication (Imodium). Probiotics before trip help. Don't drink tap water—only bottled. Most travelers experience minor digestive adjustment—normal and temporary.
**Spice Management:** Indian food is spicy. Tell servers your spice tolerance: "medium spicy" or "mild" if sensitive. Keep curd/yogurt handy—neutralizes heat better than water. Lime soda helps. Don't be hero—enjoy flavors without suffering.
**Restaurant Selection:** Crowded = good (high turnover, fresh food). Empty fancy place might have old food. Ask locals: "Where do YOU eat?" Google reviews help but local recommendations are gold. Street vendors with longest queues usually serve best food.
**Vegetarian Options:** India is vegetarian paradise. Every city has excellent vegetarian restaurants (often better than non-veg). South India especially vegetarian-friendly. Always clarify "pure veg" if dietary restrictions. Jain food (no onion/garlic) available in Jaipur/Mumbai.
**Timing Matters:** Breakfast: 8-10 AM (South India opens earlier, 7 AM). Lunch: 12:30-2:30 PM (some places close 3-4 PM). Dinner: 8-11 PM (cities never sleep, but small towns close by 10 PM). Street food: Evening (5-9 PM) is peak time and freshest.
**Food Photography:** Always ask permission before photographing people (vendors, chefs). Food photos are usually fine. Share photos with subjects via WhatsApp—builds goodwill. Best light: Natural daylight or golden hour. Avoid flash.
Must-Try Dishes Summary by City
**Mumbai Must-Eats:** Vada pav, pav bhaji, bhel puri, sev puri, pani puri, misal pav, bombil fry, butter garlic crab, Irani chai with bun maska.
**Delhi Must-Eats:** Paranthas (Chandni Chowk), chole bhature, aloo tikki chaat, kebabs (Karim's), butter chicken, tandoori dishes, kulfi faluda.
**Jaipur Must-Eats:** Dal baati churma, pyaaz kachori, mawa kachori, laal maas (meat curry), ker sangri, gatte ki sabzi, mirchi vada.
**Bangalore Must-Eats:** Masala dosa, idli-vada-sambar, benne dosa, ragi mudde, Mangalorean fish curry, filter coffee, bisi bele bath, Mysore pak (sweet).
**Goa Must-Eats:** Fish curry rice, prawn balchão, chicken cafreal, pork vindaloo, bebinca, poi, chorizo, Goan sausage, xacuti, recheado fish.
This 7-day culinary odyssey offers more than meals—it's cultural immersion through taste. Every dish tells a story of region, tradition, and innovation. From Mumbai's bustling street corners to Goa's sunset beaches, from Delhi's Mughal legacy to South India's vegetarian mastery, you'll experience India's soul through its greatest common language: food. The journey changes you. You'll return home with expanded palate, broader cultural understanding, countless food photos, and irresistible urge to plan your next Indian food adventure. Your taste buds will never be the same—and that's the best souvenir India offers. Bon appétit, or as we say in India: Khao, piyo, mast raho! (Eat, drink, stay happy!)