Amritsar food: what to eat
Amritsar food is built on bread, dairy and slow-cooked pulses. The dishes most often named for the city are Amritsari kulcha with chole, makhan lassi and phirni. Around them you find kulfi, sarson da saag and makki di roti. All of them are easy to find in the streets near the temple.
This page explains each dish in plain terms, shows how the free langar meal differs from a meal in a restaurant, and lists a few habits that make eating here easier. It does not recommend shops, because quality and prices change from stall to stall.
Our picks: food tours in Amritsar
The food tour includes the food and the rides between stops. On the heritage food walk you pay for what you eat.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Heritage food walk in the old city
- English-speaking guide
- Old city food stops
Two hours with an English-speaking guide to the classic food stops of the old city. You pay for what you eat.
Check availability →
Amritsar food tour with tastings
- Food and drinks
- Guide
- Rickshaw or tuk-tuk rides
Three hours with a guide, the food and drinks at each stop, and the way between them on foot, by rickshaw or tuk-tuk.
Check availability →Amritsar tours and food walks
Guided walks and day trips in Amritsar, with live prices and availability.
Amritsari kulcha
Amritsari kulcha is a baked bread, served with chole, a dish of chickpeas. It is the local speciality people mention first. In the photo the bread is crisp and brushed with butter, which is how it is often served. Portion sizes and prices differ by stall, and there is no single set menu or price.
If you avoid dairy, ask before you order. Butter and cream are common in this cooking, and a vegetarian dish is not automatically free of them.
Lassi, phirni and other local dishes
What to look for and what it is.
Makhan lassi
Lassi is a cold yogurt drink. Variants include makhan malai and perre. Glass size and recipe differ by stall, so ask what goes in before you order. A glass often comes with cream on top.
Phirni
Phirni is a sweet dish sold in Amritsar. Ask how it was made if you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, because a sweet is not always free of dairy.
Kulfi
Kulfi is a frozen sweet and a common way to end a meal. Choose a busy stall where it is made and sold quickly.
Sarson da saag and makki di roti
Sarson da saag is a dish of mustard greens. It is eaten with makki di roti, a flatbread made from maize flour. Both are classic Punjabi dishes and show up on many menus in the city.
Langar: the free meal at the temple
The langar hall at the Golden Temple serves free meals to everyone, whatever their background, religion, caste or gender. It is open 24 hours. Guests sit on the floor in rows and eat the same food, which is vegetarian. Volunteers cook and serve it.
Wear a head covering and follow the instructions of the volunteers. A donation is a personal choice and never a condition for eating. The langar page explains the process step by step, and how to help as a volunteer if you wish.
Langar or a restaurant meal
Two different ways to eat near the temple.
| Langar | Restaurant or stall | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Varies by stall |
| Hours | 24 hours | Varies by stall |
| Menu | Set vegetarian meal | Kulcha, lassi, sweets and more |
| How you eat | Seated on the floor in rows | At a table or standing at a stall |
| Choice | None, the meal is the same for all | You pick and can ask about ingredients |
For most visitors, the best plan is both: a langar meal after your visit to the temple, and kulcha and lassi at a stall on another outing. If you have allergies or a strict diet, eat where you can ask about ingredients.
Tips for eating near the temple
Small habits that help.
Ask about ingredients
Dairy appears in many dishes. Ask whether a dish is vegetarian or vegan and do not assume it.
Keep the temple rules in mind
Tobacco and alcohol are not allowed in the temple complex, including in bags and in the parking area. Plan meals and breaks outside the grounds. Details are on the visiting page.
Agree on the price first
Prices are not fixed across stalls. Ask before you order if there is no menu with prices.
Combine food with a walk
The streets between the Town Hall and the temple are a short walk. See the Amritsar page for sights along the way.
Amritsar food: frequently asked questions
What is Amritsari kulcha?
It is a baked bread served with chole, a chickpea dish. It is the speciality most closely linked with Amritsar.
Is the langar meal really free?
Yes. The langar serves free meals to everyone, whatever their background, religion, caste or gender, and it is open 24 hours. A donation is never required.
Is the food at the temple vegetarian?
Yes, the langar meal is vegetarian. Dishes at stalls and restaurants differ, so ask if you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet.
What is a makhan lassi?
It is a cold yogurt drink. Local variants include makhan malai and perre, and a glass often has cream on top.
Can I eat inside the temple complex?
The langar hall is part of the complex and serves everyone. Tobacco and alcohol are not allowed anywhere in the complex.
Is this the official Golden Temple website?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not run by the temple, the SGPC or Punjab Tourism, and it is not connected to any tour operator, hotel or restaurant.