Top places to eat pani puri in America

As Google Doodle celebrates pani puri, here’s where you can savor the humble desi snack across the country

In what can be called a savory surprise, Indians across the world woke up to Google Doodle celebrating pani puri – the humble Indian snack comprising a flour ball, filled with tangy water with boiled potatoes and chickpeas stuffed inside. Pani puri in many ways has been a great unifier and has remained a roadside staple for Indians across social strata.

Arguably, one of India’s most popular and much-loved snack, pani puri, puchka or gol gappa as it is variously called now gets its spotlight moment as Google celebrates July 12 as the anniversary of a world record set in 2015 where an Indian eatery in Indore served the maximum number of pani puri flavors.

READ: Indian Restaurants among most underrepresented Asian cuisines in US (May 24, 2023)

People across the world got to know about the snack as google also featured a bespoke game where players get to serve their “customers,” pani puri in different flavors.

The pani puri doodle confirms the fact that often a food with humble roots can land up on the world’s most exorbitant gourmet tables. After all, lobsters and snails once considered peasant food are today celebrated as bespoke food.

And while we cannot say if pani puri will snag its fan following across the globe, for desis the mention of those round balls is enough to make mouths water.

So, if you too are craving the mildly sweet, spicy and tangy ball of delight, here are a few places across America where you can have these mouthfuls of delight.

Read: 3 Easy-on-pocket secret Indian food spots in New York (May 18, 2023)

Junoon, NYC
Okay yes, we know that the mention of pani puri does not immediately evoke a fine dine setting with a three-course menu option and gentlemen in tuxedos tucking in these water balls but isn’t it delightful that this snack has already made its way to the Michelin star restaurants.

If you are looking for an ultra-luxe gourmet golgappa experience or are planning to take your hoity toity American friend to acquaint them with the Indian snack, this could be your place.

As expected the puchkas here come in a glorified version you can choose from chef’s six course tasting menu, a choice of vegetable or tuna puchka. The vegetable puchka comes with sunchoke, cilantro, potato, jaljeera and finger lime and tuna puchka is a mix of tuna, black salt, caviar, cilantro and jaljeera! Don’t know if caviar and puchka is your calling but if you are in mood for a fancy fusion this sure can be worth trying.

Thelewala, NYC
While the guys have nailed the name when it comes to going for a snack of pani puris, they seemed to have nailed the vibe too. The place serves Calcutta style street food and pani puri here comes in its puritan form. No fancy ingredients or new names – the dish here comes as you know it. Also served are famous Calcutta Nizami rolls.

Uru Swati, Devon Avenue, Chicago
Devon Avenue, also known as Chicago’s little India has many places where you can grab a plate full of puchkas. At Uru Swati, crispy dosas are as popular as their appetizers. The pani puris are served along with its staple tangy water and are satisfying.

Read: New York chef opens a farmers’ restaurant and lassi bar in India (October 6, 2022)

The Paani Puri Company, Sunnyvale, California
Established in 2002, The Paani Puri Company has been treating the Bay Area residents with as original as it gets pani puris. Served in decent settings you can get other accompaniments like sev puri, bhel puri, chaat etc here too.