With the festive season in full swing, guests must have already started flocking to your homes. And besides jars of dry fruits and mithai that stays fresh for days, you’ll need jars and jars of namkeen to keep the festive munching going.
When it comes to namkeen, snacks and savouries, Lucknow is home to some hidden gems serving up fragrant, spice-loaded delights that can give your taste buds a sensory overload. So, to help you stock up for the festivities, here are 11 spots in Lucknow to shop for namkeen.
A bhandar is supposed to be a storehouse, and Sri Balaji Sweets & Namkeen Bhandar takes that literally. Sev and bhujia by the scoop, regional namkeens, samosas that vanish before they cool, and classic sweets for the guilt that follows.
When- 7 AM- 10 PM
Where- 498/83, Daliganj, Near Gopishwar Mahadev Temple, Nirala Nagar
Mahadev Namkeen Bhandar sells the real thing, crunchy sev, proper bhujia, chana dal, bhakarwadi with that sweet-sour kick, all fresh and priced like it’s still the nineties. The variety is the only real problem, because choosing one means ignoring five.
When- 8:30 AM- 10 PM
Where- 4,Mathur Market, Jama Masjid Rd, Munshi Pulia, Indira Nagar
There’s a particular sound a good bhujia makes, and Shri Raj Ji Namkeen & Sweets has clearly built a business around it. Spiced, crunchy, unmistakably regional. The deep-fried street-style items arrive fresh, the kind that makes “I’ll just taste one” a lie told with a straight face.
When- 9 AM- 10 PM
Where- 588/485, Jail Road, Sector L, Bangla Bazar, Bhadrak / Aashiana
Eighty kinds of namkeen sounds like a menu designed to ruin your decision-making, and New Sahu Namkeen Bhandar knows it. Start with the makka sev, then the house mixtures, with rai ki dal, puffed rice and fried lentils doing their own thing. Finish with the mini moong dal samosas, made for tea.
When- 9 AM- 10 PM
Where- Shop 1/9, Viram Khand, Patrakarpuram Chauraha, Gomti Nagar
Nanhe Namkeen Bhandar has up to 125 of namkeens, and the spice mix stays punchy without the heavy oil. The hing sev is loud, the Gujarati mix and Madrasi lehsun are tea-time regulars, and the methi mathri disappears first. Your packet count will not match your plan.
When- 8:30 AM- 11 PM
Where- 100, Hasanganj, Daliganj
Every household has one person who wants something traditional and another who wants something new. Chhabra Bakery and Namkeen ends that argument with a savory shelf that carries both, all crunchy and all within arm’s reach. The bakery counter sits nearby, which complicates things further.
When- 9 AM- 10 PM
Where- 149A, Kedarnath Mishra Marg, Hind Nagar, Sector C1, LDA Colony
The falahari mixes and potato crispies are made for vrat days, light and crunchy, with none of the sad-salad energy fasting food usually carries. Regular namkeens fill the rest of the shelves at Ravi Namkeen, for the days when no rules apply.
When- 9 AM- 11 PM
Where- Shop No 55, Fruit Lane, near Mohan Market, Aminabad
RK Sweets and Namkeen sells the excuse to call someone over for chai. The mixtures are crisp and traditional, the savoury treats come out freshly fried, and the classics make a plain Tuesday evening feel planned. Sweets wait at the counter for guests who stay longer than expected.
When- 9 AM- 11:30 PM
Where- Tikait Rai Talab Colony, Rajajipuram
Aminabad has been feeding Lucknow for generations, and Agarwal Sweets has been quietly outlasting most of its rivals since 1964. Kaju dalmoth here is rich enough to pass as a gift, mini samosas and khasta that stay flaky, kalimirch mathri with real pepper, and bhel papdi for the evening. Trends came and went, the recipes stayed put.
When- 9 AM- 10 PM
Where- 309, Aminabad Road, Ganesh Ganj
Rajasthani food has a simple rule, if it doesn’t make you reach for water, it isn’t done. Rajasthan Wala follows it. The Marwari mixtures are crisp, the bhujia is fiery, and the spicy crunchies don’t negotiate. Sweets sit at the counter like a peace treaty. Most people sign it after the second bite.
When- 8 AM- 11 PM
Where- Opp. Kamakhya Hospital, Hardoi Road, Sarai Mali Khan, Chowk & Barafkhana, Murli Nagar, Udaiganj, Husainganj, Cantonment Road
Every namkeen shop has a “healthy” option, and nobody has ever bought it on purpose. Mahesh Namkeen has a diet chiwda too, but the real action is elsewhere, spiced matar, Ratlami sev, nimbu bhujia, and mixes named Deewana and Disco Masoor. The diet packet sits on the shelf, quietly proud of itself.
When- 8 AM- 11:55 PM
Where- B-16, Amausi Industrial Area, Nadarganj & Shop G-03, Ground Floor, Cyber Heights, Vibhuti Khand, Gomti Nagar
To get all the latest content, download our mobile application. Available for both iOS & Android devices.