India is an amalgamation of culture, tradition, and vibrant flavours, especially when it comes to food. The Indian palate is not limited to domestic flavours.

Justdial, India’s no.1 hyperlocal business search engine, unveiled insights into this dynamic food scene based on search data for the period April 2023 to March 2024. The findings reveal a fascinating interplay between national favourites and regional specialties, highlighting the ever-evolving preferences of Indian consumers.

Chinese cuisine remains the most searched international option across the country, accounting for 31% of all international cuisine searches. However, there’s a growing interest in new tastes. Korean cuisine emerges as the second most searched international option (15%), followed by Arabic cuisine (12%).

In Mumbai, Gujarati cuisine follows closely behind Biryani. The city shows a strong affinity for Chinese cuisine (9%), followed by Biryani (7%) and Gujarati dishes (6%).

Pune favours Maharashtrian food. Biryani tops the chart at 11%, with Maharashtrian cuisine (6%) and Chinese food (5%) also popular. 

Meanwhile, Delhiites show a strong preference for South Indian cuisine (10%), Biryani at 10%, with Chinese cuisine close behind at 8%

Ahmedabad celebrates its Gujarati heritage. Gujarati cuisine is the favorite (24%), followed by Punjabi (20%) and Kathiyawadi (12%).

Bangalore enjoys a delightful mix of Biryani, Andhra, and Udupi cuisines. Biryani leads at 10%, with Andhra and Udupi cuisines each capturing 5%.

In Chennai, besides Biryani (20%), there’s a notable interest in Andhra (6%) and Kerala (3.5%) cuisines.

Kolkata: True to its roots, Bengali cuisine leads at 21%, followed by Biryani (15%) and South Indian dishes (7%).

Hyderabad: Mandi, a dish from the Arabian Peninsula, surprisingly tops the list at 25%, with Biryani (17%) and South Indian cuisine (3%) also favored

Biryani emerges as the undisputed king of Indian cuisine, featuring prominently in the top 3 searches across all Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 cities. In a surprising twist, Chennai has taken the lead with an extraordinary 20% of its total searches focused on Biryani, outpacing other Biryani-loving cities like Hyderabad (17%) and Kolkata (15%). This highlights Chennai’s exceptional passion for this flavorful dish.

However, the data also paints a vivid picture of India’s diverse culinary landscape. Regional specialties hold strong across the country. Kolkata remains true to its Bengali roots, with Bengali cuisine leading the pack at 21%, while Hyderabad showcases a unique trend with Mandi, a dish from the Arabian Peninsula, topping the charts at 25%.

The data from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities reflects the national trend, with Biryani leading the pack. However, there are interesting regional variations. Tier 2 cities show a surprising interest in Korean cuisine, while Tier 3 cities see a rise in Gujarati cuisine searches and Mandi.

Top 3 cuisine/ dish in tier 2 cities: Biryani (10%), Korean (5%), South Indian (5%)

Top 3 cuisine/ dish in tier 3 cities: Biryani (19%), Gujarati (5%), Mandi (5%)