Must-try Dishes
Chéu Fritas - Fried Potato Fritters - Crispy potato fritters made with a mix of spiced mashed potatoes and herbs, served hot with a coconut chutney. Locals love to enjoy these as a hearty breakfast while chatting at their favorite roadside stalls.
Paav Bhaji - Mixed Vegetable Curry with Bread - A spicy mash of vegetables cooked with aromatic spices, served with buttered bread rolls. This popular street food is often shared among friends during evening outings, especially with a chilled drink.
Fish Curry Rice - Xacuti Rice - Tender pieces of fish simmered in a rich coconut-spice gravy, served over fragrant rice. Best enjoyed for lunch at local eateries, this dish is a staple among Goans, perfect for kickstarting a lazy afternoon.
Chicken Cafreal - Spicy Herb-Marinated Chicken - Marinated chicken boiled and then fried, coated in a mix of green spices, giving it a vibrant color and bold flavor. It's customary to serve this during special gatherings, often paired with rice or bread.
Bhawtiey - Goan Style Kidney Beans - A delectable curry made from kidney beans and coconut milk, slow-cooked to achieve a velvety texture. Traditionally enjoyed during the monsoon season, locals appreciate this dish as a wholesome vegetarian option.
Fish Recheado - Stuffed Fish - A whole fish stuffed with a zesty spice mix and fried to perfection, packing a punch of flavors. It's common to eat this dish at family dinners, often served with a side of rice to soak up the delicious juices.
Rawa Fried Squid - Crispy Fried Calamari - Tender squid coated in semolina and fried to a golden crisp, served with a zesty dipping sauce. This dish is frequently ordered as a beach snack while soaking up the sun, showcasing the coastal flair of Goa.
Pork Vindaloo - Spicy Pork Curry - Pork marinated in a tangy vinegar and spice blend and then slow-cooked until tender. There's a cultural significance to this dish—it's often prepared during festive occasions and loved for its rich and bold flavors.
Desserts & Drinks
Feni - फेनी (cashew liquor) - A potent spirit made from cashew apples, this local drink has a distinct fruity aroma. Often enjoyed as an evening refreshment, locals typically sip it neat or mixed in a cocktail, especially during festivals.
Cha - चाय (spiced tea) - This rich tea, brewed with a blend of milk, sugar, and spices like cardamom and ginger, is a morning staple. You'll find it being served steaming hot in roadside stalls where friends gather for a chat before heading to work.
Mango Smoothie - आम स्मूदी (tropical blend) - A refreshing concoction of ripe mangoes, yogurt, and honey, this smoothie is best enjoyed cold during the scorching summer months. Locals often indulge in it at the beach or after a yoga session for a sweet treat.
Dodol - डोडोल (sticky rice cake) - A sweet treat made from coconut milk, jaggery, and rice flour, with a chewy texture that delights the mouth. Traditionally prepared during the Goan festival of San Joao, it's often served on banana leaves to honor its rustic roots.
Gelato - आइसक्रीम (Italian-style ice cream) - This creamy, dense frozen dessert comes in tropical flavors like coconut and jackfruit, making it a popular choice at beach shacks. These are perfect for cooling down after a day in the sun and are typically best enjoyed in the late afternoon.
By the way, don’t be surprised if your Feni comes with a slice of lime on the side; that's how locals enhance the flavor!
After a long vacation, it took me quite a while to adjust back to regular food – usually something simple without shrimp. We even found this unique café in Colva that seemed out of the ordinary. The owners have a strong resemblance to Filipinos, definitely not Indians. Walking in, you wouldn't guess anything about them until you see the menu, and then the price absolutely astonishes you.
A serving of shrimp in a delicious sauce is about $1.60, fish in a similar sauce is around $1.45. Back home, we typically pay about $4-5 for shrimp and around $4-5 for something around 200 grams. Here, that same portion costs only about $1.20 – we were able to share this and even took some with us (having it again the next morning), and if we hadn’t, we would’ve surely attracted stray dogs that are friendly and plentiful.
The price was explained better by the owner, but the taste is something I could rave about forever. It’s hard to describe how delightful those flavors are. The taste is the second aspect that keeps bringing me back there. You just find yourself wanting to return time and time again. Just trying the first bite (or forkful) makes it impossible to stop. It’s an indescribable experience. You could say it’s a gastronomic delight.
Why am I sharing all of this? I simply want to let you know about this little gem. In which countries do you remember kitchens that impressed you the most? 🤔 »
You'll overlook the garbage; the cows will entertain you, and the honking will just be an empty noise for you. We moved from one beach to another every day: clean warm sea, sun, and an incredibly helpful staff that makes you feel comfortable really quickly. It's chill, you don't feel like rushing; you just enjoy the moment... sipping fresh coconut juice or a pineapple smoothie while listening to the ocean's sounds.
The sunset view is stunning, with sea produce, fruits... and the best part is the prices for everything. How this will change, I don't know yet. A salad with seafood... around $2.75 ❤️ Of course, it's better not to look too closely at the kitchens, as it can ruin your nerves, but everything is super tasty! Just remember to ask for mild spice.
Evenings by the open sea... bliss! Getting into town can be tricky, especially for those who aren't familiar, but it sounds so cool 🧚♂️. Paradise Beach, Goa Shivy, an old charming uncle, and so much other interesting stuff we encountered. We visited 9 beaches but chose two: Morjim and Arambol.
Arambol is more artistic; in the evening, you'll see many captivating things: yoga at sunset, meditation folks, kids playing football, and lots of barabans. The beach "dies" around 11... Morjim feels more calm and touristy, and there are two clubs 🙌. And the clearest sea ever ❤️.
Next time we visit, we'll definitely take footage there 😅. Yes, indeed.. that's the kind of place you want to return to. Specials for those throwing coins 🙌. »
Be cautious!
Bhang lassi contains hashish, which is sold as a drink. Marijuana is part of Indian culture; bhang "approved by the government" is used in ceremonial rituals, as Shiva loved the herb and his cow. However, the consumption, possession, and sale of most psychoactive substances are criminal offenses. »
We had Tibetan noodles with shrimp, chicken noodles, and shrimp rice. They serve some cool chili sauces with them, and the price per dish ranges from about $2 to $2.50. »