BARIPADA Breakfast Street Food Tour I Jagannath Temple Arisa Prasad + Malpua & Moori with Aloo Dum

In today’s episode, our wonderful hosts, Mona and Akash, take us through their favourite morning spots in Baripada that truly define the soul of this town. Mona, a Dubai-based painter, returns to her roots to revisit the flavours and places that shaped her. Her father, Sangram Mohanty, is a familiar and respected figure in Baripada, and her connection to the town is deeply personal. Akash, an avid food explorer who knows Baripada’s food scene like the back of his hand, brings in rich local insights and stories, making this journey even more special.

We begin our tour with prayers at the revered Maa Ambika Temple, a place very close to the hearts of the people of Baripada. Mona recalls how Maa Ambika has always been her guiding force, the first inspiration behind her artistic journey.

Our first food stop is Bapa Pua Jalakhia Dokan, a humble snacks shop known for its loyal following. Here, we try their unique combo of unsweetened malpua and aalu tarkari. The light, comforting sabzi beautifully complements the malpua, though the sweetened version pairs equally well. Akash also shares the history of the shop and its most-loved dishes.

Next, we head to Amo Kunu Bhai Cha Dokan, a bustling tea shop full of energy. The fun menu and the genial owner instantly win us over. Akash explains how Kunu Bhai transformed his grandfather’s humble tea stall into a popular contemporary hangout. We tried their mango ginger tea, tulsi tea, and lemon tea and it was phenomenal.

Our journey continues to the revered Jagannath Temple. After offering our prayers, we get a taste of the ghee fried arisa pitha, prepared in the temple kitchen as prasad. Its rich, luscious flavour stays with us long after.

We then visit Jalaram Chaat and Snacks, run by Bhawesh Rathore, a Gujarati gentleman whose family has lived in Baripada for generations. The shop serves chota kachori chaat, samosa chaat, and khaman chaat. We try their plain samosa, kachori, and the delightful kachori chaat. The samosa has a lighter stuffing as it goes into chaat and the hing-infused kachori was crisp and flavourful. The kachori chaat, with all its condiments, was fun. Most dishes finish by the first half of the day!

From there, we head to Juja Bhai Shop, a favourite among office-goers and locals, especially since it is located near the treasury office. The shop is buzzing with action. Freshly fried snacks, steaming plates, and constant chatter fill the space. We enjoy mudi with biri bara, piyaji, aalu chop, baigani, and jilipi - each item delicious in its own right.

Next, we stop at Punjabi Hatti, one of Baripada’s old bakery shops. We pick up some biscuits and cream buns to enjoy with chai. Akash shares a sweet anecdote - this bakery has long supplied bread to the local hospital. We try their bestselling biscuits, all wonderfully nostalgic.

We then visit Anand Betel Shop for a cup of chai to pair with our cream bun. Deepak serves us a special chai blended with a hint of coffee, and it turns out to be a comforting delight. The cream bun pairs perfectly with the tea.

Our final stop is a small paan shop located just a little away from the town. A simple, unassuming place, it offers the perfect end to our long and flavourful breakfast trail.