Last update:December 11, 2024, 6:41 p.m. IST

Taste Atlas ranks Punjab as the seventh “best food region” in the world, highlighting its traditional restaurants and well-known dishes. West Bengal, Maharashtra and South India are also on the list.

Punjab’s gastronomic heritage has earned it recognition as the seventh best gastronomic region in the world.

As part of its 2024-25 Taste Atlas Awards, renowned food and travel guide Taste Atlas has revealed its highly anticipated ranking of the “100 Best Food Regions in the World”. With Punjab ranking seventh in the world, India has many reasons to be proud of this list, which honors culinary excellence from around the world.

Locations with the highest average ratings are highlighted in the rankings, which are based on more than 477,287 valid ratings for 15,478 foods in the Taste Atlas database. Punjab’s inclusion in the top 10 highlights the state’s diverse culinary traditions, which include well-known dishes like tikka, Amritsari kulcha, saag paneer, shahi paneer and tandoori murgh. Notable Punjabi restaurants that have contributed to the preservation and celebration of the state’s culinary heritage include Haveli, Kesar da Dhaba, Bharawan Da Dhaba, Bade Bhai ka Brothers Dhaba and Crystal Restaurant.

Although Punjab has led the way for India, other regions have also managed to secure a place in the coveted list. With its popular street food and sweet foods like misal pav, aamras, shrikhand and pav bhaji, Maharashtra ranked 41st. Referring to its distinctive fusion of savory and sweet flavors, found in dishes like chingri malai curry, shorshe ilish, ras malai and kathi rolls, West Bengal took 54th place. Recognized as a distinct region, South India ranks 59th for its varied cuisine, which includes Hyderabadi biryani, Madras curry, masala dosa, etc.

The ranking highlights the variety and diversity of Indian cuisine on the international stage, although the entire Indian food category ranks 12th in Taste Atlas’s “100 Best Cuisines in the World.” Even if it is not among the first. 10, this distinction shows how popular the diversity of Indian culinary culture is across the world.

Punjab, which dominates India’s culinary presence, serves as a reminder of the nation’s remarkable culinary heritage and its place in the hearts and palates of foodies around the world.