If you’re driving up to Mount Abu, do yourself a favour and stop at Abu Road before you start climbing the ghats. That’s exactly what we did on our latest food run — and it turned into one of the most satisfying detours we’ve made in a while.
Just off the highway near the Ramdevra route sits a small, unassuming stall that most families making this drive already know by name: Ramdev Kachori. It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but the story behind the counter is what makes it special. The stall has been running for over 80 years, passed down through three generations — starting with the grandfather, then the father for nearly 40 years, and now run by the current owner. That’s the kind of consistency you can actually taste.
The stall’s claim to fame is its Palak Pakoda — crispy spinach fritters served with pav, all doused in a hot, tangy kadhi. It’s messy, it’s comforting, and it’s unlike anything you’ll find back home. We also tried the kachori, samosa, and mirchi vada, and honestly, the kachori alone was worth the stop. Well-fried, not overly spicy, and easy on the stomach — a proper Rajasthani texture and flavour that’s hard to replicate anywhere in Gujarat.
What makes the taste consistent after all these decades is the sourcing. The besan (gram flour) and the chillies both come specially from Jaipur, and the family sticks to the same suppliers they’ve trusted for years. It’s a small detail, but it’s clearly the difference between an ordinary roadside stop and a spot families plan their road trips around.
Speaking of families — that’s the real charm of this place. On the day we visited, there wasn’t a single person eating just one plate. Entire families were parked at the tables, everyone digging in, nobody worried about anyone else’s plate. We even got talking to a regular, Gangaram Chaudhary, originally from Vadli and now working in Abu, who told us he keeps coming back for the pakode, kachori, and mirchi vada because “bahut swadisht the” — simply put, it’s that good.
A small confession: we were visiting during Shravan month, so there was a fair bit of good-natured guilt about breaking a fast for kachori and pakoda. But when the food in front of you looks and smells this good, some rules are made to bend a little. We’ve already promised ourselves a proper return trip for a Sunday breakfast run once Shravan ends — this time with no excuses, just a dedicated food stop with the drive planned around it.
If you’re heading to Mount Abu anytime soon, add Ramdev Kachori to your must-try list. It’s not fancy, it’s not on the highway itself, but it’s exactly the kind of hidden, no-frills spot that makes road trips memorable. Go hungry, share a few plates with whoever you’re travelling with, and if the kadhi’s heat catches up with you, ask for a bit of the sweet boondi on the side — it balances things out perfectly.
Watch the full food tour and honest tasting on our YouTube channel, Roads Rewritten with Alok, and let us know in the comments — have you tried Abu Road’s kachori, samosa, or palak kadhi pav? What’s your favourite?
