Hyderabad’s food streets are rapidly transforming into spaces where the city comes together — places to savour favourite dishes while doubling up as lively centres of social life. In a city already known for its fine dining and restaurant culture, these bustling stretches bring people out into the open, weaving food and community into the same frame.The trend takes on special significance this weekend, as National Eat Outside Day on August 31 celebrates the joy of stepping out to share meals. For Hyderabadis, that joy is most evident on the streets that brim with flavours, aromas and chatter well into the night.At the heart of the IT corridor, the 1.5-km long DLF food street in Gachibowli is one of the best-known examples. It has become an after-hours pilgrimage. By dusk, the air is thick with the scent of momo, tawa pulao, chaat, rolls, juices and biryani, drawing in IT professionals, students and families.“We usually start with wraps, and then move on to fresh fruit juice from the next shop,” said Anjali Jha, a 24-year-old software engineer who lives in a nearby PG accomodation. She smiled, pointing at her partner beside her. “I actually met him at a chaat stall here. So now it’s not just food cravings, but memories too. I love paani puri, he loves Indian food and here, we can have it all in one place,” she added.Rajesh Sahoo, 28, a software engineer from Begumpet, said, “DLF street has always been our spot. I’ve got this WhatsApp group with six of my school friends called ‘food plans’, and it pretty much pings every weekend. We meet up weekly, sometimes fortnightly, just to eat out and catch up on life. With the number of choices DLF has, we end up going there at least three times a month.”For many, affordability is part of the charm. Shweta Menon, 26, a marketing executive from Kondapur, said, “What I like about DLF street is that it isn’t too heavy on the pocket. You get plenty of variety, from cafés to small eateries, all at fairly decent prices. It makes it easy to meet friends often without burning a hole in your wallet.”With road widening works displacing some vendors from DLF, some have shifted to the ITC Kohenur stretch in Madhapur, which also houses the famous Kumari Aunty food stall. Whether 12 noon or midnight, the road is packed with people sampling everything from a steaming plate of rajma chawal to fusion dosa. Just across the street, the upscale Knowledge City houses international brands like Paul and Nando’s, offering a striking contrast.Mayank Sharma, who was waiting for his roll order with his wife, explained the balance. “Sometimes we go for a hearty bowl of authentic pasta at Knowledge City, but our taste buds always crave spice. That’s when we cross the road and come here. Tonight, it’s a peri peri chicken roll for me, and paneer tikka for her,” he laughed.The food street culture is not confined to the IT hub. At Masab Tank and Charminar, the evenings unfold over steaming cups of Irani chai and plates of biryani. Here, the glow of streetlights and the buzz of small stalls create an atmosphere that is both familiar and festive, bringing together families, groups of friends and late-night visitors.Published - August 30, 2025 09:28 pm IST