Food Festivals & Food Events in Surat
Food festivals, pop-ups and food events in Surat are listed below and updated daily. Surat's reputation for eating is old enough to have its own proverb, 'Surat nu jaman ane Kashi nu maran', to dine in Surat and die in Kashi, and the food calendar follows the seasons more than any organised festival. Late October brings Chandi Padvo, when the city eats ghari, a ghee-rich mawa sweet, with spicy bhusu on its terraces. From November to February stalls sell ponk, tender roasted sorghum served with sev, and winter is also the time for undhiyu, the mixed-vegetable dish that is a Surat speciality and a fixture of Uttarayan. Ramzan turns the lanes of Rander into a night food market. Organised events sit on top of this: the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce's Food & Beverages Expo at the Sarsana exhibition centre runs from 23 to 25 January 2027, the municipal corporation invited entries for food competitions around Navratri in 2026, and hotels and cafés hold tasting menus and themed pop-ups. All food events in the city are alcohol-free, and most are vegetarian, with Jain options common.
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Good to know
- Seasonal foods have short windows: ghari peaks on Chandi Padvo in late October, and ponk is at its best in December and January.
- Trade food expos at Sarsana are aimed at the industry. Check whether the public is admitted and on which days.
- Go to popular stalls early in the evening; the queues build as the night goes on.
- Most stalls take UPI, but carry cash at the beach and in the old city.
- Ask about Jain or no-onion-garlic versions; most Surat kitchens offer them.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Food & Beverages Expo in Surat?
The Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce's Food & Beverages Expo is scheduled for 23–25 January 2027 at the Sarsana exhibition centre, from 10 am to 7 pm.
What is Surat's food season?
Winter. Ponk is sold from November to late February, undhiyu is cooked through the cold months and peaks at Uttarayan, and ghari is eaten on Chandi Padvo in late October.
Do food festivals in Surat serve alcohol?
No. Gujarat is a dry state, so food events are alcohol-free.
Is the food mostly vegetarian?
At public food events, yes. Non-vegetarian specialities are found in particular neighbourhoods, such as Rander's Ramzan night market.
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