Know Your City: Savouring Ahmedabad’s expanding noodle plate

Offering ‘Pasta-Frankie-Maggi’, these carts have multiple options, competing with each other, and thus defining the character of the street.

The Maggi here, however, is not the instant noodle as we know it, but appears on plates in a series of Gujarati, and other improvised incarnations. This comfort food from childhood sells like hot cakes in forms like bhajias with a bright red chutney, buried under a heap of cheese with a tadka (tempering) or hyphenated with pasta and even bhel.

While these food carts mostly cater to students from CEPT University, Gujarat University, and Ahmedabad University, the ubiquitous instant noodles in various forms have also crossed the river over to Ahmedabad’s oldest street food court — Manek Chowk and other places.

The Maggi here, however, is not the instant noodle as we know it, but appears on plates in a series of Gujarati, and other improvised incarnations.

Bal Krishna, the owner of the A1 Maggi Bhajiya stall near Iscon Circle on S G Highway, has an interesting story. What started as a typo on his stall’s sign board — which was meant to say “A1 Maggi and Bhajiya” and ended up as “A1 Maggi Bhajiya” — turned into a culinary experiment that led to the creation of a unique fusion dish. “We decided to try combining Maggi and bhajiya, and it was a hit. Customers love the combination,” says Bal Krishna, whose stall has become a popular food corner in the area.

Kelash Kumawat, a 38-year-old from Bhilwara, Rajasthan, owns a Maggi stall outside CEPT University, where he has been running it for the past 15 years along with 20-30 similar stalls on the same street. His stall is a popular spot for students and passersby, offering a quick and satisfying meal option. “Maggi has become a staple for many students here. It’s quick, tasty, and affordable,” says Kumawat as he serves up steaming bowls of spicy noodles to his customers.

The growing trend in Ahmedabad is not limited to roadside stalls. Fancy cafes in the Sindhu Bhavan and Bodakdev areas of the city also offer instant noodles on their menus for customers looking for a quick and comforting snack. Aditya Charan, 26, says he orders Maggi as an ‘appetizer’ before his meal at a cafe in Bodakdev. “Maggi is the perfect snack to munch on while waiting. It’s quick and satisfying,” says Charan.

For Vikas Mishra, a student at Gujarat University, Maggi is more than just a snack — it’s a daily sustenance food. A simple bowl of Maggi costs him around Rs 50 making it cheaper than a lot of available options in the area. “I rely on Maggi for a quick and economical meal between classes. It’s convenient and fills me up,” says Mishra.

On University Road, one can find many such ‘Maggi Points’ where young people gather, bonding over shared packets and college stories. Some prefer to go to cafes in the upscale Sindhu Bhavan area, where the noodles are served with a touch of elegance, made with olive oil, and topped with butter and cheese in eye-catching bowls, catering to a more sophisticated palate.

“We decided to try combining Maggi and bhajiya, and it was a hit. Customers love the combination,” says Bal Krishna, whose stall has become a popular food corner in the area.

But it’s not just the youth. Families also cherish the noodle dish, particularly at Manekchowk, a popular street food destination in Ahmedabad. Here, amidst the hustle and bustle, families enjoy the variety of Maggi dishes on offer — from the classic ‘Tadka Maggi’ to innovative creations like Maggi Bhajiya and Maggi Bhel.

Rukesh Prajapati, a 42-year-old visitor to Manek Chowk, reflects on the experience, “When my wife is busy shopping I enjoy Maggi with my kids, and these food stalls provide us with great family time. Maggi is a big part of it”.

Aditya Charan, 26, says he orders Maggi as an ‘appetizer’ before his meal at a cafe in Bodakdev. “Maggi is the perfect snack to munch on while waiting. It’s quick and satisfying,” says Charan

However, experts say the growing trend of fast food as a daily supplement is not an ideal lifestyle choice. “For students and adults, Maggi is a go-to option – cheap, quick, and filling. However, nutritionally, it doesn’t offer much. Consuming Maggi regularly can lead to constipation and will majorly impact overall gastrointestinal health. It can also cause weight gain,” warns Ahmedabad-based dietitian Shweta Nagar.

“Fast foods are more appealing to the senses compared to home-cooked food, so children are drawn to them more often, further depriving them of essential nutrients resulting in malnutrition of children and obesity. It is a candle burning from both ends depriving our future generation of essential nutrients on one end and sowing seeds of obesity, diabetes, BP, kidney problems, etc, on the other,” explains Ahmedabad-based general physician Dr V R Tindwani.

(Harsh is an intern with The Indian Express)