Is Indian street food becoming global soft power?
No foreign policy advisor could've predicted that the real diplomatic breakthrough would arrive wrapped in a banana leaf or sizzling on a tava. But
Indian street food
, in all its chaotic, chaat-laden glory, has emerged as the country's most flavour-packed
cultural ambassador
. These humble bites have found their way to state banquets, global forums, and presidential palates—doing what white papers and handshakes often can't. More and more diplomats are ditching formality, proving that sometimes the quickest route to connection is through India's street food.
In 2025, somewhere between a bite of litti and a dollop of chokha, Keiichi Ono, Japanese Ambassador to India, found his Bihar moment. 'Gajab Swad Ba!' he posted, and the Bhojpuri internet exploded.
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'Dosa, idli, sambar, and chutney' was making quiet diplomatic moves in 2023- long before it became a Gen Z trend, when Italian Ambassador Vincenzo De Luca took to the streets of Delhi to enjoy a classic South Indian breakfast. His love for samosas, dosas, chai, and all things spicy was already well underway
In June 2023, Hiroshi Suzuki, Japanese Ambassador to India and Bhutan, bit into Pune's vada pav-misal combo and instantly met Maharashtra's firepower. His 'Thoda teekha kam please' plea on X was the most diplomatic spice negotiation we've seen yet.
German Ambassador Philipp Ackermann indulged deeply in Delhi's rich food scene—from Karim's kebabs to the delights of Paranthe Wali Gali. In interviews, he's often expressed his admiration for
Indian cuisine
, but it's mangoes that truly have his heart. 'Europe deserves good mangoes,' he quipped once, championing the cause of Indian mango exports with sweet conviction.
From cart to carte India's street food became VIP protocol:
Turns out, when it comes to international diplomacy, a plate of chat does more than a policy paper—here's when Indian street food turned into the star of the summit:
•
G20 Summit, New Delhi, September 2023
: Delegates were treated to an elaborate vegetarian spread representing India's rich culinary traditions, including Mughlai cuisine, South Indian dishes, and chaat from across the country.
•
Luncheon for spouses of world leaders, September 2023:
At the National Gallery of Modern Art, spouses of world leaders enjoyed a diverse array of cuisines, including 'tadka dal' and 'chaat' straight from the bustling streets of Delhi
•
Breakfast for Netherlands PM and Deputy PM, September 2023:
Chef Davinder Kumar served a special breakfast to Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Deputy Prime Minister Sigrid Kaag, featuring South Indian favourites like idli, medu vada, masala dosa, sambar, coconut chutney, and filter coffee.
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