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According to the well-known food and travel guide Taste Atlas, Punjab has been included in the "100 Best Food Regions in the World" for the Taste Atlas Awards 2024-25. Punjab was ranked 7th overall, with Campania (Italy), Peloponnese (Greece), Emilia-Romagna (Italy), Sichuan (China), and Cyclades (Greece) occupying the top five positions. The rankings were based on over 477,000 ratings for nearly 15,500 foods in Taste Atlas's database. Some of the must-try dishes in Punjab, as recommended by the guide, are Amritsari kulcha, tikka, shahi paneer, tandoori murgh, and saag paneer. The guide also highlighted several iconic traditional restaurants in Punjab, including Kesar da Dhaba, Bharawan Da Dhaba, Bade Bhai ka Brothers Dhaba, Haveli, and Crystal Restaurant. Additionally, Maharashtra was also recognized as one of the top 100 food regions, ranked at 41st position.
The list highlighted regional delicacies from across India, including pav, aamras, shrikhand, and pav bhaji from West Bengal, which was ranked 54th globally. Dishes like chingri malai curry, shorshe ilish, ras malai, and kathi roll were also mentioned. Southern India, as a single entry, occupied the 59th position, with popular examples like masala dosa, Madras curry, and Hyderabadi biryani showcasing the diversity of the region's cuisine. Taste Atlas, known for its ranking of the 100 Best Cuisines in the World, featured Indian cuisine as a finalist, though it did not make it to the top 10, ultimately being recognized as the 12th best cuisine globally.