Plain, with some ketchup, on top of a bun maska or sprinkled over a plate of poha – Bhujia is an extremely versatile namkeen that would go well with a round of drinks and during tea time.
To find the best bhujia brands in India, we tested five popular ones available readily offline and on online platforms. After two rounds of taste tests, we chose Bikaji Bikaneri Bhujia (Top Pick) and Haldiram’s Bhujia (Spicy Pick) as our winners. These are both crunchy, fresh tasting, and addictive.
Table of Contents
Quick Comparison of Bhujia Brands
Quick look at all the brands of bhujia we reviewed and the rating awarded to them.
| Brand | Mishry Rating | Buy Now |
| Bikaji
Mishry Top Pick |
4 | Add to cart |
| Haldiram’s
Mishry Spicy Pick |
4 | Add to cart |
| Brij | 3.5 | Add to cart |
| Bikano | 2.7 | Add to cart |
| Parle Chatkeens | 2.5 | Add to cart |
Our Review Factors
What were we looking for? We were looking for a bag of crunchy bhujia with a flavorful blend of spices. These shouldn’t be bland, oily to touch or taste.
Our aim was not about finding the spiciest bhujia, but about finding a flavorful namkeen that can be had as is, used as a topping for pohas and bun maskas.
We set the following parameters to find the best bhujia in India.
1. Taste
What to expect from the taste of a bhujia? Usually spicy with dominant pepper heat and a lingering flavor of the flour it is made with (moth flour and gram flour). Salt, level of spiciness and aftertaste of all the bhujias were noted.
2. Texture
We were looking for crunchy bhujia with no oily mouthfeel. These shouldn’t be dry either or feel chalky.
Other non-tasting parameters like price, packaging, ingredients, appearance and shelf life added to the overall experience.
What are the big, thick chunks in my bag of bhujia?
The thick deep fried chunks in your pack of bhujia are called dhankoli and are added purposely to enhance the flavor of the namkeen.
Our Review Process
Our review process included two rounds of tasting –
- Blind tasting – None of the reviewers knew which brand they were tasting.
- Tasting the shortlisted contenders.
If you’re an aloo bhujia lover, click here. We tried 6 brands.
Bhujia Namkeen Brands – Detailed Review
Details about the brands we tested, why they won or didn’t win, their pros and cons are mentioned in the section below.
1. Bikaji Bikaneri Bhujia – Mishry Top Pick
‘Amit ji loves Bikaji’, the pack mentions. Well, so do we!
Bikaji has a certain addictive quality. This crunchy Bikaneri Bhujia has the perfect balanced flavor, i.e. it’s neither too spicy, nor too bland. The spice and salt levels are apt and you can binge on this without feeling the need to gulp down lots of water.
The dhankoli (thick chunks in the pack of bhujia) are also crunchy and tasty with a very besan-pepper dominant flavor.
Product details
Our 1 kg pack is priced at Rs 300/- and has a shelf life of 6 months.
The main ingredients include dew bean flour (moth flour), Edible vegetable oil (Palmolein oil and/or cottonseed oil), Gram flour, Ground spices and condiments.
Spices include salt, pepper, red chilli, cardamom, ginger, clove and nutmeg.
- Not oily to touch or taste.
- Very crunchy.
- Balanced salt and spice levels.
- Addictive!
- The dhankoli is delicious.
Is spicy bhujia not your preferred namkeen? Bikanji’s Bikaneri Bhujia is deliciously addictive.
Auto Amazon Links: No products found.
2. Haldiram’s Bhujia – Mishry Spicy Pick
Haldiram’s is our Spicy Pick and is meant for those who have a higher spice tolerance. Reviewers with a medium-high tolerance also could not go beyond 2-3 spoonfuls without a sip of water. It would be perfect if you wish to top other dishes with this or as a bar nibble.
It is super crunchy and we liked the taste of the peppery dhankoli.
Which is the best bhujia and sev by Haldiram’s?
Product details
A 200 gram pack of Haldiram’s bhujia is priced at Rs 56/- and has a shelf life of 4 months. The main ingredients include Tepary beans flour, Edible vegetable oil (cottonseed, corn and palmolein oil), Gram pulse flour, Iodised salt, Spices and condiments.
Spices include red chilli powder, black pepper, ginger powder, clove, mace, nutmeg and cardamom
- Perfect for spicy bhujia lovers.
- Very crunchy.
- Not oily to touch or taste.
- Crunchy, tasty dhankoli.
Looking for a spicy bhujia? Haldiram’s is your pick! This would be great to top off your poha and make it more flavorful.
Haldiram's Bhujia, 1kg
3. Brij Bhujia Plain
Brij’s Bhujia has a certain chatpata-ness to it which we liked. But in a comparative situation, the seasoning seemed a bit weak which is why this brand did not win. There’s nothing wrong with the crunch. It’s spot on.
The dhankoli is a little dry.
Product details
A 400 gram pack is priced at Rs 125/- and has a shelf life of 5 months. The top three ingredients are gram pulse flour, tepary beans flour and cottonseed oil.
4. Bikano Bhujia
Bikano’s Bhujia did not win our review because it has an oily aftertaste paired with a slightly raw besan flavor. The seasoning and crunch are average. We wouldn’t go back for seconds. The bhujia and dhankoli seem very chalky and dry.
Product details
A 200 gm pack is priced at Rs 59/-. The main ingredients include husked dew moth bean flour, edible vegetable oil (palm, rice brand and cottonseed), chickpea flour and salt.
Auto Amazon Links: No products found.
5. Parle Chatkeens Bhujia Sev
Parle Chatkeens did not win our review because it is very flat and monotonous tasting. Texture wise too, this seems very dry and has a distinct besan-like chalkiness. Comparatively it isn’t as crunchy or tasty as our winners.
Product details
A 200 gm pack is priced at Rs 59/-. The main ingredients include moth flour, refined oil, besan, and iodised salt.
- Flat and monotonous tasting bhujia.
- The texture of the bhujia is dry.
- This isn’t as crunchy or tasty as our winners.
Auto Amazon Links: No products found.
Our Top Picks & Recommendations
Why did we choose Bikaji and Haldiram’s as our Top Pick?
While Bikaji bhujia can be binged on by people with low-medium chilli tolerance as well, Haldiram’s would be liked by people who like spicy bhujias. They are addictive, well-seasoned and have a pronounced crunch. Both our winners are neither oily to touch or taste.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some interesting FAQs on best bhujia in India.
1. What is the difference between sev and bhujia?
While they might look similar, the difference lies in the ingredients they are made of. Sev is made using besan (gram flour) and seasoned mildly. Bhujia is made using a mix of flours (usually moth and gram flour) and is spicier.
2. Is consuming bhujia healthy?
Bhujia and other deep fried namkeens are meant for occasional consumption. They cannot be categorized as healthy.
3. Which oil do these bhujia use?
All the brands primarily use either/or a mix of cottonseed and palmolein oil. Only one brand uses a combination of cottonseed, palm and rice bran oil.
4. Are these bhujia spicy?
Not all of them. Haldiram’s bhujia is the spiciest of all the brands we tested.
5. Which is the best bhujia?
As per our review, Bikaji Bikaneri Bhujia is the most flavorful and crunchy bhujia. Haldiram’s is the pick for you if you like spicy bhujia.
Final Verdict
We loved the well-seasoned bhujia offered by Bikaji. Our Top Pick is crunchy and has an undeniable addictive quality about it.
Haldiram’s is our Spicy Pick and would be better suited for those who prefer spicy namkeens.
Bhujia with bun maska or bhujia on top of poha – Which is your preferred combination?
Our reviews are unbiased and all samples used during the reviews were paid for by us. Read our entire ethics statement here.
