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Diwali is here now, and for the next five days, people are celebrating this Festival of Lights with family, fun, and of course, food. Whether it’s some fireworks or a feast, there’s something to do — but one thing you’ll always remember to take part in is the sweets. In the spirit of the holiday, we’ve found some places around the Valley where you can celebrate with some delectable, traditional Indian sweets in Phoenix!
India’s Flame
4427 S Rural Rd Suite 3 and 4, Tempe, AZ 85282
Considered some of the staple sweets of the Diwali season, gulab jamun and rasmalai can be found at India’s Flame to complete your night of Indian cuisine. Take some time especially to share and enjoy a dish of their gulab jamun, fried khoa (dried milk) cake balls dipped in a sweet syrup made from rose water — a sticky treat that’s absolutely irresistible. And, if you’re in the feasting mood, India’s Flame offers a lunch buffet where you can eat your fill!
Ruchi Vegetarian Indian Cuisine
2051 W Warner Rd #7, Chandler, AZ 85224
This is yet another place that offers things like ice cream, puddings, and also rasmalai, made from Indian cottage cheese cooked in sugar syrup and coated in chilled, thickened milk. The whole menu of things you can enjoy at Ruchi are all vegetarian, to boot, so stop by and get your daily dose of vegetables and dairy in the form of hearty dinners whipped up by a chef with over 20 years of experience in the kitchen.
Little India Chaat & Restaurant
1813 E Baseline Rd #108, Tempe, AZ 85283
Little India is a spot that serves food and has groceries available for you to prepare some treats of your own. Whatever you’re grabbing, whether it’s a hot plate of gaajar ka halva (a sweet carrot pudding topped with nuts) or ingredients like black chickpea flour or frozen garlic naan to make a meal for your family at home, this hotspot for Indian food is a must-visit.
Om Indian Bistro
18631 N 19th Ave UNIT 150, Phoenix, AZ 85027
Described as “traditional Indian ice cream”, kulfi is a dairy dessert that Om Indian Bistro boasts alongside other delicious treats — most of which are favorites on Diwali, such as rasmalai and gulab jamun. The kulfi here can come in flavors like mango, pistachio, and the nutty kesar pista. Om Indian Bistro also offers pastries (eggless and with egg alike) of various flavors, including pineapple, White Forest, Black Forest, and butterscotch.
New India Bazaar
101, 1023, 2544 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85006
New India Bazaar offers some of the other expected delicacies, including their own twist on gulab jamun, while also bringing other treats to the table, such as kheer and jallebi, a type of Indian-style flour pretzel filled with honey syrup. Their vast menu includes goat curry, chicken saag, veggie wraps, and much more — all of which you can sit down and enjoy if you’re the type to have dinner before dessert.
