Kolhapur is one of India's most distinctive food cities. The cuisine is fiercely spiced, built around two signature mutton preparations — Kolhapuri misal (a spiced bean curry with mutton, topped with farsan and raw onion) and the red and white variants of the rassa (thin curry) that accompany mutton. Tambda rassa (red) is built on Kashmiri chilies and coriander; pandhara rassa (white) uses coconut milk, pepper, and dried ginger. Both are served together in the best mutton thalis.
The city's food scene is concentrated in dhabas and mid-range restaurants rather than fine dining. The market area near the Mahalakshmi Temple has some of the most authentic street food.