Bijapur
Bijapur (Vijayapura) is the birthplace of some of Karnataka's most distinctive culinary traditions — the Adil Shahi era brought Persian and Central Asian flavours that fused over centuries with local Deccan ingredients. Don't leave without trying Bijapur's famous Ennegayi (stuffed brinjal curry), the region's distinctive Jolada Rotti (sorghum flatbread), and the extraordinary Shahi Mutton dishes served in the old city's street restaurants near the Gol Gumbaz. Food here is genuinely unlike anything else in Karnataka.
Ask locals to direct you to the small dhabas inside the old city walls near Chand Bawdi — the food served there is far more authentic than restaurants near tourist sites.