The taste of Delhi 

By Ritu Ghai

The gastronomic glory of Delhi comes from its rich past and mixed culture imbued in every dish served here. Right from Mughlai dishes to North Indian cuisines and street food variety, Delhi has a taste for every palate.

The three most popular street food in Delhi are Chole Bhatura, Chaat and Gol Gappa. Best chole bhature can be savoured at Giani’s di Hatti in Chandni Chowk, Roshan’s at Karol Bagh, Sita Ram at Paharganj, Baba Nagpal Corner in Lajpat Nagar and Chache di Hatti in Delhi University. Not to miss out fluffy bature with chole at Bikanervala and Kwality restaurant in CP.

Local markets in Chandni Chowk, Lajpat Nagar, Rajouri Garden, Bengali market, CR Park and UPSC Bhawan serve the best chaat, tikki, aloo chaat and golgappe including ”˜Pachranga’ variations of golgappa pani and Vodka or Tequila Golgappe.

Enjoy full flavoured tasty rolls from local joints in Kamla Nagar Market, Wah Ji Wah at Mayapuri, Taste Drive at Rajouri Garden, Nizam’s in CP, High on Rolls in Defence Colony, Khan chacha rolls in Khan market and New Friends colony.

To get a slice of true blue Delhi cuisine, foodie-in-Chief at Delhi Food Walks, Anubhav Sapra organizes food walks, kitchen visits, cooking classes and food festivals fortourists and food aficionados. The leftover food is donated to the homeless and destitute people on the streets. 

According to him the best momos are found at Majni ka Tila and De Paul’s in Janpath. “ For Galauti Kebabs, I would say Karim’s at Jama Masjid and Moinuddin Kebabs in Ballimaran. I also like the Lotan ke Chole Kulche in Chawri Bazar and Bhogal chhole kulche near Scindia House in Connaught Place. Also multiple kiosks near offices and shopping centers like Nehru Place, Shankar Market, Kamla Nagar and Karol Bagh serve scrumptious Rajma Chawal, the popular Punjabi dish”.

Visit to Delhi is never complete without traversing the narrow by-lanes of Paranthe Wali Gali in Chandni Chowk.

Popular parantha shops are Pandit Gaya Prasad Shiv Charan, Kannaiylal, Sharma Bhojnalay and Babu Ram Parantha wala where papad parathas, Meva paratha, khurchan parantha, pizza paratha and parathas stuffed with dal, chilies, mooli, kajus, badams, matar, khoya, bitter gourds, lady fingers, Carrots, Cauliflowers, Paneer, aaloo etc ignite the hunger of people.

Also find here Shiv Misthan Bhandar serving crisp Bedmi Puris served with ”˜aloo ki sabzi’ and ”˜Sooji ka Halwa’ prepared in shudh ghee. Plenty of nostalgic shops selling ”˜Jalebis’, thick and creamy ”˜Lassi’, Karachi Halwa, ”˜Motichoor Ladoo’ and the famous Kulfi of Lala Duli Chand Naresh Gupta in Sitaram Bazaar.

For egg lovers an absolute must visit is Khan Omelette Corner that serve delectable varieties of finger licking omelettes.

Chandni Chowk is also home to the famous Jung Bahadur Kachori Wala and Shree Balaji Chaat Bhandar.

For a more hygenic parantha eating place, visit Not Just parathas in GK 2 and Moolchand Paranthas in South Delhi.

Dum Pukht at Sheraton serves delectable melt-in-your-mouth kakori kebabs and tasty meat stew, Nihari.

Shahpur Jat has authentic and rare Bihar cuisine at Pot Belly rooftop café.

Tarun Munjal, a renewable energy technology entrepreneur and resident of Gurugram likes to eat South Indian at Carnatic Café in Greater Kailash M block market and the dim sums and sushi at Yum Yum cha. “This place can never disappoint you. Veg sushi, chicken in chilli oil, dim sums and their noodle bowl is my all-time favourite”, says Tarun.

He also like the perfectly cooked Northern Indian cuisines of Zabardast kitchen in CP and the welcoming feel at Café Dori in Chatterpur.

Anuj Bahl, from the manufacturing industry background is an ardent food enthusiast. He likes South Indian food at Sagar in Defence Colony, Carnatic Café in GK, Karnataka Sangam in RK Puram, Swagat at Defence Colony and Naivedyam at Hauz Khaz Village, American Diner at India Habitat Center, Lodhi Road. “You must try the Ghee Roast Dosa, Filter Coffee, Tutti fruti Icecream  at Sagar”, he says and further adds, “For fine dining, I suggest Indian Accent at The Lodhi, Bukhara & Dum Pukht at the Sheraton, Dhaba at Claridges, Paranda at Taj Vivanta, Surajkund and Sevilla, Claridges”.

According to him best Afghan, Iranian, Mughlai and Indian food can be found at ORZA in Ansal Plaza, The Great Kebab Factory – Radisson NH8, Khan Chacha, Nizam’s Kathi Kebab at Connaught place and Defence Colony, Col. Kebabz in Som Vihar, Chic Fish in Malviya Nagar, Kwality restaurant and Kake da Hotel in CP for Chicken Bhayankar and Dal Makhni, Chor Bizarre at Hotel Broadway, Asaf Ali Road. Have More at Pandara Road and Yellow Brick Road are equally popular.

Anuj Bahl pins down his favourite indulgences as Chole Bature of Sita Ram Dewan Chand in Paharganj and Bengali Sweet Corner in South Ex 1, chaat at Prabhu chaat Bhandar near UPSC, Natraj Dahi Bhalle Wala in Chandni Chowk and Chole Puri at Baba Nagpal in Lajpat Nagar. “Get them packed or eat them in the car before 7.45 AM. The cook keeps adding chole to the same masala thereafter without equivalent masala”, he suggests before heading off to have Moet’s kulfi in Defence Colony.

To further enhance your palate, he suggest the samosas at Dhabewala behind Sri Sai Baba Mandir, Lodhi Institutional Area and palatable kachoris from a small Khokha next to Culinaire, in S Block, GK II or the irresistible Dal Bhaati Choorma at Rajasthan Stalls during Diwali Melas.

The list can go on and on in this city of historic flavours, where food joints have actually become landmarks on its map.

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