Food & Dining in Delhi
Must-Try Delhi Dishes
- Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani): Invented in Delhi at Moti Mahal restaurant in Daryaganj in the 1950s — the original location still serves the founding recipe.
- Dal Makhani: Black lentils slow-cooked overnight in cream and butter; perfected at ITC Maurya's legendary Bukhara restaurant, which has served heads of state for 40 years.
- Chole Bhature: Spiced chickpeas with puffed deep-fried bread — the essential Old Delhi breakfast; best at Sita Ram Diwan Chand, a Paharganj institution since 1942.
- Paranthe: Stuffed flatbreads (potato, paneer, cauliflower, mixed pickle) from Paranthe Wali Gali in Chandni Chowk — three family shops maintaining a 150-year tradition.
- Jalebi: Crispy orange spirals of fried batter soaked in sugar syrup; best at Old Famous Jalebi Wala near Chandni Chowk metro, operating continuously since 1884.
- Nihari: Slow-braised mutton stew of Mughal origin, traditionally eaten for breakfast in Old Delhi; best at Al Jawahar (est. 1947) or Karim's (est. 1913) near Jama Masjid.
- Kulfi Faluda: Dense frozen milk dessert on a stick served with rose water vermicelli and basil seeds — a street institution near India Gate, Jama Masjid, and Chandni Chowk.
Where to Eat
- Old Delhi: Karim's (Mughal cuisine, est. 1913), Al Jawahar, Paranthe Wali Gali — historic, irreplaceable, and remarkably inexpensive
- Connaught Place: Wengers bakery (est. 1926), United Coffee House — heritage restaurants with old-school colonial elegance
- Hauz Khas Village: Rooftop restaurants with medieval ruin views — best for atmospheric dinner in winter months
- Khan Market: Full Circle café, Perch wine bar, Mamagoto — upscale casual dining for mid-budget travellers in a tree-lined market
Dietary Notes
Delhi is highly vegetarian-friendly — most menus have extensive veg and Jain sections. Vegan options are increasingly available. Beef is generally unavailable (sacred to Hindus); pork is limited but found in some Christian and tribal areas. Always specify your spice tolerance — 'less spicy' in India may still be hot by Western standards, so be explicit.