9 Places for the Tastiest Sarson ka Saag and Makki ki Roti in Delhi
You know it’s winter in Delhi when foods like sarson ka saag and makki ki roti make their way onto restaurant menus. It’s one of the things that helps make a Delhi winter tolerable.
Because of its limited season, like many Delhiites, I eat as much as I can while it’s available (end of November until end of January). I’ve eaten this winter dish all over the city and these are 9 of the very best.
Here’s a quick list of my top 3 sarson ka saag and makki ki roti in Delhi:
- Haldiram’s: casual Indian franchise
- Gulati: popular restaurant in central Delhi
- Punjab Grill: nice restaurant with several Delhi locations
What is Sarson ka Saag and Makki ki Roti?
Sarson ka saag is a creamy, lightly spiced vegetable dish made from the green leaves of the mustard plant (sarson in Hindi).
The dish is made predominately with mustard leaves, but other greens like bathua, spinach, radish and fenugreek are sometimes added.
If you’ve ever seen a Bollywood movie where the heroine frolics through a field of yellow flowers, those are mustard fields, probably in Punjab – the main farming region where mustard is grown.
Sarson ka saag is traditionally accompanied by makki ki roti, a flat bread made from maize flour, white butter and small chunks of jaggery.
The Best Places in Delhi for Sarson ka Saag and Makki ki Roti
Here’s my favourite spots for sarson ka saag and makki ki roti in Delhi:
1. Haldiram’s
India’s favourite chain of cafeteria style eateries serves up a seriously good sarson ka saag and makki ki roti. I’ve tried it at multiple locations across Delhi, and it is consistently great everywhere.
The saag is well spiced with a distinct cinnamon undertone and a bit of heat, but not overpowering. Rotis are thin and crispy, speckled with green chilies (but not too spicy).
Haldiram’s serves up a dependably good sarson ka saag at a very reasonable cost.
Haldiram’s has very high standards regarding cleanliness and product quality, making this restaurant chain an excellent choice for tourists and foreigners who want to try traditional foods but are wary of stomach upset.
2. Dhaniya da Dhaba
This small neighbourhood dhaba in Amar Colony is a real find. Out of all the budget friendly sarson ka saag and maki ki rotis I tried, the one at Dhaniya da Dhaba was the best.
The saag is full of flavour and a bit spicy, catering to the local palate. Rotis are baked on site in a traditional tandoori oven, giving them great texture and an earthy flavour. Like a lot of dhabas, there is no extra charge for refills.
This is a busy spot, even in off hours, with many families and locals – always a good sign! Don’t hesitate to share a table if there’s no empty ones – otherwise you might be waiting a while.
The famous Amar Colony Furniture Market is just down the road (3 minutes walk) from this dhaba. Even if you’re not looking for furniture, this quirky and unique market is worth seeing.
3. Kake di Hatti
This is a very casual dhaba right in the heart of Old Delhi at the top of Chandni Chowk near Fatehpuri Masjid. This place is not fancy at all but shot to fame after a visit from Jamie Oliver when he confirmed the restaurant as “the king of naan.”
Kake di Hatti is mostly famous for their giant naan (large enough to feed 3 people) but I came here for sarson ki saag and makki ki roti. The saag was very good, and if you like soft buttery makki ki rotis you’ll love it here.
The dhaba is considered a local institution and has been around since 1942. It’s definitely worth having a meal here even if it’s not sarson ka saag season, just for an iconic Old Delhi experience.
4. Evergreen Sweet House
This popular Delhi sweet shop and eatery in Green Park has long been one of my regular stops in South Delhi, and they make a very good sarson ka saag and makki ki roti.
The saag is nicely spiced and served the traditional way with white butter (but no jaggery), and rotis are flavourful and crisp. The portion was on the smaller size, but still good value.
If you spend enough time in Delhi you’ll see Evergreen restaurants all over, but they are not franchises. For the real deal, make sure you go to the Evergreen Sweet Shop located in the Green Park main market.
5. IKK Panjab
IKK Panjab does presentation very well. My meal came with a large selection of Indian condiments (various pickles and sauces), all beautifully presented on a carved wooden board.
At the end of the meal the server brought over a whole tray of mouth fresheners and savoury candies, the first time I’ve experienced this in a Delhi restaurant.
The saag itself had great texture, not too creamy with some pieces of greens indicating it may have been prepared in the traditional method of grinding by hand.
It was very lightly spiced, perfect for someone with less tolerance, but a bit too bland for my taste. The roti was nice and crisp, but light on the corn flour.
The restaurant is located right beside Rajouri Garden Market with plenty of street parking. Although the food was a bit light on spice for me (unusual in a Punjabi restaurant) the service, presentation and taped music were all really good.
6. Pind Balluchi
Pind Balluchi is recognized as one of the best restaurant chains in Delhi specializing in North Indian food. They have locations right across the city, including two in Connaught Place.
The sarson ka saag was nice and thick, served with all the usual condiments, including white butter and jaggery. Well spiced and full of flavour, the saag portion is generous, plenty for two people.
Makki ki rotis are flavourful and very buttery – if you prefer a drier roti make sure you request they skip the extra butter.
7. Gulati
This is one of my favourite sarson ka saags. It is full of flavour with some heat, but not overpowering. It also has a bit of texture, indicating it was probably ground by hand, the traditional method. The makki ki rotis are excellent and crispy.
Gulati is located in Pandara Road Market, one of Delhi’s favourite late night eating destinations. I really like Gulati and often bring visitors here.
The restaurant is popular, and if you go on a weekend or late evening expect to wait for a table. We waited 20 minutes to get in, but it was worth it.
8. Punjab Grill
This is the most expensive of the restaurants I tried, but the food was excellent, and it’s a nice restaurant.
I really enjoy this saag – it’s not as smooth as some others, but still creamy with bits of mustard leaves.
The makki ki rotis are on the thicker side and mid-point crispy. It’s all served with the usual condiments (white butter, jaggery, sliced onion) and coriander sauce.
9. Made in Punjab
Made in Punjab’s sarson ka saag is very smooth and came garnished with cream and a dose of dried chilies on top.
It’s not as flavourful as some of the others I’ve had, but still good. The makki ki rotis are excellent – large and crisp.
I know this article is all about sarson ka saag and makki ki roti, but if you have room for dessert I recommend the crispy jalebi with rabri. It is very impressive and a decadent way to end the meal.
Is Sarson ka Saag and Makki ki Roti Healthy?
Yes! Sarson ka saag is super healthy! With all the dark, leafy greens it is full of antioxidants and phytonutrients. Mustard greens have a lot of fibre and are low in fat.
Corn flour, the main ingredient in makki ki roti, is lower in calories than wheat flour and contains iron, phosphorous and zinc. Corn flour is gluten free, though many restaurants add wheat flour to make makki ki roti, so it may not be suitable for those on a gluten free diet.
If you request your roti to be cooked without ghee or butter, it will be even healthier.
What Region is Famous for Sarson ka Saag and Makki ki Roti?
Sarson ka saag and makki ki roti is from the Punjab region in northern India. It is a traditional and nutritious winter dish, historically meant to feed and sustain farm workers in this agricultural area.
How to Get Around Delhi
The best way to move around Delhi is by metro. It’s an excellent system and has wide coverage over the entire city. The Delhi metro is very clean, efficient, modern and air conditioned. It’s user friendly and inexpensive. See my complete guide on how to use the Delhi metro.
Last Words on 9 Places for the Tastiest Sarson ka Saag and Makki ki Roti in Delhi
I have eaten sarson ka saag and makki ki roti all over Delhi. The best ones made this list, a few weren’t good so they’re not on here.
The ones I go to back to again and again are Haldiram’s and Gulati. That’s because they’re really great and the locations are convenient. But try some of these sarson ka saag and makki ki roti yourself, and see which ones are your favourites.
