3 Markets for Street Food that Aren’t in Old Delhi
While Old Delhi may be considered street food headquarters, it takes a certain amount of stamina to deal with the chaos. Luckily, it’s not the only place for amazing street food in Delhi. These 3 markets that aren’t in Old Delhi also have incredible street food.
3 Markets for Street Food that Aren’t in Old Delhi
Delhi is the food capital of India and famous for its street food. If fact, eating street food is one of the most culturally authentic experiences you can have in Delhi. These are my favourite street food markets that aren’t in Old Delhi:
1. Connaught Place
Connaught Place (locally called CP) is the unofficial commercial and retail hub of Delhi. Numerous office buildings and businesses are located here, with plenty of street food options to support thousands of people who work in CP every day.
The CP food scene is bustling, especially down the radial roads toward the office buildings. Some of these street food stands have been in the same location for decades and are famous across Delhi.
Parashar Foods and Bhogals are two of my favourite stands in the entire city. I prefer to eat at these stands than most CP restaurants.
This area is a bit more spread out than the other Delhi street food markets, but the food is excellent. Most stalls open around 10:00 am and stay open until 9:00 pm or later.
- Hours: 10:00 am – 9:00 pm, but hours can vary
- Cost: INR 50 – 150
Pappu Chaat Bhandar
The unassuming kiosk is famous for two things: aloo (potato) chaat and fruit chaat. You can even get mixed fruit chaat with some aloo added. Everyone comes here, even visiting Bollywood celebrities – it’s always busy.
For the health conscious, the fruit chaat is amazing. It’s a massive portion of fresh, seasonal fruit perfectly spiced with masala and tangy sauces.
KG Marg (close to and on the same side of the street as the British Council building)
Depaul’s
Skip the sandwiches and momos at Depaul’s and get what this place is famous for and does very well: flavoured cold coffee. Depaul’s is well known in Delhi, and a must stop when in CP if you are a coffee lover.
Depaul’s serves milkshakes, tea, hot coffee and other flavoured drinks, but none of them are as good as their cold coffee. The hazelnut cold coffee is outstanding. I could drink it every day!
Janpath Road (in the Janpath Bhawan building, behind Janpath Market)
Bhogal’s
This place takes a little effort to find, but it’s worth it. Don’t let the run-down look put you off. The food is amazing and extremely popular with office workers and locals.
Chole (chick peas in spicy gravy) are served with either bhature (puffy fried breads), kulcha (flat fluffy breads – not deep fried) or rice. There’s a few different variations like chole with kofta and chole with matar (both delicious).
Lane behind Scindia House (not visible from the road, but If you can’t find it ask a local – everyone knows it)
Parashar Foods
This little food stand sells a number of Indian foods, but the best item on the menu is rajma chawal (kidney beans in gravy with rice).
It is served with mint chutney, raw onion and crispy papad, and it’s amazing! Don’t even bother with anything else on the menu – this really is the best rajma chawal in Delhi.
Connaught Circle (on the corner of the street where Shankar Market is located)
Lalji
This tiny little stand sells traditional Indian sweets: rasgullas (milk based sweet dumplings, soaked in sugar syrup), rabri (thick, milk based pudding) and rasmalai (paneer based sweet discs soaked in saffron syrup).
Mr. Lalji has had the stand for 40 years. It’s another Connaught Place street food spot with a loyal following. The sweets are kept cool and fresh on huge blocks of ice that are delivered by bicycle. Very old school!
Block H Connaught Place (in front of Punjab and Sind Bank)
For different Delhi street foods and where to try them, see my beginner’s guide to the famous street food of Delhi.
2. Central Market Lajpat Nagar
Central Market Lajpat Nagar is another great market for street food. It’s one of the most popular markets in Delhi, well known for reasonably priced Indian clothing. I come here for kurtas (Indian tunic style shirts) and the food.
If you do need any Indian clothing this is a great place to get it on a budget, especially wedding outfits. Kurtas are literally stacked to the ceiling in some shops.
Shopping in Central Market for clothes and eating street food is one of the most local Delhi experiences you can have!
All the food stalls are within the market, so reasonably easy to find.
- Hours: 10:00 am – 11:00 pm, but hours can vary (market closed Monday)
- Cost: INR 30 – 150
Ram Laddu Food Corner
On a prominent corner in the market sits Ram Laddu Food Corner. This stall is famous in Delhi for its delicious ram laddu (puffy fried balls made from mung dal in sauce).
They serve them smothered in cilantro and tamarind chutneys, julienned radish and masala. One bite and you will know why this place is so popular.
I never go to Lajpat Nagar Market without stopping here – never!
Siyaram ke Chole Kulche
Siyaram has had this Central Market Lajpat Nagar location for generations. They make one thing – chole kulche, a traditional dish of chickpeas in spicy gravy with fluffy flat breads.
They don’t have a stand, just a spot on the sidewalk. Don’t let the sidewalk thing put you off. Their chole kulche is seriously one of the best in Delhi. There are always throngs of locals eating here – it is well known and very popular.
The location is a little hard to find, but it’s directly across from Shyam Garments, beside the park.
Dolma Aunty Momo’s
Another great place is Dolma Aunty Momo’s which may be the best momos (filled dumplings) in the city. They make veg, chicken and paneer momos and serve them with a spicy tomato sauce.
This momo shop has been in Lajpat Nagar Central Market since 1994. Dolma Aunty (there is a Dolma Aunty and she still serves momos) started with a single propane burner and no proper stall. Nobody in Delhi knew what momos were, but now they are one of the most favourite snacks in the city.
Dolma Aunty Momo’s also serves desi style (Indian style) Chinese food and their veg and non-veg platters are a bargain. They are located beside the main entrance to the market.
Jhakkas Bombay Pav Bhaji
Across the street from Ram Laddu is Jhakkas Bombay Pav Bahji. They serve the best Bombay dabeli I have ever had.
Dabeli is a sweet and spicy potato vegetable mixture served on a soft roll with pomegranate seeds and peanuts. It’s a perfect blend of sweet, sour, soft and crunchy.
3. Amar Colony Market
Amar Colony is a mix of immigrants, refugees and Indians, and the diversity makes this market one of the best places in Delhi to get street food. Afghani style shawarma, mutton kababs, sweet faluda, traditional Indian chaats – it’s all here.
Like Central Market Lajpat Nagar, this market also sells a lot of Indian clothing – they’re well known for Indian suits. An Indian suit is a two piece outfit worn by women, generally fancy and meant for a wedding or special occasion
I usually warn against eating meat from street stalls, but in this case use your discretion. These places have a high turnover and are so popular the meat is fresh. Of course, avoid it on really hot days when meat can spoil quickly.
- Hours: 10:00 am – 1:00 am, but hours vary – some stands don’t open until later in the afternoon (market closed Monday)
- Cost: INR 80 – 300
Hunger Strike
Hunger Strike is practically an institution – a trip to Amar Colony is not complete without stopping here for chicken tandoori momos.
They made this snack famous and serve them with creamy raita, mint and spicy tamarind sauces. They are absolutely delicious and the one thing you have to eat in Amar Colony Market.
Hunger Strike also makes a great meeting point if you are joining friends. It has a very prominent spot in the market – everyone knows this place.
Tunday Kababi
Tunday Kababi is famous for its mutton galouti (soft) kababs. These kababs practically melt in your mouth.
They serve them with mint chutney and a fresh rumali roti (thin like a handkerchief) cooked in the traditional method on a giant round tava (cooking stone).
Tunday Kababi is down the lane from Hunger Strike.
Suhani’s Foods
This stall sells delicious chicken shawarma and a great soya chaap with cream sauce as a veg option. Soya chaap is a popular meat substitute used in India made from soya bean. It’s a good source of protein.
The shawarma is wrapped in a roti cooked on the flame behind the spit. The shawarma is not overly spicy and served with raita (yogurt sauce), which balances the spices in the meat perfectly.
Aunty Momo
Aunty Momo sells momos of course, but what I like here is the veg dry laphing, the Tibetan snack.
Laphing is made from potato starch, mung bean or wheat flour and has a soft, noodle like texture. Aunty Momo rolls up the laphing with a spicy veg mixture – it’s a tasty and healthy snack.
There really is an Aunty Momo – I met her the last time I was there.
Do not confuse this place with Dolma Aunty Momo. Aunty Momo is at the end of the lane on the same side as Tunday Kababi and Suhani’s Foods.
Famous Rabri Faluda Wala
Faluda…. the famous Indian dessert. Soft vermicelli and saffron noodles with kulfi (Indian ice cream) and rose syrup – it sounds strange but it works.
Famous Rabri Faluda Wala serves an amazing rabri faluda, faluda with the north Indian pudding-like milk dessert. It’s delicious and refreshing, the perfect way to end a meal.
Famous Rabri Faluda Wala has been here for 15 years, and lots of locals come and get it packed to take home. There’s no stall, it’s a nondescript cart in front of Lenskart.com in the market.
Standard Namkeen Corner
Standard Namkeen is an actual shop that specializes in namkeen. They have one of the biggest selections I have seen. It’s one of the oldest shops in Amar Colony Market and very popular with locals.
Namkeen are crunchy, savoury snacks, often served with chai during the mid afternoon chai break. Namkeen make a great souvenir or gift for any foodies back home.
As well as namkeen, Standard Namkeen Corner has a huge variety of cookies, and a selection of other snacks like potato chips and nuts.
I usually make this my last stop, and use it as my pick-up spot for Uber. It has a very prominent location with big signage, so easy for Uber drivers to find.
What is Veg, Non-Veg and Vegetarian?
In India, food is often referred to as veg or non-veg, especially on the streets and in the dhabas (roadside eateries).
Veg means without meat, but not necessarily with vegetables. Non-veg means with meat. In India, that will mostly be chicken or mutton since Hindus do not eat beef.
Vegetarian often means no meat and no eggs. Many Indians who don’t eat meat also don’t eat eggs. You’ll notice this at Delhi’s bakeries – there are always baked goods specifically advertised as eggless. They’re for the Indian vegetarians.
How to Eat Delhi Street Food Safely in the Markets
I eat street food all the time – it’s my favourite things to do in Delhi. Considering how often I eat street food (at least twice a week), I’ve been sick very few times. These are the best ways to not get sick:
- Choose places that are busy with a steady flow of customers – food will be fresh
- Don’t eat street meat if it’s really hot or humid – food spoils quickly in these conditions
- No ice, no water that didn’t come in a properly sealed bottle
- Easy on the sauces – they may be water based (a little should be okay, but don’t slurp up every last bit)
- Wash your hands or use disinfectant wipes before eating (your hands have a lot of germs and you’ll be using them to eat with)
For more information, I go into detail in how to eat local and stay healthy and combat an upset digestive system.
I’m not going to lie – it is generally expected that if you eat from dhabas (roadside eateries) and street vendors regularly, you’ll eventually get Delhi Belly. But, you can reduce the frequency and severity drastically by being careful.
Never Eat or Drink these in Delhi Street Food Markets
Tap water is not safe to drink in Delhi, and many street vendors do not use bottled or filtered water to make snacks and drinks. Indians are used to the water and can stomach it better, but most foreigners can’t.
Avoid these water based foods and drinks: masala banta, flavoured ice, gol gappa.
Last Words on 3 Markets for Street Food that Aren’t In Old Delhi
You don’t have to go to Old Delhi to eat street food. It’s an integral part of Delhi culture and available everywhere. These 3 markets are terrific for doing your own street food tasting without having to travel to Old Delhi.
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