Where to Eat in Delhi If You Don't Like Indian Food

Not everyone that comes to India likes Indian food. I once travelled with an American couple who lived on peanut butter and grilled cheese sandwiches for three weeks. Thankfully the food scene in Delhi has evolved since then. Now there are loads of places in Delhi where people who don’t like Indian food can eat in.

I usually cook Indian food at home, so when I go out I like to try different cuisines.

In addition to my personal non-Indian food restaurant choices, I polled a large group of expats to find out what their favourites were.

Check this handy map to see exactly where the non-Indian food restaurants are!

Where to Eat in Delhi If You Don’t Like Indian Food

Delhi has a good international food scene now, so you won’t starve or have to live on peanut butter like my friends did.

Most of the these restaurants are located in areas expats and tourists frequent: Connaught Place, Khan Market, Malcha Marg, Vasant Vihar and a few in the burgeoning restaurant scene at Malviya Nagar.

Use the map I created (link above) to help you figure out which ones are close to you.

These are the best non-Indian food restaurants in Delhi:

Continental Restaurants

Social: popular casual franchise with several locations – menu is a mix of Indian and international
Big Chill: another extremely popular chain of restaurants with a varied international menu
Diggin Cafe: casual cafe with nice outdoor spaces and good pasta
Plats: international cuisine, casual chic restaurant – excellent
Qla: innovative European food, very nice restaurant
Perch Wine & Coffee Bar: several locations but I think Vasant Vihar is the best
Amour: cafe with great food and nice atmosphere, open for breakfast too
Rose Cafe: very pretty upscale cafe
Grammar Room: I think this is the best cafe in Delhi
Dos: inventive menu, very nice
Fig at Malcha: super popular all day cafe near the American Embassy
Lavonne Cafe: bakery and cafe connected to the Lavonne Academy of Baking Sciences and Pastry Arts
L’Opera: Indian high end bakery chain, serves light meals also
PAUL: international high end bakery/cafe has a couple of locations in Delhi
Cafe Dori: all day breakfasts and pet friendly
Sly Granny: well liked restaurant with varied menu
Colocal Chocolates: chocolate store that also has a cafe, Delhi has two locations
Atrium at Imperial Hotel: excellent high tea buffet in Delhi

plate of eggs benedict at PAUL restaurant in Delhi, a wonderful place where people who don't like Indian food can eat — Eggs Benedict at PAUL

3 French style pastries on white plate — L’Opera has French style pastry and light meals

white plate with toasted bread, salad and omellete at Lavonne, an excellent cafe where you can eat in Delhi if you don't like Indian food — Breakfast at Lavonne with bread baked at the culinary school

American Restaurants

Mission Bay: higher end restaurant with focus on California cuisine
Chard: excellent burgers
Pete’s Delhi: New York City deli style sandwiches (or pretty close to it)

Asian Restaurants

Dalgrak: authentic Korean food at the Korean Cultural Centre
Guppy: fun vibe with excellent Japanese style foods
Bo Tai Qutub: high end Asian restaurant that becomes more of a club after 9 pm
Shang Palace: possibly Delhi’s best Chinese restaurant at the 5 star Shangri-La Hotel
MKT: menu is mix of Indian and Asian, located in Delhi’s luxury brand shopping mall, the Chanakya
Boya: Japanese and Peruvian fine dining
Mensho Tokyo: casual noodle house, great ramen
Ping’s Cafe: fun restaurant with a variety of Asian foods

4 dark bowls of different ramen on wooden table at Mensho Tokyo in Delhi — Ramen at Mensho Tokyo

two bamboo steamers with dim sum and dips at Shang Palace - the best Chinese restaurants in Delhi for people who don't like Indian food — Dim Sum at Shang Palace

white pate of sushi looking rolls, several small bowls with condiments and metal bowl of bibimap with egg on top at Korean Cultural Centre in Delhi — Gimbap and bibimbap at Dalgrak in the Korean Cultural Centre

Italian/Pizza Restaurants

EVOO: excellent pizza and pasta
Leo’s Artisan Pizza: long regarded as Delhi’s best pizza, several locations
Olive: upscale Italian restaurant
Cafe Dali: fine dining restaurant meant to feel like Nonna’s
Sorrento: Italian upscale dining at Delhi’s luxurious Shangri-La Hotel
Diva – the Italian Restaurant: many expat’s favourite Italian restaurant in Delhi

Mushroom pizza at EVOO in Delhi on marble table top — Pizza at EVOO

grey plate of tortellini in sauce garnished with petals and wine glasses — Tortellini at Colocal Chocolates

high tea buffet at Imperial Hotel in Delhi — High tea buffet at the Imperial Hotel

Mexican Restaurants

Miss Margarita: casual vibe, decent Mexican food

Middle Eastern Restaurants

Layla’s Shawarma and Middle Eastern Cuisine: the best casual eatery with Middle Eastern food in Delhi (take out only)

Restaurant Food Delivery

Many of these restaurants offer delivery through food delivery services Swiggy or Zomato. These are both apps you can download to your phone.

I’ve never used Swiggy, but I do use Zomato. I don’t know if Zomato works with an international number (they send you an OTP), but Swiggy is supposed to. Both should accept international credit cards. I’ve used mine with Zomato.

The Wrap-up: Where to Eat in Delhi If You Don’t Like Indian Food

As you can see there are plenty of places in Delhi where you can eat if you don’t like Indian food. Not only is there a lot of choice, it’s excellent too.

Where to Eat in Delhi If You Don’t Like Indian Food