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If you only eat 10 things in Delhi, it should be these special foods! Delhi is not only the national capital, it is considered the food capital of India. The food scene is huge here, which is one of the reasons I enjoy living in Delhi so much.
Don’t worry too much about the negative things you’ve heard or read about the local food. The food is safe to eat!
I eat everything, and I eat everywhere – from the most humble looking shack to 5 star restaurants. I do follow these simple tips on avoiding Delhi belly, and stick to a vegetarian diet in summer and monsoon. But so far, so good – and I have eaten out hundreds of times in Delhi.
10 Special Foods of Delhi You Have to Try
These are the most iconic foods of the city, the special dishes Delhi is famous for. And just as important, this is exactly where to eat them. Please, please make sure you try as many as you can! Delhi has incredible food!
1. Butter Chicken
Butter chicken is one of the world’s best loved Indian dishes. Tender chunks of tandoori chicken in a rich tomato sauce made with butter and cream, it is best eaten with rice or naan. In Delhi you can have the authentic version from the very creators of the dish.
In fact, butter chicken is so treasured in Delhi, its origins are at the middle of an infamous lawsuit between two restaurants, each claiming to be the inventor of this special food.
Where to try it: Moti Mahal Restaurant in Daryaganj (near Old Delhi). Even Gordon Ramsay loved the butter chicken here. This restaurant is a Delhi landmark.
2. Kuliya Chaat
This street snack is not only delicious, it’s very healthy. Fresh chunks of seasonal fruit are prepared with a spicy mix of black salt, cumin, lemon juice, chick peas and pomegranate seeds. Some places just toss all the ingredient together, but the better version is the one where the chunks of fruit are filled with the mixture.
Where to try it: Hira Laal Chaat Corner in Old Delhi. The stand doesn’t have English signage, but just ask locals once you are in the vicinity, they all know where it is.
3. Raj Kachori
Known as the king of kachoris, raj kachori is a crispy round shell (the kachori) filled with a mixture of potato, chick peas and lentils, topped with tamarind and coriander chutneys, and garnished with cilantro and pomegranate seeds. Ingredients may vary slightly, but this is the general list.
Raj kachori is a chaat (snack), but it’s pretty filling – I usually eat it for lunch.
Where to try it: Haldiram’s makes an excellent raj kachori. Haldiram’s is an Indian franchise of casual restaurants, and there are locations everywhere in Delhi.
4. Ram Laddu
Ram laddus are crispy little dumplings made from mung dal and chana dal (lentils). Of all the fried Delhi street foods, this is probably the healthiest.
The laddus are smothered in grated radish and topped with tamarind and mint chutneys; it’s the perfect sweet, sour, crunchy and soft combination.
Where to try it: Ram Laddu Food Corner in Central Market Lajpat Nagar. The ram laddus here are fluffy, light and simply amazing!
5. Sarson ka Saag
One of the most special Delhi foods is the winter specialty, sarson ka saag. It’s a lightly spiced dish made of creamed mustard leaves, traditionally served with crispy flat breads made from maize flour (called makki ki roti). Sarson ka saag is only available for about two months each winter, when the mustard leaves are tender and fresh.
Delhiites look forward to sarson ka saag, and you’ll see restaurants across the city adding it to their menu each winter. It’s a super healthy and delicious meal.
Where to try it: Gulati in Pandara Road Market makes an excellent sarson ka saag (trust me on this, I have eaten this specialty in at least a dozen restaurants). Gulati is beside Krishna di Kulfi, so you can try another special food of Delhi, kulfi at the same time.
6. Paranthas
These are a very popular breakfast food that is served all over Delhi. A parantha is a flatbread, usually filled with vegetables, and then fried. Usual paranthas are aloo (potato), gobi (cauliflower) and onion, or a mix of all three, but paneer and egg are also common. You can stuff a parantha with just about anything.
Where to try it: Moolchand Parantha in Lajpat Nagar; if you want the deep fried version, go to the famous Parantha Wali Gali (parantha lane) in Old Delhi.
7. Chole Bhature
One of the most special foods in Delhi is chole bhature. You’ll see it on the menu of many restaurants. It’s a spicy chick pea curry (chole, also called chana) served with puffy fried bread (the bhature). Many Indians eat this for breakfast. It’s a bit heavy for me for breakfast, but I often have it for lunch or dinner.
Where to try it: Kwality Restaurant in Connaught Place has an excellent chole bhature with super fluffy bhatures.
8. Shakarkandi ki Chaat
Shakarkandi ki chaat is one of the best things about Delhi winter. It’s a seasonal snack made of chunks of roasted sweet potato, tossed with masala spices and lemon juice. Little, portable stands pop up all over Delhi once winter arrives. It’s a very healthy street food.
Where to try it: there are literally hundreds of these stands across Delhi in winter, feel free to try it anywhere – I’ve never had a bad shakarkandi ki chaat.
9. Momos
Momos are delicious little steamed or fried dumplings filled with meat or vegetables. The momo made its way into Northern India and Delhi in the 1960s after so many Tibetans followed the Dalai Lama in exile to India.
You’ll find momos all over Delhi. Most are cooked in large metal steamers, but sometimes they’re fried. I’ve eaten momos in many places, and they’re all good, but the most delicious momos I ever had were the tandoori ones from Hunger Strike, smothered in a masala sauce.
Where to try it: Yeti the Himalayan Kitchen in Connaught Place or Greater Kailash M Block Market (for steamed momos), or Hunger Strike in Amar Colony (for tandoori momos)
10. Kulfi
Kulfi is India’s version of gelato. It comes in a long, conical shape and is served on a stick. Because of the slow cooking process it’s very rich and flavourful. Typical flavours are pesta (pistachio), kesar (saffron), and mango.
Where to try it: King’s Kulfi or Krishna di Kulfi. King’s Kulfi is a small chain of shops, while Krishna di Kulfi has one location in Pandara Road Market in South Delhi.
The Wrap-up on 10 Special Foods of Delhi You Have to Try
Delhi has lots of wonderful food, but if you’re short on time, these are the special foods you absolutely must try. And in case you were wondering what the best thing to drink in Delhi is…. it’s street chai, of course!
Looking for More? You Might Also Like…
- Delhi for Foodies: 13 Unique Food Experiences You’ll Never Forget
- How to Eat Local and Stay Healthy
- 15 Amazing Cafes in Delhi That Are Worth Visiting
Don’t forget travel insurance! It’s always a good idea to carry travel insurance just in case something goes wrong. I really like and use SafetyWing
