What to Eat in Delhi: A Travey Club Food Guide to the City’s Most Iconic Dishes
Delhi is one of those cities where food becomes part of the experience almost immediately.
Some meals happen in crowded alleyways beside centuries-old mosques. Others happen in modern cafés hidden inside stylish neighborhoods. One minute you’re eating spicy street chaat standing beside locals, and the next you’re sitting down for rich Mughlai curries that feel like they belong in another era.
Honestly, a big part of our Delhi trip ended up revolving around food — and we’re not complaining.
Here are some of the dishes we think you absolutely need to try in Delhi, along with the restaurants that genuinely stood out during our time there.
Butter Chicken at Gulati
There’s no way to visit Delhi without trying butter chicken.
Rich, creamy, slightly smoky, and best eaten with warm buttery naan — this dish is basically comfort food at its peak.
We tried butter chicken in a few places across the city, but Gulati in Pandara Road ended up being our favorite. It feels classic without trying too hard, and the flavor is exactly what you hope Delhi butter chicken tastes like.
The gravy is silky, the chicken is tender, and somehow you’ll still want more even when you’re already full.
Recommended Restaurant:
Gulati Restaurant – Pandara Road
Must Try:
- Butter Chicken
- Garlic Naan
- Dal Makhani
Kebabs at Karim’s
Karim’s feels like part of Delhi’s food history.
Located beside Jama Masjid in Old Delhi, this place is chaotic, crowded, noisy — and completely worth it.
The kebabs here are smoky, juicy, heavily spiced, and packed with flavor. You can smell the grills before you even enter the lane.
What we loved most was that Karim’s still feels authentic. It doesn’t try to be modern or polished. It just focuses on doing Mughlai food incredibly well.
Recommended Restaurant:
Karim’s – Jama Masjid
Must Try:
- Mutton Seekh Kebabs
- Chicken Jahangiri
- Mutton Korma
Chole Bhature at Sita Ram Diwan Chand
This might be one of the most satisfying breakfasts in Delhi.
Chole Bhature is basically fluffy fried bread served with spicy chickpea curry, onions, pickles, and green chilies. It’s heavy, messy, oily, and absolutely delicious.
Sita Ram Diwan Chand is legendary for it, and after trying it ourselves, we completely understood the hype.
The bhature comes out fresh and perfectly puffed, while the chole has just the right amount of spice.
Recommended Restaurant:
Sita Ram Diwan Chand – Paharganj
Must Try:
- Classic Chole Bhature
- Extra Pickles & Green Chili
Street Chaat at UPSC Chaat Corner
Delhi’s street food scene deserves its own trip honestly.
One evening we stopped for chaat near UPSC, and it ended up being one of the most unexpectedly addictive things we ate in the city.
Crunchy, spicy, sweet, tangy, cold, hot — somehow all at once.
Every bite feels chaotic in the best way possible.
Recommended Spot:
UPSC Chaat Corner
Must Try:
- Papdi Chaat
- Aloo Tikki
- Dahi Bhalla
Biryani at Al Jawahar
If you’re spending time around Old Delhi, you’ll hear people arguing about Karim’s vs Al Jawahar constantly.
We tried both.
And honestly? Al Jawahar’s biryani deserves the attention it gets.
The rice is fragrant, the spices are balanced, and the meat is incredibly tender. It’s rich without feeling overwhelming.
Recommended Restaurant:
Al Jawahar – Near Jama Masjid
Must Try:
- Chicken Biryani
- Mutton Korma
- Roomali Roti
Modern Indian Food at Farzi Café
Not every meal in Delhi has to be traditional.
Farzi Café in Connaught Place gave us a completely different experience — modern Indian food with creative presentation and fusion flavors.
Some dishes feel experimental, but that’s part of the fun.
After days of eating heavy Mughlai food and street snacks, this felt refreshing and different.
Recommended Restaurant:
Farzi Café – Connaught Place
Must Try:
- Butter Chicken Bao
- Dal Chawal Arancini
- Parle-G Cheesecake
Parathas in Chandni Chowk
Paratha Wali Gali is one of those places you visit more for the experience than perfection — but it’s still worth doing.
The narrow lane has been serving stuffed parathas for generations, and sitting there in the middle of Old Delhi with plates arriving nonstop feels like a proper Delhi moment.
Recommended Spot:
Paranthe Wali Gali – Chandni Chowk
Must Try:
- Aloo Paratha
- Paneer Paratha
- Banana Paratha (surprisingly good)
Desserts at Big Chill Café
After all the spice and heavy food, Big Chill became our comfort stop.
It’s cozy, relaxed, and one of the easiest places to slow down after long days exploring the city.
Their desserts are genuinely good — especially if you need a break from rich Indian food for a night.
Recommended Restaurant:
Big Chill Café – Khan Market
Must Try:
- Mississippi Mud Pie
- Banoffee Pie
- Pasta Alfredo
Final Thoughts
Food in Delhi isn’t just about eating — it’s part of understanding the city itself.
Some of our favorite memories weren’t the monuments or famous landmarks. They were the random food stops between them. The late-night kebabs. The roadside chai. The crowded restaurants hidden behind narrow alleyways.
Delhi’s food scene feels unfiltered, emotional, and full of character — just like the city itself.
And honestly, that’s exactly why we loved it.
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