Dining in New Delhi

Local Cuisine

Although New Delhi’s dining scene can’t really compare with that of Mumbai, the city has, in recent, years extended its culinary versatility to include some new establishments, both international as well local Mughlai.  In fact, New Delhi’s dining is almost synonymous with this typically rich and heavily spiced fare introduced by the Mughals.  And you can enjoy the food while standing on sidewalk eateries in narrow alleys of Old Town just as easily as you can in upscale restaurants hosted by five star hotels. 

The bustling Chandni Chowk area near the Jami Masjid is packed with dozens of little stalls that sell kebabs, biriyani (spiced rice cooked with meat), and rotis (flat Indian bread).  Grab a kebab roll and make your way a few meters across to enjoy the splendor of the Jami Masjid.  Also in the vicinity are informal restaurants that boast of cooks descended from a lineage of Mughal chefs.  Recipes are zealously guarded and passed down through generations.  No place for vegetarians here though; this is primarily a meat eater’s paradise.

The adventurous can try inspired concoctions like goat trotter stew and brain curry. Every market in New Delhi has a Chinese outlet, although the cuisine is more a blend of Sino-Indian than authentic Chinese.  Avoid the meals on wheels variety of Chinese eatery – hygiene is almost always questionable.   

Delhi’s other specialty is Dum Pukht cuisine – a slow and skilful way of cooking popularized by the Nawab rulers, in which the ingredients are tossed together, placed in a copper pot and sealed with dough to create a sort of old world pressure cooker, if you will. The food is then left to cook in its own juices with coals placed on top and a simmering fire below helping the process. This retains the natural aromas of the spices used and is offered at a couple of exclusive Dum Pukht restaurants in the city.   

International Flavors

Upscale hotels are where you should head for Continental cuisine, and there are a number of Thai, Japanese, and Middle Eastern restaurants in these establishments. The commercial district of Connaught Place and the remodeled crafts village of Hauz Khas have a number of Pan-Asian and Mexican eateries.  The area around the Chanakya Theater houses many Tibetan restaurants.   

Precautions and What to Avoid

Always carry along a bottle of bottled water.  Check the seal before purchase.  Avoid fresh fruit juices or the local yoghurt-based drink known as lassi – taste always takes precedence over hygiene, and they sometimes include what’s easily the most polluted water in India.