Where to Eat in Delhi: Street Food, Restaurants & Everything Between

Delhi doesn’t just have good food — it has the deepest and most diverse food culture of any city in India. The Mughlai tradition gives you kebabs and biryanis that have been perfected over centuries. The street food scene in Old Delhi is unmatched. The Punjabi influence means butter chicken, naan, and dal makhani are done better here than anywhere. And a new generation of chefs has turned Delhi into a genuine fine dining destination.

For tourists, the challenge isn’t finding good food — it’s navigating the sheer volume of options and knowing where to start. This guide organises Delhi’s food scene by area, budget, and what to order at each place.

Old Delhi Street Food: The Main Event

Old Delhi — specifically the area around Chandni Chowk, Jama Masjid, and Matia Mahal — is the street food epicentre of India. These stalls have been family-run for generations. The quality is extraordinary and the prices are almost free by Western standards.

Paranthe Wali Gali

Location: Off Chandni Chowk main road

A narrow lane dedicated entirely to fried stuffed flatbreads (paranthas). Fillings include potato, paneer, banana, rabri, mixed dal, and more. Each parantha comes with yoghurt, pickle, and a vegetable curry. The stalls here have been operating since the 1870s.

Cost: ₹60–120 for a plate of 2–3 paranthas | Payment: UPI and cash

Karim’s

Location: Gali Kababian, near Jama Masjid (Gate 1)

Delhi’s most legendary Mughlai restaurant, founded in 1913. The family claims descent from cooks who served the Mughal emperors. The mutton burra kebab, chicken jahangiri, and mutton korma are the standards. Rich, slow-cooked, and utterly unlike anything you’ll get at a generic “Indian restaurant” abroad.

Cost: ₹200–450 per person | Payment: UPI and cash

Al Jawahar

Location: Opposite Jama Masjid Gate 1

Karim’s less-famous neighbour, and many locals argue it’s better. The butter chicken here is excellent, and the nihari (slow-cooked stew) is worth the early-morning trip — it’s traditionally a breakfast dish.

Cost: ₹200–400 per person | Payment: UPI and cash

Natraj Dahi Bhalle Wala

Location: Chandni Chowk main road

The most famous chaat stall in Delhi. Dahi bhalla (lentil dumplings in spiced yoghurt) and aloo tikki (spiced potato patties) that are perfectly balanced between sweet, sour, spicy, and creamy.

Cost: ₹60–80 per plate | Payment: UPI or cash

More Old Delhi Essentials

Aslam’s Chicken — Matia Mahal. Butter-drenched tandoori chicken. ₹200–350. Cash and UPI.

Roshan Di Kulfi — Chandni Chowk. Dense, slow-churned kulfi since 1956. ₹40–70. Cash.

Shyam Sweets — Chawri Bazaar. The bedmi puri (spiced fried bread) and aloo sabzi breakfast is iconic. ₹50–80. Cash and UPI.

Old Famous Jalebi Wala — Chandni Chowk corner. Hot, syrupy jalebis fried in front of you. ₹40–60 per plate. Cash preferred.

Street Food Price Guide

Restaurants by Budget

Budget: Under ₹500

Moti Mahal — Daryaganj. The birthplace of butter chicken (literally — invented here in the 1950s). Simple interiors, legendary food. ₹300–500 per person. UPI and cards.

Sita Ram Diwan Chand — Paharganj. Delhi’s best chole bhature. Fluffy fried bread with spiced chickpeas. There’s always a queue. ₹60–100. Cash and UPI.

Ama Café — Majnu Ka Tilla (Little Tibet). Tibetan food: thukpa, momos, and pancakes in a traveller-friendly atmosphere. ₹200–400 per person. UPI accepted.

Mid-Range: ₹800–1,500

SodaBottleOpenerWala — Multiple locations. Parsi comfort food: bun maska, keema pav, berry pulao. Retro-Bombay decor. ₹600–1,000 per person. Cards and UPI.

Gulati — Pandara Road. North Indian classics done perfectly: butter chicken, dal makhani, naan. A Delhi institution since 1959. ₹700–1,200 per person. Cards and UPI.

Diggin — Chanakyapuri. Italian-Indian cafe in a garden setting. Great for brunch. ₹600–900 per person. Cards and UPI.

Splurge: ₹3,000+

Indian Accent — The Lodhi. India’s most celebrated restaurant. Chef Manish Mehrotra serves progressive Indian cuisine that redefines what Indian food can be. The tasting menu is extraordinary. ₹5,000–8,000 per person. Reservations essential, weeks in advance. Cards accepted.

Bukhara — ITC Maurya. The legendary tandoor restaurant where the dal Bukhara (black lentils slow-cooked for 48 hours) has been served to every visiting head of state. ₹4,000–6,000 per person. Dress code: smart casual. Cards accepted.

Paying for Food in Delhi

Old Delhi street food stalls increasingly accept UPI — you’ll see QR codes even at tiny chaat counters. Restaurants across Delhi universally accept UPI. Fine dining accepts cards. The only places you might need cash are some cycle-rickshaw vendors and the very smallest street stalls.

With Mony, you go from a ₹60 parantha in Chandni Chowk to a ₹6,000 dinner at Bukhara without ever reaching for your wallet.

Eat Your Way Through Delhi

Delhi’s food scene is India’s deepest — centuries of Mughlai tradition, the best street food in the country, and a modern restaurant scene that rivals any global city. The range from ₹40 jalebi to ₹8,000 fine dining is extraordinary, and it’s all within metro distance.

See our Delhi Travel Guide for the full destination overview, or follow our 2-Day Delhi Itinerary for an eating and sightseeing plan.