The Most Popular Dishes in Delhi, India

Rich, spicy, and extremely popular; chole bhature in Delhi is a must-try food combination. A piece of Delhi resides in these fried baseball-shaped bread enjoyed with onions and spicy chickpeas. A staple in many places as a breakfast option, this lip-smacking choice is one of the most popular dishes in Delhi.

Apart from being a household start and breakfast option for Delhiites, paranthas are also a street specialty. From a plain salt base to stuffed options, this Indian bread is can be both an accompaniment or a main. The popular Delhi dish comes in various vegetarian and non-vegetarian options such as keema parantha, chicken parantha, aloo (potatoes stuffed) parantha, onion parantha, and more. Moving beyond the Paranthe Wali Gali in Chandni Chowk, there are various stops in the capital serving this popular dish with sides like pickles, curd, and curries.

Introduced in Delhi in the year 1950, this celebrated delicacy is one of the most popular dishes of the capital. Popularly known as Murg Makhani by tourists, this creamy delicacy blends in just the right notes of spice with cashew nut paste to bestow the food lovers with one of the best curries. The succulent chicken in the creamy gravy is a heavenly delight. Delhi is also known as the place of origination of the dish.

The lip-smacking roadside delight is a must try in Delhi. Streetfood is extremely popular in Delhi and can be found in various outlets. From fresh fruits to fried foods, the chaat options in the city are both mouth-watering and hard to resist. The best chaat options include gol-gappe (paani puri), papdi chaat, aloo chaat, moong dal ladoos with chutney and radish, and fresh fruit chaat. The spicy treat is a flavor party for your taste buds. Easy to find throughout the capital, chaat is one of the most popular dishes in Delhi.

Wrapped in the aromas of burning coals and coated with charred marinades, kebabs in Delhi impart a heartwarming feel of Delhi’s flavors. Well suited with the Delhiites attitude of “Let the good times roll,” these kebabs are enjoyed both individually and wrapped in rumali rotis, paranthas, naans, and other flatbreads as delicious rolls. A popular dish of Delhi, in both forms, kebabs can be enjoyed with a side of fresh mint chutney and onions. The most popular forms of kebabs are tikkas (marinated chunks of meat that are barbequed in a traditional oven), Seekh kebabs (Minced meat wrapped around the barbeque sticks) and galouti kebab (Beaten meat paste formed to create a cutlet).

A frozen Indian dessert, Kulfi is a creamy chilled dessert served with different accompaniments in different places. The most popular version is served with falluda (glass noodles served with the sweet) that marries well with the kulfi despite their contrasting flavor bases. The popular Delhi dish comes in a number of flavors these days including rose, paan, and more, but the traditional kesar pista (saffron and nuts) remains on the top. Savored and relished through-out the year, this Indian dessert is a traditional classic.

This Delhi favorite is a flavor explosion fueled with delicious meat, Indian spices, and a traditional method being followed by ages to prepare this delicacy called the dum process. The biryani is kept with a minimal amount of water, where the utensil (handi) is sealed with a dough paste. The heat in the sealed utensil creates steam that cooks the biryani slowly. Easily recognized by the distinct aroma, this mouth-watering favorite of Delhi is the perfect combination of flavors. Biryani in Delhi can be found in nearly every north Indian and Mughlai restaurant. The dish is so popular in Delhi that there are a number of restaurants serving only Biryani. From chicken to mutton, this fragrant dish is a crowd pleaser.

A popular snack in Delhi, momos or dim sums are one of the most loved evening bites of the Delhiites. Moving beyond the original steamed and fried variations, people in Delhi have added a north Indian twist to this Tibetan delight. Various stops in Delhi these days serve Tandoori momos (marinated tandoor grilled momos) that present one of the best fusion examples of food. The spicy charred exteriors mix in with flavorful steamed interiors and are loaded with the merriment of exceptional flavors.

Sometimes Delhi’s love for food moves beyond the names of places you enjoy them at. These popular dishes in Delhi are a fine example of the same. From unknown stalls to five-star hotels, these Delhi delicacies are served everywhere.