Looking for the best places to eat in Old Delhi? Please have a look at our list of the 10 best places to eat in Old Delhi! Purani Dilli is an unexplored treasure when it comes to culinary talent. You can find restaurants that are centuries old and serve food using family recipes passed since generations. These places offer the most delicious food, the taste of which is unparalleled and cannot be matched by even the costliest and the most luxurious restaurants. You should consider visiting Old Delhi and try out the divine food the locality has to offer. If you are not sure where to go, take help from this list of the best places to eat in old Delhi, which we have specially curated for you!
10 Best Places to Eat in Old Delhi that Serves Traditional and Delicious Dishes
When it comes to delicious food, no other part of Delhi can compete with old Delhi! Have a look at the best places to eat in old Delhi and discover the unsung culinary beauty that exists in the city of Delhi. Whether it be veg, non-veg, or sweets, we have got all kinds of places covered for you so that everyone gets a taste of what old Delhi has to offer.
1. Old Famous Jalebi Wala
Get ready to taste the best Jalebi from the oldest Jalebi Shop in Old Delhi. The shop has been serving delicious desi ghee Jalebis to Delhiites since 1884. Jalebi was introduced to Indians by Persian traders, and shops like these keep the delicious legacy alive.
Nemi Chand Jain was the founder of this shop and claimed to have tried various recipes before settling down on the final one, which attracts thousands of people. Their recipe is unique, and unlike other sweet shops, they use desi ghee and desi sugar to make their jalebis. The Jalebis served are finger-licking good, and this shop is one of the best places to eat in old Delhi.
2. Karim’s Hotel
The Karim hotel was set up in 1913. It is one of the best places to eat non-veg in old Delhi. It is by far the most famous restaurant in old Delhi. The restaurant was started by Haji Karimuddin, the son of Mohammed Aziz, who was a cook at the Mughal royal kitchen. If you are looking for no-veg food, then what better place than Karim’s, one of the best places to eat non-veg street food in Delhi.
Karim’s has over 30 outlets in Delhi, but the original one near Jama Masjid is incomparable and certainly one of the best places to eat in old Delhi. The place serves delicious Mughlai Cuisine, and if you are a meat lover, you have to visit this place at any cost. The taste that the place offers is unparalleled, and the experience is magical.
3. Qureshi Kebab Corner
The Quereshi kebab corner is another gem hidden near Jama Masjid in Old Delhi. The place is run by the sons of the founder, Haji Abdul Ghani Quershi. They used their family recipe to create some of the best-tasting kebabs in the city. The place is very cheap and serves some of the best Mughlai cuisine dishes in the city.
The place is also family-friendly and has ample seating area; however, you can choose to get your food packed. Some of the popular dishes you must try when you visit the place include Seekh kebab roll, chicken kebab, Rumali roti, and beef kebab. If you are someone who loves kebabs, you can’t afford to miss this place.
4. Balli Maran (Best Places to Eat in Old Delhi)
Balli Maran is a locality in Old Delhi that is home to thousands of refugees from pre-partition Punjab. The famous Urdu poet Mirza Galib also belonged to this place. The place is known to serve delicious kebabs and chicken dishes recipes to which have been passed down for generations. The legacy and the unique taste and experience make Balli Maran one of the best places to eat in Old Delhi. If you are in search of the best street food places in Delhi then this place is for you.
We strongly suggest that you should visit Manzoor Hotel if you ever plan to go to Balli Maran. The hotel serves delightful dishes like Dal Gosht, Chicken Curry, and Nihari. They also serve delicious Khameeri Roti to go along with the finger-licking delicacies they serve. Another suggestion is to visit the old Kheer shop, which serves rice pudding (also known as Kheer) using the same recipe passed on by generations since the 1880s.
5. Natraj Dahi Bhalla (Best Street Food in Old Delhi)
Like many other food shops and joints in Old Delhi, Natraj Dahi Bhalla was also started way back in 1940 and continues to live its legacy. However, unlike other old and famous food joints in Old Delhi, the Natraj Dahi Bhalla has not diversified or expanded its menu and serves only two dishes- Aloo Tikki and Dahi Bhalla.
Natraj Dahi Bhalla has served these two dishes for a price of Rs 50 for several years now and has grown a reputation for itself for serving the best quality and tasty Dahi Bhalla and Aloo Tikki consistently. If you, too, are a fan of these two Indian street food dishes, then you should consider visiting Natraj Dahi Bhalla.
6. Al Jawahar Restaurant (Best Place to Eat in Old Delhi)
Another gem in the Matia Mahal locality near the Jama Masjid is the Al jawahar. If you are looking for a hearty meal in Old Delhi, Al Jawahar is the place to go. Our first prime minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, inaugurated the place, and many people believe that the restaurant is named after him. Al Jawahar is one of the best restaurants for non-veg food in Old Delhi.
The place serves delicious food, and some popular dishes served here include the Chicken Changezi, Biryani, Kaleji Gurda, Kebabs, and Chicken Korma. If you live in Delhi or are planning to visit Delhi, you must make it a point to visit this place. The excellent food and the very homely service provided here make the place of the best restaurants in Old Delhi.
7. Bishan Swarop Chat Bhandar
The Bishan Swaroop Chat Bhandar is located close to the Natraj Dahi Bhalla. Unlike the Natraj Dahi Bhalla, the Bishan Swaroop Chat Bhandar offers much variety. Somewhere in our modern and busy lives, we have forgotten about our old beloved street food delicacies. A visit to the Bishan Swaroop Chat Bhandar would revitalize your love for the various chat dishes that have lost their charm in today’s world.
If you plan on visiting the place, make sure you try their chunky fruit chaat, which has various fruits like kiwi, pomegranate, chickpeas, apples, etc., topped with tangy masalas and lemon juice. They are also famous for the delicious Aloo chaat that they serve. The Aloo chaat is the same dish where the fruits are replaced by fried potato.
8. Shyam Sweets (Best Place to Eat in Old Delhi)
Our first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, suggested Shyam Sweets make Matar (pea) kachoris. Fast forward to today, Shyam Sweets is popularly known as ‘Matar kachori wale’ all over Delhi. The place is a popular breakfast spot for the localities and a typical Indian sweets shop with sweets kept in a display case up front.
There are a couple of tables for seating. However, those seats are mostly taken so probably you would have to stand and eat your food but believe us, it’s worth it! People from all over Delhi come to taste their Matar kachoris which are spicy and taste very good with chutney.
9. Gaya Prasad Shiv Charan Paranthas
You cannot talk about food in India without talking about paranthas. They are the staple breakfast for millions of families in India. The Gaya Prasad Shiv Charan Paranthas has been serving customers with finger-licking paranthas since 1872. They have passed on their talent and expertise down to six generations and still have a reputation for serving some of the best paranthas in Delhi.
They are one of the best places to eat in Old Delhi, and their menu, which offers more than 25 different fillings for paranthas, can take credit for it. They make their paranthas in desi ghee and serve them with mixed vegetables and curry. If you are a foodie and loves to eat paranthas then you must visit Gaya Prasad Shiv Charan Paranthas for various delicious paranthas. I am sure that you have never eaten such delicious varieties of Paranthas.
10. Kuremal Mohan Lal Kulfi Wale
A small shop in Sita ram Bazar, the Kuremal Mohan Lal proudly says that it is ‘Old Delhi’s most famous Kulfi’ Kuremal Mohan Lal has been serving Kulfies since 1906. Their most famous kulfi is the fruit kulfi which is stuffed inside a fruit. The kulfi is creamy, refreshing, and also has a lovely fruity smell. The fruit kulfis here are primarily seasonal.
If you visit the place in summer, you must have the Mango kulfi. You would also find it during other seasons, but it wouldn’t taste as good as it does in the summers. The safest bet is to ask for the fruit kulfi that is in season. People from all over Delhi love their kulfi. These were our picks for the best places to eat in Old Delhi.
We tried to cover all types of dishes and the best places that serve them. Do consider visiting these places as no matter your taste, you would instantly fall in love with the food they serve. Old Delhi has a lot more to offer, but these 10 places stand out and are very popular among Delhi people. Discover Old Delhi’s culinary treasures, and do let us know about your experience!