Streets of Chandni Chowk

Chandni chowk, often called the food capital of India, is famous for its street food.

When you are in old Delhi, you just can’t miss the food there. The street hum with activity and are filled with the aroma of food.

The lanes are lined with halwais (sweet-seller), namkeenwalas (seller of savouries) and Paranthawalas (seller of rich, flaky breads soaked in ghee).

There is no better way to start the day with the paranthas, is there? Begin with the famous Paranthe wali Gali.

There one of the oldest yet the best paranthawala shop is Pt Gaya Prasad Shiv Charan, the paranthas are fried in pure ghee in cast-iron pans. They are served with Mint Chutney, Banana – Tamarind Chutney, vegetable pickle and Aloo Subzi.

The real flavour of the Delhi street food lies in the chaat. Head towards shreee balaji Chaat bandhar for some lip-smacking varieties of chaat. Be sure to try some Papdi chaat there: it’s the most popular one in Chandni Chowk and with good reason! There are also other options available. The aloo chaat and pani puri here are rather good. If you’re on a diet, or want to save space in your stomach for dinner, go healthy with a fruit chaat over at Jugal Kishore Ramjilal.

On the sweeter side, Rabdi Faluda is a must. And the place to have it is Giani di Hatti near the Fatehpuri Mosque. It has now become an ice-creme parlour specializing in exotic flavours like Litchi and Bubblegum. Apart from standard ice creams, they also serve milkshakes, fruitshakes, ice-cream shakes and sundaes. If you are interested in kulfi- a flavoured frozen dessert made of milk-venture towards the Ajmeri Gate. The popular name is siya ram nannumal. What you get here is kulfi as kulfi should be- sinful, scrumptious and oh-so-splendid! Order any flavour- kesar, pista, rose, kewra,banana, mango or pomegranate. Or better still, order one of each...indulge! 

For those who are in love with Non-veg, Moti Mahal (in Daryaganj) is the perfect place to put up. Its finger lickin’ good butter chicken is the main highlight. The butter chicken is full bodied, creamy tangy and unlike any other you would have had around town. They are so best in cooking chicken shows when Scottish celebrity chef Gordon James Ramsey came here to hear the recipe of Mouth-watering Butter Chicken.