In comparison with different capital cities on the planet, Delhi’s restaurant scene modifications slowly. That is partly as a result of consuming in eating places has solely not too long ago turn into a supply of recreation for anybody exterior the elite lessons; even immediately, generations of working class residents depend on town’s beloved street-vendors and outdated, family-run candy and snack outlets throughout town’s huge, throttling expanse. Nonetheless, meals is in all places in Delhi — like in different Indian cities — together with some sudden locations.
Lately, Delhi’s powerhouse of Punjabi or Mughlai delicacies — the kind of meals finest recognized within the West — is being challenged. Younger individuals from India’s Northeast are making their names as among the metropolis’s finest cooks, and the puritanism that when outlined consuming in India’s capital is giving approach to artistic impulses befitting this contemporary, rising metropolis. Along with the distributors of the outdated metropolis, the place locals and vacationers stream previous stacks of rotis contemporary from tandoors, cooks from each a part of the nation showcase the various cuisines of their communities in small-scale, impartial, and dynamic eating places fashionable with town’s youthful generations.
It’s unimaginable in a single listing to utterly summarize a metropolis that defies linearity, however these 38 important eating places ought to get you began — but when a odor beckons from a aspect road or small storefront, abandon your plans and observe your instincts. It’s also possible to ask locals for ideas and help, however don’t all the time count on a straight reply. Within the historic components of town, like Previous Delhi, merely following crowds will take you to nice meals.
On this newest refresh, we’ve revamped our write-ups to incorporate much more related data for diners, together with a tough vary of pricing for every vacation spot — starting from $ for fast, cheap meals with dishes largely beneath $10 (or the equal in rupees), to $$$$ for locations the place entrees exceed $30.
New to the map in March 2025: Gulati, a well-liked Punjabi dhaba that nails the classics; Fujiya, an old-timey banquet fashion Punjabi Chinese language restaurant in an upscale neighborhood; Delhi’s first Korean restaurant, Seoul, which simply obtained a contemporary facelift; Impolite Chef, an off-the-cuff and trendy restaurant from an achieved chef serving attention-grabbing world delicacies; Nepalese momo specialist Lha Kitchen, which has turn into fashionable with influencer varieties; trendy California-esque vegan meals at Greenr Cafe; all-day nihari from Ballimaran Nahari; Nagaland’s Kitchen, a restaurant in an outdated Delhi market that appears like a neighborhood bar; fashionable Nagaland delicacies from Dzukou Tribal Kitchen in far south Delhi; and Bhawan, a flexible canteen-inspired restaurant in Gurgaon.
A be aware on getting round: It’s a mistake to take a taxi into Previous Delhi. As an alternative, use the metro, then stroll or take a rickshaw the remainder of the best way. Use Uber to achieve locations in Delhi’s Central, East, South, and West districts.
Sharanya Deepak is a author and editor from New Delhi, who has been protecting Indian eating for Eater since 2019. She can also be an editor at Vittles, and her work has appeared in Roads and Kingdoms, The Believer, and The Baffler, amongst others.
