Delhi Restaurants

1. Chor Bizarre

Delhi's best-known Kashmiri restaurant is also one of its most beautiful, an art deco enclave with a tile floor, a spiral staircase leading nowhere, and antique furniture and mirrors from various chor ("thieves'") bazaars. Kashmiri food, which is milder than many Indian regional cuisines, is exemplified by mutton yakhni (in a sauce of yogurt, cardamom, and aniseed) and mutton mirchi korma (in cardamom and clove gravy).

2. Lala Duli Chand Naresh Gupta

A Delhi summer isn't complete without one of the famous kulfis—the frozen milk–based treats similar to ice cream made here. What makes this spot unique is that you'll get your kulfi served in the fruit that it's flavored with: order apple, for instance, and you'll get an apple (it looks like a frozen candy apple) that splits open to reveal the delicious kulfi inside.

3. Bengali Sweet House

This is a classic spot for evening golgappa outings. Also on offer are other Delhi snack staples: chole bhatura (also known as chana bhatura—spicy chickpeas with fried, airy puri bread), stuffed parathas, paneer fritters, and raj kachori (spicy chaat bowl with assorted fillings).

4. Bikanervala

This is a reliable place for typical street food in an indoor, seated setting. Apart from chaat and snacks like kachori and dhokla, options include North Indian thali meals and South Indian food.

5. Café Turtle

Two flights up, in the Full Circle bookshop, Café Turtle serves light bistro food, exotic fruit juices, and excellent Western desserts in a smart contemporary setting, with music from the record shop below. The terrace is very pleasant in winter.

6. Dastar Khwan-e-Karim

7. Evergreen Sweet House

A large and fuss-free air-conditioned space with quick service, this is a well-known stop in south Delhi for street food like chole bhatura (spicy chickpeas and puffy fried bread) and vegetarian thalis (combination platters). Plastic tables are always crammed with office goers, expats, tourists, and students looking for a tasty and pocket-friendly meal.

8. Karim's

This is an Old Delhi institution dating to 1913, and here, mutton (which generally means goat in India) is king, especially in thick, rich gravies, accompanied by tandoor breads. The no-frills decor belies its atmospheric charm, highlighted by the large cauldrons of meaty concoctions and smoking kebabs on spits that are on display in an open kitchen.

9. Khan Chacha

Hot-off-the-grill kebabs are the specialty at this small, self-service eatery tucked into an upper level in Khan Market's busy lanes. Expect melt-in-the-mouth mutton, chicken, and paneer tikka roomali rolls in a no-frills setting.

10. Mamagoto

Japanese for "play with your food," cheery Mamagoto, hidden behind a yellow door in the middle lane of Khan Market, is indeed a fun place for a low-key meal. This is a great spot to have a couple of cocktails and share several Pan-Asian dishes.

11. Market Café

In Khan Market, this café serves light Western salads, pastas, and desserts and refreshing cold drinks in an airy contemporary setting.

12. Naivedyam

This dark, soothing restaurant, with South Indian decor and gold-embossed paintings designed by artisans from the Tamil Nadu town of Thanjavur, specialzes in Udupi food, a vegetarian cuisine from a town near Mangalore. South Indian staples like uthappams and idlis are served in traditional style, on a banana leaf.

13. Nathu's Sweets

This city institution with several branches offers quick-service vegetarian snacks and meals in a clean, fuss-free setting. There's a very wide selection of breads and sweets, with more than a dozen options in parathas alone; go for the ones filled with mint or cauliflower.

14. Sagar Ratna

This no-frills vegetarian family joint bustles nonstop, serving up South Indian dishes like crispy dosas (rice-batter crepes) and fluffy idli (rice cakes) with fresh coconut chutney and hot sambar (lentil soup). A long-standing favorite since the '80s, this neighborhood market delivers quick service and attracts a steady stream of locals looking for a pocket-friendly bite.

15. The All American Diner

This is the city’s best-known faux-1950s diner, complete with old advertisements on the wall and Elvis music on the hi-fi. Take one of the red-leather booths and get ready for standard, but high-quality, diner fare, such as whopping burgers and hearty steaks.