51 Best Restaurants in Delhi, India

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.

Served amid stone walls, rough-hewn dark-wood beams, copper urns, and blood-red rugs, Bukhara's menu hasn't changed in years, and its loyal clientele wouldn't have it any other way. The cuisine of the Northwest Frontier, now the Pakistan–Afghanistan border, is heavy on meats, marinated and grilled in a tandoor (clay oven).

Count on this award-winning, popular joint for delicious pizza and pasta—most of Delhi does—but if you're looking for something more substantial, mains like pan-seared lamb chops are also excellent, so make sure to ask about the daily specials. With classy interiors and attentive service, the setting is suited to a wine-soaked lunch or cozy dinner for two.

Like the nawabi (princely) culture from which it's drawn, this restaurant has a food selection and style that are subtle and refined. Chef Imtiaz Qureshi, descended from court cooks in Avadh (Lucknow), creates delicately spiced meals packed with flavor: dum ki khumb (button mushrooms in gravy, fennel, and dried ginger), kakori kabab (finely minced mutton, cloves, and cinnamon, drizzled with saffron), and the special raan-e-dumpukht (a leg of mutton marinated in dark rum and stuffed with onions, cheese, and mint).

At this beautifully designed Thai restaurant, you can dine on zingy salads, delicious stir-fries, and velvety curries, surrounded by fine tapestries and traditional paintings.

At this internationally acclaimed Modern Indian restaurant, Chef Shantanu Mehrotra seamlessly blends Indian and global flavors and preparation methods, creating innovative offerings such as the pork belly tikka. Choose the chef's tasting menu for six wildly modern dishes created with typically Indian ingredients and paired with complementing wines.

One of Delhi's most popular Italian restaurants, La Piazza has been serving fine thin-crust pizzas and pastas for more than 40 years. The casual, trattoria-style restaurant is a go-to spot for celebrations, hangouts, date nights, and languorous Sunday brunches---perfect for people-watching.

This Japanese restaurant at The Leela Palace offers excellent fish and impeccable service in a luxe ambience. Look for its signature Crystal Buddha elevated over a pool of rose-petal water, with a beautiful 800-pound Japanese Bonsho bell suspended from the ceiling.

Modeled and decorated after its namesake luxury train, this small restaurant at the Taj Palace offers elevated modern European cuisine in a plush, lamp-lit interior. The service is immaculate, and live piano recitals add to the charm. Both prix-fixe and a la carte menus are available.

Named after Chinese treasure ships, this rooftop restaurant at The Oberoi serves a good variety of Chinese regional fares with eyefuls of one of the greenest parts of Delhi---the Delhi Golf Club. The service is attentive and accommodating.

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).

For those looking to beat the summer heat by cooling off with Delhi's best ice cream, make haste to this casual café that takes its name from the movie and its decor from Hollywood classics. The pizzas and pastas are hearty and tasty, if not terribly authentic, and Middle Eastern and Lebanese choices are usually a good bet; but the decadent desserts are the real standout. There are multiple locations across the city.

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. There are many outlets all across the city and most of them are consistently good.

The success of Burma Burma lies in serving food that is comforting yet exciting to the palate, combining numerous textures and flavors in a delicious balance of fresh, crunchy, salty, sour, and sweet. The dishes offered here highlight different regions of Myanmar.

This all-day café opens at 8 am for breakfast and offers fluffy omelets, rich coffee, and delicious protein bowls. With several locations throughout Delhi, Caara is well known for using fresh, chemical-free ingredients from their farms.

Overlooking the lush garden at The Manor, this French patisserie with a rustic interior is one of Delhi's hidden gems. The menu includes a wide variety of French pastries, baked goods, and cakes—all of which can be enjoyed in their lovely courtyard.

What began as a humble delivery kitchen is now a pleasant dine-in restaurant serving juicy burgers, hearty Cubano sandwiches, and heavenly maple-and-bourbon-barbecue pork ribs---all enough to leave you in a pleasant food coma. Their old-school puddings are an ideal end to round off a satiating meal.

Located at the happening One Golden Mile, Chica transports you to a European courtyard with elaborate floral décor, gurgling water fountains, and atmospheric lighting in their alfresco seating. The food pan-Asian and European, with tuna tartare offered alongside crispy Hunan sesame lamb. The pulsating music is trippy and has millennials and their senior counterparts tapping their feet.

Head to China Kitchen for what may be the finest Peking duck in Delhi. The restaurant also serves fantastic Sichuan food, hearty hot pots, and dim sum brunches with the most varied array of dumplings.

This is one of the few places in Delhi where you can sample the cuisine of India’s west coast, famous for its lush and bold flavors, heavy on coconut-milk curries. Well-lit, spacious, and designed for a laid-back evening, with wicker chairs, winding staircase, arches, balconies, and terrace windows, the leafy outdoor space here is particularly charming on winter afternoons.

Translated into "South," Dakshin serves a delicious array of cuisine from the southern Indian states. Start with rasam, a traditional South Indian soup with tamarind and tomatoes, and papadams with a range of chutneys; then go on to enjoy a wide variety of coastal Indian food, including seafood curries, spicy prawns, and Chettinad chicken. Appams and Malabar parottas are perfectly made to mop up the flavorful masalas.

Inspired by the rich culinary history and heritage of Delhi, Dhilli offers inventive and beautifully presented Indian dishes. Favorites like rajma chaawal, samosa chole, and tandoori gobi are presented with an artistic twist; the almond bakharkhani and til mirchi lachha parantha are rich, flaky, and crisp. Make sure to try the pista sheermal---the aromatic bread is thin, slightly sweet, and served fresh out of the oven.

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.

Set over three floors and a basement, the main gathering place for New Delhi’s large population of Korean expats is luxuriously furnished with a combination of sunken tables and little booths, though there are several stand-alone tables for those uncomfortable or unable to use traditional Korean seating. This remains one of the city's few places to sample a range of Korean grills and noodle soups.

Since it was conceptualized with the inauguration of the Taj Mahal New Delhi in 1978, House of Ming has been the preferred Chinese restaurant of many Delhiites for elaborate family meals, cozy date nights, and high-profile corporate lunches. With more than 120 dishes on the menu, there’s adequate representation from Sichuan, Hunan, and Cantonese cuisines.

Located in a quiet, tony neighborhood, INJA serves an array of dishes cooked with Indian spices and Japanese techniques. The tuna and pomelo chaat with shiso leaf tempura, raj kachori (puffed puri) with Alaskan king crab, and lobster rasam chawanmushi (a Japanese savory custard) are absolutely brilliant takes on Japanese-Indian fusion.

After an extensive renovation and expansion project, Jade at The Claridges New Delhi reemerged with a fresh look that offers a symphony of colors reminiscent of old Chinese towns, with brass accents, malachite pillars, and dancing dragons on the ceiling. The food is even better than before---try any one of their dim sum offerings.

Low-hanging lamps and delicate latticed screens set the refined mood at this upscale Indian restaurant where the extensive menu excels in its Mughlai offerings. All the lamb options are excellent, as is the okra and anything with lentils (dal).

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.

One of Delhi's prettiest, hippest cafés, Latitude 28 is the place to go if you want to relax over a thoughtful meal, cold beer, or specialty tea. Chef Ritu Dalmia has put together a playful mix of comfort food from around the world and quirky takes on regional staples from around India.