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Food tours in Delhi: what to eat and which tour to book
Delhi eats in layers. Old Delhi, around Chandni Chowk and the Jama Masjid, has been feeding the city for centuries: deep-fried parathas, nihari stewed overnight, kebabs grilled on the street, jalebis fried in front of you. The Punjabi families who arrived after Partition in 1947 brought tandoori chicken, butter chicken, dal makhani and chole bhature, now the city's everyday comfort food. Chaat — tangy snacks of crisp pastry, potato, yoghurt and chutney — is sold on every market corner. New Delhi's markets such as INA, Bengali Market and Lajpat Nagar are where residents shop and snack, and Majnu-ka-Tilla is the Tibetan quarter.
Use this page to decide what to order and where. The dishes and areas below say what each place does well and when to go. The tours are real GetYourGuide listings, with prices as seen when we checked; prices change, so confirm on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Delhi
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chole bhature छोले भटूरे (chole bhature) | Spiced chickpea curry with large puffed fried breads, served with onion and pickle. A heavy Punjabi breakfast or lunch. | Specialist shops in Old Delhi, Paharganj, Kamla Nagar and markets across the city. | roughly ₹100–250 a plate (about €1–2.50) |
| Fried stuffed parathas पराठे (paranthe) | Flatbreads stuffed with potato, paneer, cauliflower, radish or sweeter fillings, fried in ghee and served with potato curry, chutneys and pickles. | Paranthe Wali Gali, the lane off Chandni Chowk with family shops that have been frying parathas for generations; the food there is vegetarian. | roughly ₹80–150 per paratha with sides |
| Nihari and kebabs निहारी / कबाब (nihari, seekh kebab) | Nihari is beef or mutton slow-cooked overnight into a rich stew, eaten early in the morning with bread. Seekh kebabs are minced-meat skewers grilled over charcoal. | The lanes around Jama Masjid in Old Delhi, especially Matia Mahal, and long-established restaurants nearby. | roughly ₹150–400 a plate |
| Butter chicken and dal makhani बटर चिकन / दाल मखनी | Tandoori chicken in a creamy, mildly spiced tomato and butter sauce, and black lentils simmered for hours with butter and cream. Both are associated with Delhi's Punjabi restaurants. | Punjabi restaurants across the city, from Daryaganj and Old Delhi to Connaught Place and South Delhi. | roughly ₹350–700 per dish in a casual restaurant |
| Chaat चाट (golgappe, aloo tikki, papdi chaat, dahi bhalle) | Golgappe (crisp hollow puris filled with spiced water), aloo tikki (potato patties), papdi chaat and dahi bhalle (lentil dumplings in yoghurt), topped with tamarind and mint chutneys. | Chaat stalls in Chandni Chowk, Bengali Market, Lajpat Nagar and neighbourhood markets. | roughly ₹50–150 a plate |
| Jalebi and sweets जलेबी, रबड़ी, कुल्फी | Jalebi are spirals of batter fried and soaked in syrup, often eaten hot with rabri (thickened milk). Kulfi is a dense frozen milk dessert. | Sweet shops (halwais) in Chandni Chowk, including the jalebi shop at Dariba Kalan corner, and kulfi sellers in Old Delhi. | roughly ₹50–150 a portion |
| Momos मोमो (momos) | Steamed or fried dumplings of Tibetan and Himalayan origin, now one of Delhi's most popular street snacks, served with fiery red chutney. | Majnu-ka-Tilla (the Tibetan colony), Lajpat Nagar and stalls near metro stations. | roughly ₹60–150 a plate |
| Masala chai and lassi चाय / लस्सी | Sweet milky tea boiled with ginger and cardamom, served in small cups; lassi is a thick yoghurt drink, sweet or salted. | Tea stalls everywhere; lassi shops in Old Delhi and Paharganj. | chai about ₹15–30; lassi roughly ₹60–120 |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Chandni Chowk and Paranthe Wali Gali
The main street of Old Delhi, with sweet shops, chaat sellers and the famous lane of paratha shops. Very crowded; the street itself has been partly pedestrianised.
Jama Masjid and Matia Mahal
The streets facing Gate 1 of the Jama Masjid and the Matia Mahal lane are Old Delhi's centre for Mughlai food: nihari, kebabs, korma, biryani and sheermal bread.
Khari Baoli
Asia's largest wholesale spice market, at the western end of Chandni Chowk, with sacks of chillies, turmeric, dried fruit and nuts. Good for seeing and buying spices rather than eating.
INA Market and Dilli Haat
INA is a residents' market selling meat, fish, produce and imported groceries; across the road, Dilli Haat is a ticketed open-air market with food stalls from different Indian states.
Bengali Market and Lajpat Nagar
Bengali Market near Connaught Place is known for sweet shops and chaat; Lajpat Nagar in South Delhi is a busy shopping area with chaat, momos and Punjabi food.
Majnu-ka-Tilla
Tibetan settlement in North Delhi by the Yamuna, with small cafés serving momos, thukpa (noodle soup), laphing (cold noodles) and butter tea.
Food tours in Delhi compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Delhi:Indian Cooking Class in a Local Home | 2.5 hours | from €46 per person | max 10 | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
| Old Delhi Food Tour: 8 Tastings & Trusted Local Stops | 3 - 4 hours | from €18 per person | private | Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them. | Check dates |
| New Delhi: Full-Day Cooking Class learn 8 dishes with Locals | 12 hours | from €92 per person | private | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
| Old Delhi Street Food Spice Market & Heritage Walk | 4 hours | from €42 per person | max 10 | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
New Delhi:Indian Cooking Class in a Local Home
On GetYourGuide · run by Explore Real India
- Length
- 2.5 hours
- Price
- from €46 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 89 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 10
- Included
- Host Meal that we cook Ingredients All Food All Drinks like Tea/Water Personal Expenses such as shopping, Metro ticket, Uber, titbits, etc Tips to Host Your travel and medical insurance Services not mentioned or not p…
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
- Starts
- R-142 Gk-1 Bindra's House
Old Delhi Food Tour: 8 Tastings & Trusted Local Stops
On GetYourGuide · run by Ar India Tour
- Length
- 3 - 4 hours
- Price
- from €18 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 76 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- private
- Suits
- Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them.
New Delhi: Full-Day Cooking Class learn 8 dishes with Locals
On GetYourGuide · run by Vimla Transport Service
- Length
- 12 hours
- Price
- from €92 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 7 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- private
- Included
- Welcome coffee or chai with Indian sweet Hands-on cooking sessions Learn 7-8 Authentic Indian Dishes Tasting of 12 traditional Indian foods All ingredients and cooking equipment Traditional Indian Lunch Recipes for al…
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
- Starts
- The host will contact the guest once they receive the booking and will explain to them their address and suggest they choose the transport according to the guest's location.
Old Delhi Street Food Spice Market & Heritage Walk
On GetYourGuide · run by Explor Like Locals
- Length
- 4 hours
- Price
- from €42 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 3 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 10
- Included
- Taste the Most Iconic foods of Chandni Chork Old Delhi Guided tour of Old Delhi Visit to Jama Masjid area Exploration of vibrant markets Hidden Gems Transportation to the meeting point Personal expenses
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
- Starts
- H&M
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
Street food in Delhi is everywhere: chaat, golgappe, momos, kebabs, parathas and chai. It is cheap and very good, but hygiene varies. Choose busy stalls where food is cooked or fried in front of you, and be more careful with uncooked chutneys and water-based items like golgappe in the first days.
Sit-down meals
Sit-down meals range from century-old Mughlai restaurants in Old Delhi to Punjabi family restaurants and modern Indian restaurants in South Delhi and Connaught Place. Dinner is usually from about 20:00. Many restaurants add GST (5%) and some add a service charge; under Indian consumer rules a service charge should be optional.
Cooking classes
Cooking classes in Delhi are usually held in family homes in residential neighbourhoods, often with a visit to a local market for spices. They typically cover dal, a curry, a vegetable dish, rotis or parathas and chai. Check whether the class is vegetarian, as many home kitchens are.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | about ₹600–1,000 / €6–10 (street food and simple restaurants) |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | about ₹2,000–3,500 / €20–35 (two sit-down meals in good restaurants) |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | ₹7,000+ / €70+ (a high-end Indian restaurant in a hotel or South Delhi) |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: One of the easiest cities in the world for vegetarians. Many restaurants are fully vegetarian, and menus are split into 'veg' and 'non-veg'. Packaged food carries a green dot (vegetarian) or brown/red dot (non-vegetarian). Vegans should watch for ghee, paneer, yoghurt and cream, which are very common.
Halal: Halal food is easy to find, especially in Old Delhi around Jama Masjid and Nizamuddin, where Muslim-run restaurants serve Mughlai food. Elsewhere, ask; many Punjabi restaurants use non-halal (jhatka) meat. Beef is uncommon outside Muslim areas.
Gluten-free: Difficult with breads (roti, naan, paratha, bhatura), but rice, dal, many curries and tandoori meats are naturally gluten-free. Watch for asafoetida (hing), which is often mixed with wheat flour, and for shared fryers. Awareness of coeliac disease is low in small places.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Drivers, rickshaw riders or 'helpful' strangers near New Delhi station or Connaught Place who say a place is closed and take you to a restaurant or shop where they earn a commission. Choose your own restaurant and use app-based taxis or the metro. Decline unsolicited help.
- Sealed bottled water that has been refilled, or cheap water brands sold at high prices near monuments. Check that the seal is intact and buy from proper shops; restaurants often have filtered RO water.
- Tourist menus with prices much higher than for locals, or bills with items you didn't order, especially in Paharganj. Ask for the menu with prices, check the bill and pay with UPI or card where possible.
- Unofficial 'guides' at Chandni Chowk who attach themselves to you and then demand a fee. Book a guide or tour in advance, or walk on firmly.
Top tours & activities in Delhi
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Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
Is street food in Delhi safe?
Most visitors eat street food without problems if they choose carefully: busy stalls, food cooked or fried in front of you, and bottled or filtered water. Be cautious with raw salads, cut fruit, ice and the water in golgappe during your first days. Many people still get a mild stomach upset, so carry oral rehydration salts.
When should I visit Old Delhi for food?
Late morning to early evening for Chandni Chowk, when shops and sweet sellers are open. Go early in the morning for nihari near Jama Masjid. Many shops in Chandni Chowk and the spice market close on Sunday. Summer (April–June) is very hot; October to March is the most comfortable time for walking.
Do I need to tip in Delhi?
In sit-down restaurants, about 10% is usual if no service charge is on the bill. A service charge should be optional by law, so you can ask for it to be removed. At street stalls tips are not expected. Food tour guides are commonly tipped roughly ₹300–500 per person.
How can I pay for food?
UPI (QR-code payments) is used almost everywhere, even at street stalls, but it usually needs an Indian bank account or a tourist wallet. Cards work in most restaurants. Carry small cash notes for street food and tea stalls, since vendors often can't change ₹500 notes.
How much should I budget for food per day?
Eating street food and in simple restaurants, roughly ₹600–1,000 (€6–10) a day is enough. A comfortable day with two good sit-down meals is roughly ₹2,000–3,500 (€20–35). High-end Indian restaurants in hotels cost ₹4,000–8,000 per person or more with drinks.
What should I eat first in Delhi?
Start with parathas and jalebis in Chandni Chowk, kebabs or nihari near Jama Masjid, chaat from a busy stall, and butter chicken with dal makhani in a Punjabi restaurant. Add momos in Majnu-ka-Tilla and a cup of chai from a street stall.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.