Delhi's food runs from Mughal-era kebabs and Old Delhi chaats to polished modern Indian dining. The capital's top restaurants now appear on Asia's 50 Best lists.
Delhi at a glance
What to eat
Chole bhature and Paranthe Wali Gali parathas; Karim's Mughlai and butter chicken; Chandni Chowk chaat, jalebi and dahi bhalle; Nalli nihari; Winter gajar ka halwa and daulat ki chaat.
When to go
Best: February–March and October–November. Also good: January and December. Hardest: April–August.
Top tables
This guide lists 3 award-winning restaurants, starting with Indian Accent, Inja and Dum Pukht.
Where locals eat
Local favorites off the prestige lists include Al Kauser, Aap Ki Khatir, Dzukou Tribal Kitchen and Fujiya.
New places change fast. “Provisional” means a guide or directory lists it as new but we have not confirmed the opening date. Check hours and book ahead before you go.
Memorable breakfasts in Delhi
The top pick here; the rest are on their own page.
Sita Ram Diwan Chand
Paharganj
Order: Chole bhature
A renowned Delhi breakfast built around chickpeas and fried bread.
Santorini Dave: best Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov (15-33C); Dec-Jan cold with near-daily fog and smog, high season; Apr-May hot (37-40C+, peaks near 45C); Jun-Sep monsoon with waterlogging (Aug wettest), cheapest period; Sep rain eases but stays humid. The article links smog mainly to Nov-Feb, not Oct, so Nov is listed as peak but carries smog risk; Diwali 8 Nov 2026 adds fireworks. Trivenicabs says Oct-Mar is best for outdoor food. September is left unassigned. Month numbers are our mapping. Mostly one weather source.
In season
Gajar ka halwaNovOutlook Traveller ties it to November; Trivenicabs lists it as a winter specialty (not month-specific)
Daulat ki chaatJan–Feb, Nov–DecSold only November-February (Zingbus)
Winter street foods: nalli nihari, kulhad ka doodh, chikki/gajak, seekh kebab, ram laddoo
Sarson da saag and hot jalebis
Til rice for LohriJanLohri 13 Jan (Santorini Dave)
Food events
LohriJan13 Jan; til rice (sweet rice with jaggery and sesame)
HoliMarFeb/Mar, date changes yearly; 2027 date not retrieved
DiwaliNovSunday 8 Nov 2026; Friday 29 Oct 2027 (Dekho Panchang); five-day festival, one public-holiday day
Eid al-Fitr / Eid al-Adha feastingChangeable dates; up to three days of feasting for Eid al-Fitr
Closures to plan around
Chandni Chowk main market closed Sundays, a few shops also close Mondays; opens ~10:00, most shops close by 20:00, some food joints stay open to 21:00 in festival weeks (Zingbus, June 2026). Individual eateries' hours...
National holidays with most government offices and many attractions closed: Republic Day 26 Jan, Independence Day 15 Aug, Gandhi Jayanti 2 Oct; also Christmas 25 Dec has some closures. Effect on restaurants not stated
Fog and smog Nov-Feb (near-daily fog in Jan until mid-morning; disrupts trains and flights); effect on dining not stated
Monsoon Jun-Sep: rapid waterlogging in streets, Aug worst
Diwali (8 Nov 2026): busy for travel; one day is a public holiday. No restaurant-closure source found
Meal costs and tipping (INR)
Casual: paranthe 50-100; chole bhature 60-120; Chandni Chowk chaat 30-80; jalebi 40-80; dahi bhalle 40-70; full Chandni Chowk street-food tour 300-600 per person
Mid-range: Karim's 300-600 per person; Moti Mahal 400-700; Gulati 500-900; restaurant meals 400-1,000 per person
Tasting menus from: Indian Accent 3,000-6,000 per person
From published guides and tourism boards. Months are our mapping of how guides describe the seasons; 2027 event dates are expected, not confirmed. Prices come from single sources of varying age, so treat them as a rough guide. Compare cities by month
The best of Delhi, by category
The top pick in each, then every place on its own page with what to get and a map.
Late-night kebab stop where the meat, not the spice, leads; the chutneys carry the heat. Cash only.
Seen in timeout.com · worth confirming hours before you go
family-run
Dzukou Tribal Kitchen
Vasant Kunj · $$
Order: Smoked pork with anishi (taro leaf paste), chicken with axone (fermented soybean), and shredded buff with fiery Naga morich chutney.
Naga home-style cooking with funky, smoky, fermented flavors rarely found in Delhi. It has moved from Hauz Khas to Vasant Kunj; a Dec 2024 visit confirmed it open.
Awards come from the guides named on each listing (Asia's 50 Best 2025). Researched October 25, 2026. Restaurants change; confirm hours, reservations and current stars before you go. Some addresses, phone numbers and websites come from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), so call ahead to confirm. Local favorites are editorial picks, not rankings.
Chef Amazing’s lists for Delhi: where locals eat, new openings, romantic dinners, ice cream, cooking classes and more, each place with what to order. Cooking classes in Delhi: who teaches, what you cook, how long and how to book.
