Delhi, India's sprawling capital territory, is a city where ancient monuments stand beside ultramodern malls and Mughal gardens shadow gleaming corporate towers. As one of the world's most populous cities, Delhi offers an intoxicating blend of history spanning 3,000 years, from Iron Age settlements to British colonial architecture. The city serves as the political, cultural, and commercial heart of India, drawing millions of visitors annually to its UNESCO World Heritage Sites, vibrant street food scene, and legendary bazaars.
Top food tours
Guided experiences that show you Delhi through its food.
Old Delhi Food Walk
Delhi's most-reviewed food tour, led by expert guides who navigate the narrow lanes of Old Delhi stopping at legendary family-run food stalls. The morning walk covers breakfast staples — stuffed parathas at Paranthe Wali Gali, halwa at Sri Ram Halwai, fresh lassi at Shri Ram Lassi Wale, and jalebi with rabri at Old Famous Jalebi Wala (established 1884). The evening walk pivots to Mughlai street food — seekh kebabs at the Karim's cluster, nihari at Al-Jawahar, and chaat along Chandni Chowk.
Mughlai Feast & Heritage Walk
Walking tours led by young people who grew up on Delhi's streets — they know the city's hidden food corners better than any guidebook. The route covers Paharganj's food culture (chole bhature, chai), Old Delhi's Mughlai belt near Jama Masjid, and street-side chaat stalls. Profits directly fund the Salaam Baalak Trust's work with street children. One of Delhi's most socially responsible tour experiences.
Delhi Dilli Haat Regional Cuisine Tour
A guided exploration of Dilli Haat's 30+ regional food stalls, each representing a different Indian state. Taste dishes from Manipur, Nagaland, Kerala, Rajasthan, and Kashmir that are nearly impossible to find elsewhere in Delhi. The guide explains the cultural and geographical context of each cuisine and recommends the best stalls for each dish.
Spice Market & Bengali Market Chaat Walk
A morning tour combining the visual spectacle of Khari Baoli — Asia's largest wholesale spice market — with a tasting journey through Bengali Market, Delhi's most beloved chaat hub. Khari Baoli's warehouses overflow with pyramids of turmeric, chilli, cardamom, and dried fruits; guides explain the trade routes and uses of each spice. Bengali Market's Nathu's and Bengalis Sweets are Delhi institutions for dahi bhalle (lentil dumplings in yogurt), papdi chaat, and golgappa.
Delhi by Night — Street Food Safari
Delhi's best food experiences happen after dark, when the city cools (slightly) and street vendors set up their equipment. This evening tour covers the legendary Mughlai food corridor near Jama Masjid — seekh kebabs at Karim's, Shahi Tukra (Mughal bread pudding) at nearby sweet shops, mutton biryani at Al-Jawahar — then moves to 1950s Moti Mahal in Daryaganj, birthplace of butter chicken and dal makhani. Ends with hand-churned kulfi on the ghats near Red Fort.
Tour formats
Different ways to experience Delhi's food scene.
Walking tour tours
Guided 2-4 hour walks through food neighbourhoods with multiple tasting stops. Best for first-time visitors and those who want historical and cultural context alongside food.
Cooking class tours
2-4 hour hands-on sessions covering Indian spice blending, technique, and recipe preparation. Options range from home-hosted classes to hotel cooking experiences.
Market tour tours
Guided visits to wholesale and retail food markets (Khari Baoli, Dilli Haat, INA Market) with ingredient sampling and vendor introductions.
Self guided tours
Independent exploration using suggested routes and landmark vendors. Best for independent travellers comfortable navigating Old Delhi's lanes.
Cooking classes
Take a piece of Delhi home with you.
Saffron Palate Home Cooking Class
Small-group cooking classes held in a south Delhi home kitchen, run by chef and food writer Shalini Bhatia. Classes focus on North Indian home cooking — not restaurant food but the real dal, sabzi, roti, and achar that Delhi families eat. Covers spice blending, tempering, bread-making, and a full sit-down meal. One of Delhi's most intimate and authentic cooking experiences.
Delhi Cooking Class with Local Chef
Airbnb Experience-listed cooking sessions run by local home cooks in Delhi. Sessions typically cover 4-5 dishes — a dal, a vegetable curry, roti or paratha, and a simple dessert. Hosts often include a visit to a local market for ingredient selection as part of the experience. Varies by host, but consistently reviewed as authentic and personal.
ITC Maurya — Bukhara & Dum Pukht Cooking Master Class
Masterclasses run by the chefs of Bukhara (rated among Asia's 50 best restaurants) and Dum Pukht, two of India's most celebrated restaurants. Learn the secrets of Bukhara's legendary Dal Makhani (slow-cooked 18 hours), Sikandari Raan (whole leg of lamb), and the art of dum pukht (sealed slow-cooking). A luxury experience for serious food enthusiasts.
DIY self-guided food tour
Build your own food crawl through Delhi.
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1
Paranthe Wali Gali
A famous alley of family-run paratha shops serving stuffed whole-wheat flatbreads since the 1800s. Each shop has its own speciality fillings — potato, paneer, mooli (radish), onion, and sweet fillings. Served with chutneys, pickle, and fresh curd. Three shops in the lane are the most celebrated: Pandit Gaya Prasad Shiv Charan (est. 1875), Pt. Kanhaiyalal Durga Prasad Dixit, and Pt. Babu Ram Devi Dayal.
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2
Old Famous Jalebi Wala
Established in 1884, this is Delhi's most famous jalebi shop — fresh, thick, pretzel-shaped spirals of fermented batter deep-fried and soaked in sugar syrup, served with rabri (condensed milk). The jalebis are made to order and served piping hot. Best eaten immediately from the paper wrapper.
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3
Shri Ram Lassi Wale
Delhi's most famous lassi stall — thick, rich yogurt drink blended to order and served in clay kulhads (unglazed terracotta cups, traditionally broken after use). Plain, sweet, or salted versions available. The stand-up experience is quintessential Old Delhi — you drink at the counter and move on.
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4
Khari Baoli Spice Market
Asia's largest wholesale spice market — a sensory overload of colour and aroma. Sacks of vivid turmeric, crimson chillies, green cardamom, and black pepper overflow onto narrow lanes. Not primarily a food-tasting stop but an extraordinary sensory and photographic experience. Buy small quantities of spices to take home — quality is excellent and prices are wholesale.
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5
Karim's
Delhi's most legendary Mughlai restaurant, founded in 1913 by the descendants of chefs who cooked for Mughal emperors. The clay-oven-roasted mutton seekh kebabs, mutton korma, and chicken Jahangiri are considered Delhi benchmarks. The open-air seating in the lane outside Jama Masjid Gate 1 is atmospheric. Even by 10AM, Karim's is serving kebabs.
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6
Al-Jawahar
Directly across the lane from Karim's — Al-Jawahar has been its rival since 1947 and has its own devoted following. Particularly celebrated for nihari (slow-cooked overnight mutton stew with bone marrow, served with soft naan) and mutton biryani. A simpler, more no-frills setting than Karim's but equally authentic.
Foodie tips
Get more out of every meal.
Delhi's most celebrated restaurants are often not the glossiest — Karim's operates from a narrow alley lane, Sita Ram Diwan Chand is a cramped counter shop, and Moti Mahal has seen better days decor-wise. Follow the crowds and the reputation, not the fitout.
Vegetarians eat very well in Delhi. Punjabi vegetarian cuisine — paneer dishes, dal, aloo gobi, rajma chawal — is outstanding and widely available. The vegetarian-only areas of Chandni Chowk (Paranthe Wali Gali, Bengali Market) are particularly strong.
Tap water is not safe to drink in Delhi. Only drink bottled water, filtered water from reputable dispensers, or chai and drinks that use boiled water. Avoid ice in drinks at street stalls.
The best time to eat street food is when you can see the cooking happening live and the turnover is rapid. Avoid food that has been sitting out. Morning and evening peak hours (7-10AM, 6-9PM) are when stalls are freshest.
Delhi food is priced very accessibly — an excellent street food meal for two at Old Delhi costs INR 300-600 ($3.50-7). Even a sit-down meal at Karim's or a mid-range restaurant costs INR 400-800 per person. Budget travellers can eat exceptionally well.
Old Delhi restaurants near Jama Masjid are predominantly halal and non-vegetarian. Several family-run outlets that may not look like restaurants serve outstanding food — look for places packed with locals, particularly after Friday prayers.
Delhi's dhabas (roadside eateries) serve honest, inexpensive Punjabi home cooking — dal tadka, butter chicken, roti, and rice — and are a reliable option across the city. NH-8 (towards Gurugram) has famous dhaba clusters.
The best chaat in Delhi is fiercely debated — Dilli Haat, Bengali Market (Nathu's), and Chandni Chowk each have devoted advocates. Eat them all and form your own view. A chaat crawl through Bengali Market (papdi chaat at one stall, dahi bhalle at another, golgappa at a third) is a rite of passage.
High-end Delhi restaurants (Indian Accent, Bukhara, Daryaganj, Masala Library) book out weeks in advance. Reserve before you arrive if a specific restaurant is on your list.