Lucknow's best-known kebab house, traced by travel writers to 1905, serving melt-in-the-mouth galouti kebab with ulte tawe ka paratha from the Chowk original.
Tunday Kababi is the best-known kebab house in Lucknow, the Awadhi culinary capital of Uttar Pradesh in northern India. Travel writers trace the business to 1905, and the original shop sits in the lanes of Chowk, the old city, at Phool Wali Gali. The name refers to a one-armed cook ('tunda'), a story repeated locally as part of the shop's lore. The cuisine is Awadhi, the court cooking associated with the nawabs of Awadh, which favours slow cooking, fine mincing and delicate spicing over heat.
The emblem of the house is the galouti kebab, a minced-meat patty so soft that it is said to have been created for a nawab who could no longer chew. Tradition holds that the mince is blended with a long list of spices and a tenderising paste, then shallow-fried on a flat griddle. At Tunday it is served with ulte tawe ka paratha, a layered flatbread cooked on the underside of an inverted griddle, which is used to scoop up the kebab. The menu listed on the item also includes mutton biryani at around INR 250 (about $2.59), while the galouti kebab with paratha is around INR 160 (about $1.66). Prices are indicative and should be confirmed on site.
The dining room character is that of a busy old-city street eatery rather than a restaurant: counters open to the lane, quick turnover, plain seating or standing room, and a steady queue at peak times. Noise comes from the surrounding Chowk market, and there is no dress code. No alcohol is served in this kind of establishment, and beverages are limited to soft drinks and tea.
There is no reservation system; service is walk-in only and the main difficulty is the crowd rather than availability. Lunch and evening hours are busiest, and hours are listed as lunch to late evening daily, to be confirmed locally. Because several outlets and imitators use the Tunday name across Lucknow, visitors seeking the original should head for Chowk and check the address before sitting down.
| Price | $ |
|---|---|
| Hours | Lunch to late evening daily (confirm locally) |
| Address | 151 Phool Wali Gali, Chowk, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226003 |
Signature dishes
- Galouti Kebab with Paratha — INR 160 (~$1.66)
- Mutton Biryani — INR 250 (~$2.59)
Good to know
- Known for
- Galouti kebab
Location
151 Phool Wali Gali, Chowk, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226003
26.8556, 80.9125 View on map
Highlights
- Galouti kebab, the melt-in-the-mouth Awadhi patty that made the name famous
- Ulte tawe ka paratha served as the traditional partner for the kebab
- Original Chowk location in the old city lanes of Lucknow
- Very low prices: a plate of galouti with paratha costs around INR 160
Tips for visiting
- Head to the original at Phool Wali Gali, Chowk, as other outlets use the same name.
- Arrive just after opening for lunch to avoid the longest evening queues.
- Order the galouti kebab with paratha first, then add mutton biryani if still hungry.
- Carry small notes in rupees; street-style counters often prefer cash.
- Allow extra travel time, as Chowk's narrow lanes are congested by traffic.
When to visit
Lunch or early evening are the traditional times, but queues peak then; visiting just after opening is quieter. Winter (November to February) is the most comfortable season for Lucknow's old city.
Accessibility
The Chowk lanes are narrow, crowded and uneven, and the shop is a casual street-style eatery, so wheelchair access is likely to be difficult. Step-free entry has not been confirmed; inquire locally.
Frequently asked questions
What is Tunday Kababi famous for?
It is famous for galouti kebab, a very soft minced-meat patty eaten with ulte tawe ka paratha. Travel writers trace the business to 1905.
Do visitors need to reserve a table?
No. It operates on a walk-in basis, and the main issue is queuing at peak lunch and evening hours.
How much does a meal cost?
Galouti kebab with paratha is listed at about INR 160 (roughly $1.66) and mutton biryani at about INR 250. Prices should be confirmed locally.
Where is the original shop?
At 151 Phool Wali Gali in Chowk, the old city of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.