Food

Best Street Food in Delhi: 25 Must-Try Dishes

9 min read · Updated 2026

best street food in delhi

best time

October to March, 10 AM to 1 PM and 5 to 8 PM

Budget time

Roughly ₹30 to ₹150 per dish (varies by shop)

time needed

3 to 4 hours for a full food walk

nearest metro station

Chandni Chowk (Yellow Line) for Old Delhi

Why try the best street food in Delhi?

This guide to the best street food in Delhi covers 25 dishes, the areas where you will find them, how to reach, insider tips and what to eat nearby. Whether you are a first-time visitor or a lifelong Dilliwala looking for a new favourite, you will find a plan you can follow without feeling lost.Delhi's street food is shaped by centuries of history. The Mughal kitchens of Old Delhi gave the city its kebabs and kormas, Punjabi migrants brought parathas, chole and lassi, and Tibetan communities added momos. The result is a food culture where a steel plate on a roadside cart can taste better than a restaurant meal. If you are looking for the best food experiences in Delhi, the street is where you should start.

What to eat: 25 dishes

Chaat and snacks

  1. Aloo tikki chaat. Crisp potato patties with curd and chutneys.
  2. Papdi chaat. Crunchy papdi, chickpeas, yoghurt and tamarind.
  3. Dahi bhalla. Soft lentil dumplings in cool, sweet curd.
  4. Golgappe. Hollow puris filled with spicy pani.
  5. Raj kachori. A giant crisp shell stuffed with curd and sprouts.
  6. Samosa and kachori. Fried hot and served with chutney or sabzi.
  7. Bread pakora. Stuffed bread in a gram flour batter.
  8. Fruit chaat. Seasonal fruit with chaat masala and lemon

    Breakfast favourites

    1. Chole bhature. Fluffy fried bread with spicy chickpeas.
    2. Chole kulche. A lighter cart version.
    3. Aloo poori with halwa. The traditional Sunday plate.
    4. Stuffed parathas. Aloo, gobhi, paneer, mooli and more.
    5. Jalebi with rabri. Hot, crisp and syrupy.

    Non-veg

    1. Seekh kebab. Smoky minced meat on skewers.
    2. Galouti kebab. Soft enough to melt on the tongue.
    3. Chicken and mutton tikka. Grilled in a clay oven.
    4. Butter chicken. A Delhi invention, best with butter naan.
    5. Nihari. A slow-cooked winter breakfast.
    6. Kathi rolls. Egg, chicken or paneer in flaky paratha.

    Sweets and drinks

    1. Daulat ki chaat. Airy milk foam, found in winter.
    2. Kulfi falooda. Dense kulfi with vermicelli and rose syrup.
    3. Kulhad lassi. Thick, sweet and served in clay.
    4. Gajar halwa. A winter dessert, served warm.

    Modern favourites

    1. Momos. Steamed, fried or tandoori.
    2. Pav bhaji and tikki burger. Quick, buttery and filling.

How to get to Delhi's best street food areas?

  • Metro (best option): Take the Yellow Line to Chandni Chowk or the Violet Line to Lal Qila for Old Delhi. For Connaught Place, use Rajiv Chowk. For momos, Majnu Ka Tilla is a short ride from Vidhan Sabha station.
  • By Road: Old Delhi lanes are narrow and parking is very limited. Cabs, autos and cycle rickshaws are easier than driving.
  • By Train: Old Delhi Railway Station is about 2 km from Chandni Chowk. Carry a valid photo ID and small cash for rickshaws.

    The heart of the action is the Chandni Chowk and Old Delhi area. Connaught Place, Lajpat Nagar, Sarojini Nagar and Majnu Ka Tilla are good second stops.

Insider Tips?

If you are planning a food walk, a few tips will make your trip smoother. Go where the crowd is, because a busy stall means fresh food and quick turnover. Choose items that are freshly fried or cooked in front of you, and be careful with anything that has been sitting out for long. Start with one or two plates, share dishes with friends, and move to the next stall before you feel full.Carry a bottle of water, a handkerchief and some cash. Many old shops are cash-first, though UPI is now common. Wear comfortable shoes, as lanes are crowded and uneven. Go early or in the late afternoon to avoid the worst of the lunch crowds, and do not leave without trying one sweet dish. Keep your bag zipped and your valuables close, as crowded markets attract pickpockets. If you are new to Delhi spice levels, ask the vendor for less chilli. To make the most of your day, combine your food walk with Red Fort and Jama Masjid and cover the best of Old Delhi in one trip.

Eat Nearby?

Paranthe Wali Gali: Famous for stuffed parathas in Chandni Chowk.
Karim’s (near Jama Masjid): Legendary Mughlai kebabs and curries.
Old Famous Jalebi Wala: Hot, crispy jalebis, a must-try Delhi street food.
Natraj Dahi Bhalle: A Chandni Chowk favourite for chaat.
Haldiram’s Chandni Chowk: A safe option for families and snacks.

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