Five Restaurants I Love Eating Out in Delhi

Delhi is the city of food and foodie. Yet it is also one of the more expensive cities of India. While street food is good here, I have always felt that I have eaten better food in Kolkata, if delicious street food is a criterion.

While eating out in Delhi, my concern has always been value for money and for me, dinner can even consist of a main dish and a side dish and nothing else. I am not a foodie, in the sense that I don’t or can’t seem to stuff myself with food, even if it’s delicious. And yet, I am also a foodie, as I love eating all kinds of delicacies.

Brought up in a simple yet modern family, I have been taught to respect the fact that there’s food on the table and we should be grateful for the fact. I guess, it’s because of thing upbringing I cringe to waste food, and for me a dinner for two costing INR2,500, I tend to think it’s too expensive. So when I am listing my restaurant preferences, I guess these are the places which cost much less than that on a simple two or three course meal.

Chilis New Delhi

I have eaten in their locations in Ambience Mall, Vasant Kunj; and Ambience Mall, in Gurgaon, and I simply love their food. The restaurant serves what is called Tex-mex cuisine, with big juicy Burgers, Steaks, Pastas, Enchiladas, Fajitas, and Quesadillas. The plates are big and often your order is accompanied by side dishes such as mashed potatoes, corn on cobs, and fries. My daughter loves the unlimited soft drinks you get over there. For me, I often order one main course and a drink, and sometimes fight my way hard to finish the plate! It’s a place we go over and over for a meal on weekends, and at the Vasant Kunj outlet, you may have to wait for long, if its rush hours.

Oh! Calcutta

Serving some amazing Bengali food, this restaurant is my all time favourite. Located in Nehru Place, the lunch buffet on weekends is amazing, with delightful delicacies such as Tomato Chutney, Aam Bhindi, Kosha Mangsho, Luchi, Prawn Malai Curry, Mutton Rezala, Smoked Bekti, and Payesh, and of course my daughter’s all time favourite, Nolen Gurer ice cream. For a diehard Bengali like me, the cuisine at the restaurant takes me back to my childhood days of lovely home cooked food.

Side Wok

A pan-Asian restaurant, located in Malcha Marg, Chanakyapuri, it serves some amazing food for all kinds of food lovers. I tried my hand at eating with chopsticks, and believe me, it worked!  The menu includes everything from Dumplings, to Sushi, and my favourite Clay Pots. I have never liked eating Chinese or Thai food in a multi cuisine restaurant, and this one gives me just what I like, authentic food in a great ambience.

Bikanerwala

A shop which sells most yummy sweets in Yashwant Place, also hosts a restaurant inn the first floor, serving mouth-watering chatpata food, such as Thalis with Rajma and rice; Chhole Bhature, Pav Bhaji, and various kinds of Chaats. With my daughter’s school located close by, this is the place we often troop in after a parent teacher meet.

Hi Mirchi

As residents of Dwarka, it will not be right to mention my favourite restaurant serving North Indian cuisine of Chicken Lababdar, Fish Amritsari, Paneer Makhhani, and Naans. This place is located in Sector 12 of Dwarka, and has a tiny entrance with a dark stairwell, and teeny tiny lift, but always remains crowded for dinner. Some of my favourite yummiest food I have tasted here.