While we love our fancy five course meals complete with amuse bouche, dessert and the perfect bottle of bubbly to go with it all, Delhi dhabas and cafés have our heart. Nothing is better than biting into some mouthwatering food knowing that it won't pinch your pocket.
So, here are some of our fav places to visit when we’re high on hunger and low on money.
Rollmaal has worked out a step by step process to provide you with the perfect roll. You choose your paratha (from variants like flaky, Malabar, Ulta Tawa etc), your maal (the main filling) and the size of the roll. Apart from this, they also have snacks like vada pav, chaat and a mean masala chai.
This cute little café, which is an extension of the owner’s residence, caters mostly to NIFT students and nearby offices. They offer usual cafe fare including sandwiches, rolls, pasta etc. For something more substantial, they have Indian thalis comprising of dal, vegetables, rice and parathas. They have a vast beverage menu too.
PS: Their Irish cold coffee is one of the best we’ve had in the city.
This hidden gem located in Jangpura extension is our go-to place for all our sandwich needs. From veggie to cheese to chicken and tuna, they make all of these in soft bread (with the crusts cut off) with simple home-made mayonnaise and butter. If you’re still feeling hungry, opt for the chicken omelette. Starting at just INR 50 for a sandwich, a little money goes a long way here.
If you like your burgers desi, Kent’s won’t disappoint. The mutton burger, chicken kebab burger and chili chicken burgers are the most ordered of the lot here. They whip up a great cold coffee, the homemade variety.
If you enjoy kebabs, Sab Ki Khatir is the place for you. Occupying the tiniest stall on Lodhi Road, the place serves the most delectable kakori kebabs, galouti and tikkas of all kinds. The phirni (priced at just INR 40) comes as the icing on the cake. They have no seating area, so make sure you go with a friend who has a car, or take the goodies back home.
If you're a fan of Mahrashtrian food, you should try this place's Maharashtrian Thali! You'll find everything from vada pav, kanda bhajia, pakodas to pithalas, bharali wangi and varhadi chicken here. Since Maharashtra Sadan serves authentic food, I recommend you try the OG dishes (their mains are sufficient for two people and the cost for two is INR 300). Don't miss out on their kokum and coconut drink: Sol Kadhi.
Dilli Haat is known for its wide range of state food outlets. We particularly recommend the Arunachal Pradesh outlet which has fabulous pork momos served with soup and chilli sauce, in portions that a single person might find hard to finish.
Dilli's very own Moolchand Paranthas are a blessing to mankind. They offer paranthas in both veg and non-veg options. You can get hot and buttery aaloo parantha, paneer parantha, egg parantha and keema paratha all under INR 100 (each).
Although there isn't any seating options available, you can always order it or hog onto it on the go.
Anna Ka Dosa at Kalkaji is a purely vegetarian restaurant. Needless to say, they serve some lip smacking South Indian food. You can get a plain dosa at INR 80 and the signature masala dosa at INR 110. If you're not much into dosas, you can choose from their options in idlis, vadas and uttapams and then top it all up with their Kesar Halwa priced at INR 60.