Drive about 100 metres ahead of South Asia’s largest prison- Tihar Jail – and quite unknowingly, you will find yourself entering a food paradise. Tucked among many small hardware and furniture retail shops on either side of Jail Road are many small and medium sized eateries. Typically known for their ‘eat in the car’ model, and home delivery, they characterise Punjabiness, with oil soaked and spice bathed food.
Here are eight places you simply cannot miss.
Akin to the heat that may hit your face as you stand in front of their open kitchen, the hot food melts in your mouth, doing full justice to every penny spent. The highlight – they do Continental food in as many Arab spices as they do Lebanese food. Not to miss, they ensure hygiene; we spotted their staff in gloves and caps. The wait may seem a little long, but is totally worth it.
They are the tikka specialists! The freshness of their non-vegetarian delicacies works well both for your heart, and your health. This hole-in-the-wall joint will give you an enriching food experience, without a hole in the pocket.
Flanked by non-vegetarian specialists on both sides, it is the sole vegetarian joint in the DDA complex, but enjoys a happy monopoly. With its symbolic dhaba flavours, the vegetarian staple dal makhani and kadai paneer are a sheer delight. The pyaaz kulcha’s softness and size make it among the best we have ever tasted in the city. The ‘Aap Ki Pasand’ menu is quite popular.
The sardarji owner remains true to Punjabi food literature, and adds another page to the wonders of Butter chicken. With a theka a few shops down the parallel lane, the chicken tikka here makes for the perfect accompaniment to your tipple.
This joint is popular among young lads, especially for its Malai Chicken Tikka and the like. With seating both in the open and indoors, it draws in the crowds quite naturally. Its popularity is evident, given the number of people standing outside on the pavement, waiting to get in. The good news – it is not exclusive to Jail Road; branches can be found in Rajouri Garden, Karol Bagh, Pitampura, Naraina, Gole Market and Ashok Vihar.
From the onset of festivities, starting with Raksha Bandhan, till Diwali, you will find many dilliwaalas from this part of town flocking to this store. It also serves some delectable North Indian street food, with a reasonably comfortable seating space. The other outlet is in Paschim Vihar.
With the same spread of desi mithais and deep fried bhaturas, chaat and samosas, this store is in stiff competition with Grover Mithaiwala, though its wider menu {inclusive of Chinese and South Indian} gives it a little bit of an edge. Don’t miss the crispy jalebis swimming in chashni. This is the only retail point in Delhi; it has six other branches, all in various sectors of Gurgaon.