Delhi's "best" dish is subjective, but top contenders representing the city's diverse, rich, and street-side culinary culture include iconic Butter Chicken, spicy Chole Bhature, and the savory, tangy Chaat. Other essential, highly rated dishes include Nihari, Kebabs, Paranthas, and the delicate sweet, Daulat ki Chaat.
There's no single "No. 1" food, but Butter Chicken, Biryani, and comfort foods like Khichdi, Dal, and street snacks like Samosas and Chaat are globally and nationally beloved, with rice and lentils forming daily staples, showcasing India's vast culinary diversity from rich curries to vibrant street eats.
All three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the city, the Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb, and the Red Fort, belong to this period. Delhi was the early centre of Sufism and Qawwali music. The names of Nizamuddin Auliya and Amir Khusrau are prominently associated with it.
The best time to visit Delhi is from October to March when the weather is at its best. During this period flowers are at their blooming best, the weather is pleasent and enjoyable to experience Incredible Delhi.
The most popular Indian meals globally often feature rich, creamy curries like Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani) and Chicken Tikka Masala, alongside staples like smoky Tandoori Chicken, flavorful rice dishes such as Biryani, and lentil soups like Dal Tadka, with regional favorites like South Indian Dosa also being incredibly popular within India. While Butter Chicken and Tikka Masala dominate international menus, Biryani is frequently the most ordered dish within India itself.
Delhi biryani showcases the opulence and culinary mastery of Mughal cuisine, famous for its lavish and decadent dishes. A distinctive feature of Delhi biryani is the inclusion of green chili pickle between layers of rice and meat before the Dum cooking process begins.
When in Delhi, eat as the Delhiites do. That means chole bature (fried, puffed bread paired with chickpea curry), parathas (Indian flatbread), dahi bhalla (fried flour balls covered in yogurt) and aloo chat (crispy, tangy, spicy potatoes)! You can't go to Old Delhi and not try jalebi from Jalebiwalla.
Cotton is the most famous product in India. The country is the largest producer of cotton in the world. Some of the best gifts from India for foreigners are Indian textiles, jewelry, spices, tea, incense, paintings, and handicrafts.
While Biryani is often cited as India's top ordered dish (especially in food delivery stats), Chicken Tikka Masala and Butter Chicken consistently rank as the most beloved and ordered Indian dishes globally, particularly in the UK and Western countries, due to their rich, creamy, and accessible flavors.
Paneer is a fresh, non-melting cheese made by curdling hot milk (cow or buffalo) with an acid like lemon juice, vinegar, or yogurt, then draining and pressing the curds to form a solid block. It's a simple, two-ingredient cheese (milk and acid) that's central to South Asian cuisine, valued for its mild flavor and ability to absorb spices, unlike other cheeses that use rennet.
Roti and naan are both Indian flatbreads, but roti (or chapati) is an unleavened, everyday bread made from whole wheat flour cooked on a griddle (tawa), making it thinner, simpler, and healthier, while naan is a leavened (yeast/yogurt), often richer bread made with refined flour, traditionally baked in a clay oven (tandoor), resulting in a thicker, softer, chewier texture often served in restaurants. Roti is for daily meals, great with dry dishes, while naan's thickness holds up well with rich curries.
