Famous Dhabas Near Delhi by Sadaf Hussain

Who better to tell us about must-visit dhabas near Delhi than a dilliwala chef who lives and breathes spices and flavours? Sadaf Hussain, who has created delicious recipes like pani puri and pav bhaji for India Food Network, decided to pen down his top favourites in and around Delhi.

Picture courtesy: Instagram

1. Kake-da-Hotel, Delhi

This is one of the oldest dhabas of Delhi and a place that all dilli walas love to hang out at. It doesn’t look fancy or serve food in the most beautiful manner but the taste of the dishes are out of this world. My favourite dishes are Keema Kaleji, Soya Chaap, Butter Chicken and Dal Makhani.

2. Ashok & Ashok Meat Dhaba, Delhi

This one is another iconic food joint of Delhi. They have been serving dishes to dilli walas since ages. They don’t offer seating space but they do offer some of the best lip-smacking Mutton Curry and Chicken Tikka.

3. Rao Dhaba, Delhi-Jaipur Highway, NH 8

I remember going to Jaipur once with a couple of friends and stopping by this dhaba. We were not too sure since this is purely a veg dhaba but we ended up being glad that we chose to eat here. I would suggest that you try the paneer butter masala, apart from other rich gravy-based dishes.

4. Bhajan Tadka Dhaba, Gajraula

It is almost like committing a sin if you are going towards Jim Corbett or Kamaon Hills and not visiting this dhaba. They even customise the dishes for us based on our spice tolerance level. Apart from serving finger licking food they also have a beautiful ambience. This place won’t disappoint you at all.

5. Amrik Sukhdev Dhaba, Murthal

If you love your paranthas with lots and lots of butter, then this is your place. They serve almost every kind of parantha along with Indian Chinese, speciality daals with tea coffee and ice cream. The place is as big as a food court.

Want to delve deeper into Sadaf’s food stories? Visit his blog Food and Streets.

Also read: Best Dhabas to Visit over the Long Weekend