Chandni Chowk Famous Food: A Practical Old Delhi Guide

The Chandni Chowk famous food trail is mostly vegetarian and mostly old: parathas fried in Paranthe Wali Gali, jalebis at the end of Dariba Kalan, dahi bhalle, chole kulche, kachori with aloo sabzi, and sweets from shops that go back to the 19th and early 20th centuries. Head south towards Jama Masjid and the food turns to Mughlai kebabs and curries.

This guide lists the best-known Chandni Chowk food places with what each is known for, listed hours and founding dates where a source gives them. It does not print prices, since no current dated price lists could be verified; menus change, so check at the counter.

Independent guide, no paid listings. Hours are as listed by Delhi Tourism and may be out of date.

Food style: Mostly vegetarian street food and sweets
Best-known lanes: Paranthe Wali Gali, Dariba Kalan, Kinari Bazaar
Metro: Chandni Chowk (Yellow Line), Lal Qila (Violet Line)
Best time: Morning for chole kulche, late morning to evening for the rest
Traffic: Main street pedestrianised in daytime after the 2021 redevelopment
Non-veg: Head south to Jama Masjid and Matia Mahal

Chandni Chowk street food: what to expect

Chandni Chowk was laid out in 1650 by Princess Jahanara Begum, Shah Jahan's daughter, as the main bazaar of Shahjahanabad, Wikipedia records. It runs from the Red Fort at its eastern end to Fatehpuri Masjid at the west. After the redevelopment finished in 2021, the main street is closed to motor traffic in the daytime, which makes walking between food stops far easier than it used to be.

The famous food here comes from small family shops, many run by the third, fourth or fifth generation. Most are vegetarian, and many are sweet shops. Expect to eat standing, share plates and keep moving.

Paranthe Wali Gali

Gali Paranthe Wali, off the main Chandni Chowk road, is the area's most famous food lane. Wikipedia says its paratha businesses were set up between 1875 and 1886.

Pt. Babu Ram Devi Dayal Parathe Wale

Delhi Tourism lists this shop as serving parathas since 1889 and now run by the fifth generation. Its signatures include rabri paratha, nimbu (lemon) paratha and papad paratha.

Listed hours (Delhi Tourism): 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM, all days
Type: vegetarian

Searches for a "Paranthe Wali Gali Delhi menu" usually mean these paratha shops. Fillings change through the day, so read the board at the shop.

Jalebi, khurchan and the old sweet shops

Old Famous Jalebi Wala

At the Chandni Chowk end of Dariba Kalan, per Wikipedia. Delhi Tourism says it has operated since 1884 and makes jalebis in desi ghee with khandsari sugar syrup, plus a version topped with rabri.

Listed hours (Delhi Tourism): 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM, daily

Hazari Lal Jain Khurchan Wale

In Kinari Bazaar. Delhi Tourism describes it as one of the few places keeping khurchan alive, a dessert made from scraped layers of thickened milk. Rabri, malai laddu and ghee barfi are also listed.

Listed hours (Delhi Tourism): Monday to Saturday 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM; Sunday 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Other sweet shops with long histories

Wikipedia lists several more Chandni Chowk names:

Chaina Ram Sindhi Halwai (1948): besan ke laddoo, ghee patisa and ghevar
Kanwarji's Bhagirathmal Dalbijiwallah (mid-19th century): dal biji
Annapurna Bhandar (1929): Bengali sweets
Meghraj and Sons: operating since the 1950s
Tewari Brothers Confectioners (1987): motichoor laddoos and samosas

Many search for menus of Kanwarji, Chaina Ram or Meghraj Sweets; these are counter shops where the display case is the menu.

Chaat, chole kulche and kachori

Natraj Dahi Bhalla

Delhi Tourism says Natraj serves only two things: dahi bhalle and aloo tikki. Wikipedia dates it to 1940.

Listed hours (Delhi Tourism): 10:30 AM to 9:30 PM

Lotan Chole Wala

A morning-only chole kulche stop, run by the fifth generation of the Lotan family, per Delhi Tourism, and known for an amchur chutney over the chole.

Listed hours (Delhi Tourism): 7:30 AM to 10:00 AM, all days

Jung Bahadur Kachori Wala

Crisp kachoris with spicy aloo sabzi, with shops in Nai Sarak and Kinari Bazaar, according to Delhi Tourism, which says it has run for almost 50 years.

Listed hours (Delhi Tourism): 10:30 AM to 7:30 PM; closed Sundays

Wikipedia also lists Chaatwallah (1923) for fruit chaat, Gol Hatti (1954) for kulhad chhole chawal and Shiv Mishtan Bhandar (1910) for bedmi poori with aloo sabzi and jalebi or imarti.

Sit-down meals and cold desserts

Kake Di Hatti

Delhi Tourism calls it the "King of Naan" for its very large tandoori naan, with dal makhani, soya tikka and paneer butter masala also popular, and says it has been around since before Independence.

Listed hours (Delhi Tourism): 8:00 AM to 1:00 AM, daily

Giani's Di Hatti

Known for rabri falooda. Delhi Tourism says it began as a single shop in 1956 (Wikipedia gives around 1947) and also lists chole bhature and rajma chawal.

Listed hours (Delhi Tourism): 8:30 AM to 11:00 PM, all days

Haldiram's

Wikipedia says Chandni Chowk is the location of the original Haldiram's. For the current Haldiram's Chandni Chowk menu, check the outlet's own listing, as menus differ by branch.

The food court in the Omaxe mall at Chandni Chowk is also searched often. This guide could not verify which outlets currently operate there, so check a listing app before going.

Chandni Chowk to Jama Masjid: the non-veg side

For kebabs, nihari and Mughlai curries, walk south from Chandni Chowk to Jama Masjid. One route is through Dariba Kalan, which Wikipedia describes as linking Chandni Chowk with Jama Masjid, ending near the mosque's Gate No. 3. From there, the Matia Mahal lanes beside Gate No. 1 hold Karim's, Aslam Chicken, Al Jawahar and Qureshi Kabab and Al Yamin. The food near Jama Masjid hub covers them all.

If you visit the mosque on the way, check prayer times and the dress code in the Jama Masjid visitor guide.

A simple Old Delhi food walk

Morning: start with chole kulche at Lotan before 10 AM.
Late morning: walk to Paranthe Wali Gali for parathas.
Midday: jalebi at Old Famous Jalebi Wala, then khurchan in Kinari Bazaar.
Afternoon: dahi bhalle at Natraj, then rabri falooda at Giani's.
Evening: walk through Dariba Kalan to Jama Masjid for kebabs in Matia Mahal, and end with the view of the lit-up mosque from a rooftop such as Gumbad Cafe.

Many guided Old Delhi food walks and tours follow a similar route; if you book one, check what is included and the group size.

Tips for eating in Chandni Chowk

Take the metro. Chandni Chowk (Yellow Line) and Lal Qila (Violet Line) are the usual stations; Wikipedia notes a multilevel parking at Gandhi Maidan opened in early 2024 if you must drive.
Weekday mornings are calmer than weekend evenings, when crowds are very heavy.
Carry small change and UPI.
Pace yourself. Share plates so you can try more places.
Check hours. Some shops close early or on Sundays.

Questions and answers

What is Chandni Chowk famous for in food?

Deep-fried parathas in Paranthe Wali Gali, jalebis, dahi bhalle, chole kulche, kachori and old sweet shops, plus Mughlai food around Jama Masjid.

Is Chandni Chowk food mostly vegetarian?

Yes, most famous Chandni Chowk food places are vegetarian. For non-veg, walk to the Matia Mahal lanes near Jama Masjid.

When did Paranthe Wali Gali start?

Wikipedia says its paratha shops were set up between 1875 and 1886. Pt. Babu Ram Devi Dayal dates itself to 1889, per Delhi Tourism.

How do I go from Chandni Chowk to Jama Masjid?

Walk through Dariba Kalan, which links Chandni Chowk with Jama Masjid, or take the Violet Line from Lal Qila to Jama Masjid.

Which metro station is best for Chandni Chowk food?

Chandni Chowk on the Yellow Line, or Lal Qila on the Violet Line for the Kinari Bazaar side.

Sources

Last checked: 14 October 2026