Karim’s, Jama Masjid: Menu Guide and Visiting Tips

The story of Karim's Jama Masjid

Wikipedia traces Karim's to a family of cooks linked to the Mughal court. Haji Karimuddin set up a dhaba around the 1911 Delhi Durbar, selling alu gosht and daal with roti, and in 1913 opened the restaurant near Jama Masjid. Delhi Tourism quotes his reported aim of serving royal food to the common man.

More than a century later, the Jama Masjid outlet is still the flagship and headquarters. Wikipedia says the business is now Karim Hotels Pvt. Ltd., run by the fourth generation of the family.

Where is Karim's Jama Masjid?

Karim's is in Gali Kababian, which runs off the Matia Mahal bazaar opposite the mosque's southern gate, Gate No. 1. Coming from the mosque, cross to the Matia Mahal side, where Al Jawahar sits on the main lane, and ask for Gali Kababian, the lane where Karim's has stood since 1913.

The nearest metro is Jama Masjid on the Violet Line; see the metro guide for gates and routes. Trip101 describes Karim's and Al Jawahar as a few paces from the mosque.

Karim's menu at Jama Masjid: what is on it

The menu is long and mostly built around mutton and chicken. Based on Wikipedia and Delhi Tourism, the main sections are:

• Kebabs and tikkas: seekh kebabs, burra and chicken tikka from the tandoor. Searches for "Karim's Jama Masjid kebabs" usually mean these.
• Curries: mutton korma (qorma), mutton curries, karahi gosht, chicken curries and keema.
• Nihari: the slow-cooked mutton dish traditionally eaten in the morning.
• Rice: biryani and pulao.
• Rolls and breads: rolls, plus khamiri roti, the soft leavened bread Delhi Tourism singles out.
• Vegetarian dishes, soups and desserts: Wikipedia confirms these sections exist without naming items.

What to order at Karim's on a first visit

For a group of two to four, a common approach is one kebab or tikka plate to start, one gravy dish and a stack of khamiri roti. The dishes most often named in Karim's descriptions are the mutton korma, the mutton nihari and the karahi gosht, with tikkas and seekh kebabs from the tandoor.

• Mutton korma: rich and heavily spiced; eat it with khamiri roti rather than rice.
• Nihari: best earlier in the day, when it is traditionally served.
• Karahi gosht: drier, cooked in a wok-like karahi.
• Kebabs: good to share while the curries arrive.

Old Delhi eateries often sell curries in half and full portions. Ask at the counter about sizes and prices, which are not printed here.

Karim's Jama Masjid timings

Delhi Tourism and Wikipedia both list 9:00 AM to 12:30 AM, all days. In practice, the busiest periods are weekend lunch, evenings after sunset and the month of Ramzan, when the Old Delhi lanes fill up around iftar. Arrive before the evening rush for a shorter wait.

If you also want to visit the mosque, remember that tourists cannot enter during namaz; see the Jama Masjid visitor guide for hours and dress code.

Karim's menu at other branches

Many searches, such as "Karim's Kolkata menu", "Karims Patna menu", "Karim's Guwahati menu", "Karims Chandigarh menu" or "Karim Noida menu", are about outlets outside Old Delhi. Wikipedia says the first branch opened in the 1990s in Nizamuddin West, followed by Kailash Colony, Noida, Gurgaon, Kamla Nagar, Dwarka and other NCR locations, and that the chain now has more than 50 outlets in India and the UAE.

Menus, portion sizes and prices can differ from outlet to outlet, so do not assume a menu card from one city applies to the Jama Masjid original. Check the specific outlet's listing.

Tips for eating at Karim's

• Vegetarians: there are veg dishes, but the kitchen is overwhelmingly non-veg.
• Delivery vs dine-in: delivery app prices can differ from dine-in prices; do not compare the two directly.
• Combine your visit: pair Karim's with dessert at Cool Point or Kallan Sweets in the Matia Mahal bazaar, listed by Delhi Tourism, or with a rooftop view at Gumbad Cafe opposite Gate No. 3.
• Compare nearby: see Aslam Chicken, Qureshi Kabab and Al Yamin, and the food near Jama Masjid hub.