Are you a carnivore? Do you like street food? Here’s a list of my 10 favorite holes in the wall places in Delhi. Criteria to make to the list are great food (cooked animals) and damages less than Rs. 200/person.

Bon Appetite

Salim Chacha/ Khan Chacha
The founder of  middle lane of Khan Market, Delhi’s food capital. Though they are 2 different eating joints, and fierce competitors, to me they are one. Khan Chacha is older, specializing in rumali rolls. Salim is fairly new, but acts like a waiting arena for Big Chill goers. The kakori roll here is to die for,  and so is mutton burra.

Must Haves: Khan Chacha Mutton Seekh Roll, Salim Kakori Roll

Aap ki Khatir
Opposite the The Oberoi Hotel, below the flyover. Tricky route to reach this ‘garage by day, eatery by night’ joint. What makes this place different is the spicy mint sauce (pudine ki chatni for educationally challenged). Once a tiny humble place, this is now catching up with a yanky outlet in Khan Market. But the real taste is at this old humble place. Word of advise: Stick to lamb. It’s better than chicken or any other animal they serve.

Must Haves: Mutton & chicken tikka

Karim’s
Place needs no introduction. Before this huge honor of making it to our list, they have been recognized as one of the best Indian cuisine joint in the world. Straight from the kitchens of the Mughals. They have outlets all over the place, but visit Jama Masjid for the real taste & ambience. Start with mutton burra (best in the world) and seekh kabab. For main course, mutton qurma with khamiri roti. End with a phirni. High on cholesterol, great on taste.

Must Haves:  Mutton Burra/ Mutton Qurma/ Khamiri Roti

Bablu Tikka Centre
This place is not for faint hearted. Apart from usual body parts of a chicken & lamb, they serve everything else - brain, kidney, lever, heart. You name it, and they make it for you in pure desi ghee, on a big Tawa. Located right on ghanta ghar (old sabzi mandi), they have nice chicken/mutton tikka & chops, with light gravy, and mixed with brain, if you may like it so. If you do not have a pancreatic problem, this place is highly recommended.

Must Haves: Concoction of brain, lever, heart, kidney in pure desi ghee with roomali roti

Gullu Meat Wala
Popularly known as ‘authority wala meat’, they have shifted to a new location in Malka Ganj (Near Hansraj Collage). It’s all about spicy mutton cooked in minced meat. It’s a takeaway joint, and by my rough estimate, they would be selling 500 of those boxes every single day. Open only for lunch. Word of Caution: It’s spicy. Try at your own risk.

Must Haves:  Spicy mutton with minced meat and tandoori roti.

Anand Biryani House
This is to food what Bata is to shoes. Prices ending with Rs. 0.50. This place has been there for like forever. Talk of inflation, the prices have doubled since last 10 years, but it’s a great place to have Biryani (Chicken & Mutton). This is one place where I like chicken more than lamb. Try the butter chicken. Located at scindia house (lane next to Bhimji Zaveri Jeweler), this place is frequented by firings and many regulars, like me.

Must Haves:  Chicken & Lamb biryani

Al-Kauser
The true blue Dum Handi Biryani joint. Before any of the Hyderabadi biryani or Dees were born, we were growing up eating biryani at this joint in a small market opposite Vasant Vihar, near Malai Mata Mandir. Perfect place to get a roll or Kabab after a night out in posh club, where you are too busy drinking or throwing out your beer. The biryani is made as a dum recipe, which means slow cooking, and lamb cooks in its own juices (think straight you perverts!).

Must Haves:  Dum Biryani

Arabian Nites
The place which started it all, and the only “Non Indian Cuisine” entrant. It was the first joint in Delhi (and probably in India), to serve hungry movie goers at Priya, the authentic Lebanese food. Try Lamb/Chicken Shaorama, and Shish Taouk with pickled Radish, Cabbage & Green Chili with Humous & Tahina Sauce. There could be Arabian days, months or years, but there’s only one Arabian Nites. And it ROCKS.

Must Haves:  Chicken Shaorama

Nizam Kathi Roll: Connaught Place
A landmark in itself, tucked in middle circle, next to PVR Plaza. They have huge variety of Kathi rolls, along with curries & an average Biryani. The chicken/lamb tikka on wooden sticks are good, and so is there mint sauce. But when you go to a place called Nizam Kathi Rolls, make sure you try the Kathi Roll. They have options of Single Egg & Double Egg, and Single Topping & Double Topping. For diet conscious, there’s roomali roll as well.

Must Haves:  Single Egg Double Chicken Kathi Roll

Egg Parantha: Moolchand Flyover
Ok so the King SRK comes here. It makes the place great. I don’t know. But my conscious doesn’t allow me to miss this landmark. Nice paranth’s made with egg inside, served with varieties of pickles. Get a cola or a hot tea from neighboring stall. Not a bad grub at all, considering that this place can feed you at 1 am as well. This stall has come as a recognition you need to have to become a true Delhite.

Must Haves:  Egg Paranthas

Special Mention

Al-Quresh. Chanakya Puri. Tibet Market
The place would have been dead after Chanakya cinema closure. All thanks to this place and numerous Momo’s joint, the area still comes to life after the sun sets in. Carry your own Smirnoff, Bacardi or raw Ethanol, and they would be happy to provide you with the glass, ice, soda, water, the works. Food is above average, but the experience of drinking in an open market, right in the middle of Lutyn’s Delhi is great. Try kakori kabab, which is softest in the town. Rogan josh is nice, and so are rolls. Chicken dishes are also decent. In a nut shell, you won’t be disappointed with any dish you order, just don’t expect too much. They serve you on tables, they serve you in cars, and they serve you anywhere where they can reach walking in 4 minutes.

Must Haves:  Try your favorite dish. I am sure you would like it.

Well, this is just my compilation, based on my taste buds and EQ (emotional quotient) with the place. If I have missed any other popular/good place, please feel free to mention it in your comments.

Also, I think it would be a great idea to tour these amazing places together. I don’t think so we can do all of them in 1 day, but maybe split it between north & south Delhi. Post your interest as well, and send me US$ 100 each to plan the evening. Shekhar is not paying too well to write for StaleFresh.