Having lived in Kolkata, I am well aware of the fact, that Bengalis take huge pride in their fish preparations. Also, a lot of my friends at school were Mayali (fortunately), which made me aware of their unceasing love for Beef. And when my father was posted in North-East India, I discovered how much the Nagamese love their Pork and Bhut Jolokia (spiciest chili in the world).
So, it baffles me, that why people (outside of Delhi) grumble about Delhiites' obsession with chicken. I often hear stuff like Delhiites can't think beyond Butter Chicken. Some deliberate that chicken has no taste of its own, while others go on say that chicken isn't even real meat. However, I feel Delhi people got to embrace their love for 'butter chicken' unabashedly, as it's the dish that synonymous and to a certain extent, symbolic of Delhi's cuisine.
Also, besides Butter Chicken, there are so many other Chicken dishes and preparations that Delhi offers and they are all equally drool-worthy!
Here's my pick for the most delicious chicken dishes in Delhi:
There's no other way to put it- I absolutely love Chicken Tikka! Juicy chicken pieces (pieces of chicken breast) marinated in yoghurt, garam masala, ginger-garlic paste, lime, Kashmiri red chili and finally grilled in tandoor, after being put on a skewer. Served with mint chutney and raw onions, this is best comfort food ever! Chicken Tikka served at Juneja's Eating Plaza in Meherchand Market is so spectacular, that even if I am with a big group, I order an entire plate for myself. Qureshi's Kebab Corner at South Extension II, is another place that serves delicious Chicken Tikka Kebabs, in generous quantity.
Address: 74, Mehar Chand Market, Lodhi Colony, New Delhi
Contact: 011-24611930
Chicken Momos
Momos have somehow become our very own staple dish, so much so, that it's easier to find momos than samosas However, 'good momos' are still hard to find. Thankfully, my favorite Chicken momos are available not too far from my place, at Golden Café in Pahar Ganj. Humongous in size and generous with their juicy chicken filling, flavoured with onion and cilantro. Unlike most places, the coating is minimally thin, which means less ' maida' and more taste!
Address: 1, Nehru Bazar, Opposite Hanuman Temple, Paharganj, New Delhi
Contact: +91 9810819377, +91 9810819367
Seekh kebab made out of chicken, might sound bizarre. But, once you visit Aslam Chicken Corner at Matia Mahal, near Jama Masjid in Old Delhi, you would be pleasantly surprised. Made from finely minced chicken, mixed with ground spices and chopped green chilis, the seekh are barbequed on a skewer and then brushed with limejuice. The kebabs melt in your mouth and the juice of the chicken entices your taste buds. Their Buttery Chicken Tikka with chicken pieces dipped in amul butter and spiced yoghurt is equally delightful.
Address: Matia Mahal, Jama Masjid, Old Delhi 110006
Contact: +91 931228102
An Andhra specialty, Chicken Vepudu is for those, who love their food fiery and spicy. This zesty chicken preparation has distinct flavours of fried chicken pieces mixed with pepper, red chili, poppy seeds and curry leaves cooked together with chopped onions and garlic. Andhra Biryani House in Gurgaon is my go-to place to savour this dish.
Address: Shop 144, The Sapphire Mall, Sector 49, Near, Sohna Road, Gurgaon
Contact: +91 9650508883
Quintessentially Parsi, it has Chicken cooked in thick gravy made with onions, ginger, garlic, salt and tomatoes and garnished with fried potato straws, called Salli in Parsi. Best enjoyed with a Pav or Pao, it has the characteristic Khatha-Meethu flavour associated with Parsi food. Visit Sodabottleopenerwala to get your share of Salli Chicken in Delhi. My other favourite place to savour this dish is Mrs Bagli's Kitchen at Parsi Anjuman , which sadly isn't offering dine-in services at the moment.
Address: 3, Ground Floor, Cyber Hub, DLF Cyber City, Gurgaon
Contact: +91 9971839456
Chicken Farcha
When it's pouring down heavily and you want the perfect snack to accompany your chai, Chicken Farcha is the answer! The juicy, tender and flavourful chicken pieces (chicken breast) are cooked in a thin coating of spicy batter and then fried. The freshness of mint chutney, spiciness of the coating, juices of chicken and sweetness of onions renders this dish, different layers and texture. Where to relish it? Your best bet - Sodabottleopenerwala.
Address: 3, Ground Floor, Cyber Hub, DLF Cyber City, Gurgaon
Contact: +91 9971839456
Just like Farcha, the chicken in this delicacy from Andhra celebrates the tenderness of the chicken. Cooked with bones, the chicken is mixed with southern spices, tamarind, curry leaves and finely chopped onions. The deep, bold flavour of this chicken can be enjoyed best with a poori. This is slightly different from Chicken Vepudu, as there's more masala, to be eaten as a main. My favourite is the Chicken Fry served at Andhra Bhawan.
Address: 1, Ashoka Road,Feroze Shah Road, New Delhi
Contact: 011 23382031
Far away from all the fanciness, there's a humble eatery called South Café in Gautam Nagar, which serves delicious Chicken Dosa. The crispy dosa, has a filling of chicken cooked with roughly chopped and sautéed onions and masala. It is served with sambar and coconut chutney. Available for just Rs 100, this food is gold.
Address: 25-A, Gautam Nagar,Hauz Khas, New Delhi
Contact: +91 9818998310
Perfectly grilled chicken breast stuffed with mozzarella cheese and served with basil mayo, pasta, sautéed veggies and in-house bread. Just squeeze that lemon juice on top and let the succulence of this dish take you on a heavenly ride. The Big Chill café at Khan Market (and many other outlets across Delhi) needs no introduction. They hardly do anything wrong, except, maybe providing lousy service. I keep going back to this eatery for the sheer love for food. Apart from Sicilian Chicken, I also love their Mustard Chicken.
Address: 68-A, Khan Market, New Delhi
Contact: 011 41757588
Possibly the best curry one must have if they plan to visit Karim's in Matia Mahal, Old Delhi. This legendary eatery serves this spicy curry made with fine paste of onion-ginger-garlic, cooked till its brown and mixed well with ground spices. It's got a spicy-salty and slightly sweet taste, which is perhaps achieved by using nuts, something that's synonymous with Mughlai Best paired with a soft and delicious Khamiri Roti.
Address: 16, Gali Kababian,Jama Masjid, New Delhi
Contact: 011 23264981
I feel a salad becomes even more interesting and delicious once you add chicken to it. My favourite salad is the one served at Smoothie Factory at Janpath. The Chicken Citrus Walnut Salad has a beautiful mix of lettuce, cranberries, oranges, caramelized almonds, walnuts, citrus dressing, parmesan cheese and roasted chicken. This is healthy, juicy, and tasty - everything you need for a complete meal.
Address: Cottage Emporium,Janpath, New Delhi
Contact: +91 9999688305, +91 9999688306
One of my favourites, Monkey Bar, Vasant Kunj serves the best finger food in the form of Chicken Loaded Nachos. Tortilla chips, baked with molten cheese and beans and topped with jalapenos salsa avocado, sour cream and spring onion with grilled chicken. It is the ultimate indulgent dish and comes handy when you're chilling out with friends over drinks.
Address: Plot 11, Upper Ground Floor, LSC, Pocket C-6 & 7, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi
Contact: 011 33106238
A Manglorean delicacy, Chicken ghee roast is celebrated for having a distinct taste of ghee. The fiery, spicy and tangy masala is cooked wit South-Indian spices, red chilis, tamarind, jaggery, garlic, curry leaves, lemon juice and oodles of ghee. Desee Dakshin serves a delicious and good portion of this dish. However, it was Café Lota where I fell in love with this dish. Sadly, they have taken it off the menu. Best enjoyed with Appam or Neer dosa. Disclaimer: your hands will smell of ghee for the next two hours of eating this.
Address: J-2/11, Opposite Metro Pillar 411, BK Dutt Market, Rajouri Garden, New Delhi
Contact: +91 9999844664, +91 9899076000
A thin crust base made out of dough flavoured with garlic Provencal herbs. Topped with grilled chicken, Fresh basil pesto sauce, ricotta, bocconcini and cherry tomato, this pizza tastes heavenly. Sprinkle some oregano or drizzle some garlic oil, chilli oil or herb oil, this pizza is everything you need. The juicy and tangy grilled chicken is paired beautifully with pesto, ricotta and bocconcini. And Fat Lulu's is your answer to 'where do I find the best chicken pizza?'
Address: 105, Cross Point Mall,DLF Phase 4, Gurgaon
Contact: 011 33106011
I love burgers and I feel our very own stand-alones are making some kickass burgers, probably even better than their international counterparts. Burger Singh, known for serving Desi Burgers makes juicy chicken patty with Indian spices and their in-house sauces also are made using Indian spices. Spices such as kasuri methi, garam masala, lal mirch, and dhaniya are used in their patties. Fillings made with caramelised onions, Indian curries etc can be found in their burgers. The Jatt Putt Chicken Burger has a juicy chicken patty with Kasuri Methi and Dhaniya I also like that they make their own buns.
Address: H-45, Connaught Place, New Delhi
Contact: +91 8767121212
Chicken Shawarma
The distinct flavours of hummus and pickled vegetables in Shawarma, make it a very popular dish. If you're looking for an authentic Lebanese Shawarma (and NOT a Desi Delhi version) visit Zizo. The juicy warm strips of grilled chicken, mixed with pickled vegetables, garlic dip and most definitely wrapped in the best pita in town. Once you taste shawarma here, you won't like it anywhere else.
Address: K-18 & 22,Connaught Place, New Delhi
Contact: 011 33106056
The Herbed Chicken Sourdough Sandwich at The Artful Baker will make you fall in love with simple flavours all over again. Made from authentic sourdough bread (has a mild sour taste and chewy texture with a crisp crust) coupled with a filling of caramelised onions, tomato and succulent pieces of chicken mildly seasoned with mint, this sandwich is nothing less than delectable!
Address: Shop 13-B, Khan Market, New Delhi
Contact: 011 43508332
No list of chicken dishes is ever going to be complete (especially in Delhi) without a mention of Butter Chicken. Yes, we Delhiites are obsessed with it. I feel bad for those who stay outside and have to make peace with Chicken Butter Masala instead. This curry was, in fact, invented in 1947, at Moti Mahal in Daryaganj, Delhi. Butter Chicken a.k.a Murgh Makhni is prepared with chicken marinated overnight in yoghurt and spices like garam masala, dhaniya powder, salt, chili, turmeric, fenugreek, ginger-garlic, lemon juice, butter and chili. After marination, chicken is barbecued first and then added to the gravy. The curry is made out of tomatoes, cream and kasuri methi. The key is to achieve the right balance of spices, salt and sweetness of the tomatoes. Then oodles of butter are added to the curry to achieve the right consistency of richness. Best enjoyed with Garlic-Butter Naan a.k.a Lehsuni Naan, Rajinder Da Dhaba at Safdarjung Enclave, is where you would find the best version of this sinfully delicious dish.
Address: AB-14, SafdarjungEnclave Market, Safdarjung, New Delhi
Contact: 011 26100355, 011 41653145
So, these were ' my favourite chicken dishes in Delhi '.
Let me know in the comments, how many of these you've had or if you have more to add to this list, do share with me. Now, it's time to head out and gorge on what we Delhiites like to call Kukkad-Shukkad.
This blog was originally published on EatStory.
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