A bite of North-East

Pork Spare Ribs @ Rosang Cafe

Rosang Cafe is Delhi's well kept secret. tucked away from the hoopla at the main streets of Hauz Khas Village, the cafe offers an interesting assortment of North-Eastern cuisine. The menu is a mix of selected specialties from North-East inlcuding specialty cuisine form Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.

The place is minimalist, with a homely ambience. Walls are decorated with artifacts and utensils from all over North-East, and the Wide-screen plays cultural programmes from North East. The Cafe also organises food festivals once in a while . As the owner Mrs Mary Lalboi states, the Rosang Cafe offers a place for people from North-East and Mainland to connect with their culture, heritage and cuisine.

Specialty includes Wild-red rice, and Jadong ( a Meghalayan dish with pork), Kukhura Masu ( a chicken delicacy from Sikkim) and To Khan ( a chicken delicacy from Tripura). The menu also has an assortment of chutneys, from Tripura, Nagaland and Manipur.

Must try:Pork Spare Rib
Meal Combos Veg and Non-Veg
Wild red rice
To Khan
Wild red rice tea

Reaching There
You can park outside the Hauz Khas Village and walk your way through the village,
35 Hauz Khas Village, second floor, Delhi. (Beside Hanuman Mandir)
Open Mon - Sun: 12:30 pm - 11:00 pm

Summary points:Food 9/10
Ambience 9/10
Service 7/10
Value for Money 8/10

Connect
Rosang Cafe and Store on Facebook 
Phone 011 1165544411, 9711925422, 9711925133
Email rosang.restaurant@gmail.com

Kamal's food Kamaal ka !!

Kamal's at Sunder Nagar Market

That's not Chicken !!

Street food can be surprising in Delhi, and especially at unpretentious places, like this one at Sunder Nagar Market. This small kiosk on the road-side of Sunder Nagar market probably has the best kept vegetarian secrets in Delhi. Though the place has the looks of any regular dhaba, the quality of food would be quite a surprise. Incredible is all what you can say about the food.

For die-hard vegetarians, must tries include Paneer Tikka, Aloo Bharwa Tikka, Gobhi Tikka, Soyabean Chaap Tikka, Veg Kebab, and Mushroom Tikka .

Must try:
Paneer Tikka,
Aloo Bharwa Tikka
Gobhi Tikka
Soyabean Chaap Tikka
Veg Kebab, and Mushroom Tikka

Reaching There
Right on Sunder Nagar Market on Mathura Road. The place is usually crowded unless you come in early or late enough. Finding a good parking spot might be a hassle.

Summary points:
Food 9/10
Ambience 4/10
Service 4/10
Value for Money 9/10

The Changezi trail

Chicken Changezi

Genghis Khan the founder of the great Mongol empire would never have imagined that a delicacy would ever be named after him, forget, be cherished at least a few centuries later. Yes, I am talking about Chicken Changezi, a Ramzan delicacy and patronized by a small motley restaurant near Jama Masjid. As the story goes , Genghis Khan was fond of food which was not quite spicy and was presented with a delicacy of chicken prepared in milk and ghee, replacing water. The rest has been history. Half a decade ago, when we ( +Jameel Ahmad Khan and me) first set out in search of this place, we were advised to lookout for a pehlwan (wrestler), and while walking through the alleys near Jama Masjid, we spot a guy sitting in front of a shop, almost the dimensions of a Sumo wrestler and the intuition was confirmed by a tiny board announcing "Chicken Changezi".

Chicken Soup

Chicken Changezi

Half a decade later and few dozens trips later, we still cherish the taste of Chicken Changezi and much more, the price as we run out of money at the end of the month. The place has rarely changed including the bearers, except for a new expanded seating arrangement, and a new kiosk where you can collect your coupons. The taste still remains the same, the price has marginally changed. For the less adventurous, and who have attachments (family, I mean), there is a more amicable place for you at Darya Ganj, just next to Golcha Cinemas. 

Must try:

Chicken Changezi

Chicken Soup

Reaching There

Take a rickshaw from Jama Masjid Gate No 2 or walk down the narrow road. Ask for directions if you get lost.

Summary points:

Food 9/10

Ambience 4/10

Service 4/10

Value for Money 9/10

Get Drunk Drinking Milk

The Milk Tawa

I know that is a preposterous statement. No, I did not want to make you a fool on April 1, nevertheless I am happy that you want to know more.

For all who hated drinking milk as a kid, yes we are on the same page, and believe me, if you did not try this place, you have missed something. The place is just outside Jama Masjid Gate No 1; the corner shop just before Karims. You will see a guy in front of a huge tawa boiling milk, and a modest crowd surrounding the tawa, each waiting for their turn to gulp a glass. The milk is boiled to a to a slurry and topped with a bit of Rabdi (condensed milk), and served in earthern pots. Gulp a glassful, and you should be immediately feeling a burst of serotonin.

Where: Kallan Sweets, Near gate No 1, Jama Masjid

Must try :
Tawa Milk

Reaching there:
The restaurant is near Gate 1 of Jama Masjid, just near to Karims. If you take a metro, get down and Chawri bazaar and get a cycle rikshaw. Parking is not available near the restaurant.

Summary points:
Food 9/10
Ambience 5/10
Service 4/10
Value for Money 9/10

Step aside if you could'nt get into Karims

Brain Curry

For many, eating at old Delhi means just Karims, but many at times the place is too crowded especially if you are taking your family or friends. There are quite some places around which offer authentic Mughalai cuisine I you have been unlucky to get your foot in Karims. Al Jawahar is just next door to Karims. The place is roomy and has a family section, and of course, air-conditioned. The staff is quite well behaved, prompt and friendly unlike at Karims.

Roomali Roti

The menu is quite a comprehensive list of Mughalai dishes. The dishes come in substantial proportions and usually unless you are quite a glutton more than sufficient for a person. There are quite some dishes you should try. If you are adventurous, yo should try the yummy Brain curry. For the less adventurous , you have Chicken Jahangiri and Chicken Kalimirch. If you want to take a safe bet, try Chicken/Mutton stew.

If you visit the restaurant in the morning , you could try Paaya for breakfast .

Must try :
Paaya (breakfast)
Brain curry
Chicken Jahangiri
Chicken/Mutton stew

Kebabs
Sheermal and Roomali roti

Reaching there: 
The restaurant is near Gate 1 of Jama Masjid, just near to Karims. If you take a metro, get down and Chawri bazaar and get a cycle rikshaw. Parking is not available near the restaurant.

Summary points:
Food 8/10
Ambience 5/10
Service 6/10
Value for Money 8/10

The Oriya way to your heart

If eating was in the genes, count on the genetic similarities between Bengalis and Oriyas. Never in my life could I imagine crab could be cooked in as man as over a dozen ways till I had visited Puri. If you are looking forward to eating the Oriya way, without a pinch on your pocket, the restaurant at Orissa Niwas in Chanakyapuri is where you should head out to.

Must try
Crab curry
Prawn curry
Mutton curry
Small fish fried

Rasagullas
Chanapoda

Reaching there
Orissa niwas is off Kautilya Marg near Ashoka Hotel. Do not confuse it with Orissa Bhawan which is a stones, throw away. At the end of Kautilya Marg, take a turn into Bordoloi Marg. It is th second block n your right side. Parking is available outside the place. The nearest metro station is Race Course.

A slice of Korea without cutting through your wallet

Crab Kimbap

It is not surprising to find restaurants that offer exclusive foreign cuisine at quite improbable places in Delhi. This one is Korea Restaurant at Kingsway Camp (aka GTB Nagar).

Kimchi Ramyon

This unique restaurant is one of the few Korean restaurants in Delhi authentic and run by a Korean. The other popular ones are in South Delhi. The restaurant is quite simple, in sync with the Korean simplicity, with wooden furniture and simple interior decoration. The joint is frequented by a large number of students, mostly from North-Eastern states and Teachers at Delhi University.

The staff is friendly and usually are patient to explain what each item is cooked and what they contain. The restaurant procures items from Korea directly, especially things which are not available locally and even have a noodle machine. The owner is quite friendly, and would fondly recite to you of his years in Delhi university years ago as a student and how he fell in love with Delhi.

Food is quite modestly priced, a fraction of what you would otherwise pay at a South Delhi counterpart and offers modest sized portions.

Must try : 
Crab Kimbap / Tuna Kimbap
Kimchi Ramyon (Noodles)
Jeyuk Bokkeum (Spicy Pork)
Tang Su Yuk (Sweet and Sour Chicken Fried)

Reaching there:
Take the turn on ring road towards Mukherjee Nagar. The restaurant is a block away from the Cafe Coffee Day restaurant at Indra Vihar, Mukherjee Nagar.

Summary points
Food 8/10
Ambience 7/10
Service 7/10
Value for Money 7/10