If you have an appetite for spicy Indian fast food or street food, Delhi is the place to satiate it. Here, the spicy food in the by-lanes and back-alleys ignite the passion for chatpata flavours. Come let’s explore the Dilli food culture, away from posh restaurants with over-priced international cuisine.

Momos: Whether steamed, fried, veg or non-veg, these dumplings top the famous food list of Delhi. They are served with deadly chilli chutney and creamy dip, they are high on flavour. All-time favourite Dilli Haat, Giri momos and Chinese fast food centres are the paradise for momo lovers. Now, there are increasing number of street-side momo vendors in all corners of the capital.

Gol-gappe: When you visit Delhi, you can’t afford to miss them. Delhi being the food capital of India is famous for golgappa vendors in every nook and corner. The mouth-watering golgappas are filled with spicy water, sweet imli chutney, boiled chickpeas and potatoes. The exceptional places where you can truly satisfy your pani-puri craving are Vaishnav chaat bhandaar- Kamla Nagar and Lala babu chaat bhandaar- Chandni Chowk.

Bhalla-papri chaat: With the right crisp and flavour, this chaat is beyond perfection at stalls in Delhi. Garnished with cool yogurt, imli chutney and mint chutney, it is the perfect summer street food. Natraj bhalla corner- Chandni Chowk and Prabhu chaat bhandaar- Khan Market are the favourite hot spots to catch this snack.

Aaloo tikki: This street delight is yummy and fried to crisp perfection. It is tangy, spicy and an all-time favourite for Delhites. Prepared with potatoes, peas and gram flour, served with yogurt, coriander chutney and imli chutney, this snack is hot and lip-smacking. The most famous tikka joints in the city are Prabhu chaat bhandaar, Khan Market and Natraj dahi bhalla corner, Chandni Chowk.

Chole-bhature: It is a Punjabi dish and a hot favourite of Delhiites. Stuffed with cottage cheese, all-purpose flour bread tastes crispy with spicy chanas and chilli pickles. Roshan di kulfi at Karol Bagh and Sita Ram Diwan Chand-Pahar Ganj are the perfect destination to taste this delicate dish.

Stuffed parathe: The variety of parathas from kaju, potato, cauliflower, mix-veg to lemon, mirchi etc. can be found in the legendary street of Chandni Chowk known as Parathe wali gali. It is a place that’s famous for series of shops selling a variety of parathas. Eating these stuffed breads, you may feel just out of the world. This place is best for this fried Indian stuffed bread.

Kulfi falooda: The Indian version of ice-cream has innovative flavours ranging from custard apple, kewra, mango, banana, kesar pista and a lot more. Kuremal Mohanlal kulfiwale- Chandni Chowk and Roshan Di Kulfi- Karol Bagh are famous for tasting this heavenly offering. It comes with crunchy bits of dry fruits and topped with sugary falooda.

Rabri-jalebi: Pretty famous all-over Delhi, this hot, crisp and delicious sweet is topped with chilled thickened milk known as rabri. Deep fried in pure ghee and dipped in sugary syrup, they are amazingly delicious. The highly recommended places to get it are Special jalebi wala and Old famous jalebi wala- Chandni Chowk.

Kulhad lassi: There are many flavours of this chilled beverage. Most are sweet and few are salty. It’s smooth, creamy and frothy yogurt drink. Amritsari lassi wala in Chandni Chowk and Kesar lassi in Connaught Place are the best suitable places to have it.

Aaloo subzi-kachori: The deep fried crispy, golden kachori are served with hot and spicy potato curry and fenugreek chutney. It is one of the tastiest Delhi street food. The best places in Delhi to savour it are Fateh ki kachori- Kashmiri Gate and Jung Bahadur kachori wala- Chandni Chowk.

This street food is the spirit of Delhi. Head for outlets known for taste, authenticity, hygiene, quality of ingredients and value for money. You will not go home disappointed. In fact, you will come back for more. Must try all of these flavours while in Delhi.