Parathas — The quintessential ghee-loaded ways Indian mothers express love through. Where words fall short of conveying an ‘I love you, beta’, these flaky flatbreads do the needful. They are synonymous with childhood; their layered fillings form the core of a North Indian’s growing-up years.
Join us on an auto rickshaw ride through the coloured markets of Delhi. We’re winding through Chandni Chowk, Shaheen Bagh, and Paranthe Wali Gali, scouring the city’s profile to nail the best paratha spots. No wild goose chase here!
Our GPS comes in the form of recommendations by foodies and chefs, who — while clarifying that nothing remotely resembles their mothers’ aloo parathas (paratha with potato stuffing) — have managed to find eateries they hold to the same standards.
Let’s move.
1. Balli Lane
Among the eclectic fare that Delhi’s gastronomy promises, the paratha has held its own. It is a constant feature; from rickety tables in ramshackle outlets to lace-covered teakwood in five stars. If uncompromised flavour and authenticity are on your checklist when it comes to paratha binging, Delhi’s foodies suggest you find solace in the menus at Balli Lane near Amity University.
Food blogger Sukrit Jain has spent many afternoons (and nights!) gorging on the parathas doled out here. “We would leave from Gate 2A and then head directly to Balli. Sometimes it would be not one but four parathas at once,” he smiles.
2. Pandit Ji Parantha Hut
For many Indians, parathas make for an unparalleled feast; the ultimate prize. Recently when Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medalist Manu Bhaker was quizzed how she would ring in her victory, she responded, “with an aloo paratha”.
The desi flatbread is an undoubted crowd favourite. And Pandit Ji Parantha Hut in Delhi’s Ashok Vihar finds a sweet spot with its patrons through its offerings. But for food blogger Tanmay Sharma, his annual pilgrimage to the outlet owes to more than just the food. “I proposed to my then girlfriend, now wife at this spot. We visit the place to celebrate and enjoy the parathas,” he explains.
True to its word, the fare here is grand and promises to lull you into a food coma. But, the devil is in the details, Tanmay notes, dissecting what makes the parathas here a standout. “The griddle is way heavier than usual, which ensures they cook beautifully. Ironically, though I’m a food blogger, I don’t like experimenting with my favourites and, so, over the years, my order has remained the same — ek aloo paratha aur ek chai (one paratha with potato stuffing and one cup of tea).”
3. Moolchand Parantha
The 49-year-old justifiably legendary eatery is part of the city’s social fabric. It accounted for a major part of chef Ishijyot Surri’s family vacations. The executive chef of SJI Hospitality and Foods fondly reminisces, “My grandparents, parents and cousins would gather here and we’d enjoy piping hot and delicious aloo and paneer (cottage cheese) parathas served with tangy pickle and curd.”
Hefty servings smothered in ghee are what you can expect from the menu and food creators Mehak and Rituraj are all for it. “This was a cherished spot for us after long hours of classes and late-night study sessions. We vividly remember one rainy evening, when drenched and hungry, we walked in craving something warm and comforting. The hot, crispy aloo pyaaz paratha (paratha with potato and onion stuffing) with a generous dollop of butter and spicy pickles was more than just food; it was a moment of shared comfort and bonding,” Mehak shares.
Actor Shah Rukh Khan, too, is said to have feasted on the parathas here during his Delhi days.
4. Pt Gaya Prashad Shiv Charan
Anyone who frequents the eponymous Paranthe Wali Gali is urged to make a stop at Pt Gaya Prashad Shiv Charan, touted as the oldest paratha shop in Delhi. They offer mouthwatering spins on the usual favourites; mint-stuffed parathas, radish and potato parathas, and papad parathas (parathas with stuffing of fried lentil dough) are quite the appetisers.
Anubhav Sapra of Delhi Food Walks personally loves the rabdi paratha (paratha with thickened, sweetened milk), which he has been savouring for the last 15 years.
Don’t head home once you’re done with your rendezvous at Pt Gaya Prashad Shiv Charan. Linger and sample the parathas along Paranthe Wali Gali. On a recent trip, the karela paratha (paratha with bitter gourd stuffing) and mawa paratha (paratha with stuffing of milk solids) drew Dhruv Oberoi, executive chef of Olive Bar and Kitchen, Delhi.
Chef Dhruv’s fondness for the flatbread stems from his childhood memories of Sunday breakfasts. “My mother would make a Punjabi baingan bharta paratha (paratha with smoked and mashed brinjal), basic desi ghee-drenched namak ajwain ka paratha (paratha with carrom seeds) with our family recipe of khatta mitha tel wala garlic ka aachar (sweet and sour garlic pickle). The show stopper though was dessert — Amul milk powder stuffed paratha.”
5. Shaheen Bagh 40 Foota Road
The paratha has bravely weathered the changing culinary traditions of the city’s food landscape. And one spot where this is evident is the foodies’ paradise ‘Shaheen Bagh 40 Foota Road’ where it stands its ground amid Mughlai, Turkish, and Italian food.
Recently, Anubhav Sapra was surprisingly amused when the chicken Lahori paratha he sampled here made it to the top of his favourites chart. “The paratha was stuffed with minced chicken. Though not finely minced and instead a little grainy, it was delicious. I love how the filling was cooked in tandoor (clay oven) and butter cubes and served with chutney.”
As you amble through the khau galli (foodies’ lane), you might also want to sample the nalli nihari (meat cooked in a thick, spicy gravy), Afghani chicken samosa (savoury pastry), chicken kathi rolls (a version of the frankie), Turkish kebab (minced meat grilled on skewers) platter, and the haleem (a thick stew made from a mix of wheat, barley, lentils, and meat).
6. Dadu Cutlet Shop
Offering a bevvy of scrumptious paratha varieties to its patrons has made Dadu Cutlet Shop — one of the oldest eateries in C R Park — a household name. It is almost hypnotic to watch as balls of dough go through a series of heavy-handed patting in clarified butter, transforming before your eyes into a gorgeous paratha.
A failsafe order here, food writer Sadaf Hussain recommends, is the Mughlai paratha with egg. “You make the paratha, then make a hole in it, then stuff the egg in and seal it again. It’s one of my absolute favourites.”
7. Kake Di Hatti
The paratha has often been referred to as the “under-appreciated cousin of the world-famous naan”. But it is all up for challenging this. Across the globe, chefs are waking up to the golden pan-fried beauty. From chef Yotam Ottolenghi creating za’atar paratha with grated tomato to The New York Times featuring the Mughlai paratha, the flatbread is quite the foodies’ pet, giving its cousin naan serious competition.
Here’s an eatery that has been doing justice to both since 1942. Whether it’s the hariyali paratha (paratha prepared with greens), aloo pyaaz paratha, garlic paratha, paneer paratha, or the pliable naan, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
Sources
The Under‑Appreciated Cousin of the World‑Famous Naan by Saba Imtiaz, Published on 9 November 2015.
Moolchand Parantha: South Delhi’s Favourite Late-Night Eating Joint by Sushmita Sengupta, Published on 13 September 2017.
Best parathas in Delhi, as picked by the city’s top foodies by Ria Gupta, Published on 9 November 2022.
Edited by Pranita Bhat
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