Eat · Old Delhi: Chandni Chowk & Jama Masjid
Karim's
Walk-in Mughlai meat, halal, in a lane behind the Jama Masjid; go at 11:30 or after 15:00, order two dishes and rumali roti to share, and ignore the touts on the way in.
- Mughlai kebabs and korma near the mosque
- Halal kitchen
- A lane of lookalikes: find the sign
- Order: Mughlai kebabs and korma
- Table seating
- Walk-in window: before 12:00
- Queue risk: 12:00–14:30
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 9Old Delhi lanes and station forecourts are crowded and un…
- South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
- South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
- India ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in); lookalike sites charge extra. Check the current rules, fees and how far ahead to apply.
- India ↗Do not follow anyone who says your hotel is closed, the station ticket office is closed or a road is shut; use the prepaid taxi counter, the metro or an app car.
- India ↗Carry Indian rupees in small notes (10, 20, 50, 100); change for 500 is often refused.
- India ↗Parts of the Northeast, Sikkim, Ladakh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and all border belts need a Protected or Restricted Area Permit or an Inner Line Permit for foreigners; check before you book the route.
- Delhi and NCR ↗November smog and May–June heat both cut a day's walking: plan the outdoor sights first thing.
- Delhi ↗Old Delhi lanes and station forecourts are crowded and uneven: bags go from the car to the door, never on a walk.
- Delhi ↗Ignore anyone who says your hotel, the station ticket office or the road is closed; use the official counter or your app.
More
Map & directions
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Plan
Open now, when you can walk in, what to order
Go now?
Open?
Hours not published
Easiest walk-in
before 12:00
Reservations
Walk-in, no reservation
Per person
₹200–400 (≈ US$3–5)2026 estimate · check
Walk-in windows
A walk-in lunch is only planned as primary when your arrival lands outside the “impossible” window.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
On the ground
How to order, tip and pay, allergies, and booking
Tipping
Sit-down restaurants: about 5–10%, less than the 15–20% US norm.
Allergies and diets
- AskVegetarian · Limited: a few vegetable and dal dishes; the menu is built around meat. · say: “Main shakahari hoon.”
- YesHalal · Yes, the kitchen is halal; no beef is served in Delhi. · say: “Halal hai?”
- AskNut allergy · Some gravies use almonds and cashews; show it in writing. · say: “Mujhe nut se allergy hai.”
Paying
- Read the printed price on the menu; sit only after you see the sign.
Booking
- Booking
- Walk-in, no reservation
- Reservations
- Not taken
- Note
- Walk-in at the old lane branch; newer branches elsewhere in Delhi may differ.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
Map and nearby
Where this place is, how to get there, and what is around it
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
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Nearby places
Eat nearby
More detail
Everything else we know about this place
How to order here, in full
How to order here
The order of play at the counter or table, what to say, how much to order and how to pay.
No shared language? Point at the dish or a photo of it. For a printed menu, translate a photo of it.
What to say
| In English | Say or show | Sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| How much is this? | यह कितने का है? | yeh kit-nay ka hai |
| Not spicy, please | मिर्च कम | mirch kum |
| I am vegetarian | मैं शाकाहारी हूँ | main shaa-ka-haa-ree hoon |
| No, thank you | नहीं, धन्यवाद | na-heen, dhun-ya-vaad |
| Hello | नमस्ते | na-mas-tay |
| Thank you | धन्यवाद | dhun-ya-vaad |
Portions and sharing
- Burra or seekh kebab, mutton korma and rumali roti; two dishes for two people is plenty.
Extras, condiments and what costs extra
- Extra bread and water: Bottled water is charged; extra roti per piece — Order bread by count.
- Tout commission on the lane entrance: Raises the bill at lookalikes — Ignore anyone who says the main shop is closed.
Paying and tipping
Sit-down restaurants: about 5–10%, less than the 15–20% US norm.
- Read the printed price on the menu; sit only after you see the sign.
- Tipping: Round up autos and taxis; 10% in restaurants without a service charge; ₹50–100 (≈ US$1–2) for porters and helpers.
At the table
- Eat where the queue is long and the turnover fast; hot fried food is safer than cold or raw.
- Prices on the wall are the price; where there is no menu, ask before ordering.
- Skip raw salad, cut fruit and unbottled water until your stomach settles.
Paying, diet and allergies
Diet and allergies
Yes means there is something for you; ask means possible with care; no means go elsewhere.
- Vegetarianask
Limited: a few vegetable and dal dishes; the menu is built around meat.
Show: Main shakahari hoon.
- Halalyes
Yes, the kitchen is halal; no beef is served in Delhi.
Show: Halal hai?
- Nut allergyask
Some gravies use almonds and cashews; show it in writing.
Show: Mujhe nut se allergy hai.
Who it suits, booking and the kitchen
Show the kitchen
Tap a need to get a large screen you can hold up to staff. The wording is the guide’s; a helper who reads the language should confirm it if your allergy is serious.
Comfort, facts and cons
Hygiene and comfort
- Restrooms
- Restroom on site · accessible restroom: check
- Seating
- Chairs at tables
- Kids
- kids' menu: no · stroller: poor · Kebabs and bread are easy for children; the lane is crowded
- Access
- step-free: partial · Ground-floor seating; the lane outside is narrow and uneven
Hygiene
- Choose freshly grilled kebabs and hot gravies; skip raw salads and cut fruit.
- Use sealed bottled water or filtered water from the restaurant.
Facts
- Reservations
- Not taken — Walk-in at the old lane branch; newer branches elsewhere in Delhi may differ.
- Capabilities
- food · toilet
- Diet
- vegetarian: limited · gluten free: unknown · halal: all
- Getting there
- Metro to Jama Masjid, then walk through the lane behind Gate 1 · ~4 min walk
Cons
- Queues and crowded tables at lunch and in the evening, especially in Ramadan.
- Touts in the lane steer you to lookalike restaurants: walk to the sign.
- Heavy, meaty and rich; a vegetarian gets few choices.
Dish glossary
| On the menu | What it is | Order it how |
|---|---|---|
| Burra kebab | Marinated mutton chops grilled over charcoal. | One plate is a starter for two. |
| Mutton korma | Braised mutton in a yoghurt-and-spice gravy. | Scoop with roti; ask for less oil if you prefer. |
| Rumali roti | Thin handkerchief bread. | Order two or three per person; it arrives folded. |
| Seekh kebab | Minced meat on skewers. | Easier for a first try than burra. |
| Nihari | Slow-cooked meat stew; a winter breakfast dish in Old Delhi. | Early morning only in many kitchens (check). |
Price check
- locals pay
- A main dish is about ₹200–400 (≈ US$3–5) and a bread about ₹20–40 (≈ under US$1) (2026 estimate).
- tourist price
- Visitors often pay a little more through touts or set 'tourist thalis' in lookalike places.
- rule
- Read the printed price on the menu; sit only after you see the sign.
| Extra on the table | Typical charge | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Extra bread and water | Bottled water is charged; extra roti per piece | Order bread by count. |
| Tout commission on the lane entrance | Raises the bill at lookalikes | Ignore anyone who says the main shop is closed. |
Deep dive
Questions, alternatives, and where our facts come from
Questions and answers
Questions and answers
What should I order?
Burra or seekh kebab, mutton korma and rumali roti; two dishes for two people is plenty.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Do I need to book?
No; go before 12:00 or after 15:00 to avoid the rush.No; go before 12:00 PM or after 3:00 PM to avoid the rush.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Can I pay by card?
Bring cash to be safe; card acceptance is not confirmed by Voykit.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
If it is closed or full
Nearby alternatives
If it is closed or the line is too long
- Kuremal Mohan Lal Kulfiwale6 min walkA century-old kulfi counter in Chawri Bazaar, known for fruit-shell kulfi; go after the hot lunch hours, eat it at the counter, keep it as your cool-down after the Jama Masjid.
- Old Famous Jalebi Wala12 min walkStand-and-eat jalebi fried to order in a Dariba Kalan corner shop; go mid-morning or late afternoon, buy 250 g, eat them hot and leave — a five-minute snack, not a meal.
- Natraj Dahi Bhalla Corner14 min walkStand-up chaat on Chandni Chowk: dahi bhalla and aloo tikki, vegetarian; go mid-morning or late afternoon, eat at the counter and expect to pay in small notes.
- Paranthe Wali Gali14 min walkWalk-in stuffed flatbreads in a narrow lane, vegetarian; go before 11:30 or after 15:00; a small-notes cash meal.Walk-in stuffed flatbreads in a narrow lane, vegetarian; go before 11:30 AM or after 3:00 PM; a small-notes cash meal.
Places without an authored walk are ranked by straight-line distance × 1.3 at 5 km/h (3 mph)3 mph (5 km/h).
All places to eat in Delhi, with filters →
Used as a seated rest node in Delhi in 4 days.
Sources
- secondaryWikivoyage — Delhi (eat)
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Source: Price per person
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Prices are 2026 estimates from the menu or the price line on file. Check on the day.
Source: Opening hours
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Source: Best time
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
The easiest walk-in window or the quietest hour in this guide. Crowd levels are desk estimates, not counts.