What to Eat in Delhi & Agra – Ultimate 2025 Guide
Wondering what to eat in Delhi and Agra on your next India trip? From the butter chicken in Delhi to street-style pani puri in Agra, this ultimate 2025 food guide reveals 7 must-try local dishes and hidden food gems you can’t miss on your Golden Triangle tour.
If you are travelling through the historic crossroads of India, you must come across the Golden Triangle cities of Delhi and Agra! It’s not just the iconic monuments you’ll find yourself mesmerised by, but the fooooood! The capital of India, Delhi, rich in heritage and history, is also considered the food capital of India. What makes it even better is its proximity to Agra, which has Mughal heritage and, as you know, the Taj city.
It’s not just the mouthwatering butter chicken we crave, but also the garlic naans, all kebabs, all the street food, samosas, and so much more. Get ready to feast on the rich, diverse flavours of North India – let’s dive into the top 7 dishes you must try in Delhi and/or Agra!
The Best Butter Chicken EVER
Born in Delhi just after India’s independence in the 1940s, Butter Chicken—also known as Murgh Makhni—was a happy accident that became a global obsession. It started as a clever way to revive leftover tandoori chicken, mixed into a rich, buttery tomato gravy. Pure genius, right?
The dish hits all the notes – savoury, tangy and a perfectly right amount of sweetness. The chicken is usually marinated overnight and then grilled before being put in a luscious curry made of tomatoes, a blend of tasty spices, and lots of butter! So yesss, it is creamy, rich, velvety, and everything that will completely melt in your mouth! Some chefs might add cashews (just like my mom!) while some may leave the tomatoes to do their magic….but all taste simply brilliant!
If you are wondering where to eat the best butter chicken, I’ve got you! I found the best butter chicken mainly in Delhi, and here are the recommendations for a must-try.
Where to Eat Butter Chicken
- Gulati Restaurant, Pandara Road: Delhi – My absolute favourite! The richness of the gravy is undeniable!
- Moti Mahal, Daryaganj – Often credited as the birthplace of Butter Chicken. Historic, legendary, and delicious.
Matar Paneer – The Comforting Curry with Cheese That’ll Win Your Heart
Ever heard of cheese in a curry? It does sound wild, but trust me, it’s simply mind-blowing! This is a wholesome North Indian vegetarian curry made with small, soft cubes of Indian cottage cheese called paneer and lots of green peas – also called matar in Hindi – in a tomato and onion gravy and best eaten with basmati rice, a flaky paratha or a lovely naan!
Paneer can be eaten in so many forms, but Matar Paneer is a North Indian classic and, much like a warm pasta bake or a hearty Sunday roast, gives the ‘cosy kitchen’ feel. The flavours are magnetic and comforting. It leans on gentle warmth rather than bold heat, but if you like your curries spicy, you can always request it to be made that way. The sweet-spicy combination with a bit of tanginess brings the dish to life.
This, in fact, is Ben’s all-time favourite dish that he has ever tried in India. So you can imagine the level of effort and research that went into finding the gems that make it stand out the best!
Where to find the best Matar Paneer:
Hotel Saniya Palace: Agra – At first glance, you might think, “Where are we???” It looked like a hidden gem, only a 3-minute walk to the Taj Mahal. We were a bit uncertain, but once we climbed to the rooftop, everything changed. The atmosphere was relaxed, the view magical, the service warm and welcoming, and the Matar Paneer? Unforgettable. The food exceeded all our expectations – definitely one of the best places to eat in Agra, so much so that if we weren’t running late for our tour, we would’ve ordered a second round!
Dal Makhni – The Creamy Delight You Didn’t Know You Needed
Dal Makhni, a luxurious North Indian lentil dish, is often mistaken for an ordinary curry, but it’s so much more. This is the creamiest and most soul-satisfying dish you’ll ever taste. Yes, even more than butter chicken, in my opinion. The flavour evokes an emotion of warmth, happiness and safety—a cosy feeling you get when you’re curled up on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, sipping a hot cup of coffee while it rains outside. It’s simply wholesome.
Originating from Punjab, Dal Makhni is a staple at weddings, festivals, and comforting Sunday meals. The dish is a luscious combination of slow-cooked whole black lentils (urad dal), kidney beans, butter, and cream, simmered for hours to develop its signature depth. It’s smoky, earthy, and has a silkiness that’s best enjoyed with basmati rice, naan, or my personal favourite – roomali roti.
Pro tip: Pair it with a chilled glass of sweet lassi or some tangy pickled onions for the full North Indian experience.
Where to Eat Dal Makhni
- Gulati Restaurant (Pandara Road): Delhi – We loved it here – so creamy, flavourful, but super rich
- Kake Da Hotel (Connaught Place): Delhi – A Delhi institution where the dal is slow-cooked overnight, resulting in a deeply satisfying flavour.
Local Tip: Ask for extra butter on top, you won’t regret it!
Chola Bhatura – The Must-Try Chickpea Curry
A beloved dish to all, chola bhatura, very much cuts the list. A large, fluffy and crispy deep-fried bread, bhatura, is eaten with spiced and tangy chickpea curry, chole. It’s best paired with pickled onions and green chutney, which is a mix of coriander, green chillies and peas. Delicious!
The bhatura is golden, crisp on the outside and soft inside, ideal for scooping up the chickpeas, which are slow-cooked, bursting with flavours. Chola Bhatura is an all-day dish – yup, you could have it for breakfast (even brunch), lunch and dinner, given its indulgent and yet superb flavours. It’s not just food, it’s an experience because it’s never enough!!
Where to Eat Chole Bhature
Sita Ram Diwan Chand, Paharganj – Famous across all of Delhi, and a reliable name for this comfort food. Once you try, you’ll understand why!
Kebabs – A Delicacy You Cannot Miss
If you’re wondering what to eat in Delhi and Agra, kebabs will need to be at the top of your list. More than just a street-side dish, these kebabs are a representation of the rich Mughal culinary legacy, passed down by generations, bursting with spice, meat and aroma.
The succulent meat – either fish, goat or chicken – is tender and juicy, marinated for hours, and often overnight in a rich mix of yoghurt, lime juice and warming spices such as cumin, coriander, and garam masala, among others. Then they are grilled, skewered or pan-fried over hot coals until perfectly charred and smoky! Whether it’s ‘galauti’ kebabs, which melt in your mouth, or seekh kebabs that offer a satisfying burst of flavour, these are something you don’t just eat, you savour.
Best placeS to eat Kebabs
- Gulati Restaurant (Pandara Road): Delhi – As you already know, this is our top pick for a lot of the dishes we tried in Delhi!
- Al-Kausar, Chanakyapuri – Hidden gem of kebabs of all kinds! This place deserves a spot on your Delhi food map.
Pani Puri – The Ultimate Street Food of India
If there is one food item that captures the heartbeat of North India’s ‘chaat’/street food culture, it is pani puri – also known as gol gappa. If you’re making a list of all the things you need to try in Delhi and Agra, this simply can’t be skipped. It is literally a burst of flavour in your mouth – crispy, sour, sweet, tangy, spicy, you name it.
Pani Puri is a bite-sized ball slightly broken to fill with spiced, tangy water and one-of-a-kind potato mash, which is flavoured with chickpeas, chillies, and tamarind water. I’ve stood in countless queues across India for that perfect pani puri moment, and it’s soooo worth it. It’s more than food—it’s a shared experience, a cultural ritual, and a burst of joy you carry with you.
Where to Find the Best Gol Gappa
Kamla Nagar – Legendary chaat hub for locals with the best pani puris in all of Delhi. Come early evening, and you’ll see students and families queuing up; it’s that good.
Jalebi – Feast for Your Eyes AND Taste Buds
What’s best to end a food conversation with? You guessed it right – dessert!! And if you have a sweet tooth, then girl, do I have something for you! Sticky, gloriously orange-golden heaven in a spiral – jalebi is a must when you’re looking for that dessert you’re craving after a lovely meal in Delhi and Agra.
It’s crispy outside and soft inside, soaked in saffron-infused sugar syrup. It makes it into all-day food – eat it with yoghurt, with thickened milk (also called rabdi) or simply by itself. It is a star of all sweets – best eaten when piping hot straight out of the wok!
Where to eat Jalebi
Old Famous Jalebiwala, Chandni Chowk: Delhi – The jalebis, fried in ghee, have been winning hearts since the 1880s.
I’m sure this list is just the beginning—there’s so much more flavour, colour, and culture waiting to be explored in Rajasthan. So while you’re in the state of Rajasthan, check out our What to Eat in Rajasthan guide – we think it’s the perfect companion to savour every bite of your journey!
Already been? We’d love to hear your foodie finds and hidden gems in the comments! Because sharing is caring, especially when it comes to food. 😉 If not, what are you waiting for? Let Rajasthan work its magic on you, one dish at a time!
Until then, may your travels be tasty and your memories unforgettable. 💛
