Delhi Street Food
By Sid Khullar • Jan 7th, 2009 • Category: Columns
Here’s a small bunch of photos Cherie and I took, roaming around NOIDA. Most street food is unhygenic and should be avoided. Some vendors take precautions and can be tried. Also, since some big name brands have brought the same flavors into an organised, hygenic dine in package, those are a better alternative.
Sid Khullar is a self confessed food addict who likes cooking, writing and photography... and travel, if it gets him closer to a good book and interesting food.
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i am sooo jealous. i’ve always wanted to visit india. maybe someday ^_^
@mochachocolaterita: come on over! I’ll take you on a gastronomic tour!
Hi Sid,
I agree with the fact that street food offered by big brands definitely comes in a safer package.
Another good example is of Haldirams which provides Delhi’s street food in the best quality.
Like Nirulas, Indian quick service restaurant provides some food items like pao bhaji, masala chana etc to its customers in a hygienic form without compromising on the street taste
Do try both the places.
Cheers!
@Kanika: True, in a generic fashion though. I’ve given up on Nirulas quality of service, food, hygiene and staff and will probably not be going there unless there’s a drastic change in policy. Haldirams, I think is good overall, though they could introduce a token system to avoid the mad rush by customers who’ve ordered the same item.
Sid, in response to your comments on Nirula’s i’m a part of their online communication team and part of our activities is to pass on feedback such as your’s in online spaces where people are more likely to air their views than in-store feedback forms. So thanks. Will pass this on.
Haldirams – I think they already have their token system in place. I done know how much it has helped to avoid the rush.
Cheers!
Nirulas! The name itself brings on an avalanche of memories. Nirula’s Chanakyapuri to be precise and Nirula’s Potpourri (Connaught Place ) too. When the children were little boys ( Siddhartha and Sameer ) I used to take them there as a special treat. The revolving door at Chanakyapuri had caught their fancy and they had to be bribed with banana splits to stop them from spinning around like tops through that door.
Potpourri was the place that I went to with one of Husband’s late uncles who also happened to be a very good sounding board for me in times of stress. Over the soups and salads we used to discuss and dissect until a tenable solution was found.
We still visit Nirulas. I continue to like the place and my fridge is always stocked with their choco fudge syrup and their Mustard as well. I swear Nirula”s mustard is the best. However I do have a complaint this time. The mustard that is served at their restaurant is always more sharp then their bottled stuff. I wish the bottle would be as fiery and fun.
@Vinny: If only their quality would extend to their other food products. I’ve given up on the chain and haven’t visited in quite a while.
Thanks Vinny, true Nirula’s does resonate well in the memories of quite a few generations given that it’s history stems back all the way to (1934) as India’s first quick service restaurant chain.
Sid, I understand the reason for your discontent. Nirula’s is exploring ways to address customer grievances – one such initiative is to engage more in online communication activities that work to gather feedback where possible. As part of the team I assure you that this feedback (yours too Vinny) has been shared with the appropriate person.
@Kanika: Thank you. We’re looking forward to seeing Nirula’s back!
If you could indeed incorporate the changes suggested by siddhartha, I am sure Kanika, Nirula’s could give McDonalds, KFC and Pizza Hut a run for their money!
All your suggestions are important and are certainly taken into consideration.
Thank you (and Sid) for taking out time to give your suggestions.
Hi Sid!
Back from the January mayhem that is Tax Return Programme. I can now relax a little and take part a bit more.
I enjoyed the photographs of street life in Delhi and am looking forward to the time I can go there too.
Good to see Vinny on the blog too.
Your hair is different!
Hello Toni: Good to see you back! Actually, now I *have* hair!
When are we seeing more from you? How is the weather there? Our winter was a damp squib this time – no cold, no snow anywhere at all! 
Snowing here at the moment. It looks good but I won’t be going out today. No idea when I’ll have something to contribute, but I’ll let you know when I do.
Hi there,
Great job. But not enought info. Where can i read more?
Thank you
Charlie
@Charlie: What more info did you want? I’ll be happy to publish some.
oh banglor… this not good foodings. I bakahagabala is the best thing.
Check this out http://nonseriousfoodguide.blogspot.com/
Beware of Nirulas! The golden days are long gone. I was in hospital for a week last December after eating a chicken burger (yes, burger from Nirulas). I ordered in on a lazy Sunday afternoon from Dwarka outlet and fell sick the same day. Btw, their burger was the only thing I ate. I used to order their thalis a lot earlier and had seen on several occasions that the food is stale (awful smelling dal makhani! and “stringy” kebabs). Later I realized that street food vendors are safer than the so called fast food chains who make stuff out of frozen food. It is sad to see Nirula’s go away ‘coz I too had some great moments at their CP and Defence Colony outlets with some special people.
Vasu, unfortunately and reluctantly, I have to agree with you. In fact I had a similar experience with Pizza Hut and Haldirams very recently. It could be the recession (so called) that is leaving larger amounts of leftovers, which the food chains are trying to reuse without proper refrigeration. I also belong to the generation that had loads of special times with the only great Fast Food chain of the times, ‘Nirulas’.
Kanika, Please do take note if you are still with Nirula’s and do pass this information on to the right people. We would like to see Nirula’s back in its top slot.
Hi All
Really enjoyed the readings, comments here. I am off to Delhi for the 1st time in Nov, i have travelled all of europe (over the last 4yrs) Also have been to Thailand. I was born in Poland and raised in Canada, so i have been around and around.
I am very big on “real people” food when i travel, i will eat almost anything and to this day (knock on wood) i have never ever gotten sick.
I hear the food in India is fatastic (and i can see why, as i myself cook and try different cusines).
My question is..is the street food REALLY that bad there? I man i wont eat from a vendor or small shop if the locals are not eating there, but how can you tell what is good and what you should avoid in Delhi, as far as street vendors and small shops? many thanks all!
Hi Luke. Good to know you’re coming to Delhi. Most street food will have varying degrees of spoilage depending on it’s components and the season. In summers for example, there’ll be more spoilage as opposed to winters. By ‘components’ I mean, if it’s all hot and freshly off an all-encompassing heat, then it’s mostly safe to eat (e.g. the kebabs at Jama Masjid). If there’s a high turnover too and the degrees of heat exposure are less, it’ll also be largely safe to eat, as the food doesn’t have sufficient time to putrify enough to cause tummy upsets… for Indians. I’d avoid cold components like salads, chutneys etc.
Due to the largely hot weather, we’re (Indians) used to consuming food that’s a little off. Therefore, going by what the locals eat may not work in all conditions.
Having said all of that, I’ve sent you my number. We can do a little street food outing when you’re here.
Its very stinky…………………………yk
If u want to liv long lyf dont u daire to eat mutton chop and big boy buger of nirulas .branch of Varinder nagar thn
Hey there!
I couldn’t do the street eats in India, but I like your pics!
Check out my Yo China review
http://foodhogger.com/2010/08/30/india-delhi-yo-china/
FH