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India's hectic, invigorating capital city is a sizzling melting pot of the country's flavours and cuisines.

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The buttery curries of the Punjab; the fresh coconut Idlis of the South; the very best of Indian cuisine can be found in the Delhi .

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Here are five places across each of our budget ranges, from the best street food to some of the city's most atmospheric restaurants, each showcasing the very best of what Delhi has to offer.

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Nomad - $1-3 per meal

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Hit the streets and eat like a local. These places serve basic, tasty fare to be eaten on the go.

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Dahi Bhalla

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Located on the mind-blowingly hectic Chandi Chowk strip, you’ll recognise this famous institution from the heaving queues outside. Order the Dahi Bhalla, one of Delhi’s most beloved street dishes. Soft balls of spiced lentils are fried, dunked in yoghurt, topped with sweet chutney and garnished with spice powders. Eat it as it’s served; with a tiny wooden spoon amidst the chaos and crowds. Is it a dessert? An entrée? Who knows.

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Dahi Bhalla was one of the first street dishes I tried in India, and it left me confused, slightly disturbed and hungry for more. In other words, it's like Delhi on a plate.

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Price: ₹50

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Chole Bhature

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Whilst in Chandi Chowk, you’ll pass dozens of outlets dishing up one of North India’s favourite on-the-go curries, Chole Bhature. Rich chickpea masala is served alongside puffy, deep-fried bread with a side of fresh onions, typically dished out on cardboard platters to be wolfed down in the street.

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It's a true Delhi classic and Indian soul food at its very best. Haldiram's, located on the Chandi Chowk strip, is one of the city’s best-known institutions plating up this classic curry, and is bustling all day with travellers and locals alike.

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Price: ₹80-100

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Kachori - Jung Bahadur Kachori Wala

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Take the turn off Chandi Chowk into the labyrinth of Old Delhi and you’ll quickly stumble upon one of the city’s most popular Kachori joints - Jung Bahadur Kachori Wala.

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These discs of light pastry are stuffed with lentils and vegetables, served with lashings of chutney and topped with a sprinkling of herbs.

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These are the snacks that power a million mid-day slumps and they're a firm favourite of mine. Like all of the very best Indian street food it’s simple, but  impossibly complex and rich in its flavours. Incredibly moreish.

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Price: ₹30-50

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Paratha Moolchand Paratha, Defence Colony

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Located in Delhi’s cosmopolitan Defence Colony sector, this place is be one of the city’s most frequented Paratha joints. You’ll find vendors selling these stuffed flatbreads on every street corner in India, but for sheer, overwhelming choice of fillings, this place wins out.

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Order with a cup of Chai (tea) for the quintessential North Indian breakfast.

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Backpacker - $3-5 per meal

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Step inside and enjoy some of Delhi’s best-value dining. Order as much as you can.

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Butter Chicken at Karim's

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An obvious choice but essential nevertheless! A Delhi institution since 1913, this chain of famous Mughal eateries are found in multiple locations across the city and can be combined to coincide with some world-class sightseeing, either at their location near Hanuman’s Tomb or in the streets of Old Delhi.

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Go all-out and indulge in butter chicken, aromatic biryani, sprawling garlic naan and lamb kebabs.

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This is the Indian food you dreamt of before landing.

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Priyanshi South India Fast Food, Laxmi Nagar

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For those impatient for a taste of South India, this popular place in Laxmi Nagar has you covered. Idlis, Dosas and Chaat dominate the menu here, served on a banana leaf, and it compares well to the real thing. Enjoy the comically large dosas, spread paper thin and with a satisfying crack.

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Pind Balluchi: Multiple locations

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Immerse yourself in Punjabi hospitality at Pind Balluchi, a rustic restaurant chain known for its hearty North Indian cuisine and vibrant ambiance. From tandoori delicacies to rich curries and decadent desserts, each dish is a celebration of Punjab's culinary traditions.

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Jetsetter - $10 + per meal

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Savour the finer things. These characterful institutions give you a flavour of Indian luxury without busting the bank.

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Lakhori, Old Delhi

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Set in a restored Haveli (mansion) within the quarters of Old Delhi, Lakhori offers one of the capital’s most atmospheric dining experiences.

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‍Centred on an ornate courtyard, diners are treated to a selection of reimagined Mughlai and local dishes beneath the mansion’s grand decorative arches, adorned with intricate woodwork. It’s a sample of old Indian splendour, and lies only five minutes from the popular sightseeing spots of Chandi Chowk and Jama Masjid, making it a wonderfully serene conclusion to a hectic day’s sightseeing.

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‍Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends, when traditional Kathak dances take place on the balcony after dark.

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