Shaista Fatima/ New Delhi

As soon as you step down out of the Delhi Metro Violet Line's Jama Masjid station, an exit from gate number 3 will take you to the lane of Kasturba Gandhi hospital. While facing it you should take a right turn and after a 5-minute brisk walk you will land in a place where everyday a food carnival goes on.

The Kasmiri Wazwan, the owners stay 8 months in Delhi and rest 4 months in Kashmir

From Qureshi's Kabab to Irfan's tea stall to Al Gulzar, Al Jawahar and Karim... Delhi 06 is filled with food and its assorted aroma.

The recent Al Gulzar is creating a niche with its new found cuisine

Situated on the left hand side of the main road this quarter of the old Delhi is famous for meat sizzlers and much more. It is not wrong to call it the paradise for non-vegetarian foodies.

Built in 2018, Al Gulzar has a family vibe and is a breath of fresh air amongst the regulars.

The long que for ordering kababs at Qureshi's

The sheer aroma of seekh kababs (barbeque'd meat in long skewers) filled with dusky smell of charcoal is suffice to make your day. Abdullah and Abdul Ghani's Qureshi has been running for the past 60 years, Salman, a third generation told awaz the voice, "it is my heritage, a family business, my niece is next to follow in my steps"

A great variety of roasted chicken and mutton meat is served here, a dash of amul butter, cream and curd makes you a supple meal.

The behind the scenes: marination and other preps

The ever busy Qureshi's attendants

The art of preparing Seekhs for BBQ

 The lane just infront of jama masjid has a plethora of eatery junctions. For those with a sweet tooth, Kallan sweets is go to hub for you all.

Variety of sweets at Kallan

The shop is running from pre independence and is as old as 82 years.

The 3rd generation Naved said, "my grandfather came to India from Peshawar in early 1900, he was 7 years old, since then purani dilli has been our home".

Gajar ka Halwa

Kallan is famous for gajar ka halwa, gond ka halwa, gond makkhana laddoo.

Adjacent to Kallan is Al Jawahar standing tall and strong with 2 massive outlets and running since 1948, this one is 74 years old.

Al Jawahar awaiting its diners

From chicken nahari to mutton nahari to jehangari to tawa chicken, this is a hub for gravy and bread lovers.

The sumptuous gravy loaded dishes

A gazetted billboard all lit up tells onlookers about the lane of Karim's. Built in the year 1913, it is more than 100 years of age. Famous for its Nahari (soft and tender meat cooked in the gravy of curd, spices with a pinch of gram flour and turmeric. Kareem is known for quintessential taste and generous amount of roghan (butter)

The timeless Karim, since 1913

Mohd Fazil, a 4th generation said, "we are running on the old structutes, our food speak for ourselves, we have a set if returning food lovers. "

The expanded dining hall of Karim's 

The age old recipes of Mutton Stew, Bheja and Nahari

Marrinated and deep fried chicken and fish is served with salad at Mohd Hussain's. Built in the year 1975, this hotel is a hub for fried snacks.

The hub for fried chicken lovers-Hussain's

Marinated chicken is deep fried

Yaseen and Rehmatullah hotel are a few more veteran kiosks serving food at an economic cost to one and all.

Coolers like Sharbat-e-mohabbat to Sharbat-e-nafrat are also found in old Delhi.

Sharbat-e-Mohabbat being sold at different kiosks

While mohabbat is a drink of watermelon mixed with roohafza flavoured milk, nafrat is a drink of apple mixed with custard flavoured milk.

The cooler is an amalgamation of watermelon, milk and roohafza

The last stop is indeed Aslam Chicken which is 25 years old and is a humongous building with 4 floors.

The butter awaits to meet BBQ'd chicken

Their usp is butter chicken that is made with amul butter, cream and curd.

The famous butter chicken with butter, curd and chunks of BBQ'd chicken

This area of Delhi has something or the other for every food lover and is known to operate 24*7 during Ramadan

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