best nonveg food in north delhi (2026)

tldr: out of 9 north delhi nonveg spots i revisited this round, my top 3 are gullu’s (malkaganj kamla nagar, mutton keema in desi ghee), ashok & ashok meat dhaba (sadar bazaar, mughlai in desi ghee), and bablu tawa snacks (ghanta ghar, mutton chops + tawa items). full reviews with prices, timings, and what’s actually changed below.

i grew up eating nonveg in north delhi. malkaganj for gullu’s, ghanta ghar for bablu and darvesh, mukherjee nagar for biryani when the coaching crowd convinces you that rs 200 biryani is a complete meal. the original guide for this was solid but missed two spots that have become regular orders for me - ashok & ashok in sadar bazaar, and the abdullah muradabadi biryani place in gtb nagar.

north delhi nonveg is genuinely different from the jama masjid or south delhi scene. the prices are honest because these shops cater to regulars, not tourists. the desi ghee is real - you can smell it the moment you walk in. and a few of these places would embarrass the hyped south delhi spots that charge three times as much.

i went back to all of these in april and may 2026, ate again, took notes, and cross-referenced with 2025 google maps reviews and recent food blogs. the rankings are based on what’s actually working now, not what worked in 2018.

if you’re looking for vegetarian options or breakfast spots, check out my guides on breakfast in north delhi and street food in north delhi.

the awards (my picks)

• best overall: gullu’s, malkaganj - mutton keema in desi ghee, 31 years and counting
• best under-the-radar: ashok & ashok meat dhaba, sadar bazaar - the meat dhaba locals don’t talk about online
• best mutton chops: bablu tawa snacks, ghanta ghar - amritsari-style with bone, served with rumali roti
• best butter chicken: darvesh corner, ghanta ghar - kalonji naan and creamy without sweetness
• best biryani: hyderabad spl. chicken biryani point, mukherjee nagar - student-priced and properly dum-cooked
• best muradabadi biryani: abdullah muradabadi, gtb nagar - lighter spice profile, unique to this part of delhi
• best for delivery: gullu’s via porter (direct), butter chicken & company via swiggy
• most overrated: gullu’s gurgaon branch - not the same family, do not be fooled

the full list

the top tier (the regulars)

1. gullu’s

2 main road, malkaganj, kamla nagar / rs 450-600 for two / 9/10

gullu’s has been at malkaganj for 31 years. the family runs it, the recipes haven’t been industrialised, and the mutton keema is still cooked in desi ghee. recent google maps and zomato reviews from 2025-2026 are consistently 4-4.2/5 across hundreds of ratings - the rare delhi nonveg spot where the score has held steady for years.

the order is the mutton keema. it’s cooked low and slow, the masala is properly bound, and the desi ghee gives it a richness you cannot fake with refined oil. the meat-to-masala ratio is generous and the kheema isn’t chewy or grainy like cheaper versions. served with rumali roti, raw onion, and a fresh anardana (pomegranate seed) chutney that several recent reviewers specifically call out as “heavenly.”

the secondary order: butter paneer. yes, butter paneer at a meat shop. it’s surprisingly elite - the paneer is fresh, the gravy isn’t cloying, and the spicing matches the kheema’s depth. it’s the order if someone in your group doesn’t eat meat.

what to know: gullu’s is takeaway-first. there’s a small standing area but no proper sit-down. for delivery, use their direct service (rs 500 minimum, delivered via porter) instead of swiggy/zomato - skips the markup. and ignore the gurgaon branch - it’s a different family using the name.

what to order: mutton keema (rs 280) with rumali roti, butter paneer (rs 220) for the veg person.

verdict: the most consistent nonveg spot in north delhi over the last decade. don’t let the small shop fool you - this is genuinely better than most rs 1,500-for-two restaurants.

2. ashok & ashok meat dhaba

sadar bazaar, near khari baoli / rs 400-500 for two / 8.5/10

ashok & ashok meat dhaba is the most underrated nonveg spot in this entire guide. recent food blog mentions describe it as the kind of place “run by seasoned cooks or families preserving forgotten recipes” - which is accurate. the shop was started by two friends, both named ashok, and the entire kitchen runs on desi ghee.

the orders are the chicken curry (rs 220) and mutton curry (rs 280). both are mughlai-style - properly slow-cooked gravies with whole spices, real onion-based base, and a richness that comes from time rather than cream. the chicken tikka with rumali roti is also strong but the curries are the differentiator.

what makes ashok & ashok work specifically is that they haven’t tried to be famous. no instagram, no influencer marketing, no expansion outside sadar bazaar. the regulars are sadar bazaar wholesalers and old delhi locals. the prices have moved up slowly with inflation, not aggressively with hype.

the catch: sadar bazaar is chaotic. parking is genuinely hard, the lane to find the shop is narrow, and you’ll be walking through wholesale market traffic. plan to come outside peak shopping hours - 3-5 pm on a weekday is the cleanest visit.

what to order: mutton curry (rs 280), chicken tikka (rs 200), rumali roti.

verdict: the dhaba locals don’t post about online. specifically the right move if you’ve eaten at gullu’s already and want a different mughlai profile.

3. bablu tawa snacks

ghanta ghar, near roshanara road / rs 350-450 for two / 8.5/10

bablu tawa snacks has been at the ghanta ghar / clock tower spot for 40+ years. the original family runs it (don’t confuse with the ashok vihar branch) and the specialisation is amritsari-style tawa. the order here is the mutton chops at rs 225 for half plate - bone-in, marinated overnight, finished on a flat tawa with a spicy chutney rub.

the chicken tawa fry is the second order. it’s the same technique as the mutton but with chicken pieces - bone-in, masaledar, served with a slice of lemon and a small bowl of green chutney. the chops are heavier; the chicken tawa is the lighter follow-up that lets you order more rotis.

the rumali roti at bablu’s is also worth noting - properly thin, cooked on a hot kadhai-shaped tawa, served folded into quarters. it’s the right vehicle for the dry-fry style of meat. they also do rolls for takeaway which are decent but not their strongest item.

ghanta ghar is busy in the evenings - bablu’s gets crowded between 7 and 9 pm, especially weekends. the seating is limited (mostly standing or shared tables). go before 7 pm or after 9 for the cleanest experience.

what to order: half plate mutton chops (rs 225), chicken tawa fry (rs 220), rumali roti.

verdict: the best amritsari-tawa nonveg in north delhi. specifically a chops-and-rumali destination, not a rice meal place.

4. darvesh corner

old subzi mandi main market, opposite kamla nagar, ghanta ghar / rs 400-550 for two / 8/10

darvesh corner is the butter chicken specialist of the ghanta ghar area. recent 2025 reviews give it 4/5 across 600+ ratings. the order is the butter chicken with kalonji (nigella seed) naan. the butter chicken here is creamy without being sweet - that’s the differentiator, since most delhi butter chicken now leans 5-10% sweet because that’s what mass market prefers.

the chicken pieces in the curry are tandoor-cooked first, then folded into the gravy, which gives them a smoky edge. the gravy itself has tomato, butter, cream, and a careful spice blend - kasoori methi, kashmiri chilli for colour, garam masala. nothing exotic, just done properly.

the kalonji naan is the move over plain naan. nigella seeds, butter brushed on top, slightly chewier than regular naan. one naan is enough per person. add raita and a small portion of rice for a complete meal.

darvesh’s other items are average - the kebabs are average, the rice biryani is below average, and the dal is forgettable. order only the butter chicken and naan. that’s the only thing here that’s truly differentiated.

what to order: butter chicken (rs 380), kalonji naan (rs 80 each), raita.

verdict: the area’s butter chicken specialist. don’t order the side menu - stick to the butter chicken combo.

the solid middle

5. hyderabad spl. chicken biryani point

mukherjee nagar, near coaching cluster / rs 400 for two / 8/10

mukherjee nagar’s coaching student population keeps biryani turnover high, which is exactly why this is the best place for biryani in north delhi. hyderabad spl. chicken biryani point makes biryani in proper dum style - the rice is layered, the chicken is tandoor-marinated, and the masala has actual depth (whole spices, not powder).

a single plate is rs 200-250 with a generous chicken portion and enough rice for one person. the raita and salan come included. the catch some 2025 reviewers note: portion size of rice can vary day-to-day. when the kitchen is at peak it’s full; when it’s slow they sometimes give less. ask for full portion if you’re paying full price.

it’s not as nuanced as a hyderabad-original biryani would be - this is a delhi adaptation - but it’s better than most “hyderabadi” biryanis at fancy delhi restaurants charging three times as much. the rice is tender, the chicken doesn’t fall apart from over-cooking, and the spice level is properly hot without being painful.

what to order: one plate chicken biryani (rs 220), one extra raita.

verdict: the best biryani in north delhi at student prices. consistent in 2025-2026 reviews.

6. abdullah muradabadi chicken biryani

gtb nagar metro area / rs 350-450 for two / 7.5/10

abdullah muradabadi specialises in muradabadi biryani - a style from muradabad, up, that’s lighter than hyderabadi. the rice has fewer whole spices, the chicken is cooked separately and added at the end, and the overall flavour is more subtle. it’s the style to order if you find hyderabadi too heavy.

the chicken biryani at abdullah’s is rs 220 for a plate, served with mint chutney and a small raita. the rice is fragrant rather than spicy, the chicken is well-marinated, and the portions are honest. they also do a mutton biryani for rs 280 which is slower-cooked and worth the upcharge.

the catch: muradabadi style isn’t to everyone’s taste. if you’ve grown up eating hyderabadi or sindhi-style biryanis, the lighter spice profile can read as “underseasoned.” it’s a feature, not a bug - but worth knowing.

what to order: chicken biryani (rs 220), one raita. mutton biryani (rs 280) if you’ve had the chicken before.

verdict: the only proper muradabadi biryani in north delhi. specifically a “different flavour profile” pick rather than a “best biryani” pick.

7. butter chicken & company

ashok vihar phase 2 / rs 500-700 for two / 7.5/10

butter chicken & company is the delivery-first option in the ashok vihar area. it’s a small kitchen with a focused menu - butter chicken, chicken tikka masala, kebabs, tandoori roti. recent magicpin reviews from 2025 are positive, especially on packaging and delivery speed.

the butter chicken here is more standard than darvesh’s - sweeter (about 10% sweetness), creamier, designed to travel well in a swiggy bag. that’s not a bad thing - it’s specifically tuned for delivery, where darvesh’s drier, less-sweet butter chicken can lose flavour by the time it arrives.

the kebab platter is a decent secondary order - chicken tikka, seekh, and a small malai tikka portion. nothing extraordinary but everything is fresh out of the tandoor when packed.

include this only for delivery in the ashok vihar / shastri nagar area. for dine-in, drive to gullu’s or darvesh corner instead.

what to order: butter chicken (rs 380), tandoori roti, chicken tikka platter (rs 350) if there are more than two of you.

verdict: ashok vihar’s solid delivery pick. not a destination restaurant.

8. chicken street

mukherjee nagar, main road / rs 300-400 for two / 7/10

chicken street is the kebab / tikka shop in mukherjee nagar. it’s a small dhaba-format spot mostly catering to coaching students and nearby residents. the chicken tikka and seekh kebab are the orders. tandoor-cooked, served with mint chutney and onion, priced at rs 180-220 per portion.

it’s not as good as bablu tawa snacks for the same category but it’s much closer if you’re already in mukherjee nagar. the meat quality is decent, the tandoor work is acceptable, and the prices are fair. recent magicpin reviews are 4+/5 from regulars.

the chicken roll (rs 100-120) is the pickup-and-walk option that students rely on between coaching sessions. it’s average but cheap and filling.

what to order: chicken tikka (rs 220), one seekh kebab (rs 180), tandoori roti.

verdict: mukherjee nagar’s neighbourhood option. fine if you’re in the area, not worth a special trip.

9. ghanta ghar tikka carts

around ghanta ghar / clock tower / rs 100-150 / 7/10

multiple tikka carts operate around the ghanta ghar area in the evenings - chicken tikka, seekh kebab, chicken roll. there’s no single “best” cart - quality varies night to night based on which one is fresh. the move is to walk past 2-3 carts, look at which one has the freshest tandoor-marinated meat, and order from there.

prices are rs 80-150 a plate. the meat quality is honest because these vendors cater to local regulars who would stop coming if the meat was bad. you won’t get a fancy presentation - paper plates, plastic forks, eat on the street.

include this only as a quick pre-dinner snack if you’re already in the area. don’t make a special trip for it - the tikka shops in pitampura and rohini are similar quality and not worth the drive.

what to order: one chicken tikka plate (rs 100), one seekh kebab plate (rs 120). that’s a complete snack for two.

verdict: the cheap option for area regulars. functional rather than memorable.

north delhi nonveg tips

• gullu’s: order direct, not via swiggy. the swiggy markup is 30-40% over their direct price. rs 500 minimum on porter is worth it - same kitchen, same meat, half the price difference.
• avoid the gullu’s gurgaon branch. different family, different recipe, different quality. recent reviews of the gurgaon outlet are 3.5/5 vs malkaganj’s 4.2/5. it’s not the same gullu’s.
• bablu tawa snacks: only the original ghanta ghar shop. the ashok vihar phase 3 branch is run by a different bablu’s family. check the address before you go.
• mukherjee nagar biryani is best 12-2 pm. that’s when the kitchen is at peak turnover. evenings the rice can be older and the chicken less fresh.
• butter chicken: darvesh for dine-in, butter chicken & company for delivery. different formats, different optimisations. pick by use case.
• carry cash for sadar bazaar. ashok & ashok and most sadar bazaar shops are cash-first. upi works but sometimes gets rejected during peak hours.
• rs 400-500 covers most full meals. the brand-name nonveg places will charge rs 1,500-2,000 for two and the food rarely justifies it. north delhi nonveg is genuinely cheaper and often better.
• for jama masjid mughlai, see our delhi dhabas guide. old jawahar and al jawahar are the picks there - both are technically central, not north delhi.

if you found this useful, check out these other delhi guides:

• best breakfast in north delhi
• best street food in north delhi
• best dhabas in delhi
• best chaat in delhi

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