best soup places in delhi (2026)

tldr: out of 10 soup spots i revisited this winter, my top 3 are pishori chicken soup corner (old delhi, rs 100, the king), al jawahar paya soup (jama masjid, rs 150, mughlai style), and ama restaurant thukpa (majnu ka tila, rs 250, 7 varieties). full reviews with prices, timings, and what’s actually changed below.

i have strong opinions about soup. specifically, hot soup in delhi during winter. this is a city where the temperature drops to 4 degrees and grown men stand in queues for 30 minutes to hold a glass of broth. i respect that energy.

the original guide for this was a two-horse race between pishori and sunny chicken soup. that’s still the right answer for chicken soup. but it missed the rest of delhi’s actual soup scene - the tibetan thukpa places in majnu ka tila, the paya soup at jama masjid, the nihari shorba at old delhi early-morning shops, and the chinese soup chains that have been quietly consistent for 30 years.

this guide is the expanded version. seasonal picks, winter-only spots, year-round options, and an honest take on what’s actually worth your time. for other delhi food, check out street food in daryaganj and nonveg food in north delhi.

the awards (my picks)

• best chicken soup: pishori shahi chicken soup corner - 50 years, rs 100 a glass, hand-mixed every time
• best paya soup: al jawahar, jama masjid - mughlai style with proper spice and slow-cooked broth
• best thukpa: ama restaurant, majnu ka tila - 7 varieties, authentic tibetan style
• best fried thukpa: yeti, hauz khas village - dry-fried preparation that’s distinct from regular thukpa
• best chinese soup: berco’s - 30 years of consistent hot n sour and manchow
• best budget soup: kharoda soup stall, old delhi - rs 70 with butter on top
• best year-round soup: rasam at andhra bhawan canteen - rs 80, available always
• most overrated: sunny chicken soup - good but pishori is still better

the full list

the top tier (the regulars)

1. pishori shahi chicken soup corner

near urdu bazaar, old delhi (winter only, 6-10 pm) / rs 100 per glass / 9/10

pishori is the king of delhi chicken soup and has been for 50+ years. the original owner still runs the cart and prepares every glass by hand. the broth is slow-cooked through the day, then each glass is loaded with shredded boiled chicken, lemon, vinegar, onion, butter, and green chilli, mixed by the owner himself. that’s the differentiator - you don’t mix anything yourself, the proportions are dialled in.

what makes the broth at pishori better than sunny’s: depth. the chicken bones are simmered longer, the masala blend has more layers, and the final glass tastes integrated rather than assembled. it’s the same recipe difference between a soup that’s been cooked for 4 hours vs 8 hours.

the catch is seasonality. pishori only opens in winter - roughly mid-november to mid-february. summer months the cart is shut. and even within winter, the queue can be 20-30 deep on cold january evenings. go around 7:30 pm when the line is shortest but the broth is still hot.

what to order: one glass chicken soup (rs 100). add an extra slice of bread (rs 20) if you want it as a meal.

verdict: still the best chicken soup in delhi as of 2026. winter destination. don’t go in summer expecting it to be open.

2. al jawahar (paya soup)

jama masjid, chittli qabar / rs 150-180 per bowl / 8.5/10

al jawahar’s paya soup is the best in old delhi as of 2026. the soup is mughlai-style - made from slow-cooked mutton trotters, finished with ginger, deep spices, and a small drizzle of ghee. the consistency is gelatinous rather than thin (which is the right consistency for paya), and the spice profile leans warm rather than hot.

go for paya before 11 am. the soup is freshest in the morning when it’s been simmering overnight. by lunchtime they’ve added more water to extend service and the depth drops noticeably. winter mornings (november-february) are peak season - the cold makes the gelatinous broth more viscous and the experience more satisfying.

al jawahar is also the better destination than karim’s right next door for paya specifically. karim’s paya has flattened over the years; al jawahar’s hasn’t. for kebabs and biryani, al jawahar is also the move (see best dhabas in delhi).

what to order: paya soup (rs 180), one rumali roti to dip (rs 30).

verdict: the paya benchmark in delhi. specifically a winter morning order. don’t go for paya at 7 pm - the broth has been sitting for hours.

3. ama restaurant

majnu ka tila, tibetan colony / rs 200-300 per bowl / 8/10

ama restaurant has 7 varieties of thukpa: veg, ama special veg, buff keema, ama special buff, chicken, pork, and mix non-veg. that’s a real menu, not “we have thukpa, choose veg or chicken.” the differentiator is the broth - they make it from scratch with bones (or vegetables for veg versions) cooked for 4-5 hours, not from packet bouillon.

the order is the chicken thukpa or ama special buff. both have hand-pulled noodles, generous meat, and a clean broth that doesn’t taste of msg or shortcuts. served with a side of chilli sauce and a small bowl of pickled radish.

what makes thukpa at majnu ka tila better than at south delhi tibetan restaurants: the chefs are usually nepali or tibetan and the recipes haven’t been delhi-fied. less salt, less oil, more honest. ama’s pricing is also reasonable - rs 250 for a full bowl that’s a complete meal.

note: this is a different shop from ama cafe (also in majnu ka tila), which is a cafe-bakery. ama restaurant is the proper sit-down spot for thukpa.

what to order: chicken thukpa (rs 250) or ama special buff thukpa (rs 280). add tingmo (steamed bread) on the side (rs 80) for dipping.

verdict: the most authentic thukpa in delhi at honest prices. specifically a sit-down meal pick, not a quick stop.

the solid middle

4. sunny chicken soup

old delhi (winter only) / rs 100 per glass / 8/10

sunny is the second-best chicken soup spot in delhi and the constant rival to pishori. same price (rs 100), same general format, same winter-only schedule. the differentiator: sunny lays out 5 condiments (vinegar onions, garlic water, chilli sauce, ginger water, lemon) and lets you mix your own glass.

that’s both the strength and the weakness. if you know what you like, you can dial in the perfect condiment ratio. if you don’t, you’ll either over-mix or under-mix and end up with a less balanced glass than pishori’s pre-mixed version. for first-timers, pishori is the better choice. for soup enthusiasts who want control, sunny is the move.

the chicken portion at sunny is generous - some reviewers in 2025 say sunny actually has more chicken per glass than pishori. that’s true on average. but pishori’s broth depth makes up for the difference.

what to order: chicken soup glass (rs 100). use vinegar onion + lemon + chilli for the cleanest mix.

verdict: the legit second-best chicken soup in delhi. specifically for soup veterans who want condiment control. first-timers should go to pishori.

5. yeti

hauz khas village / rs 250-400 per bowl / 7.5/10

yeti is the south delhi pick for thukpa. it’s a himalayan eatery in hauz khas village with a focus on nepali, tibetan, and bhutanese food. the differentiator is the fried dry thukpa - a stir-fried version of regular thukpa, less brothy, more like a noodle dish than a soup. it’s not technically soup but it’s worth mentioning if you’ve already had regular thukpa elsewhere and want something different.

the regular soup options - chicken & mushroom soup, spinach & egg soup, keema thukpa - are also strong. yeti uses better ingredients than majnu ka tila spots (slightly higher price reflects this) and the presentation is cleaner.

include yeti only if you’re already in hauz khas village. don’t drive across delhi for it - majnu ka tila has equally good thukpa at lower prices.

what to order: chicken thukpa (rs 280) or keema thukpa (rs 320). fried dry thukpa (rs 380) if you’ve had soup thukpa already.

verdict: the south delhi tibetan soup option. solid but not better than majnu ka tila.

6. berco’s

multiple locations across delhi / rs 250-350 per bowl / 7.5/10

berco’s is the legacy chinese chain that has been doing reasonably-priced indo-chinese soup for 30 years. hot n sour, manchow, and talumien are the orders. the broth is honest, the vegetables are fresh, and the spice level is dialled to delhi tastes (mild-medium). nothing here is exceptional but nothing is bad either.

manchow soup is the bestseller and has the most consistent quality across berco’s outlets. hot n sour is similar but slightly less complex. talumien is an underrated thicker version with more vegetables. all three are rs 250-350.

include berco’s only if you specifically want chinese-style soup and don’t want to drive to majnu ka tila or hauz khas. it’s a fallback option, not a destination.

what to order: veg manchow soup (rs 280) or chicken hot n sour (rs 320).

verdict: delhi’s most consistent chinese soup chain. average ceiling, low floor.

7. kharoda soup stall

old delhi (winter only) / rs 70 per bowl / 7.5/10

a small stall in old delhi serves kharoda soup, magaj soup, and chicken soup at rs 70 a bowl - the cheapest serious soup in delhi. butter goes on top, chicken or organ portions are generous, and the broth is hot enough to burn your tongue.

kharoda soup is the order if you’ve never had it. it’s a regional speciality - a thick, organ-meat-based broth that’s traditionally believed to be warming and immunity-boosting. magaj soup is brain-based, more niche. for first-timers, the chicken soup is the safe order.

it’s a small stall, no seating, mostly winter regulars from old delhi. the location moves slightly year-to-year so ask around urdu bazaar / matia mahal for “kharoda soup wala.”

what to order: kharoda soup (rs 70) if you’re adventurous, otherwise chicken soup (rs 70).

verdict: the cheapest hot soup in delhi. specifically a winter-old-delhi-roaming pick.

8. andhra bhawan canteen

ashoka road, near india gate / rs 80-120 per bowl / 7/10

andhra bhawan canteen is the year-round soup option. their rasam (a tangy, peppery south indian soup made from tamarind, tomato, and curry leaves) is the order at rs 80. it’s available every day, doesn’t depend on winter, and is a genuinely different soup category from everything else in this guide.

the rasam here is properly made - thin, peppery, with curry leaves popping in the tempering. pair it with a small portion of rice for a complete light meal. it’s also the cheapest hot soup option that’s available year-round.

andhra bhawan also does sambar (rs 100) which is a heartier, vegetable-loaded soup. for a proper south indian meal, get the thali (rs 200) which includes rasam, sambar, and a curd-rice.

what to order: rasam (rs 80) on its own, or full thali (rs 200) for a meal.

verdict: delhi’s only year-round serious soup option. specifically a “winter is over but i still want soup” pick.

also worth mentioning

• mamagoto sour & pepper soup (rs 380): a 22-ingredient chinese-style soup that’s genuinely complex. only worth it at the original khan market location - other branches are inconsistent.
• karim’s paya soup (rs 200): mentioned in older guides. in 2026 it’s noticeably weaker than al jawahar’s paya right next door. skip.
• nizam’s kathi kabab (rs 130): has a chicken broth on the side menu. weak. don’t bother.

delhi soup tips

• plan winter visits to old delhi. pishori and sunny only open mid-november to mid-february. miss this window and you wait 9 months. peak quality is december-january.
• paya soup: morning only. al jawahar’s paya is freshest before 11 am. afternoon and evening, the broth has been extended with water and the depth drops.
• thukpa needs a side dish. order tingmo (steamed tibetan bread) or laphing (cold spicy noodles) alongside your thukpa. the soup alone isn’t always enough for a meal.
• sunny vs pishori: queue length is the tiebreaker. if pishori has 30 people, walk 5 minutes to sunny. both are 8/10+ - not worth a 30-minute wait when the alternative is right there.
• kharoda soup is winter-only and cash-only. keep rs 100 in your wallet during a december old delhi food crawl. the stall doesn’t move much but the location varies year-to-year.
• avoid soup at fancy restaurants. indian fine dining “shorbas” at rs 600+ are almost always worse than the rs 100-300 options in this guide. the broth depth comes from time and process, not from a chef’s plating.
• rasam at andhra bhawan is the year-round backstop. when nothing else is in season, it’s there. specifically the right move in march-october when winter soups are closed.

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

• best dhabas in delhi - honest reviews
• best nonveg food in north delhi
• best street food in daryaganj
• best chaat in delhi

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