best street food in north delhi (2026)
honest 2025-2026 reviews of 10 best street food spots in north delhi. lotan ke chole kulche, bun tikki bhaiya, dolma aunty momos, vinod kumar momos, tom uncle's maggi.
tldr: out of 10 north delhi street food spots i revisited this round, my top 3 are bun tikki bhaiya (civil lines, since 1988), dolma aunty momos (north campus, open 2-9 pm), and nani ke chole kulche (ashok vihar phase 2 cart). full reviews with prices and what’s actually changed below.
north delhi street food is different from chandni chowk. this isn’t the organised chaos of paranthe wali gali or the tourist circuit of karim’s lane. this is neighbourhood food - carts and stalls that exist because three generations of du students and ashok vihar uncles have been eating there. the recipes came from partition, the prices haven’t caught up with inflation, and the regulars know the cart owner by first name.
the original guide for this had jugal kachori at the top. i went back this round and the picks have shifted - jugal is still good but the kamla nagar chaat strip has weaker spots now (chache di hatti has slipped, vaishno chaat is average), and the genuine winners are the carts in ashok vihar (nani ke chole kulche), the dolma aunty momos in north campus, and the new dosa district in mukherjee nagar.
i also moved bun tikki bhaiya higher - this is a 1988 cart in front of ip college that’s been quietly excellent and student-priced for nearly 40 years. it doesn’t get the spotlight but it should.
if you’re looking for breakfast options or nonveg specifically, check out my guides on breakfast in north delhi and nonveg food in north delhi.
the awards (my picks)
- best overall: bun tikki bhaiya, civil lines - 1988, the cheapest serious street food in north delhi
- best momos: dolma aunty momos, north campus - chicken, veg, paneer momos, rs 100 for two
- best chole kulche: nani ke chole kulche, ashok vihar phase 2 cart - opens 8 am
- best kamla nagar pick: vinod kumar momos near spark mall - hot from the steamer
- best maggi: tom uncle’s maggi point, kamla nagar - cheese maggi is the order
- best rasgulla: rasgulla seller near national agency, huts lane - since 1958
- best chole puri (early morning): bille di hatti, kamla nagar - opens 7 am
- most overrated: chache di hatti, kamla nagar - taste has slipped, run out by noon
- most overrated chaat: vaishno chaat bhandar - “the cm’s favourite” is not a quality marker
the full list
| # | spot | area | best for | cost per plate | my rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | bun tikki bhaiya | ip college, civil lines | bun tikki, chole kulche | rs 30-50 | 8.5/10 |
| 2 | dolma aunty momos | north campus | chicken, veg, paneer momos | rs 80-120 | 8/10 |
| 3 | nani ke chole kulche | ashok vihar phase 2 cart | chole kulche | rs 50-70 | 8/10 |
| 4 | vinod kumar momos | spark mall, kamla nagar | steamed momos | rs 50-80 | 7.5/10 |
| 5 | tom uncle’s maggi point | kamla nagar | cheese maggi, variations | rs 60-100 | 7.5/10 |
| 6 | bille di hatti | kamla nagar | chole puri (7 am open) | rs 60-90 | 7.5/10 |
| 7 | rasgulla seller | huts lane, civil lines | rasgulla (since 1958) | rs 225 | 7.5/10 |
| 8 | jugal kachori | hakikat nagar, gate 7 | moong dal kachori | rs 30-50 | 7.5/10 |
| 9 | madras cafe | parmanand colony | masala dosa, sambhar vada | rs 80-120 | 7/10 |
| 10 | chache di hatti (skip) | kamla nagar | chole bhature (overrated) | rs 100-120 | 6/10 |
the top tier (the regulars)
1. bun tikki bhaiya
in front of indraprastha college, civil lines / rs 30-50 per plate / 8.5/10
bun tikki bhaiya has been at the ip college cart since 1988 - 38 years of consistent street food at student prices. the order is the bun tikki at rs 30-40 (a fried aloo tikki sandwiched in a butter-toasted pao bun with chutneys and onion) and the chole kulche at rs 50.
what makes this work as both breakfast and lunch is the price ratio. for rs 100 two people can eat fully - one bun tikki, one chole kulche, one orange juice or aloo chaat. nothing on the menu is more than rs 80. every item is fresh because the cart turnover is high - mostly ip college students between 8-10 am and 4-6 pm.
the cart sometimes shuts on weekends if there’s no college foot traffic. call ahead or just don’t make the trip on a sunday. the ipca area also gets quiet during summer break (may-june) - the cart still operates but with shorter hours.
what to order: bun tikki (rs 30) and chole kulche (rs 50). add aloo chaat if it’s a third person.
verdict: the cheapest serious street food in north delhi. specifically a college-area pick.
2. dolma aunty momos
near kamla nagar / north campus area / rs 80-120 for two / 8/10
dolma aunty momos is the institution. she’s been doing chicken momos, paneer momos, vegetable momos, spring rolls, and pizza rolls for decades. the cart format is small - mostly takeaway, with a small bench area for eating on the spot. open 2 pm to 9 pm, six days a week.
the chicken momos are the order. soft outer dough, generous filling, and a sharp red chilli chutney that’s the differentiator. the paneer momos are also strong - a step above most paneer momos in delhi which use rubbery paneer cubes. she uses crumbled fresh paneer that holds the seasoning better.
what’s notable: the chutney recipe. dolma aunty’s chutney is famously spicy but the spice has depth - it’s not just chilli powder mixed with vinegar. there’s tamarind, garlic, and a small amount of ginger that gives it structure. several recent reviews specifically mention buying a small container of just the chutney to take home.
rs 100 covers a full plate of 8 momos. add a spring roll (rs 30) and you have a complete snack for two.
what to order: chicken momos (rs 80 for 8), spring roll (rs 30) for variety.
verdict: the north campus momo benchmark. specifically a 2-9 pm window pick.
3. nani ke chole kulche
shop 2, shopping centre, ashok vihar phase 2 / rs 50-70 per plate / 8/10
(detailed review in breakfast in north delhi. the short version: 1920s-style chole kulche cart, opens 8 am, sells out by noon, the chole has actual home-cooked depth rather than industrial spicing. rs 60 a plate.)
include this in any north delhi street food crawl that goes through ashok vihar. it’s walking distance from pandit ji parantha hut and the two together make a complete morning food itinerary.
what to order: chole kulche standard plate (rs 60).
verdict: the best chole kulche cart in north delhi. specifically a morning pick - sells out fast.
the solid middle
4. vinod kumar momos
near bada gol chakkar, spark mall, kamla nagar / rs 50-80 per plate / 7.5/10
vinod kumar’s momos are the kamla nagar momo pick. the cart is right near the bada gol chakkar at spark mall. steamed momos come out hot every 15 minutes - the trick is to time it so you order from a fresh batch. the chicken momos are the order, with the regular paneer and veg momos as alternatives.
the chutney here is more delhi-style than dolma aunty’s tibetan-style chutney - thicker, more vinegar-forward, less complex. it works but it’s not as memorable. the differentiator at vinod kumar is the consistency of the wrapper texture. most kamla nagar momo carts have inconsistent wrappers - sometimes too thick, sometimes torn. vinod kumar’s wrappers are reliably good.
it’s a quick stop - you order, wait 5 minutes, eat standing or walk away. no seating to speak of. mostly du students and kamla nagar shoppers between 4-9 pm.
what to order: chicken momos (rs 70 for 8) or veg momos (rs 50).
verdict: the kamla nagar momo cart pick. solid but not better than dolma aunty.
5. tom uncle’s maggi point
kamla nagar, near hudson cafe / rs 60-100 per plate / 7.5/10
tom uncle’s maggi point has been a du student staple for years. the cheese maggi is the order - regular maggi noodles with melted cheese folded in, plus optional vegetables. it’s not high cuisine but it’s consistently fresh, properly cheesy, and rs 80 for a complete late-night snack.
the menu has variations - schezwan maggi, pizza maggi, peri peri maggi - that are mostly gimmick orders. stick to the cheese maggi or the regular masala maggi if you want the cleanest version.
what tom uncle does well: the egg work. they crack a fresh egg into the maggi if you order the egg version (rs 100). the egg is properly cooked into the noodles rather than just dropped on top. small detail but it’s why students keep coming back.
open till midnight on most days. extended to 1 am on friday/saturday.
what to order: cheese maggi (rs 80), or egg cheese maggi (rs 100) if you’re hungry.
verdict: the late-night maggi pick in kamla nagar. specifically a snack/late-night option, not a meal.
6. bille di hatti
72-d, kamla nagar (opposite the old sony showroom) / rs 60-90 per plate / 7.5/10
(detailed review in breakfast in north delhi. the short version: opens 7 am, chole puri is the order at rs 60, the chole is tangy more than hot, the lassi is thick and proper, and it’s the only kamla nagar chole bhature spot worth recommending in 2026.)
include this on a morning food crawl. don’t go for dinner - they close by 4 pm.
what to order: chole puri (rs 60) and a glass of lassi (rs 50).
verdict: the best chole bhature in kamla nagar. morning only.
7. rasgulla seller (national agency, huts lane)
near national agency, huts lane, civil lines / rs 225 per plate / 7.5/10
a small rasgulla cart that’s been running since 1958. the rasgullas are sold in plates of 6-7 pieces for rs 225, served fresh in syrup. the differentiator is the texture - softer than chain rasgullas, more porous, soaks the syrup more uniformly.
it’s a small operation. open 1 pm to 10 pm, six days a week. mostly local civil lines residents and occasional food bloggers. the cart is hard to find on first visit - ask anyone in the area for “rasgulla wale uncle near national agency” and locals will point you the right way.
include this only if you specifically want rasgulla and you’re already in civil lines. don’t drive across delhi for it - the rasgulla differential isn’t 30 km worth.
what to order: plate of rasgullas (rs 225). that’s the whole menu.
verdict: the most consistent rasgulla in north delhi since 1958. specifically a civil-lines-while-passing-by pick.
8. jugal kachori
hakikat nagar, gali number 7 / rs 30-50 per plate / 7.5/10
jugal kachori has been at hakikat nagar for 80+ years. the recipe came from pakistan during partition. they make “purni” - a moong dal kachori with besan stuffing, different from the standard aloo kachori. denser, more protein-heavy, with a nuttiness that regular kachori doesn’t have. they also do bread pakoda and aloo tikki.
what’s slipped in 2025-2026 reviews: the queue management and freshness consistency. some recent visits report kachoris that are 30-40 minutes old by the time you receive them. the family is still running it but the volume has grown beyond what the cart can serve perfectly fresh.
go before noon when the day is fresh. don’t go in the evenings when they’ve been frying batches for 6+ hours. open 9 am to 5:30 pm, seven days.
what to order: purni (moong dal kachori, rs 40 for 2 pieces) and bread pakoda (rs 30).
verdict: the 80-year-old institution. still good in the morning, less reliable in the evening.
9. madras cafe
parmanand colony, dhakka (near mukherjee nagar) / rs 80-120 per plate / 7/10
(originally featured higher in the old version of this guide. demoted because the dosa district in mukherjee nagar is now better. madras cafe is still solid neighbourhood south indian - masala dosa rs 120, sambhar vada rs 80, decent but not great. the menu rotation keeps things interesting.)
include only if you’re already in parmanand colony. otherwise drive to mukherjee nagar’s dosa district instead.
what to order: masala dosa (rs 120) or sambhar vada (rs 80).
verdict: the parmanand colony south indian pick. middle tier.
the one to skip
10. chache di hatti
33-d, kamla nagar / rs 100-120 per plate / 6/10
(detailed callout in breakfast in north delhi. the short version: most overrated chole bhature spot in kamla nagar. recent reviews unanimously flag taste slippage, expensive prices, and bhature running out by noon. the alternative is bille di hatti two streets away.)
vaishno chaat bhandar in kamla nagar is also worth skipping for street food specifically. the “cm’s favourite” tag is not a quality marker. average golgappe and chaat at average prices.
verdict: the most overrated kamla nagar street food spot. don’t fall for it.
north delhi street food tips
- morning crawl: bun tikki bhaiya -> bille di hatti -> jugal kachori. civil lines into kamla nagar into hakikat nagar. all three open by 9 am, total cost under rs 250 for two.
- afternoon momo crawl: dolma aunty (north campus) + vinod kumar (kamla nagar). the two best momo carts are walking distance apart. plan to be there 3-7 pm.
- late-night pick: tom uncle’s maggi. open till midnight (1 am on weekends). specifically a “post-9pm” option when most of north delhi has shut down.
- avoid chache di hatti. every food blog still recommends it. recent reviews don’t justify it. go to bille di hatti instead.
- rasgulla seller has limited hours. 1-10 pm. don’t show up at 11 am expecting it to be open.
- carry cash for carts. dolma aunty, vinod kumar, bun tikki bhaiya, rasgulla seller - all cash-first. tom uncle’s, bille di hatti, jugal kachori - upi reliable.
- the ashok vihar pivot. the old version of this guide didn’t include ashok vihar. nani ke chole kulche there is the single best chole kulche cart in north delhi. plan a separate ashok vihar morning if you have the time.
if you found this useful, check out these other delhi guides:
- best breakfast in north delhi
- best nonveg food in north delhi
- best street food in daryaganj
- best chaat in delhi