State Bhavans Trail For Regional Cuisines
By Tanisha Salwan
As the national capital, Delhi is home to state bhavans located in the Chanakyapuri area. Each of these places have incredible canteens which offer authentic and pocket-friendly dishes from the states they represent, giving foodies the perfect opportunity to taste the best of India while in Delhi.
*Some restaurants listed in this trail serve non-vegetarian food, but have been added because they have good vegetarian options on their menu as well.
Bijoli Grill, Banga Bhavan
If you are a fan of authentic Bengali cuisine, Bijoli Grill in Banga Bhavan is the place you must visit at least once when in Delhi. This place serves authentic Bengali food like mutton kosha, daab chingri, kosha mangsho along with the scrumptious Bengali fish, luchi etc. The place also has food festivals from time to time to celebrate seasonal dishes. Don’t forget to have their mishti doi!Viva O’ Viva, Goa Niwas
Goan cuisine has quite a lot of fans all across the globe, especially those who love seafood and fish dishes. And if you are looking to have pocket-friendly authentic Goan food in Delhi, visit Viva O’ Viva at Goa Niwas. This casual dining restaurant serves delicious peri peri prawn, chicken xacuti, prawn rava fry, pork vindaloo, prawn curry etc. The thalis here are truly authentic representations of Goan cuisine. Besides, the live music makes the experience even more amazing.Maharashtra Sadan
Do you also love misal pav, poha, Kolhapuri mutton and puran poli? If yes, you qualify to be a fan of Maharashtrian food. And if you want to have the authentic Maharashtrian food in Delhi, head to Maharashtra Sadan and nowhere else. This food here is delicious and budget friendly, not to mention authentic with its use of the right ingredients and spices. If you love spicy Maharashtrian food, then this is the place to taste it.Andhra Bhavan
Andhra Bhavan is one of the most popular state bhavan canteens of all. This place serves authentic Andhra food and often remains crowded, especially around lunch and dinner. Right from perfect puffed idli to dosa, vada and the most demanded filter coffee, this place serves it all. If you have a good appetite, then the vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis here are must-haves. Besides, you can find scrumptious Hyderabadi biryani at Andhra Bhavan. So, when in Delhi, don’t miss this canteen.The Potbelly, Bihar Niwas
The Potbelly restaurant in Bihar Niwas serves a wide range of authentic Bihari food. Not just this, it also serves fusion dishes which are loved by the people. Right from scrumptious litti chokha to sattu drink and chicken pakora, this place has good food, prompt service and friendly staff is courteous. Though the food here is simple, it truly captures the essence of Bihari cuisine, which is really not that well-known across India. Ever visited this place before?Tamil Nadu House
If Chettinad cuisine excites you, Tamil Nadu House should be your one-stop destination. If everything from the simplest of sadams to the most comforting and filling thalis excite you, then this is still your place to be. This place serves the best poriyal, kootu, kara kuzhambu, sambar, payasam, rasam etc. Their chicken Chettinad, chicken biryani, parotta and chicken 65 also have quite a fans!Karnataka Food Center
If you are a fan of Mysore masala dosa, vada, uttapam and so many famous Karnataka dishes, you must visit Karnataka Food Center in Delhi. Even though the place remains quite crowded, your visit will totally be worth it. This is because the place manages to capture the essence of Karnataka cuisine with every dish, whether it is vegetarian or non-vegetarian. Look out for the chitranna, bajji and other tiffin favourites while here.Gujarat Bhavan
If you can't say no to khichda, Gujarati thali, kadhi, dhokla and chhunda, you are an absolute Gujarati food fan. And to get the authentic Gujarati meal in Delhi that too under your budget, you must visit Gujarati Bhavan. Serving up pure vegetarian food from all the regions of Gujarat, this place serves delicious Gujarati food and gives you a glimpse of how rich the Gujarati cuisine is. Don't miss out seasonal dishes like undhiyu while here.Jammu And Kashmir House
From delectable nadru sabji to spicy rogan josh and the flavourful waazwan, you can taste all sorts of mouth-watering and rich Kashmiri delicacies at this place. And if you are a non-vegetarian, this place could be heaven for you. The thalis here, especially during lunchtime are not only authentic but also affordable. So, if you can’t visit Jammu and Kashmir to taste the rich cuisine, head straight to Delhi’s Jammu and Kashmir House and enjoy some good food.
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