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The Delhi High Court officials will close several businesses, according to a decision made public on 30 December 2025. Restaurants and other buildings lacking approved building plans and safety precautions will face action from the designated authorities. Majnu ka Tilla is a food heaven for people who love to relish Tibetan and Himalayan cuisine. Tibetan food has always been very popular among the people of Delhi. With time, many new outlets started offering authentic Tibetan food that became instantly popular in the city. Popularly known as the ‘Mini Tibet’, Majnu ka Tila doesn't need any introduction to people who have an undying love for the mouth-watering Tibetan delicacies. It is a paradise for people who want to gorge on various kinds of Tibetan dishes and also get a glimpse of the culture of Tibet. The place lies in the heart of Delhi, yet it transports you to a different vibe and culture. Let's dive in to learn more about this recent decision and whether or not Majnu Ka Tila may soon be closed.
A Brief History Of Majnu Ka Tila & Its Rise To Popularity
After the Tibetan rebellion in the 1960s, refugees came here, turning the neighbourhood into Delhi's unofficial tiny Tibet. Today, the area hums with prayer flags, momos, and a startling sense of calm—like a short vacation without leaving the city—between the Gurudwara and a tranquil Buddhist monastery nestled into the bylanes. The cuisine was extremely intimate, prepared more to ease homesickness than to wow strangers. Butter tea, shyabalay, hand-shaped momos, and simple bowls of thukpa were intended for the community. However, Delhi has a sixth sense when it comes to delicious cuisine, and word got out more quickly than steam from a momo basket.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
First in line were North Campus students searching for inexpensive, substantial meals. Travellers trailed behind. Then came bloggers, foodies, and anyone looking for something different from chole bhature and butter chicken. Before long, Majnu Ka Tila was the spot in Delhi where people joyfully waited in the cold for momos without complaining. Authenticity was the factor that sealed this spot as a go-to for anyone and everyone. There was only authentic Tibetan cuisine, quiet cafes, and pricing that didn't break the bank for students, no overly Indianized tastes or needless drama. With time, the lanes became a full-fledged culinary destination with cafés offering laphing, tingmo, chilli pork, and even Tibetan-style continental cuisine.
According to local legend, this neighbourhood in North Delhi got its name from Majnu, a loving Sufi mystic who used to transport people across the Yamuna for free without the need for a QR code. Tila literally means "perched on a small hillock," therefore, the name is perfect. For many years, Majnu Ka Tila has been a haven for both foodies and Delhi's university population. But this well-liked centre is currently under intense examination.
Why Is Majnu Ka Tila Going To Shut Down?
The Delhi High Court ordered city authorities to take severe action against a number of local cafés, bars, and eateries in a recent verdict that was issued on 30 December 2025. Numerous businesses in Majnu Ka Tila are allegedly functioning without approved building plans and required fire safety clearances, according to the court. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the Special Task Force (STF) in charge of demolishing unlawful constructions were directed to take prompt action by the High Court, which treated a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) as a formal complaint. Food establishments that are proven to be in violation of construction codes or to lack safety precautions may now be sealed off or shut down.
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The decision has raised concerns among café owners, employees, and customers who associate Majnu Ka Tila with reasonably priced international flavours and community-driven dining experiences, even though it aims to enforce urban safety and legal compliance. The safety risks of several unlicensed eateries operating in multi-story structures along the Yamuna riverbed are the subject of this public interest lawsuit. Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela's two-judge bench has given the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and Special Task Force (STF) permission to handle the demolition of these unapproved structures in Majnu Ka Tila.
In light of this current decision, it can be deduced that just the restaurants and cafes operating without the necessary paperwork would be closed, not the full Majnu Ka Tila. Licenses to operate and appropriate building designs with fire and safety precautions in place are examples of these documents. Majnu Ka Tila is still accessible to everyone. Authorities may, however, carry out inspections, and during enforcement, some establishments may be temporarily shut down. Before all these take a hit in full force, visit these spots in the area, one last time, to taste dishes that are one of a kind:
Himalayan Restaurant
A no-frills place, Himalayan Restaurant serves Indian-Chinese as well as Tibetan dishes. The momos and chilli potato are very popular, but we recommend you try the thukpa, which is a traditional Tibetan noodle soup with vegetables or meat. Try the buff chilli with tingmo or steamed Tibetan bread. Momos are served on their own or in soup, and shabalay (fried parcels of meat) also make an appearance on the menu. Wash the greasy food down with a glass of cold apple beer.
Address: House 26, New Tibetan Camp, Majnu ka Tila, New Delhi
Timing: 12 PM - 10:45 PM
Price: INR 1,000 for two
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Tee Dee Restaurant
This is a very cosy place and perfect if you want to chill with a group of small friends. It offers some of the best momos in the whole of Majnu ka Tilla and has a lot of breakfast options as well. You can try their Tibetan bread, mushrooms, fried egg rice, and porridge. With some of the most satisfying meals on its menu, this restaurant is a haven for aficionados of hog and buffalo meat. It is famous for Buff Shapta, Tingmo, and Chilli Garlic Noodles, and their Shabhaley is by far their best dish. Tee-Dee's Shabhaley, which comes in chicken and mutton varieties, is among the greatest and most genuine dishes you can have anywhere in Delhi NCR.
Address: H-32, New Aruna Colony, Majnu-ka-tilla, New Aruna Nagar, New Delhi, Delhi, 110025
Timing: 9 AM - 10:30 PM
Price: INR 500 for two
AMA Cafe
AMA Cafe is one of the first places that pops up if you ask people who are well-versed with the food in Majnu Ka Tila about where to eat. With rustic walls and elegant wooden furniture, the place is one of Delhi’s better-looking cafes. Visit on a hot day for respite from the sun and views of trees swaying in the breeze. The breakfast is served until 2 PM and even has a “Himalayan” option, which comes with Tibetan bread and aloo khatsa. Besides the breakfast, the doughnuts are very good, as are the fries with different toppings.
Address: House no. 6, 1st Floor, New Aruna Colony, Majnu-ka-tilla, New Aruna Nagar, New Delhi, Delhi, 110054
Timing: 7:30 AM - 10:30 PM
Price: INR 900 for two
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Tenzin Aunty’s Laphing Stall
Laphing is a Tibetan speciality, made with noodles that use mung beans, potatoes and wheat flour filled with minced chicken. The noodles are like rolls, which are chopped into pieces and doused with soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, red chilli paste and garlic. Look for the stall managed by a lady named Tenzing in the Dalai Lama Temple courtyard. Although other stalls serve laphing in Majnu ka Tila, this one is the most reputed because Tenzing makes the dish entirely by hand.
Price: INR 500 for two
Rigo Restaurant
Another excellent location to visit for Tibetan and Chinese cuisine is Rigo Restaurant. Rigo is renowned for its Chicken Devil momos, as well as other traditional meals such as Thukpa or Kimchi. While you're there, try their apple beer as well as the other dishes. Thukpa here is a blend of Tibetan flavours and is surely a treat! There’s everything from Jamaican chicken skewers and peri peri grilled chicken to lasagna and nachos on the menu. Despite the variety, it is recommended you stick to Tibetan classics like momos and thukpa, which the restaurant excels at. Datshi, a Bhutanese dish made with cheese and vegetables or meat, is also on the menu and worth trying. Among the momos, the devil-style chicken momos are well-known.
Address: Nyingma House, Tibetan Old Camp, 180, New Aruna Colony, Majnu-ka-tilla, New Aruna Nagar, New Delhi, Delhi, 110054
Timing: 11 AM - 10 PM
Price: INR 1,300 for two
