A Riot of Flavors @ Chandini Chowk , JLT Dubai

Chandini Chowk is not only one of the oldest markets in Delhi but also a place which makes it to the list of every foodies must visit places in India. Tasting food in the busy lanes of Chandini Chowk is not only a gastronomical experience but also a master class in culture and history , where one can witness the legacy of food being passed on from one generation to the other.

Inspired from Chandini Chowk is a restaurant in Dubai ,located in JLT  Cluster T , pretty easy to locate.I was invited to try the amazing food the restaurant had to offer. I was welcomed Mr. Deepak who handles the daily operations of the restaurant , a very warm and friendly gentleman who hails from Dwarka in Delhi. we exchanged pleasantries , headed to our tables and for a change instead of us wondering what to order from the extensive menu we asked Deepak to recommend the dishes.

So let me take you through all the dishes I relished.😋😋

Banta or Goli Soda :  Not your average soda bottle , the banta is designed in such a way that you have to pop in a marble top in order to open the bottle and that is the exciting unique experience of having a banta 😊. I had a lemon soda with black salt and masala. Typically you do get flavors of lime, ginger and orange flavored. Do try it out.

Banta or Goli Soda

Masala Coke "Desi coke": Have you ever had magic pop as a kid and experienced the tiny burst of candy on your tongue? Similar to the magic pop is the Masala coke which is nothing but masala generously added to chilled coke and it pops in your mouth with every sip. I would say it does add a slight pungency to your palate.

Masala Coke

Gol Gappa : Call it a pani puri or a fuchka or a gol gappa as they are called fondly in parts of India . The mixture that goes into the Gol Gappa differs from region to region and so does the method in making the puri. The puri served at chandini chowk was nice and crisp,a filling of moong , chana , onions further filled with a sweet tamarind  chutney and a green spicy water mixture that makes the gol gappa delicious. I would recommend you standing at the chaat counter enjoying not only the taste but also visually taking part in the process. Dont forget to ask for your sukkha puri. 😉

Pani Puri

Sukka Puri

Papdi Chaat: The Papdi Chaat is flat paapdi or puris topped with a potato mixture , chutney after which its generously topped with yogurt and sev. The papdi chaat served at chandini chowk is light and tasty on the palate.

Papdi chaat

Papdi Pizza: I call this dish "Indian meets Italian". The Papdi pizza was very different , innovative and this could make a perfect finger food. The dish is served with papdi topped with tomato based sauce, jalapeno, chilly flakes,  capsicum and cheese. which is then put in the oven till the cheese melts and forms a nice layer. The dish is served hot and it tastes like a desi pizza.

Papdi Pizza

Tandoori Platters: Chandini chowk is known for the vegetarian and non vegetarian grill platters.

Vegetarian Platter: The platter came with a perfect mix of 7 vegetables cooked to perfection. The platter includes paneer , mushrooms, capsicum, pineapple , baby corn, potato , cauliflower , onion and lemon. Its very rare vegetarians get variety as usually platters only include a paneer , potato and a grilled pineapple and chandini chowk does a great job at giving their customers variety to choose from.

Vegetarian Platter

Non - Vegetarian Platter: The platter came with a mix of prawns , Amritsari fish "hamoor fillet", mutton seekh kebabs and chicken tikka cubes melting in the mouth. The meats served are very well marinated and so they are juicy and charred to perfection . The meat is nice and very tender. I would recommend the chicken tikka and the Amritsari fish.

Non Vegetarian Platter

Chicken Patiala: The chicken Patiala is a thick gravy served with shredded chicken that is wrapped in an egg omelet , goes perfectly with a roti or steamed rice. The dish is tasty and once again chandini chowk innovates with the dishes that get served to its customers.

Chicken Patiala

Daal tadka: The yellow daal was good as expected colorful and flavorful. the bucket it was served in added to the extra feel!!

Mutton Thali: The mutton thali is served with rice , a dal thadka , curd , salad , tandoori roti , a mixed vegetable bhaji , a sweet (gulab jamun) and mutton masala gravy. The mutton masala gravy was the absolute star of the thali , the mutton was tender was cooked perfectly and gravy was very yummy. The mix vegetable was more like sauteed vegetable mixed very well and not your typical bhaji,the vegetables were in their original color,this dish goes great with the roti. The dal tadkha was thick , creamy and very flavorful. I totally recommend the mutton Thali as the mutton was the star of the thali😊👌.

Mutton Thali

Masala chai and filter coffee made with fresh milk : We literally had meals fit for royalty and to fill in the gaps left in my tummy we had filter coffee and masala chai made of fresh milk. A perfect way to end our experience at chandini chowk. I still wish I had some more space to have another round of desserts :)

Cards & Cash : Both are accepted
Parking: I guess we were a bit lucky as due to Ramadan timings we had free parking hours from 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm. Parking is an issue in JLT as the parking is limited and if you are someone who drives a car that doesnt have a Dubai number plate the parking will be challenging as there aren't any parking machines to get your parking tickets.
Ambiance: I loved the fact that Chandini chowk sticks to the brief of not being over the top with the decor , its just simple , spacious , easy to eye , they have seating out doors and indoors.

Customer Service: A big shout out to Mr. Deepak who is solely responsible for managing the customers that walk in , he shuffles between taking orders at the tables , follows u with the take away , he recommends dishes for you to try, he is also very friendly with the kids who walk in.Saw him keeping kids occupied while the parents struggled to manage them😉.
Reason to visit Chandini chowk: The absolute star of chandini chowk is the food. The restaurant is located in JLT and does really well with take aways. The best sellers are its chaat items , the platters , the thali's , their business lunches and combos that are tasty and economical.

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