We started with dahi bhalla, a bowl of sweet yogurt similiar to lassi, topped with tamarind sauce and a dusting of spices. It’s sweet with a bit of spice and delicious on a hot summer’s day in Delhi, while enjoyed on the roadside watching the numberless rickshaws peddle past and the hurry of shoppers looking for wedding saris and spices.

 

Next, we climbed a secret staircase for a hidden gem and their butter paneer masala and mixed daal with buttery rotis. Our guide, Gajendra, says this stop is his favorite. Although he admits he can’t indulge in every food stop every day, he can’t miss this one.

 

From a lemon wale, we try our first sip of lemon soda and masala soda. They’re welcomingly refreshing, but it’s the next stop that has Delhi’s heart—chai. From terracotta cups embossed with the word “tea,” we savor cups of Nagori Tea’s perfectly brewed chai.