INDIA: Karim's Hotel

A short tribute to my favorite restaurant in New Delhi. Karim's Hotel is located in downtown Delhi close to Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India.

Welcome!

They built several branches 

in the same location due to popular demand

For one, I liked the location of the place. It's not exactly the most accessible spot in town but I think the journey getting there adds to the restaurant's charm. From the closest Metro station, you'd still need  a short rickshaw trip or a 15-minute walk through thronged streets of the local market. To find the restaurant, you have to ask around for directions until the locals point you to a small dark alley-way.

Please Wait to be Seated

Bring it on!

Inside Karim's, the walls are sparsely decorated yet they bear the essentials. The interior doesn't look contrived or staged, unlike the tourist trap restaurants included in package tours; just plain, simple and honest. Well, there's no need for an elaborate display, I guess. The long history behind Karim's, for which the restaurant is famous for (and its food, of course) makes for a good story. In a nutshell, the techniques used in cooking their dishes were handed down from the family's ancestors who cooked for the Mughals. So, in a sense, you get to taste what the Mughals ate when you eat in Karim's.

Slow-cooking

I especially love the badam pasanda - a sumptuous combination of mutton and almond sauce. I like how this dish has fused the mutton taste with the almonds to come up with a flavor that will make you say, "Yeah, that hit the spot." Fulfilling. The badam pasanda blends perfectly with their plain naan which was soft yet chewy, a tad sweet and could be eaten by itself. I almost forgot; the shish kabab was a welcome appetizer. It whets your appetite for the main course with the richness of the herbs and spices used to marinade it.

Freshly tandoori-ed naan

The Real Mr. Kabab

Kababs

For 3-7 USD, Karim's packs a lot of value for your money and is definitely worth a visit while you're in town. Popular with foreigners and locals alike, Karim's will not disappoint your taste buds. Just make sure to order the right dishes. If unsure, ask the waiter! After eating, you can head off to nearby Jama Masjid and the Muslim market for shopping and people-watching.