For Meaty North Indian Curries try Bhape Da Hotel Restaurant, Delhi, India

By Mark Wiens 27 Comments

If a thick chunk of tender mutton dripping with sauce is appealing to you, you’re going to LOVE this restaurant.

On one of my last days in Delhi, when I was rushing around trying to finish some last minute errands to complete my Delhi travel guide, I stopped for lunch at Bhape Da Hotel Restaurant located on the outer circle of Connaught Place.

Having eaten quite a few vegetarian meals while traveling through India, I can honestly say that I was ready to throw down some serious meat – and I came exactly to the right place.

Bhape Da Hotel restaurant has all the signs of a high quality restaurant – there’s a crowd of people outside (mostly men), it’s hot and stuffy inside, the food is displayed in the front window, the menu is greasy – and these were just a few of the positive signs.

Since I didn’t know what to order, I asked the kind owner (who also informed me that the restaurant had been in his family for over 50 years), and he immediately suggested the “saag mutton,” also known as saag gosht, or mutton stewed in spinach curry pree.

Along with the saag mutton we also ordered a side of chicken curry and stack of fresh tandoori roti.

The menu also included some meat items from the tandoor oven, lots of different curries, and a few different rotis and naans.

One thing is certain, Bhape Da Hotel is a meat lovers paradise, and you’ll have to sacrifice your diet when you eat here.

First came the plate of garnishes, a scoop of tasty red onions marinated in spices next to a green sauce that was outrageously delicious.

Lunch is served... Bhpe Da Hotel style! — Lunch is served… Bhpe Da Hotel style!

And then it came… just moments after ordering… one of the most heavenly dishes I ate while in Delhi: saag mutton.

I don’t care how this dish looks, it is world class.

Nestled into a thick puree of spinach and enlivened by a spice blend that’s secret in the family, and what I’m sure was a GENEROUS portion of ghee (clarified butter), was my glistening hunk of mutton.

Saag mutton curry at Bhape Da Hotel in New Delhi, India

I began by tearing off a piece of tandoori roti and dipping it into the saag mutton gravy. It was so rich and so flavorful that my body went into a state of food enlightenment. This saag mutton was pilgrimage worthy.

Picking up the bone, the mutton flaked off into tender juicy pieces and each bite was ground-breakingly tasty.

I’m sure the pot of saag mutton had been slow simmering for hours, if not days.

Though I was still bedazzled by the saag mutton, I had to move on to taste the chicken curry, which was equally as greasy, and equally as tasty.

Again, the curry sauce paired with tandoori roti and a few slices of red onions was unbelievable!

Just like the kati roll in Kolkata, due to the quantity of grease and butter, I probably couldn’t eat at Bhape Da Hotel everyday, but occasionally it’s absolutely irresistible.

Eating is one of the top things to do in Delhi, and if you love meat and curries, Bhape Da Hotel needs to be on your to-eat-list.

Bhape Da Hotel Restaurant, New Delhi, India

Prices: Both dishes and a stack of tandoori roti cost 400 INR ($7.27)
How to get there: Take the Metro to Rajiv Chowk, exit toward Radial Road 6 and follow that all the way out to the Outer Circle. The restaurant is on the outer side of the Outer Circle road.
Address: 75, Municipal Market, Connaught Place, New Delhi
Open hours: 11 am to 11 pm daily

View Delhi Travel Guide – Migrationology.com in a larger map

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