Most visitors never make it past Old Delhi for food. That’s a mistake, because some of the city’s best eating happens after sunset in South Delhi, in a market most tourists have never heard of. The Evening Food Tour Beyond Old Delhi takes you into Lajpat Nagar’s central market once the stalls light up, the crowds thicken, and the neighborhood does what it does every single night: feed itself extremely well.
This isn’t a scaled-down version of an Old Delhi tour. Lajpat Nagar has its own food identity, shaped by Partition-era refugee families who settled here and built a market economy around a handful of dishes they perfected over decades. You’re not watching history through a window. You’re eating what the neighborhood actually eats tonight.
What You’ll Eat on This Tour
The lineup shifts slightly with the season and what’s fresh that day, but a typical evening covers a real spread, savory to sweet:
- Shawarma — Delhi’s own take on the roll, stuffed and fast, from a stall that’s been perfecting it for years
- Kathi rolls — spiced fillings wrapped tight in a paratha, one of the city’s most reliable street snacks
- Butter chicken and naan — the dish most guests recognize before they land, done the way it’s meant to taste
- Ram Laddu — a Delhi-specific snack, fried lentil dumplings with tangy radish and green chutney
- Momos — steamed and fried, with chutney that’s part of the draw
- Chole Bhature — fluffy fried bread with spiced chickpeas
- Chaat — the tangy, crunchy, sweet-and-sour snacks Delhi built its reputation on
- Gulab jamun — soft fried milk dumplings soaked in sugar syrup
- Ras malai — cream-soaked cottage cheese dumplings, the tour’s closing note
By the time you reach dessert, you’ve usually stopped counting how many dishes you’ve had, which is generally the sign of a good food tour.
Who Leads This Tour
This experience is run by Explore Real India, the company founded by Jandeep Singh Bindra, whose family has four generations of culinary heritage in Delhi. JD personally trains every local host who leads this walk, and he leads many of the evening tours himself. Since 2015, JD and his team have hosted more than 14,000 international guests through Delhi’s markets, and the Lajpat Nagar route is one of the most requested evening experiences on the calendar.
Hosts on this tour are born and raised in Delhi, fluent in English, Hindi, and Punjabi, and trained to flag which dishes suit vegetarians, vegans, or guests managing allergies before you even ask.
What Past Guests Say
“JD is an amazing person, and a very funny guy! Showing us around was a piece of cake for him, he knows what he’s doing and knows how to keep us entertained. The tour was amazing, I would highly recommend evening food tour.”
— Yassine, Paris, France
“JD is amazing, knowledgeable, thoughtful, and resourceful. He showed us a part of Delhi we would have not known to go to. He also is very thoughtful in making sure the food is safe for everyone to eat. He scheduled us a tour of Delhi’s top landmarks as well after this tour which was incredible. He is an open book and very resourceful. I would recommend this tour and any of his other experiences to anyone.”
— Cyrus, New York, NY
“Although I lived in New Delhi for two years, I had not been encouraged to tour the Lajpat Nagar central market because I had already visited it several times. This time, I decided to join this tour and I don’t regret it at all. I saw many parts of the city that I had not seen, I learned a lot, and the most important thing is that the guide is very funny. The tour was in English and food is safe and hygienic and very delicious.”
— Karla, London, United Kingdom
Practical Details Before You Book
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Departure times | 5:00pm and 7:30pm |
| Group size | 1 to 12 guests |
| Price | From INR 4,000 |
| Location | Lajpat Nagar Central Market, South Delhi |
| Language | English (also Hindi and Punjabi on request) |
Is the Food Safe to Eat?
This is the question every first-time visitor asks, and it’s a fair one. Hosts only take you to vendors they’ve personally vetted over years, watching turnover, storage, and cooking practices before adding anyone to the route. JD’s team has been walking this exact market since 2015 without a guest getting sick from a stop on the tour. If you have a sensitive stomach, tell your host at the start and they’ll adjust the pacing and stops.
How Much Walking Is Involved?
The market itself is compact, so this is a slow, stop-and-eat walk rather than a fitness challenge. Expect uneven pavement and some crowd navigation, especially at the 7:30pm slot when the market is busiest. Comfortable closed shoes are the only real requirement.
What Should Vegetarians and Vegans Expect?
Lajpat Nagar’s food culture leans heavily vegetarian already, so you won’t feel like an afterthought. Tell your host about any vegan or allergy needs when you book, and they’ll swap or skip stops accordingly, including the shawarma and butter chicken stops.
Curious about the older, more famous version of Delhi street food? Read about the Old Delhi Food Tour through Chandni Chowk for the walled-city experience, or if you’d rather sit down for a curated indoor tasting, look at the Luxury Street Food Tasting in a Local Delhi Home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Evening Food Tour Beyond Old Delhi?
It’s a 2-hour guided food walk through Lajpat Nagar’s central market in South Delhi, run by Explore Real India. You sample local specialties like shawarma, kathi rolls, butter chicken with naan, Ram Laddu, momos, chaat, gulab jamun, and ras malai, with a Delhi-born host who explains the food and the neighborhood as you go.
How is this different from an Old Delhi food tour?
Old Delhi tours focus on Chandni Chowk and the walled city, which has its own historic food culture. This tour is set in South Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar, a market built largely by refugee families after Partition, with its own signature dishes you won’t find in Old Delhi.
What time does the tour start?
There are two departures each evening, at 5:00pm and 7:30pm. Both run for about 2 hours.
How much does it cost?
Prices start from INR 4,000 per person and can vary by group size. Exact pricing is confirmed at booking.
Is this a private tour or a group tour?
Groups range from 1 to 12 guests. If you specifically want a private experience, mention it when booking and the team can arrange it.
Will I get to try butter chicken and naan on a street food tour?
Yes. Even though this is a street food walk, one stop covers butter chicken with naan, since it’s a dish nearly every guest asks about, alongside kathi rolls and shawarma from nearby stalls.
Is the street food in Lajpat Nagar safe for foreign travelers?
Yes. Every vendor on the route has been personally vetted by the Explore Real India team, and hosts are trained to watch hygiene practices at each stop. Guests with sensitive stomachs should mention it at the start so the host can pace accordingly.
Can vegetarians and vegans join this tour?
Absolutely. Much of Lajpat Nagar’s street food is naturally vegetarian, and hosts can adjust stops for vegan or allergy needs if you flag it in advance.
Do I need cash for this tour?
The tour itself is prepaid, but bring some small cash in case you want to buy extra snacks or drinks along the way, since many small vendors don’t accept cards.
What should I wear?
Comfortable, closed-toe walking shoes and light, breathable clothing. Delhi evenings can still be warm for much of the year, so dress for a slow outdoor walk.
Who leads the tour?
Hosts are Delhi-born, fluent in English, Hindi, and Punjabi, and personally trained by founder Jandeep Singh Bindra, who leads many of these evening walks himself.
Is English spoken throughout the tour?
Yes, the tour is conducted in English. Past guests, including those who lived in Delhi for years, have specifically noted the tour ran smoothly in English.
Where does the tour meet?
The meeting point is in Lajpat Nagar Central Market, South Delhi. Exact meeting details are shared after booking confirmation.
Follow more of Delhi’s street food scene on Instagram @foodtoursdelhi.