Bon Appetit!

Enquire of any Delhiite worth their salt where the best Chinese is served in town, and they will promptly tell you the name of some tiny van stationed under a tree in some market. Yes sir, the best Chinese isn’t cooked in the spick and span kitchen of any upmarket restaurant, but in dingy alleyways behind these vans. Just park your car up front, place your order, recline your seats and enjoy.

As soon as you approach one of these food joints, the senses are assaulted by a horde of stimuli. The flaming wok, the noodles tossed high up in the air, the searing heat of the naked flame and the cackling sound of frying chicken; enough to turn even the most satiated passer-by into a raving hungry man. Place your order, and a man with deceptively thin eyes will hurry to fulfil your wishes and sate your hunger, while another takes your payment and slides into a drawer the size of a pencil box you would never notice if unknowledgeable of its exact position. The food magically appears through tiny back doors within minutes and is served piping hot.

Word of advice though, don’t try to peep into the cooking area, you might lose your appetite for Chinese food for the rest of your life. Hygiene isn’t what these places are famous for, and it should not be expected. In any case, most Delhiites have the digestive tracts worthy of bears, able to digest anything and everything. A little dirt never does anybody harm. Carry with you an extra bottle or two of water as well or you might very well find yourself dashing to the nearest general store for one. The food served is not for those with delicate palates. Most preferred by youngsters because of the value-for-money food and quick service, they dish out all sorts of Chinese dishes, ranging from momos, chili chicken to five different preparations of noodles.

Be it the extremely famous momos of Lajpat Nagar, or those served at Hawkers in Vasant Kunj, one thing common between the two is the liberal use of red chili, assured to make anybody run for water. There is nothing within the borders of Delhi that has not been modified and adapted to suit the city and its dwellers better, and Chinese food is no exception. The chow mein has departed a long way from the original stir-fried noodles it is supposed to be. With generous helpings of Indian spices and paneer, it has now morphed into a sub-cuisine-Indian Chinese.

If you haven’t tried it yet, it is highly recommended that you do now, and treat yourself to a surprisingly pocket-friendly meal that leaves the taste buds tingling. Bon appetit!

Only In Delhi.