Lip-smacking, mouth-watering, spicy, tantalizing, enticing, irresistibly seductive, crusty, piping hot, heavenly. These are just some of the words that come to mind when thinking of samosas! My romance with samosas began as a young child, on holiday visits to India. At first, I just ate the yummy crunchy corners. During my teens, when we returned to stay in Delhi permanently, hot samosas would regularly appear at our table, as a family favorite, along with jalebis for “tea” and soon, my romance blossomed into love. Even today, just one whiff is enough to melt my resolve to eat healthier. And, if you’re like my husband, one samosa is just not enough!
The “samosa” migrated to the Indian subcontinent from Central Asia and the Middle East. Known as samsa in Central Asia, and samosa in the Middle East, this little triangular pastry was introduced to chefs in the Delhi Sultanate by traveling merchants during the 14th century. It is said that the early samosas were stuffed with minced meat, almonds, pistachios, walnuts and spices. The Mughal Emperors delighted in this dish, and so did the British, who took this tasty snack with them all over the colonial empire, resulting in the many regional variations that we now have in our country.
Samosas are everyone’s comfort food and they are available in every nook and corner in India. Every sweet house, mithai shop, chaat corner, Indian restaurant, railway station, airport, or bus terminal will have samosas. There are even little kiosks that make and sell fresh and nothing else.
So where do you get the best samosas?
Well, here is our list of the best places to have samosas in Delhi.
1. Munni Lal Halwai
Located at Gole Market in Central Delhi, Munni Lal has been around since the 1940s. Their USP is that it’s huge. The rest they have kept simple but delicious. A well spiced potato filling in a super crispy pastry, the samosa is served with a generous topping of chole, raw onions, and mint chutney. More like a meal than a snack, and perfect in every way.
2. Lala Babu Chaat Bhandar
Along with being one of the best places to have chaat in Delhi, this kiosk has also perfected the samosa. They have the normal potato samosas and their own concoction – the most delicious gobi-mattar (cauliflower & peas) samosa. Situated in Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi, opposite McDonald’s, they have a long list of loyal customers amongst the surrounding shop keepers. If you don’t mind standing in the street and eating as you are jostled by crowds, then this place is definitely worth visiting.
3. Ameer Sweet House
Are you a confirmed non-vegetarian samosa lover? Then Ameer Sweet House is the place to go. Their keema samosas are truly outstanding – done in the old Mughal style, with a flakier pastry and served with a sweet and sour tamarind chutney. They have other samosas as well, all amazingly good. You must try the sweet Khoya Samosa which is a real treat. To find Ameer, you will have to make your way to Matia Mahal in Jama Masjid, Old Delhi.
4. Manohar Japani Samose Wala
This tiny Dhaba in Bhagirath Palace, Chandni Chowk became famous for its “Japan” or Japanese samosa. Started in Lahore in 1924, by the present owner’s grandfather, the business moved to Delhi after Partition in 1949. There is nothing Japanese about this samosa, just a catchy name that stuck! The Japan samosa is truly one of a kind – with 60 layers of crispy flaky pastry – 30 on each side – and a tasty potato filling in between. All served with traditional Pindi chole and a pickle made of boiled bottle gourd. A belly is full of goodness!
5. Kumar Samosa Wala
This samosa paradise actually serves 28 varieties of samosas! So, starve for a few days, then head to Phase 3, New Moti Nagar to begin your feast. And be prepared to be astonished. Even the plain old potato stuffing has a new avatar here – and it’s morphed into delicious tandoori aloo. You might try the Spicy Mushroom Samosa, the Tandoori Paneer Samosa, the Malai Paneer Samosa, or the Moong Dal Samosa. But be more adventurous, and try the Italian Pasta Samosa, the Chowmein Samosa, the Pizza Samosa, or the sweet Gujjia Samosa instead. Once you get your head around the unusual combinations, the flavors are really quite good! Not surprisingly, Kumar Samosa Wala has been inventing and perfecting samosas for 25 years!
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6. The Maha Samosa
Ever had hungry dreams about a huge samosa? Well, if you go to Delite Cinema at Asaf Ali Road, your dreams will come true. The food stall in the premises serves a whopping 200g samosa! Called the Maha Samosa, it is made up of a crispy pastry case with richly spiced potato stuffing and it ranks as the biggest samosa in Delhi. These samosas are so popular that movie-goers make advance bookings for these biggies to be delivered to their seats!
7. Annapurna Sweets
Located at Chittaranjan Park, Market 2, Annapurna sells the best Bengali version of the samosa, called shingara. Shingaras are smaller than samosas, with a stuffing of chickpeas, fried peanuts, potatoes and sometimes bits of coconut – all cooked with Bengali spices. These golden, crispy, bite-sized pockets of pastry burst with flavor. Definitely a must-try for all samosa aficionados!
8. Sri Bankey Bihari Samose Wala
Now here’s a true specialist in the art of samosa making! With just three hot items on their menu (gulab jamuns, kachoris, and samosas), the owners have perfected the recipes for each of these very popular eats. Their samosas are light, crispy, and super tasty. And they are served in cheeni mitti (clay) plates accompanied with deliciously spiced chole and sweet-sour tamarind chutney. We recommend you head to Paharganj, Karol Bagh, and join the long queues just to get a taste of Sri Bankey Bihari Samosa Wala’s famous samosas.
9. Samossay
Samosa lovers in Gurgaon, go straight to Samossay in Welldone Tech Park on Sohna Road or try Supermart in DLF Phase 4 for the best samosas in all Gurgaon. Following strict hygiene and safety protocols, and with taking away options, this chain of Samosa shops has elevated the humble samosa with their unique approach to fillings. Besides regular samosas, they feature Butter Chicken, Chicken and Cheese and Chilli Chicken Samosas in the Non-Veg section, Maggi, Paneer Lababdar, and Mac and Cheese Samosas in the Veg section. And that’s not all – you can even get a delicious Samosa Chaat or a mouth-watering Bun Samosa!!! They also have a counter in Select City Walk in Saket for the eating pleasure of next door Delhites.
10. Samosa Hub
This little hub in F Block, Krishna Nager is making samosa waves for all the right reasons. Loved by the locals, Samosa Hub has over 40 varieties of samosas. From Chowmein, Malai Paneer, and Pizza Samosas to a range of sweet samosas like Paan, Mango, and Strawberry – they sure have something to please all palates. Full marks for variety! But the most famous of all is their Chocolate Samosa! The filling for this quirky concoction is melted chocolate and cashew nuts and its pastry case is coated with chocolate – this is a must-try.
Wherever you are, whatever the weather, and more often than not with a cup of hot chai, samosas are always a much-loved snack. Someone once said, “Home tastes like a Samosa!”, I’ll have to agree with this one wholeheartedly!
To good times in the coming year – may your samosas be many!
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A homeschooled chef even before she joined Catering College in Bombay, Christine’s gastronomic journey started with mother and grandmother. Polished with a degree and 10 years of experience in the Hospitality industry, Christine’s love of food, drink and everything gastronomic has been sharpened and honed with travel across the world. Today, she shares the wealth of her foodie experience and adventures across the world with Travel and Food Network, so look forward to much more from Chrsitine!
