Walk into any CP restaurant hungry, and the menu can feel like a wall of names. Butter this, masala that, ten kinds of tikka. Most people end up pointing at the first three dishes they recognise.

That works, but it isn’t the best way to eat. The best North Indian food in Connaught Place comes from ordering in a sensible order, with a smoky starter, a proper dal, one rich main, and bread that arrives hot. This guide walks you through that, course by course, using the menu at Pishori Dhaba (H-8, Ground Floor, Connaught Place) as the example.

 

First, What Counts as North Indian Food?

“North Indian” is a wide label. It covers Punjabi dhaba cooking, Mughlai gravies, tandoor grills and rice dishes like biryani. On a good North Indian restaurant in CP menu, you should find all of these sitting side by side.

A simple way to think about it:

• Tandoor: kebabs, tikkas, tandoori chicken and breads
• Dhaba curries: dal, kadhai, saag, rara
• Mughlai and biryani: korma, nihari, rogan josh, dum biryani

Order one thing from each group and you’ll taste the whole range of the cuisine in one sitting.

 

Course 1: Start at the Tandoor

Begin with something grilled. Tandoori kebabs arrive hot, a little charred, and they get people talking while the rest of the food is being prepared.

If you eat vegetarian:

• Paneer Tikka Shashlik (₹295): paneer grilled with capsicum and onion. It’s the safe, crowd-pleasing pick.
• Malai Paneer Tikka (₹325) or Stuffed Mushroom Tikka (₹325): softer and creamier, good for anyone avoiding heat.
• Dahi Kebab (₹295): a gentler option if you want something light before a heavy main.

If you eat non-veg:

• Chicken Tikka, 6 pcs (₹395): the classic.
• Murgh Malai Tikka, 6 pcs (₹395): marinated in cream and curd, so it’s mild and soft.
• Kalmi Kebab, 4 pcs (₹375) or Chicken Seekh Kebab, 6 pcs (₹375): a good pair if you like a bit more spice.

Cooking three or four starters for a group? A platter is easier than ordering one by one. We’ve explained how to size it in our guide on the tandoori platter in Connaught Place. If you want to go deeper on grills, our list of the best tandoori food in Connaught Place covers kebabs and tikkas in detail.

 

Course 2: Order the Dal Before Anything Else

Here’s a habit worth picking up: order the dal first and the rest of the table follows. Dal makhani in Connaught Place is a menu staple, but it’s also an honest test. Cream can’t hide a lazy dal.

On our menu, Dal Makhani is ₹295. If you’d like something more rustic, there’s Dal Dhaba (₹275) and Yellow Dal Double Tadka (₹295). Prefer a vegetarian dish with a tangy bite? Try Punjabi Kadhi Pakoda (₹275) or Amritsari Channa (₹295).

Honestly, a bowl of dal, a hot roti and a plate of raita is a perfectly good meal on its own.

 

Course 3: Pick One Rich Main

This is where people over-order. One or two big gravies for a table of two or three is usually enough. Pick based on mood:

• Want something creamy and familiar? Butter Chicken (Half ₹525 / Full ₹995) or Paneer Makhni (₹425).
• Want something mild and royal? Chicken Korma (Half ₹325 / Full ₹645). Our post on chicken korma in Connaught Place explains what to expect from it.
• Want something green and hearty? Saag Chicken (Half ₹325 / Full ₹645) or Saag Mutton (Half ₹395 / Full ₹785). It’s a good winter dish, and we’ve written about it in saag mutton in Connaught Place.
• Want slow-cooked Mughlai? Mutton Rogan Josh (Half ₹395 / Full ₹785) or Mutton Nali Nihari (Half ₹455 / Full ₹895). For anyone looking for Mughlai food in Connaught Place, these two are the ones to know.
• Want it bold and dhaba-style? Mutton Rara (Half ₹425 / Full ₹845) or Laal Maas (Half ₹395 / Full ₹785).

A small tip: if two of your picks are both creamy, swap one for something with a different colour and texture. Variety makes the meal more interesting.

 

Course 4: Biryani, If You Have Room

Biryani deserves its own spot instead of being an afterthought. We serve Hyderabadi and Muradabadi chicken biryani (Half ₹325 / Full ₹595) and Mutton Biryani (2 pc, ₹555).

Vegetarian? Our Veg Biryani is a Tuesday special at ₹395, so plan around that day.

 

Course 5: Don’t Ignore the Breads

Bread decides how much you enjoy the gravy. Here are the usual choices and prices:

• Tandoori Roti ₹35 and Butter Roti ₹45
• Naan: Plain ₹55, Butter ₹65, Garlic ₹75
• Lachha Paratha ₹55 (flaky and layered, great with dal)
• Missi Roti ₹45 and Roomali Roti ₹35

Add a Mix Raita (₹125) and you’re set. For dessert, Phirni (₹125), Gulab Jamun (₹95) or Kesar Halwa (₹95) all do the job.

 

Three Easy Ways to Order

Prices below are from our menu, before government taxes, so treat them as a guide.

If you’re…	What to order	Approx. total
Two people, light budget	Dal Dhaba, Half Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani, 2 Tandoori Rotis, Mix Raita	₹795
Two or three, non-veg	Chicken Tikka, Dal Makhani, Half Mutton Rogan Josh, 4 Butter Naan	₹1,345
Two or three, vegetarian	Paneer Tikka Shashlik, Dal Makhani, Kadhai Paneer, 2 Lachha Parathas	₹1,125

Larger group? The Tandoori Non-Veg Platter (4 items) is ₹1,055 and the Tandoori Veg Platter (4 items) is ₹895. Add a dal and some bread, and the table is sorted.

 

Where Pishori Dhaba Fits In

To be transparent, this is our own kitchen, so read this as a description and not a neutral review. Pishori Dhaba is a dhaba-style restaurant at H-8, Ground Floor, Connaught Place, on the Gauri Palika Bazaar side of H-Block. We cook North Indian and Mughlai food: tandoor items, dhaba curries, biryani and fresh breads. We’re open daily from 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM, so lunch and a late dinner both work. For bookings or orders, call +91 92205 52537.

 

A Few Practical Tips

• Share more, order less. North Indian portions are made for sharing. Start small and add later.
• Mix your textures. One dry dish (tikka), one gravy, one dal and one bread usually balances a meal.
• Ask about spice. If you’re feeding kids or elders, say so when you order and choose creamy dishes like korma, malai tikka or dal.
• Check the menu first. Prices can change, so confirm on our menu page before you visit.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

What is the best North Indian food to order in Connaught Place for a first-timer?

Start with a tandoori starter like Paneer Tikka Shashlik or Chicken Tikka. Then add Dal Makhani, one rich main (korma or rogan josh) and a basket of bread. That gives you a complete picture of the cuisine.

 

Is there good vegetarian North Indian food in CP?

Yes. Paneer tikka, mushroom tikka, dal, kadhai paneer, palak paneer and the Tuesday Veg Biryani are all on our menu.

 

What are the opening hours?

We’re open every day from 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM.

 

Where exactly are you located?

H-8, Ground Floor, Connaught Place, New Delhi 110001. You can find directions on our contact page.

 

Final Thoughts

The best North Indian food in Connaught Place isn’t about ordering the most dishes. It’s about building a meal with a smoky start, a patient dal, one well-chosen main and warm bread. Use the course-by-course plan above, and you’ll eat better and spend smarter. If you’d like to try it, visit Pishori Dhaba at H-8, Connaught Place, or call +91 92205 52537 to check availability before you come.