A short tribute to my favorite restaurant in New Delhi. Karim's Hotel is located in downtown Delhi close to Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India.

I love the location of Karim’s. It’s difficult to find but to me, the journey of finding it adds to its charm. From the closest metro station, you'd still need a short rickshaw trip or a 15-minute walk through the crowded streets of the local market. You need to ask for directions until the locals point you to a small dark alley where you’ll see Karim’s at the very end. Popular to both tourists and locals, Karim’s opened up several branches in the same location to meet demand.

Inside Karim's, the walls are sparsely decorated and bear only the essentials. The interior doesn't look contrived or staged, unlike tourist trap restaurants included in package tours; just plain, simple and honest.

The long history behind Karim’s speaks for itself. The techniques used in cooking their dishes were handed down from the family's ancestors who cooked for the Mughals. So, in a sense, you get to taste what the Mughals ate when you eat at Karim's.

Slow-cooking

I especially love the badam pasanda - a sumptuous combination of mutton and almond sauce. I like how this dish has fused the mutton taste with the almonds to come up with a flavor that will make you say, "Yeah, that hit the spot." Fulfilling. The badam pasanda blends perfectly with their plain naan which was soft yet chewy, a tad sweet and could be eaten by itself. I almost forgot; the shish kabab was a welcome appetizer. It whets your appetite for the main course with the richness of the herbs and spices used to marinade it.

Karim's brings great value for money and is definitely worth a visit while you're in town. For about $7, you’ll enjoy a delicious meal teeming with history. Your tastebuds will be pleased. After eating, you can head over to Jama Masjid and the Muslim market for shopping and people-watching.