Since 1990, if there is one restaurant in New Delhi where people have been savouring delicious Indian regional food, it is Chor Bizarre, located in Daryaganj. Their menu reads, ‘nothing matches, yet everything gels’. It’s true, not two table settings are the same or even the dinnerware set on the same table would match but everything in the surrounding comes together to elevate the dining experience.
Speaking about opening India’s first theme-based restaurant in Delhi, Rohit Khattar, founder of Chor Bizarre, said, “I have always loved collecting bric-a-brac. I had just come back from the US and my mother, Mrs Vijay Lakshmi Khattar called a family friend, the renowned designer Rajeev Sethi to give me ideas for a restaurant. She told him that her son was a bit of a kabadi (one who collects discarded items) and couldn’t throw anything and Rajeev immediately said - why doesn’t he do a restaurant based on chor bazaars?”
The restaurant is quite famous among Delhiites for its food and antiques. It was closed for some time but had recently reopened its gate for its loyal customers and how. They have extended the seating, and the entire section will remind you of the woodwork in Kashmiri houseboats and old houses.
It features a vintage car which now serves as the chaat buffet corner, a table made with a solid iron base of the sewing machine, a table made from a canopy bed, a Hollywood corner, a bar, and a glass table top displaying old coins, tools, jewellery, and weapons which one can easily locate in chor bazaars of India.
Chor Bizarre: Zero Expectations To Iconic Status
When the restaurant opened in 1990, Rohit Khattar had zero expectations because South Delhi was the new golden mile of Delhi instead of the Asaf Ali Road on which the restaurant is located. “I think people were quite thrilled with the imaginative décor and the quality of the food. The fact that it was the only restaurant serving Kashmiri cuisine was also a huge draw.”
Well! He is not wrong. Chef Srinivas A, Head Chef at Chor Bizarre, has been associated with this iconic place for the last 17 years. He added, “It is a regional food restaurant where we do not serve Modern Indian cuisine. Our menu comprises dishes from the South, North, East, and West. We have remained connected to our roots. For example, instead of tweaking the dishes to suit the palate of our customers, we pick balanced regional dishes and source high-quality ingredients from different parts of the country.”
“Chor Bizarre chefs are amongst a handful who have access to the secrets of the ‘Wazwan’ - the legendary Kashmiri community feast of 36 courses,” reads an excerpt from the introduction of the restaurant on the menu. Chef Srinivas A shared that they source fennel seeds from Jammu and Kashmir because aromatic spice is essential to the local food, especially the cuisine of Kashmiri Pandits.
If you visit Chor Bizarre and happen to ask yourself what makes this place iconic, take a stroll around the restaurant and order regional food from the menu. Your taste buds will give you an answer.
Chor Bizarre’s Success Story
In a world where everything is defined by social media and what influencers think is cool. Foodies are also often tempted by the stunning new restaurants that keep coming up almost every day. However, many of these joints, while impressing you with the chic and Instagram-worthy decor, often lack good food.
But Chor Bizarre is legendary for a reason. Rohit Khattar explained, “We have always remained true to our roots and Chor Bizarre and our chefs go deep into regional Indian cuisine. Of course, retaining the same chefs from Kashmir for consistency in the Kashmiri cuisine is another reason for our success.”
Not to mention the nostalgia that this place brings. Chef Srinivas A shared an anecdote of a client visiting the restaurant with their children. The gentleman was explaining to them that his father used to take him to Chor Bizarre in Daryaganj when he was a kid, hence, he brought them to relive the memories and make new ones with them. Chor Bizarre’s success lies in the authentic recipes and high-quality lip-smacking dishes it serves.
Chor Bizarre’s Chaat, Kashmiri Food, Desserts, & More
If you ask a true chaat lover about the best places to enjoy gol gappe, aloo tikki, or bhalla, they will mention Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Varanasi, Prayagraj, and a few other cities of Uttar Pradesh. The author is originally from Agra, and she can vouch for the authentic flavour of gol gappas and chaat. Bhalla at Chor Bizarre is nothing short of a flavour explosion in the mouth.
The menu comprises starters, main course, and desserts but what makes it stand out are the dishes. Their nadru ki tikki is crispy and the small chunks inside its mixture add depth to it. Their kasundi mahi tikka, chicken burrah, and murgh shami are must-haves for non-vegetarian lovers.
The Kashmiri cuisine section features some interesting delicacies like laal paneer, nadroo yakhni, goshtaba, matz kofta, and chicken roganjosh. From the coastal regions of India, Chor Bizarre’s menu features chicken chettinad, masala fish curry, Malabar prawn curry, Nihari gosht, etc.
For biryani lovers, they have - Hyderabadi Gosht Biryani, Subz Dum Biryani, and Hyderabadi Murgh Biryani. Their jackfruit moilee, veg thoran, dal Chor B’zar, and jakhya aloo are among a few delights that every vegetarian must taste. Moving on to the dessert section, kulfi at Chor Bizarre is hands down one of the best you will ever taste in Delhi-NCR. It is packed with flavours and leaves you with a sweet sugary rush which will have you finish the entire plate in a few seconds. Other options include Kashmiri phirni, tandoori pineapple, rasmalai, malpua with rabdi, and zauk-e-shahi among others.