Far away from Delhi’s rush and everyday hustle – once a non descript places like Ber Sarai, Katwaria Sarai, Lado Sarai and other adjoining areas have got a lease of life with youngsters, students, career aspirants holding deliberations, debates over the new age snacks like momos, Chinese fast foods, rolls which has indeed become the favourite choice over desi samosa, pakoda, jalebi for the new gen taste bud. Yes what remains common is the ‘chai’.
The sarais have seen an increasing hustle bustle due to the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) a place where the calmness gently pulls you in. And at the heart of it all is the food where the fun mix of street style meets the global bites. It’s not just the regular chai - samosa or simple veg roll aroma, it’s a fusion. A blend of desi and videshi, east or west all wrapped into one irresistible dish.
Every corner of Sarais and JNU campus holds someone’s favourite flavour, just like for Ghanishth, a college- going student, it’s the generations old Ganga Dhaba which has been tea home to several world academicians, bureaucrats, researchers, media barons and many more.
“During a visit to Ganga Dhaba I came across a unique twist on the classic roll, a chowmein roll. Until then, I had only associated rolls with fillings like paneer, egg, vegetables, or chicken. The idea of stuffing chowmein into a roll was entirely new to me, and surprisingly, it tasted fantastic. What makes it even better is that you can customize it by adding egg or other ingredients. It’s a simple yet clever street food innovation worth trying,” said Ghanishth.
Manju, an IIMC student shares her experience of trying chicken samosa at Babu’s cafe which she had neither heard of nor tasted before. “I had never seen a chicken samosa before. It felt so unique to me,” she says with a lot of excitement.
“It’s not something you find easily. It’s like a fusion twist on the classic samosa familiar yet completely different,” added the student. She often chooses to sit outside the café, where the open seating under leafy trees adds to the charm. “There’s something peaceful about it — the food, the quiet, and the way everything just feels calm and aesthetic,” she adds.
Another college- going student Ananya, who often explores new or different kinds of food was surprised when she founded a Nepali restaurant in KC Karke, located within JNU. “I didn’t think I’d find something like this here, it felt so different from the usual spots,” she says.
The menu, too, was far from ordinary. “They had tandoori momos, chicken noodles, and chilli chicken momos. It was like Indian and Nepali flavours had merged into something totally new,” she adds. “That mix of spicy, creamy, and tangy all in one plate felt like a real fusion. And to think it’s tucked away right here in JNU makes it even more special,” she added.
Radhika enjoys good food, no doubt, but what truly draws her in is the aesthetic charm of JNU’s open cafes.