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Aloo tikki

What: This popular North Indian street chaat, or snack, is a golden-fried potato (aloo) patty, often stuffed with something like peas or daal and served with a variety of spicy chutneys, and sometimes chole (chickpeas). It varies according to stall and restaurant, but it’s always crispy, hot, and satisfying. If it’s “aloo tikki chaat,” yogurt and boiled potato will likely be involved too. None of which is to be confused with the chopped- and spiced-up fried potato chunks known as aloo chaat. (What can we say, Delhiites certainly like their fried potatoes!)

Where: Ours is from Nathu’s Sweets (multiple branches including 23, 24, 25, Bengali Market, map), not far from Connaught Place. It’s a reliable sit-down spot for several good chaats, as is its neighbor Bengali Sweet House.

When: Daily, 8:30am-11:30pm

Order: Aloo ki tikki (53 rupees), which is served here with cumin-y chickpeas and spicy coriander and tamarind chutneys. The fried pea-flecked patties make this a guilty pleasure, to be sure. Speaking of, be sure to try a few other chaats here too, such as papri chaat and gol gappa. 

Alternatively: Look for aloo tikki at other popular chaat shops, such as Haldiram’s (multiple branches including 6, L-Block, Outer Circle, Connaught Place, New Delhi, map); one place called Satiram's BTW, or Bitoo Tikki Wala (multiple locations including G-46, Aggarwal Millennium Tower, Netaji Subhash Place, Pitampura, map), is especially beloved for its aloo tikki chaat—embellished with paneer, yogurt, pomegranate, and more—though none of its branches are especially centrally located. In Old Delhi, you might try the spicy aloo tikki at streetside Natraj (9811167400; 1396, Chandni Chowk, near Central Bank, Old Delhi, map), best known for its dahi bhalla. And finally, for an interesting twist on this dish, you can try the McAloo Tikki burger at—you guessed it—McDonalds.