Karim Hotel — Restaurant in Nizamuddin

This is the second outlet of Karim's in Delhi, after the base branch at Jama Masjid, old Delhi.

1. The portions are almost entirely for two or more people. If you are single, your best bet is the Karim Roll - a wrap of refined flour bread (maida roomali roti) around mutton or chicken sheekh kebab or paneer tikka (roasted cottage cheese cubes). So, this outlet is not for singles.
2. The food tends to be spicy and salty. Which means children below 12 and adults above 55 may find the food too spicy. Salty is a problem for anyone over 45 years of age. So, this outlet is good for those between 18 and 50 years with strong metabolism.
3. Curiously, their vegetarian dishes are almost always cooked with care. This means they almost always taste great. Anything on the sparse vegetarian menu is worth a shot for all ages and genders.
4. The roti (roasted bread) is made of refined flour (maida) and not wheat (atta). This means it is a health risk. Maida is devoid of nutrition and generally unhealthy for anyone, especially over 40 years of age. They recommend the tandoori roti (thick refined flour roast bread) over the easier-to-chew roomali roti (handkerchief-thin roasted refined flour bread). Both are served fresh but watch out for the refined flour (maida) overdose.
5. The biryani here can be uneven. Salty too often for comfort, which is a food crime. Biryani must never be salty. Also, the mutton and chicken pieces can be rubbery and, thus, chewy and irritating. There are good days but it is increasingly a matter of chance.
6. The curries come swimming in lakes of animal fat and ghee (clarified butter). They say it is healthy and was an aphrodisiac in the ancient times. I am not so sure of its powers now. So, you've been warned. You can drain the fat and ghee or go ahead and dunk your bread (roti) in it.
7. Generally, the quality of commercially sold raw chicken in India is dubious. So, I recommend the mutton menu.
8. Visit this outlet only if you are really hungry. Not otherwise.
9. The raw onion rings are carelessly served and so you might want to send them back. But I am not sure if the replacement would be any better.
10. Their green chutney is fiery. Indulge in it only if you can stomach it.
11. The entrance to the outlet is through a narrow slum lane that is always bursting with male Muslims. It can look scary and feel claustrophobic. Women are more uncomfortable given the circumstances, although Muslim local women in burqa do visit with families.
12. The decor is from the late 1970s and early 1980s. So, don't expect to see anything uplifting. Just bend your neck and eat your way through the menu.
13. They never play music and the staff is always running around.
14. Even if you are not Indian, regular drinking water is safe. You don't have to buy bottled drinking water.
15. Expect your food to arrive about 20 minutes after they process your order. So, find something to do in the meantime.
16. This is not the iconic Karim's of global fame from the 1980s. This is purely commercial 2018 food. Keep your expectations low and you'll be okay.
17. Lastly, empty your bladder before you venture here. Their washrooms are...

Went to Karim's jama masjid on 9th April and it was not a good experience. Even after reading the reviews saying that not to expect the five star hospitality(even though they charge like one) I kept my expectations really low and EVEN then I was disappointed with the service. Waiter didnot clean our table and didn't even take orders for like 30minutes(had to wait 30minutes before that to get a table) 1 hour gone. Ordered the classics "Mutton Burra", "Chicken Stew","Mutton Seekh Kabab"(it was finished so had to settle with shalmi Kabab or something like that) and "Romalli Roti" then waiter messed up our order with someone else's and finally waiting for like 1hour and 20minutes we had our food on our table. Now let's review the food. Mutton Burra: 490rs for full plate and they bring medium to small size Mutton pieces taste is good but still overpriced. Chicken stew: biggest disappointment ever 290rs full plate for just 2 medium size chicken pieces and then that blatant taste.(it is sweet by the way even though I saw chillies floating in my stew) Mutton shalmi Kabab: I have seen finger fries longer than that and they charge 50rs for single piece another disappointment. Romalli Roti: this was the best item that I got.

After all this they don't accept card payment(even after demonetization fiasco) and their Paytm was not working at that time. Luckily we had some 1500rs.

New this doesn't mean you should not go there. Everybody should try this kind of overpriced,mediocre taste food once in a while so that you appreciate your own locality's Kabab centre. Even crtics have to read to worst books and see bad movies to rate them but I'm never spending my own money on...

If there had been any Temple of non veg food, this branch of Karim's would surely take the crown. Situated in the oldest part of delhi, this outlet is all and all about it's mughals delicacies. I have eaten here innumerable times and the experience has always been better than the best.

For snacks, the raan and the burra rule the palate. The Raan needs to be ordered a day ahead but it's super delicious and worth its prep time!! Burra is good too, it satiates your appetite to the core. Kebabs are soft and succulent and they simply melt away once they r in your mouth. Special mention to the Galauti served here since this too is top quality and one of the best of delhi. In main items, the qormas (Mutton/chicken) and the chicken jehangiri are always awesome. However do try the mutton stew which is best lightest non veg dish I have ever come across with whole spices and ghee. I am so in love with it that I always tend to order it whenever I can visit thi temple!!! Do also try the khameeri and sheermal (sweet roti) with the delicacies and of course the biryani which the lightest dish out here full of flavours.

This restaurant is highly recommended from my end for any meals - breakfast lunch or dinner. If possible go in groups since then you can eat more...