Cool mountain air, greenery spreading in every direction, and a plate of piping hot chicken sitting right in front of you. That is the picture that stays in the heart of almost every traveller who comes to Dehradun. The Doon Valley has long been known for its natural beauty and calm surroundings, but over the past few years the city has also carved out a reputation as a major food destination. For those who love non-veg food, and chicken in particular, there is no shortage of choices here. The popular Middle Eastern chicken shawarma, the traditional Nepali chicken sekuwa, Rajpur Road's well-known KC chicken soup, the Afghani momo at Angeethi Restaurant and the chicken biryani from Biryani Man have all become part of the city's favourite menu.
Where to go for shawarma
If you want chicken shawarma with a Lebanese flavour, ‘Shawarma King by Singh’ in Nehru Colony and Dharampur is the most loved spot in the city. Beyond that, ‘Dubai Shawarma’ on Rajpur Road, ‘Shawarma Darbar’ near Darshan Lal Chowk and several food stalls on Neshvilla Road also serve excellent shawarma. In short, enthusiasts have plenty of places to pick from.
How shawarma is actually made
Shawarma is in fact a hugely popular Middle Eastern street food. It begins with boneless chicken being marinated in curd, garlic, lemon juice and special Arabic spices. The chicken is then cooked slowly on a vertical rotisserie, which leaves it juicy on the inside and lightly crisp on the outside. Once done, it is sliced into thin pieces and tucked into pita bread or rumali roti. Finally, garlic sauce, mayonnaise, cabbage, onion and vegetables like capsicum are added to put together a tasty roll.
The tangy chicken soup at KC Soup Bar
Tucked into the Jakhan area of Rajpur Road, ‘KC Soup Bar’ is counted among the most talked-about food joints in Dehradun. Its chicken soup is prepared with chicken stock, black pepper, bay leaf and spices like ginger and garlic, after which fine shreds of chicken are mixed in. The real heart of this soup is its spicy, tangy taste. Just before serving, butter, green chilli vinegar, soy sauce and crushed black pepper are added on top, deepening the flavour even further.
Tandoori chicken at Rajdhani Chicken Point
For tandoori chicken with a smoky flavour, ‘Rajdhani Chicken Point’ in the Inamullah Building is a name that comes up often. Here the chicken is first scored and marinated with lemon, salt and ginger-garlic paste. After that it is left for a few hours in a mixture of curd, Kashmiri red chilli, garam masala, kasuri methi and other spices. Then comes the traditional tandoor, where butter is brushed on during cooking so that the chicken turns out juicy and smoky. It is served with chutney and onion, and a half plate of tandoori chicken here costs around 200 rupees.
The juicy chicken momos at The Momo Cafe
Dehradun's food story stays incomplete without chicken momos. If you feel like eating good chicken momos, ‘The Momo Cafe’ in Jakhan on Rajpur Road is a fine choice. The momos here are famous for their thin layer and juicy stuffing. The filling uses chicken along with onion, garlic, ginger, green chilli and spices. The momos are then steamed for 10 to 12 minutes. The finished momos are presented with a spicy red chutney and mayonnaise, which lift their taste even further.
