Old Delhi Food Tour: Street Food, Spice Market & Rickshaw Ride

Fifteen thousand people eat free every day at the Gurdwara kitchen you'll visit.

A three-hour food and cultural activity in Old Delhi where you taste tried-and-tested street food from generations-old vendors, visit a Sikh Gurdwara and its massive community kitchen, explore Asia's largest spice market, and ride a rickshaw through the bazaar. The experience includes samosa, jalebi, parantha, daal, lassi or chai, and a live English-speaking guide. You can choose between the full food tour or a guide-only option without meals.

The experience

Three hours covers a lot of ground in Old Delhi. You'll taste food from vendors who've been running the same stall for decades (samosa, jalebi, kachori, aloo tikki, chole bhature, parantha) stopping to learn what makes each one work and why the recipe hasn't changed. The guide walks you through the logic of Old Delhi's food culture: which dish pairs with which, what the secret ingredients are, how families have protected their methods. This isn't a sit-down meal. It's moving through the market, eating as you go, and understanding why people line up at these particular spots.

The Sikh Gurdwara stop shifts the day. You'll see the kitchen where 15,000 people eat free every day: volunteers preparing, serving, and cleaning in a rhythm that has run the same way for years. You can volunteer yourself if you want to be part of it, or simply watch and eat roti and daal rice there. It's a working space, not a museum, and the guide explains what you're standing inside: a religious practice built around feeding anyone who walks through the door, no questions asked.

Asia's largest spice market comes next. The guide explains why Old Delhi uses the spices it does, which ones go into which dishes, how they're stored, what they cost, how to spot quality. Then you ride a rickshaw through the bazaar itself, moving through the noise and the crowd the way locals do. The route includes a view from a rooftop (the spice market and Old Delhi spread out below), and passes the Red Fort, a 370-year-old mosque, a Jain temple, and Chandni Chowk. The guide gives tips on negotiating prices and moving through markets without overpaying, practical knowledge that carries beyond the tour.

Inclusions are WiFi, all the food tastings, Indian beverages, and mineral water. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a camera. The guide will tell you when to remove shoes for the temple. You can book the full experience with food or choose the guide-only option without meals at checkout.

What’s included

• All food tastings including samosa, jalebi, parantha, roti, daal, and gulab jamun.
• Indian beverages (lassi or chai depending on season) and mineral water.
• visit to the Sikh Gurdwara and its community kitchen.
• Asia's largest spice market exploration.
• rickshaw ride through Old Delhi bazaar.
• rooftop views of the spice market and Old Delhi.
• passes by the Red Fort, a 370-year-old mosque, Jain temple, and Chandni Chowk.
• live English-speaking guide.
• tips on negotiating prices in Indian markets.
• WiFi.

Options for this experience

2 options

Includes guide fee; food not includedGuide in English · 09:00, 12:00 and 15:30Guide fee only, food not included

Old Delhi food tour featuring a spice market, temples and a rickshaw rideGuide in English · 09:00, 12:00 and 15:30

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Lasts 3h, runs every day at 09:00, 12:00 and 15:30, from US$ 22 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 12 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 12:00 and 15:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (25 to 59 years) · Senior (60 to 85 years) · Youth (17 to 24 years) · Child (3 to 16 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Infant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Explore Real India

Is this one for you?Book the full food tour if you want to taste the dishes that define Old Delhi and understand why vendors have kept their recipes unchanged for generations. Choose the guide-only option if you prefer to explore the culture, spice market, and Gurdwara without the food tastings.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (17 to 24 years); Child (3 to 16 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What street foods will I actually taste on the Old Delhi food tour?

You'll taste samosa, jalebi, kachori, aloo tikki, chole bhature, parantha, roti, daal, and gulab jamun (all from established vendors in Old Delhi) plus lassi or chai depending on the season. The guide explains the history and secret ingredients of each one.

Can I volunteer at the Sikh Gurdwara kitchen, or do I just watch?

You can volunteer if you want to help prepare or serve food in the kitchen where 15,000 people eat free daily, or you can simply observe and eat roti and daal rice there. It's your choice how you participate.

How long is the rickshaw ride through Old Delhi?

The rickshaw ride is part of the three-hour experience and takes you through the bazaar, past Chandni Chowk, the Red Fort, a 370-year-old mosque, and a Jain temple. It's woven into the full route rather than a separate segment.

What's the difference between the two tour options at checkout?

The full Old Delhi Food Tour includes all tastings, meals, and beverages. The Guide Fee Included option is the same experience without food. Both include the Gurdwara visit, spice market, rickshaw ride, and rooftop view.

What should I wear and bring for this tour?

Wear comfortable shoes. You'll walk through markets and remove shoes inside the temple. Bring a camera, hand sanitizer, and napkins or wet wipes. Dress conservatively, especially when visiting the Gurdwara and temples.