Nand Bhature wale di Hatti, winning hearts from Rawalpindi to Sadar Bazar

For many, hot, fluffy and crispy bhature with spicy chole could be Delhi's official street food. With its rich and reasonable price, it is offered along many popular chowks and markets.

However, when we think about chole bhature, garlic chutney and onion rings seem mandatory for enhancing the overall taste. Many cannot even begin to think of this Punjabi delicacy without these. Believe it or not, tucked between the lanes of Sadar Bazaar (Asia's biggest wholesaler market in Delhi) lies a tiny shop that has perfected this dish without using onion and garlic. We are talking about the famous Nand Bhature wale di Hatti.

Here at Nand Bhature, the perfect balance of the bhature and Pindi chole with some Mirchi on the top will make your taste buds dance. Their chole is made from a 70-year-old secret recipe that completely compensates for onion and garlic. Every day, a group of people gathers to enjoy bhature fried in desi ghee filling the air with a sumptuous aroma. The lack of seating area is no limitation here. Needless to say, it is one of the famous food joints in the Sadar Bazaar market.

But mind you, it is not just the recipe that makes this place palatable but a rich history of the Indian subcontinent that lasts over several decades. This legendary shop has long been winning people's hearts and has been from the time of Pre-Partition India. The shop has its roots in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Their shop was located in Jhelum Market(now in Pakistan) popularly known as the Jain market. They served chole bhature without onion garlic to the Jain community(then) in the area.

The shop's owner Bharat Makkar shares that the bhatura was originally started by their grandfather late Nand Lal Makkar. They brought the concept of fried bread, which goes well with the chana. He also told us how many people knew the chole recipe but did not know how to make bhaturas. Little did he know that one day he would be responsible for making Chole Bhature Delhhite's favourite Sunday brunch.

After the deadly partition of 1947, Nand Lal ran to India and started his business on the streets of Sadar. He also used to sell Meetha kulcha back in the early 50s.

Makkar says, "After him, the shop in Sadar Bazaar was started by my uncles Subhasprakash and Chanderprakash Makkar, and my father Surinderprakash Makkar who continued the legacy. My uncle left the state, and later my father and uncle took care of the shop. Now, here I am, the third generation taking care of the shop." Since then, the shop has faced uncertainties like family disputes. However, this has not affected their taste and quality, says Makkar.

After remaining in business for several decades, Makkar reveals some landmark moments. Some of them are how their chole bhature was catered at the wedding of Harbhajan Singh and Abhishek Bachchan. He also caters for many popular people and famous places. People from different states come to eat their renowned bhature with pindi chole.

If you ever visit Sadar bazaar market for shopping, do not forget to try desi ghee bhature with pindi chole at Nand Bhature di Hatti. The tiny eatery is sure to bind you in special flavours and some tales worth remembering.