Kake Di Hatti, serving big naans with bigger hearts

While walking through the lanes of Asia' biggest spice market, Khari Baoli in Chandni chowk, you can easily come across the small yet very popular restaurant, 'Kake di Hatti'. Brandishing an all-vegetarian menu, the place is known for not compromising on the taste of its food. While their veg currys and other servings are just as lip-smacking as it gets, it is however their massive naan that steals the show. Stuffed with aaloo, paneer, onion and whatnot, they serve around 33 varieties of naan in different sizes.

With a worn-out facade like most of the buildings in Old Delhi, this restaurant starts welcoming people from around 10 in the morning every day.

Atop a tandoor set just at the entrance of the restaurant sits a man preparing the parathas and naans while the others also prepare for the day, cutting vegetables and kneading the dough. While the restaurant opens at 10, it doesn't serve anything apart from paranthas and a couple of other breakfast items till 12.

The main seating is on the first floor in a relatively humble and basic setting. But no one comes here for the ambiance. The food lovers who come here are drawn to their heavy-duty stuffed naans and paranthas. The highlight of the menu is the dhuandhar naan. As the name suggests in Hindi, it is so hot that it makes smoke come out of your eyes, nose and ears. Try it at your own risk.

It is a family-run business. “My great grandfather, Sahib Singh started this business 81 years ago in 1942. After him, Bhagwan Singh, my grandfather handled the business, followed by my father Jaspal Singh. Now, I am carrying this legacy forward.", says Gurdeep Singh, owner of the shop.

They have many varieties of dal and sabzi too, which include Dal Makhni, Dal Fry, Matar Paneer, Channa Masala, Mixed Veg and many more. Their variety of naan is also extensive, including Dhuandhaar Naan, Matar Paneer Naan, Aloo pyaj Naan, Garlic Naan, Hariyali Naan, Gobi Naan, and many more. “The weight of our naan is 600 grams, equal to six chapatis made at home,” says Gurdeep.

What started in pre Independence era as a small road side restaurant, is now one of the biggest North Indian gourmet restaurant chains across India!