The Oudh: A royal Awadhi dining experience in the heart of Delhi

The Oudh: A royal Awadhi dining experience in the heart of Delhi

At the gateway to New Delhi’s premier attractions, The Oudh restaurant at The Ashok, New Delhi, stands as a beacon of royal Awadhi cuisine, offering an authentic Awadhi dining experience that transports guests to the regal courts of Lucknow. Celebrated as the best Awadhi food in Delhi, The Oudh preserves the rich culinary heritage of Awadh through traditional recipes and time-honoured cooking techniques passed down by generations of master chefs, known as bawarchis.

What is the history of Awadhi cuisine?

Awadh is the erstwhile name of a region in North India, around Lucknow, boasting a rich cultural legacy deeply intertwined in literature, art and gastronomy. Awadhi cuisine is renowned for its sophisticated flavours and meticulous culinary etiquette, which flourished during the reign of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, the last Nawab of Awadh. At the core of this tradition lies the Dum Pukht technique — slow cooking in a sealed clay pot (degh or handi), allowing ingredients to simmer gently in their own juices over charcoal heat. This method imparts tender textures and rich aromas that define the essence of royal Awadhi dining.

Royal Awadhi dishes at The Oudh

At The Ashok, New Delhi, The Oudh preserves a legacy of its own. For decades, it has offered a diverse menu that caters to vegetarian, eggless, and non-vegetarian palates, and now vegan as well — all crafted with authentic Awadhi flair. Specialties like the Shahi Zafrani Murgh showcase succulent chicken marinated in a luxurious cashew nut paste and saffron, roasted in a traditional clay oven. The iconic Galavat Kabab features minced mutton blended with aromatic herbs and spices, expertly cooked on a griddle to perfection.

For curry enthusiasts, Murgh Fatimi stands out as an exotic chicken delicacy paying homage to Awadhi chefs’ artistry. Other must-try dishes include Nihari Gosht, Koh-e-Daliganj, and Oudhi Qorma, each a testament to the region’s culinary legacy. Vegetarian offerings including signature dishes such as Tohfa-e-Noor (saffron-flavoured cottage cheese rolls stuffed with khoya and nuts), Dal Oudhi (a rich black lentil specialty), and Aminabadi Khumb (herb-marinated mushrooms) highlight the restaurant’s commitment to variety and authenticity.

No Awadhi meal is complete without savouring biryanis at The Oudh. The Murgh Biryani and Teh Biryani are celebrated staples that exemplify the traditional Awadhi biryani and quorma experience. Complement your meal with specialty breads like Gilafi Kulcha, Warqi Parantha, and Sheermal, alongside vegan delights such as Oudhi Naan and Pudina Parantha.

A sweet finale: Traditional desserts 

Cap off your royal dining experience in New Delhi with The Oudh’s exquisite desserts. Indulge in Malpua Rabri, sweet pancakes soaked in creamy rabri; Khush Zaiqa, delicate milk dumplings fried and soaked in sugar syrup; Gulab Kheer, a fragrant rose-flavoured rice pudding; or Muzaffar, an Awadhi style vermicelli dish garnished with nuts.

Savour authentic Awadhi cuisine in Delhi

The Oudh offers a luxury Indian cuisine restaurant ambience paired with impeccable service. It is among the top restaurants for authentic Awadhi cuisine near the Diplomatic Enclave, making it an ideal destination for those wondering where to eat biryani or craving shorbas and kababs in Delhi.

How to Reach: The Oudh is located in Chanakyapuri at The Ashok, New Delhi. The nearest metro station is Lok Kalyan Marg Metro Station.

Address: The Ashok, 50-B, Niti Marg, Diplomatic Enclave, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021

Contact: 011-26110101

Timing: 11 am – 11pm

Available on Swiggy and Zomato.