Updated: May 2026
Chandigarh’s largely underrated but burgeoning food scene encompasses a slew of local family-owned food joints, many of which have been around for decades. And with any new-age city, the hunger for trendy cafés and fine dining restaurants is on the rise. While the locals know the best places to go for meaty, buttery, rich North Indian cuisine, a first-timer to the city can suffer from FOMO! I spent around 3 days in the city, and thanks to the recommendations that poured in from my followers on Instagram, I managed to visit some of the best restaurants in Chandigarh:
Best Restaurants in Chandigarh
Gopal Sweets
This a/c, sit-down restaurant serves everything from North Indian to street food and is known for being the go-to place for a quick meal that never disappoints. If you manage to make it past their array of delicious-smelling mithai on display, try out their perfect Chole Bhature. Unlike the ginormous (and oily) bhature you find in Mumbai, this one was relatively guilt-free. I love Sweet Lassi and wasn’t a fan of the peppery one I got, though.
Baba Chicken, Mohali
Went for the Butter Chicken, but my order was apparently lost in translation, and I got the Butter Paneer instead. No complaints – it was delicious! But the highlight of the meal was undoubtedly the Afghan Chicken. Marinated in a deliciously rich cashew nut-cream marinade, and slightly charred at the edges, it was sublime! Being an establishment as old as 1964, they seem to have their recipes perfected.
Crown Patisserie, Sector 17
Walking into this pretty café was such a delight! Decorated in florals and touches of green, it has a variety of seating options and a fine menu. While the cappuccino was average, the rainbow cake was a surprise! Not only did it look beautiful, but it was indulgent, not too sweet, and ultra moist! Definitely a must try!
Bansal Amritsari Kulcha
Technically not in Chandigarh, but in neighbouring Panchkula, Bansal Amritsari Kulcha is my new addition to this blog post from my visit to Punjab two weeks ago, in Feb 2023. This hole-in-the-wall establishment is so nondescript that you’d never guess the insane variety of Kulchas that their menu features. It is said that one has to wait a long time to get in during meal times, but I visited mid-morning, and the place was less than half full. I got the Amritsari chur chur garlic kulcha with chai and it was divine!!
The hygiene is not the best, and the seating is a little uncomfortable, but the kulcha comes to you hot, crispy, and buttery, making you forget all about it. The chole and the watery tomato chutney could have been better. Paisa vasool, nonetheless.
Nagpal’s, Panchkula Sector 15
The place is tiny with two tables and about 8 chairs touching each other, and the kitchen overhead. When I visit places like these, i feel that this no-frills setup usually means the food is serious business. Nagpal’s has built quite the reputation over the years for its paneer-stuffed chole bhature, along with lassi, samosas, and kachoris that locals swear by.
The bhature arrived golden, fluffy, and lightly crisp, with tiny shreds of paneer tucked into the dough. Everything came in a plastic tray, giving it a very canteen or boarding-school mealtime feel. The only confusing part was the tiny serving of chole – I spent the meal rationing the measly chole portion carefully between the 2 bhature before realising refills were apparently an option. The staff came to our table just as I was polishing up my meal and asked if I wanted some more chole. Maybe ‘refills’ are common in the north, but as tourists, we genuinely didn’t know. For us, more of something means ordering an entire new portion. Still, the food itself was balanced and comforting without being overly greasy, and the lassi was light and refreshing, even if I’ve had better elsewhere, many times over.
Kake Da Hotel, Sector 28
We landed in Chandigarh at 9:30 PM and headed straight to Kake Da Hotel before even checking into our Airbnb – because Punjabi food after a flight just feels like therapy. Heavy? Absolutely. But when you’re in Punjab, calories become background noise. What makes Kake Da Hotel special is the history behind it. The brand dates back to 1931, when the restaurant first started in Lahore before Partition. It later reopened in Delhi’s Connaught Place in 1948 and slowly became one of North India’s most iconic old-school Punjabi eateries, famous for its slow-cooked gravies, rich dals and unapologetically buttery food.
The Chandigarh outlet carries that same old-world charm – warm lighting and slightly nostalgic interiors. The dal makhani was rich and smoky, the butter chicken comforting in all the right ways, and the naan came crisp, buttery and impossible to stop eating. Their mutton preparations were easily the highlight for me. Pair everything with a lime soda because you’ll need something to cut through all that richness. Desserts, however, can comfortably be skipped here.
More from Chandigarh?
This list barely scratches the surface of what Chandigarh offers, but it was all I could manage to do during my limited time over 2 trips to the city. Nevertheless, I’m sure I will make another trip back soon enough and have tons of other places to add! If you’ve got any suggestions for the next time, comment below – I’d appreciate the help!
Bye!