Sita Ram Diwan Chand's Chole Bhature

Chole Bhature is one of the special dishes that everyone should taste if they are in Delhi. One should never miss the taste of Sita Ram Diwan Chand’s Chole Bhature. What is their story and how did they become one of the best spots in Delhi for this delicacy? Let us find out.

A Lip-smacking plate of Chole Bhature. Image: Wikipedia

One dish that is a staple breakfast meal for the North Indians, especially in Delhi has to be the freshly fried Bhatura with the right mix of masala and spice in the Punjabi chole. Personally, even if I sleep at four in the morning, I would wake up at seven just to eat these mouth-watering spicy Chole Bhature.

One thing that intrigues every Delhiite is how different yet similar each Chole Bhature stand is. Every restaurant that specialises in the art of cooking Chole Bhature has a secret family recipe that runs down generations. The love of the running-down generations along with their secret spices is what makes this delicacy the face of North India. Today, let us revisit the journey of one such restaurant that has made its name on the streets of Paharganj and has become one of the most famous Chole Bhature joints in Delhi- Sita Ram Diwan Chand.

It all began during the years of Partition when the two countries were surrounded by havoc and despair. People survived on the minuscule moments of happiness they could gather and food became the reason for a smile. These years saw the coming up of various food joints and eateries that are

today revered as the food of Delhi. That is when Sitam Ram Diwan Chand also came into being.

During the years of 1970s, Sita Ram and Diwan Chand, two brothers who had shifted from Pakistan to India during the partition decided to continue their legacy of cooking and selling food as they and their ancestors used to do in Pakistan. They decided to sell Chole Bhature opposite the DAV school in Paharganj. Their location of the restaurant? A bicycle.

Their authentic touch and lip-smacking taste made it one of the most loved eating joints in the vicinity. Sita Ram and Diwan Chand gained popularity for their Chole Bhature they deserved. No less than a decade, they decided to shift their cycle stall to a proper concrete that was convenient and a ladder upon their success scale as well. They put up their new stall opposite to the once-famous Imperial Cinema in Paharganj.

This move meant that now there was no going back. They gained even more customers than they did before. Soon, people not only from Paharganj but all-around Delhi came to get their hands on this one-of-a-kind delicacy. They bought another shop in 1990 and established a brand for their Chole Bhature.

Three generations of their family have been working under the banner of Sita Ram Diwan Chand, providing people with the taste of Delhi and becoming a famous Chole Bhature spot all over the country. Initially, people used to buy Chole Bhature just in a few paisas. However, now Sita Ram sells their popular dish for sixty-five rupees.

They have started expanding their geographical location, stepping outside their home-Paharganj and opening up shops in Paschim Vihar and Pitampura in Delhi. This move made their Chole Bhature even more accessible to the people who started depending on Sita Ram Diwan Chand for their Sunday breakfast. Well, that became the case for me at least.

Their growth and the level of dedication towards their food and restaurant are quite commendable. If you ever decide to visit Delhi, you should try their Chole Bhature out.