[MX6]

Doc. Just saw this thread on the hot threads list! Slurrp. Mouthwatering dishes you've put here. Especially the Jalebi. And what a title you've conjured up with. Oh man. Extreme creativity. Indeed makes it join the HOT thread!
Any trips planned to Pune/ Mumbai again? The last time we could just catch up for tea. Next time, lets make it an 8 course meal Doc.

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by MX6

Doc. Just saw this thread on the hot threads list! Slurrp...And what a title you've conjured up...
Indeed makes it join the HOT thread!

Thanks for the compliments, MX6! Didn't know / expect it to get on to the hot threads list.

Originally Posted by MX6

Any trips planned to Pune/ Mumbai again? The last time we could just catch up for tea. Next time, lets make it an 8 course meal Doc.

Now THAT is seriously tempting. Pune trip will happen next summer (2012), and you can bet I'll take you up on your promise!

[MX6]

Doc. Just put some pics of the famous pickles. That would make it super hot and spicy. BTW, I've shifted to HVKland. No more in Pune. But yeah, summer of 2012, we will do the 8 course stuff.

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by MX6

Doc. Just put some pics of the famous pickles.

That would make it super hot and spicy. BTW,
You missed this...

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

Oh, and I thoroughly enjoyed the variety of achaar (pickles) served gratis...
Attachment 838461

Originally Posted by MX6

I've shifted to HVKland. No more in Pune.

Hmm... that would require some additional planning!

[ra'ul M]

Quite a nice thread there Sir.
Being a die hard foodie myself I will add a few things.
1. Almost all the dhabas around Murthal serve similar fare. Pahalwan is amongst the best there. There used to be a time when the food was great and the dhabas were fresh, airy and cheap. It's a little different now though all is not lost. The makkhan, lassi and paranthas are still amazing .
2. A relatively new option, but Matar Kulcha [I don't know why its called that because there is no matar!] at the Haveli open air is dhaba like, delicious and hygienic.
3. I haven't been there in a long time but Karnal dairy used to have great lassi and milk products. I hope it's still the same. Not verified.
4. For a meat lover, Puran Singh Ka Dhaba is still a very good option. The positives are extremely well cooked chicken, mutton and related dishes. Even their dal is surprisingly good. All the spices are home ground. The negatives are complete lack of ambiance [read hygiene], hard on the stomach due to the crude nature of spices used and a relatively small window of eating opportunity. Everything said and done, try it once at least.
5. There is another dhaba by the name of Prince Dhaba near Shahbad [?] which serves some nice fare.
6. A restaurant by the name of Choupal, also near Ambala, has amazingly crisp and delicious desi ghee jalebi's and great ambience.


Apart from these, it is just standard fare [although good] dotting the highway and nothing to write home about until you reach Punjab on NH1. Then it becomes a totally different story

P.S.- Sorry for not adding GPS links. I do not know how to do that. Also, my suggestions include places lining the highway only [no detour except for the dairy] and which also have something unique to offer.

Hope it satisfies some hungry souls!

[lordofgondor]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

I do not remember a time when we had made any particular effort to explore the cuisine served up in the dhabas dotting this highway...

With this note, rose the daemon in my stomach and demanded that the pit be filled by tasty dhaba meats!

Yo Doc, thanks for this log. It's a real tummy instigator and I've already formed (and forming) plans for scouting various NH's adjacent to NCR for non-veg affairs.

EDIT: Regarding the Puran Singh debate; I've tasted three different ones (including the original) and my observations are:

1. Nothing beats the mutton curry of the original one (not on the main road, next to an empty lot, open till ~4 PM).
2. The chicken curry of the biggest on the main road was the best in IMHO.
3. Tandoori chicken was pretty much the same on all three.

[Sugeeta]

Originally Posted by ra'ul M

6. A restaurant by the name of Choupal, also near Ambala, has amazingly crisp and delicious desi ghee jalebi's and great ambience.

Chaupal serves some really good tea.

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by ra'ul M

...until you reach Punjab on NH1. Then it becomes a totally different story

Could you please offer some inputs on the places in Punjab too? A screenshot of Google maps with the place marked out will also do, even if GPS links are not available. And pics of the place, including the stuff you've been enjoying all by yourself. Allow us to drool too!

[SS-Traveller]

Christmas Day was bright and sunny - a beautiful day to go foodhunting once again on NH1. The destination: Zhilmil Dhaba on the other side of Karnal - and look at what we found!

The morning began with homemade sandwiches for breakfast, consumed in the car

Chicken parathas slathered in white butter

Chicken pakodas, accompanied by papad and onions

Sadly, the pickles now come in little pre-packed plastic bubbles, and the superb taste of in-house fresh pickles is missing

The chai is as excellent as ever though

The Japanese influence on Indian fruits produces sake??

[SS-Traveller]

Our destination is the Zhilmil Dhaba after Karnal - hopefully, the original one. But just in case you feel bad about my having bypassed your favourite dhaba, here's some dhaba-spotting that we did along the way.

Between Murthal and Panipat, in order of appearance

Pahalwan Dhaba and Mahadev Dhaba

Gulshan Dhaba and Zimindara Dhaba

Mangla Veg Dhaba

No. 1 Ahuja Dhaba (very popular)

(Fake) Jhilmil Veg Dhaba

Sukhdev Dhaba (again, quite popular, given the number of cars parked outside)

Haveli

Sheesh Mahal

Kanak Garden

Chokhi Dhani