Delhi Food Awards 2026 Celebrates Culinary Heritage, Community, And The Future Of Food In The Capital

Food is never just about taste. It carries memory, shapes identity, and records how communities grow and change over time. Every dish holds traces of migration, tradition, and adaptation, making it one of the most meaningful ways to preserve a place’s cultural heritage. In a city like Delhi, where histories overlap and communities intersect, food acts as a living archive, telling stories that might otherwise be forgotten.

On March 28, that idea came alive at the fourth edition of the Delhi Food Awards 2026, held at Le Méridien New Delhi. Hosted by Delhi Food Walks, the event brought together several personalities, from chefs and restaurateurs to historians, journalists, street food legends, and digital creators, reflecting the many layers of the city’s food culture.

What set the evening apart was its inclusive spirit. With the motto of “Community First, Always”, the awards honoured a wide spectrum of culinary traditions, from the Sikh legacy of Sahni Fish and the Mughlai expertise of the Qureshi family to the Hindu roots of Brijwasi, the Buddhist heritage of the Bhutia family, and the iconic Sindhi flavours of Chaina Ram. Different communities, cuisines, and histories stood side by side, reinforcing the idea that Delhi’s food culture cannot be reduced to a single narrative.

From Street Stories To Digital Narratives

At the heart of this vision is Anubhav Sapra, who founded Delhi Food Walks in 2011 and has since played a key role in documenting the city’s culinary landscape. Opening the evening, he reflected on how the awards have grown from a street-focused initiative into a platform that captures the full breadth of Delhi’s food ecosystem.

Sapra’s work has long emphasised that food is inseparable from history and community. Through guided walks and digital storytelling, he has documented everything from street vendors preserving age-old recipes to evolving food practices shaped by migration and modern lifestyles. His approach mirrors a larger shift in how food is experienced today—not just through eating, but through storytelling across platforms.

This evolution was reflected in the event’s three panel discussions.

The first panel, focused on Food and Tourism, was moderated by Sourish Bhattacharyya, a veteran journalist and co-author of The Bloomsbury Handbook of Indian Cuisine. He was joined by Davinder Kumar, a National Tourism Award winner with over five decades of experience and currently Vice President at Le Méridien New Delhi and President of the Indian Culinary Forum; Karan Marwah, founder of FOODelhi and an early voice in India’s influencer space who has spent over a decade working in digital food communication, including collaborations with the Italian Embassy on culinary diplomacy; and Kartikeya Shankar, Associate Editor at Outlook Traveller.

The second panel, The Evolving Foodscape of Delhi, was led by Neha Vermani, a historian and Honorary Fellow at Durham University who studies the cultural and material history of Mughal South Asia, examining how historical food practices continue to influence identity today. She was joined by Manish Mehrotra, widely regarded as a pioneer of modern Indian gastronomy and former Culinary Director of Indian Accent and Comorin, now behind NISABA at Sunder Nursery; G Sri Ramya, who leads research-driven storytelling at Bruite Magazine, including global projects like “The Sound of Food” in collaboration with the University of Oxford; and Charmaine O’Brien, an Australian historian and author of Flavours of Delhi, who has spent over three decades documenting India’s food evolution, particularly the role of street food and urban villages in shaping the city’s future.

The final discussion, centred on Responsible Content Creation, was moderated by Triya Gulati, a journalist who tracks lifestyle and urban culture. The panel featured Priyanka Kapoor, founder of Dillifoodies, who has built a community of over three million followers by focusing on practical, family-friendly recipes for home cooks; Karan Malik, a Gen Z content creator known for his energetic and relatable storytelling style that prioritises authenticity over polish; and Gitanshu Jetly, a marketing leader at Hilton with experience across luxury hospitality and global retail brands like Nike and ITC, who advocates for transparency and long-term trust in digital communication.

Honouring Legacy While Shaping The Future Of Food

The evening’s most emotional moment came with a tribute to Vinod Dua, whose work in food journalism captured the everyday essence of India’s culinary traditions. The introduction of the Vinod Dua Lifetime Achievement Award, accompanied by cinematic short films, underscored the importance of documenting food not just as cuisine, but as culture.

Cultural storytelling extended beyond discussions, with a dastangoi performance by Nadeem Shah Suhrawardy and a special narration, Zabaan aur Zaiqa, weaving together language, memory, and taste. The evening concluded with a gala dinner featuring award-winning dishes and a showcase by Noori Masale, highlighting nearly a century of Mughlai spice craftsmanship.

The Winners

From street corners to fine dining tables, the winners reflected the sheer range of Delhi’s food scene. Among them were Mithlesh Ande Wala in Tilak Nagar for its egg preparations, Velox Restro Cafe in Daryaganj for biryani, and Hyd. Irani Cafe for its bun maska. Chicken Inn, with outlets in Pandara Road and Gurugram, was recognised for its butter chicken, while Mitra Di Chaap in Mayur Vihar stood out for its chaap. Vaishnav Chaat Bhandar in Kamla Nagar earned a spot for its chaat, alongside Shagun Restaurant in Hudson Lane for momos, Karim Hotels Pvt. Ltd. near Jama Masjid for mutton burra, and Kallu Nihari in Daryaganj for nihari. Representing the city’s upscale dining, Eau De Monsoon at Le Méridien New Delhi was awarded for “Best of India on a Plate,” bringing together regional flavours in a contemporary format.

Specialty Cuisine (Home Chef Edition)

• Himalayan/Nepali Cuisine: Arati Thapa 

• Lucknowi Cuisine: Mansi Seth Kapoor 

• Chettinad & Mangalorean Cuisine: Rekha Rigo 

• North-Indian Cuisine: Kanan Bala 

• Jain Cuisine: Alka Jain & Uma 

• Bihari Cuisine: Shachi Anand

Special Category Awards

• Hall of Fame: Chaina Ram Sindhi Halwai (Since 1901), Kuremal Mahavir Prasad Kulfi Wale (Since 1906)

• Vinod Dua Lifetime Achievement Award: Sh. Rahul Verma, Sh. Amitabh S., Haji Abdul Ghani Qureshi Sahab (Posthumously), Sh. Vijay Nischal

• Male Entrepreneur of the Year: Mohd. Farooq & Mohd. Sharooq (Seven Fries)

• Female Entrepreneur of the Year: Dickey C. Bhutia (Lha Kitchen)

• Content Creator of the Year (Male): Karan Malik

• Content Creator of the Year (Female): Suhana Nanda

In the end, the Delhi Food Awards 2026 was not just about recognition—it was about continuity. Bringing together communities, stories, and flavours, it reinforced the idea that food remains one of the most powerful ways to preserve heritage while adapting to the future, ensuring that the spirit of a place continues to live on through what we cook, share, and remember.

FAQs

1. What are the Delhi Food Awards 2026?

Delhi Food Awards 2026 is an event celebrating the capital’s culinary heritage, honouring chefs, street food vendors, and food creators.

2. Where was Delhi Food Awards 2026 held?

The event took place at Le Méridien New Delhi.

3. Who organises the Delhi Food Awards?

The awards are hosted by Delhi Food Walks, founded by Anubhav Sapra.

4. What makes Delhi Food Awards unique?

The awards focus on community-driven food culture, recognising both street food traditions and fine dining.

5. Which foods or places were recognised in 2026?

Winners included popular spots for biryani, butter chicken, chaat, momos, and traditional dishes across Delhi.