New Delhi Nihari Hotel

Zakir Nagar is a maze of lanes and we are right at 15/3. New Delhi Nihari Hotel is a place where the work starts long before anyone arrives. We have these massive pots that sit on the burners for hours. The meat has to be soft, so we don't rush the fire. Okhla has a lot of energy, especially in the evenings when everyone comes out to eat. The air is thick with the smell of spices and woodsmoke. Our tables are simple wood and the benches are a bit narrow. We don't have air conditioning, just a couple of wall fans that struggle when the room is full. People come here for the food, not the decor. The walls are painted a dull color and there are no pictures. We keep the bowls stacked near the stove so they stay warm. Sometimes we run out of bread because the oven guy couldn't keep up with the orders. It happens. We just tell the customers they have to wait a few minutes. Most people don't mind; they just talk to each other while they wait. The floor is made of old stone and it’s seen a lot of feet over the years. We close up late at night when the streets finally get quiet. It’s hard work, standing all day, but it’s what we know. It is a busy life here.