Makhan Lal Tika Ram Milk Puri Wala

The shop at 1259/60 in Bara Bazar has been here through so many seasons. Kashmere Gate is always crowded, and we are right in the middle of that rush. From the early morning, we are getting the milk ready and heating up the large vats. The smell of frying puris fills the space and drifts out into the street. It’s a small place, so people are often standing around or squeezed into the few spots we have. We don’t have fancy menus or decorations. It’s just the food and the people who come to eat it. The tiles on the walls have seen better days, and the fans are always spinning to keep the heat away from the big kadhais. We’ve seen generations of families stop by here. Some people used to come as kids with their grandfathers and now they bring their own children. Bara Bazar is noisy and loud, but inside the shop, there is a different kind of rhythm. The clinking of plates and the sound of the oil bubbling is constant. We start our day while most of the city is still sleeping. By the time the markets open up, we are already in full swing. It’s hard work standing near the heat all day, but it’s what we do. We just keep the milk fresh and the puris coming out hot for whoever walks through the door.