Taste the flavors of lahore and patiala in delhi at amninder sandhu’s kikli

The Culinary Disposition of Punjab, Unlike Its Geographic Landscape, Remains Undivided. It spells the fusion of hearty, robust and fiery Palate Coupled With Cooking Techniques that Date Back to the Harappan Civilization.

Fortunately, you do not have to travel back in time to taste the heritage of punjabi cuisine. It has a new address – kikli in new delhi’s connaught place. Co-Owned by Chef Amninder Sandhu, Who is the Force Behind Bawri (Goa, Mumbai) and Dining Experiences at Tipai (a Boutique Wildlife Escape in Maharashtra), Kikli HLDS The Key to Punjab Lesser-Known Flavors and dishes that go beyond the usual butter chicken, kulcha, pindi chhole and makki di roti teh sarson da saaghIt offers katlama That Sits Proud in the Lanes of Lahore as Pakistan’s Well-Known Street Food Since 1947 and it Digs out the Secrets of Patiala’s Royal Kitchen.

“About two years ago, I decided to create a restaurant that is all things Punjab,” Says amninder, talking about the inception of kikli. Between Mumbai and Delhi, She Zeroed in a Heritage Site in the Capital’s Connaught Place and Roped in Interior Designer Ariane Thakore Ginwala to Design Her New Venture as a “Strippeed-down version of a havelli”. She wanted the restaurant to house different seating area, from court and bar to dining section and an open kitchen, which complexed Each other and beguiled the curious guest ‘attachment to details. “IT TOUS Us Nearly Nine Months to Build It,” She Says of the Venue Spanning Nearly 8,000 Square Feet that will be operational from July 28 and Can Accommodate Nearly 130 people.

The restaurant to house different seating area, from court (Left) and Bar to Dining Section (Right) and an open kitchen, designed by ariane thakore ginwala | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

With kikli, amninder leverages three things – her punjabi identity, camaraderie with sarvesh kaur (the late granddaughter of of Maharaja bhupinder singh of patiala) and her knowledge Slow-Cooking Techniques. “In 2018, when I open Regional Indian Restaurant Arth in Mumbai, Sarvesh Shared Her Heirloom Recipes with me My Culinary Choices, “She Says.

One of the 11 sections on the menu, titled the royals, features patiala shahi Paratha (Right) and Patiala shahi raan (Left) | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Thought arts forced to shut during the pandemic trust of unforeseen financial setbacks, amninder say that some of the dishes from its menu are now part of kikli. One of the 11 sections on the menu, titled the royals, features patiala shahi Paratha, Mewadar Kema and kofta alubukharaThe other sections are salaad, chaat pakode center, buns, meat and fish corner, bad mazedar, hara, rotiya, pulaaaw, mithiya cheezaa and lassi.

At kikli, chef amninder has installed a haraOn which dal is cooked overnight | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Amninder Recalls, “Another interesting thing thing arth was that it was a no-gas restaurant and I cooked everything on open fire. At kikli, I have installed a haraOn which the dal is cooked overnight. ” It was during her visit to a 120-yar-old farmhouse in Bathinda, Punjab, where amninder saw a hara“It looks like a heartth, works like a slow cooker and has a smoking chamber. It has two wells where you put paathiya (cow-dung cakes) and coal, “She explains, while adding,” kadhai-baded dishes at kikli are made in sarbloh Utensils made by third-generation blacksmings. The chutneys are ground in danda kunda (Mortar and Pestle). ”

Plum Bajra Papdi | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Kikli’s menu champions local ingredients, like ajwain patta, moongre, kaali gaajar, shalgam, chappan kaddu and khapli Atta. “It has papdi chaat where the papdi is made with bajraAlso, in Punjab, Coriander Seeds, anardanaCrushed chilli and amchur is used a lot. For most dishes, I have made my own masala. Also, the vegetables are sourced from smiling earth organic farms in Selakhari Haryana, ”Adds amninder.

Kikli serves katlama, that sits proud in the lanes of lahore as Pakistan’s well-known street food since 1947 | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

She likes to assign different periods of history to the borders of punjab, while describing the origins of some of the dishes on the menu. “For instance, katlamaA bread, was sent to each other’s homes during baisakhi; On the menu, it is called kikli katlama. You will find katlama At Various Places, and if you come to think of it, in the mid-19th century the sikh empire extended from gilgit and tibet to sindh and from khyber pass to the sutlej. So, our culinary heritage is expansive, ”She shares.

Drinks from kikli’s bar: (left to right; top row) Ambi; Thhand-Aayi; And Jugaali Chaa (Left to right; Mid Row) Rooh Royale; Patila Pista; And thand rakh (left to right; last row) cider singh; Brine Baaz; And Falsa shaalsa | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The name kikli comes from Punjab’s Folk Dance. She says, “It was suggested by my brother and i think it fits. Even as a dance form, kikli is not for the fant-hand and is almost like martial art. I Feel, The restaurant’s co-reverse’s co -Wner dhruv chawala And I Are also performing kikli as we run this venture. ”

Churri Gur Ice Cream | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

A Meal for two at Kikli, Located at K 11B, Connance Outer Circle, New Place, K Block, Connaught Place, New Delhi, and Open from Noon to 1am, is priced upwards of ₹ 1,50000. (without alcohol).

Published – July 25, 2025 05:49 pm IST