Ganesh Restaurant or Ganeshi Macchiwala – Karol Bagh’s Tandoori & Fried Delights

Ganesh Restaurant Karol Bagh, 2298, Gurudwara Road Chowk, Karol Bagh, New Delhi Review

Ganesh Restaurant Karol Bagh or Ganeshi Machhiwala stands at a corner of Gurudwara Road Chowk, Karol Bagh. I have been eating at Ganeshi from times when the cars on the road were much lesser and focus was just tandoori fish. So, Ganeshi of yesteryears is now known as – Ganesh Restaurant.

Ganesh Restaurant was set up by late Hari Chand popularly known as Ganeshi. Back then the fried fish was the most popular on the menu, he was also called Ganeshi Macchiwala. He was also known not to use ladles to scop out the frying fish, instead, he used to dish out the fish by dipping his hands in boiling oil. I have known the food at this joint historically and contemporarily and it is still outstanding. Essentially, a non-vegetarian’s delight, the place excels itself in all types of meat dishes be it be fish, chicken, or mutton; kebabs or curries.

Ganesh is also one of the main reasons for traffic snarls in this area of Karol Bagh. Because of this, a traffic cop is always parked right outside the restaurant. In fact, this lucky cop stays busy all the time cutting challans or parking tickets as they are known in the US. Hence, I am sure that his targets are done in no time at all.

The people who eventually receive these tickets stay oblivious in the interim. They are presently gorging on those gorgeous kebabs at Ganesh’s air-conditioned hall. Yes, Ganesh is no longer just a takeaway now.

Not that I am complaining much since Rajat and I were parked safely and tandoori fish and the seekh kebabs were still as good. And since his air-conditioned chamber was a relief for us heat ravaged, food was tasting even better. So did you know that you can order fish by the kilo at Ganesh Restaurant Karol Bagh? I bet you didn’t.

Since our work was over we decided to lunch at Ganesh even though it was beyond lunchtime. To my surprise, the chutney was still as good and the seekh kebabs as yum. In fact, I really wish Ganesh starts selling his seekh kebabs raw for takeaways. I am so ready to buy them by the kilo and cook them at home in Gurgaon. The first two items arrived at the table with almost no delay, so that is good service. Because we were really hungry, we literally tore into the seekh kebabs and tandoori fish.

Finally, the chicken korma was on the table with crispy tandoori naans. The korma totally ceased to impress me, though Rajat & I still polished it off hungrily. And this was Rajat’s second lunch. The chicken korma was floating in a huge amount of oil, therefore a total put off. What I drained out from the container was enough to cook food for an entire battalion. The korma had no fragrance and the chicken was a bit pale. If the proprietors may have been telepathic and read my mind I am sure chicken may have got a bonus feed of vitamins and fat.

To Sum-It-Up: So feast on the fish, mutton seekhs, mutton tikka and even the egg pakora, if you must. And stay as close to the stuff from the tandoor. Finally, just give a royal pass to everything else on the menu. Remember Ganesh serves from 4 PM to 11 PM. Fried fish and Mutton Seekh kebabs are two must-have dishes.

More information about Ganesh Restaurant Karol Bagh