Dilli Diaries: The Best College Canteens In Delhi

What is the one thing you miss (or will miss) about your college? Not the classrooms, definitely not the lectures and not even the teachers – except for a few who helped you clear the exams or didn’t notice the gadget under your table. It will for sure be the college canteen, your favourite hangout spot. The place where you made your first friends outside of school, where you first bought your crush a samosa (with extra ketchup) and where you suddenly had to use the washroom when it was time to pay. These canteens in various colleges around Delhi made all those moments extra-special and also made sure that the time spent in college never went without a refreshing thanda.

1. St. Stephen’s College

It’s not a canteen, it’s a café. St. Stephen’s sprawling green lawns and beautiful buildings make it one of the fanciest colleges of Delhi University (DU) and their ‘cafeteria’ lives up to that image. Try the mince cutlets served with chutney and the cheese-scrambled egg is a hit here. Other favourites are chicken momos, samosa and chicken curry with rice.

2. Hansraj College

With a spacious and big hall that can seat up to 150 people, this canteen is known for hygienic and fresh food. The most popular combo here is the chocolate frappe with grilled sandwich. Also available on the list is some amazing South Indian food, Chinese and classic snacks such as cutlets, patties and muffins.

3. Sri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC)

One of the most prestigious institutions of the country, SRCC is known for its in-house amazing food and the famous Tom Uncle’s Maggi stall right outside its premises. The fact that the SRCC canteen is located in an entirely separate block speaks volumes about its prominence. This canteen is famous for its hot dogs, basketball egg sandwich & South Indian cuisine making it a big hit with all the students.

4. Delhi School of Economics

Also known as the D school (cool or what?), this college has a canteen loved by students all over the capital. At D School, over the years the legendary mutton cutlet, mutton dosa, strawberry jelly cream & masala Coke still pull in a sizeable crowd to the canteen every day & at times old students drop in to relive their college days.

5. Sri Venkateswara College

Serving aloo tikkis, masala maggi, samosas, fried rice & chai, Sri Venkateswara College or as it is lovingly called ‘Venky’ is amongst the best canteens in DU. More than anything else, it is known for its South Indian delicacies such as idli, vada, sambhar & dosa. And what’s more? Their menu changes according to the whims of the climate.

6. Lady Sri Ram College (LSR)

An ‘are you crazy’ look and disapproving nod to whoever calls it a canteen! LSR is another lavish college that refuses to stick to the word canteen and refers to it as the ‘Café’, which offers everything from butter chicken, rajma chawal, chicken tikka rolls & keema dosas to pizza & chilly chicken rice. They take pride in their lunch space & why shouldn’t they?

7. Ramjas College

This college is elaborate & ahead of its times with a five-star trained cook who is said to offer everything from Chinese to North Indian Thalis. Known for its fresh juice and ice cream counters, the canteen serves regional dishes from varied states keeping in mind the mixed bag of students that come here every year.

8. Pearl Academy

The highly coveted fashion institute prides itself with an equally swanky canteen. Pearl’s Delhi campus takes things a notch higher with its spacious terrace canteens (yes, there are more than one) that’ll serve you everything from the classic dip-dip tea and sandwiches to fancy vegetarian and non-vegetarian sizzler platters, biryani, burgers, and the works!