For Indian food to taste delicious, the three main ingredients of a majority of the recipes are salt, oil, and spices. Similarly, for the road trip to become memorable, the three central elements are good company, smooth and comfortable drive and en-route roadside eateries called the Dhabas. Stationed on almost all highways in India, these joints have become an integral part of any road excursion. Moreover, no motorway voyage is considered enjoyable and successful unless there have been a couple of pit stops for fuelling the gruelling stomach at the understated shacks. They may not look top-notch or grand, but the traditional experience and the food they offer have the most authentic taste, the vibrancy of the region and are filled with a lot of buttery white love.
So, in case you are planning your next road trip to or from Punjab highways, let's look at a list of 6 famous Highway Dhabas that you ought to stop by before you reach your final destination-
1. Amrik Sukhdev Dhaba
Established almost 50 years ago, Amrik Sukhdev is located on NH1 and is unlike a traditional roadside eating place. It is sophisticated, has uniformed servers, wooden tables and chairs, and air conditioning to beat the heat.
The Dhaba had a humble beginning as it initially only catered to the needs of truck drivers, who would halt to stretch after a long yet comfortable drive of the BharatBenz Heavy Duty Commercial Trucks on a charpoy and eat a delicious meal of a dal, roti, sabzi and rice. But, over the years, its popularity grew among other travellers too, and today, it is a famous stopover spot that offers a wide variety of both north and south Indian delicacies and even serves global flavours like Chinese, Continental, etc.
A significant landmark on the GT Road, Sukhdev Ka Dhaba is a must-try when travelling between New Delhi and Punjab. Do order their Amritsari Kulcha, Aaloo Paratha, Mix Paratha, Lassi and sweet milky tea.
2. Haveli Heritage
When driving from Delhi towards Ambala, Chandigarh, Shimla or Amritsar, a great place to take a break is the Haveli Heritage. Though not in the category of authentic dhabas anymore, the Karnal Haveli is grand and modelled around the theme of a Punjab village. It has a decorated life-size truck, an artificial well, colourful bangles, etc. that add to the ethnicity of the place. The eating joint serves a wide variety of authentic Punjabi vegetarian cuisine. It is famous for its tasty tandoori stuffed paranthas with curd and tea, ample parking space, clean washrooms and an amusement park for children. Do try their Kadhi and Amritsari Chole.
3. Lucky Dhaba
If you are travelling on a highway from Delhi to Chandigarh, you must stop at Lucky Dhaba for its scrumptious stuffed paranthas and the fresh white butter. Operating since 1967, the owners adapted to the changing times as they renovated the dhaba to give it an updated appearance by adding air conditioning, comfortable tables and chairs and other modern amenities. But, they kept one thing intact, and that is the food, which even today is as appetising as ages back. This easily located eatery on the highway is highly recommended for its breakfast and a cup of steaming chai that can unquestionably give anyone's day the right kick-start.
Do try their mix vegetable, yellow daal, and varieties of Missi Roti, Tandoori Roti and LacchaParanthas.
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4. Pahalwan Dhaba
This Dhaba has over the years gained the reputation of being one of the prominent eateries to halt at in Murthal. Though, overlooked earlier because of competitors in the area, today, this place has earned a name for serving pure and high-quality food by replacing many of its ingredients with healthier options. For instance, it uses organic food colour, does not use Ajinomoto, provides honey as a substitute for sugar in jalebi and tea, and cooks in mustard oil instead of refined oil. It also offers impeccable hospitality, a mix of traditional and modern cuisine and has a committed staff that focuses on serving the travellers well.
Some of the famous dishes at Pahalwan'sdhaba are special Veg Thali, hot Paneer ka Parantha with freshly prepared butter and Special Honey Tea. Do give this place a try when travelling to Chandigarh from Delhi.
5. Sethi Dhaba
One of the most recent eating joints opened on the Delhi-Chandigarh highway is the SethiDhaba. Established by SonuSethi, this Dhaba has been increasingly gaining popularity due to its menu that boasts of age-old Punjabi recipes and freshly cooked food that lives up to the promise of great taste and good quality. To add to this, the place houses a lively décor consisting of life-size mannequins, and full-scale posters of famous folk singer Gurdas Maan plastered all over the place. It also has dedicated counters that sell Punjabi music CDs to the aficionados.
Furthermore, Sethi Dhaba is the only eatery in the country that provides high-dose of entertainment offering with live performances by Punjabi singers over the weekend. Another unique offering of the place is its provision of a free ambulance service for accident victims.
So, if you are driving to or from Delhi, make sure to add a halt at Sethidhaba and try some of this bestsellers-Makki di roti, Sarson ka saag, daal makhana and yellow dal, lassi and end on a sweet note of kheer.
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6. Pooran Singh Da Dhaba, Ambala
Based in Ambala Cantt, Pooran Singh dhaba is most famous for its non- vegetarian servings. Started by Puran Singh, this dhaba was later acquired by the person who supplied him with poultry and meat.
This dhaba on the Delhi-Chandigarh highway is a little tricky to find out, and the reason is not its location but because there are many of them with a similar name. The right one, however, is the last in the row, next to the bus stand entry. It also has the photo of Sanjeev Kapoor and Vinod Dua at the main entrance. Puran's Singh Da Dhaba has also been featured in the famous travel and food television show called Highway on my Plate.
Do try the Mutton curry, keema kaleji, butter chicken and chicken curry Mutter Paneer or Mutton Masala with Lachcha Paratha which is perfectly layered or the KadakTandoori Roti.
So, next time, when you are travelling by road on the Delhi-Punjab highway, do make a stopover at any of the above dhabas for a lip-smacking food break. Also, don't forget to share your experience and recommendations by leaving a comment below.