Bukhara
ITC Maurya's 46-year frontiersman — the dal that became a diplomatic instrument
ITC Hotels (concept by Madan Lal Jaiswal and the ITC team)
Founder · Est. 1978 · Chanakyapuri (ITC Maurya Hotel), Delhi NCR
Bukhara opened in 1978 at the ITC Maurya Hotel in Chanakyapuri — Delhi's diplomatic enclave — with a concept that was radical for a luxury hotel restaurant: no cutlery. Guests would eat North-West Frontier cuisine with their hands, wearing the enormous Bukhara bibs, in a restaurant that looked like a frontier outpost built from rough stone and wood.
The concept worked because the food was extraordinary. The Dal Bukhara — whole black lentils slow-cooked for over 18 hours with tomato, butter, and cream — became India's most famous single dal preparation. The Sikandari Raan — whole leg of lamb marinated for 48 hours — became a signature of such significance that visiting heads of state requested it specifically. Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama — the Bukhara guest list reads like a UN General Assembly session.
Bukhara has been consistently ranked among Asia's 50 Best Restaurants. It has served more heads of state and prime ministers than most national dining rooms. Yet the format remains the same: no cutlery, no tablecloth, and the largest naan in Delhi.

“The Dal Bukhara takes eighteen hours to cook. Good things take time. We have been taking our time since 1978.”
What Defines Bukhara
The Experience
You are seated at a rough wooden table, given a Bukhara bib, and told that there will be no cutlery. The menu is short — the kitchen does a few things and does them at a level that eliminates the need for variety. The smoke from the tandoor is constant. The Dal Bukhara arrives dark, rich, and in a copper pot. Everything that follows is eaten with the hands.
Rated & Reviewed By
Asia's 50 Best Restaurants (multiple years) · Condé Nast Traveller India · Michelin · The World's Best · Zomato 4.6★
Editorial Notes
- Bukhara has served more visiting heads of state than any other Indian restaurant — the diplomatic guest list is a documented record.
- The no-cutlery policy has been maintained since 1978 — it is a brand principle, not an affectation.
- The 48-hour advance order for Sikandari Raan reflects a level of preparation commitment that few restaurants maintain.
- Mandatory curriculum reference for hospitality students studying luxury Indian dining, hotel F&B excellence, and dining as diplomacy.
Getting There
ITC Maurya Hotel, Diplomatic Enclave, Chanakyapuri. Nearest Metro: Dhaula Kuan (Airport Express, 10-minute drive). Taxi or hotel car recommended.
