Where the world talks food

Chicken-fish based broth. Chewy noodles, thick pork chashu. Around ¥1200. Queue can be 45-60 min. Solo seating at the counter. Cash only.

The classic hawker-centre order. Rice is oily, chicken silky, chilli sauce with garlic and ginger on the side. Around S$5-6. Queue can be long at lunch — go slightly off-peak.

Went for the soup dumplings. Skin is thin, filling is hot, be careful the first bite. Around $16 for eight. Cash-friendly. Long line at peak lunch, weekday off-peak is easier.

Chicken dum biryani from both. Bawarchi has a bit more oil and stronger salan, Paradise is more consistent trip to trip. Both are the safe picks in Hyd. Get the salan on the side, it's usually charged extra.

Crispy vada, garlic dry chutney, thecha on the side. Cheap and fast. Line moves quickly at the evening rush. If you're near Kirti College or Shivaji Park, it's an easy stop.

Very no-frills, small tables, quick service. Mutton biryani around ₹300, better value than a lot of the mid-range chains. Order the shami kebab as an add-on. Cash-preferred, come hungry.

Drove down to Charminar for early chai and Osmania biscuits. The biscuit is buttery-salty, dip it once in the chai, eat quickly. Under ₹50 for the combo. The area is quiet at that hour which is the real bonus.

Weekend queue can be 30-45 min. Ghee-heavy, crisp, dark-brown dosa with the potato tucked inside. Order counter-only, small dining room. Cash is safer even though they say they take cards now.

The grilled cheese toastie is what most people queue for. Sourdough, aged cheddar, onion, garlic. Around £7. Saturday queue is long — weekdays are much more manageable.

Did a chef's tasting counter dinner. Around ¥50k+ per person. Fifteen pieces plus small dishes. The aji (horse mackerel) was the standout. Book weeks in advance.

Long wait, generous portion, the wheat and ghee balance is what most people are here for. Sarvi and Shah Ghouse do very good haleem too, often with less wait. Try all three across a Ramzan week if you can.

Egg-mutton double is my regular order. Paratha is flaky, filling is spicy, chopped onion and green chilli on top. Around ₹140 for the double. Cash preferred, quick line.

The tarri (spicy gravy) here is on the hotter side of Pune misal spectrum. Comes with pav, laddu, chivda, chopped onion, and lemon. Solid experience if you want a properly spicy misal.

Did the tasting menu with a group. The kacche gosht ki biryani was the highlight, mutton was slow-cooked and tender. Pricey — think ₹3000+ per person. Good place for special occasions or when you have out-of-town family visiting.

Wood-fired sourdough pizza. Around £8 for the margherita. The Brixton branch (original) has more atmosphere than the newer chain locations. Brixton Market on a Saturday is a whole afternoon.

The dahi bhalla stall gets busy from mid-afternoon. Thick set curd, tamarind and mint chutneys, sev. Cheap and quick. If you're doing a Chandni Chowk food walk, add it in.

Filter-coffee, pongal, idli-vada. The pongal is peppery and generous with ghee. Small dining room, quick turnover. Walk to Kapaleeswarar after breakfast for the classic Mylapore Sunday.

Karim's is one of those places where the food and the setting are both part of the pull. Mutton korma + roomali roti is the classic combo. Around ₹300-400 per head for a good meal.

The outer market has aged well. Tuna handrolls, uni bowls, and small sushi stands. Start early (around 7-8am) for the best selection. Cash preferred at smaller stands.

Fish head in tamarind curry served on a banana leaf. Around S$28 for a medium. Comes with rice, papadums, okra. Good with a group of 3-4.

The berry pulao is the signature. Sali boti, dhansak, caramel custard are all worth trying. The staff has personality. Historically important Parsi cafe, and the food still holds up on its own.

The gali is a Delhi institution. Aloo, gobi, keema, and the sweet stuffing paranthas. Prices have gone up but under ₹100 each is still doable. Come hungry, be prepared for a crowd.

Bacon naan, kejriwal, black daal, chai. Around £40 per person. The daal in particular is consistently very good. Popular for a reason.

You're paying for a whole pie with a specific style. Charred crust, oregano and olive oil finish. The wait can be long — check current status before making the trip.

Around ₹30 for a plate. Tamarind water is tangy, aloo filling is well-seasoned, kala namak on top. Go at sunset. Nothing complicated, just really good chaat.

Coconut-rich laksa broth, thick rice noodles, prawns and cockles. Around S$8. Small space, quick turnover. If you're doing a Katong food walk, this is a natural first stop.

Went to a tempura counter in the Asakusa area. Prawn, small fish, and kakiage over rice with tare sauce. Around ¥3-4k. Small dining space, quick turnover.

Kebab rolls, baida roti, chicken tikka. Chaotic in a good way. Cash is the safe bet. Around ₹150-200 per roll, prices creep up but the food is still what people come for.

The fish thali is what most people come for. Fish curry, rice, sol kadhi, fried mackerel, salad. Around ₹350. Traditional Goan flavors, unfussy setting.

Soy chicken over rice, around S$4. One of the better-known Chinatown Complex stalls. Cash-preferred, quick line. Char siu is a good alternative order.

They're different beasts. CTR is butter-forward and heavier, VB is ghee-forward and toastier. If you like a rich benne dosa, CTR. If you like a crisper thinner dosa, VB. Try both across a weekend and decide.

Two of the older Khan Market names. Khan Chacha for the seekh rolls, Kake da for butter chicken + dal makhani. Both are hearty, not fancy. Great combo for a group meal.

Classic bao is the standard order. Also the fried chicken and the sides. Small space, expect a wait for a seat. Sitting at the counter downstairs is the best experience.

Went for the elaborate thali. Kosha mangsho, chingri malai curry, aamer chutney. Around ₹1200 per person. Home cooking is often better but as a restaurant introduction to Bengali food, it's a solid starting point.

Ordered the DBC and one of the fudge sundaes. Nothing has really changed here in a long time, and honestly that's the appeal. Original branch is more fun to sit at than the newer ones.

Tonkotsu, custom noodle firmness, custom spice level, private booth. Around ¥1000. Yes it's a chain, and yes late-night Shibuya is when it makes the most sense.

The bandi runs late into the night. Butter-roasted crispy dosa, generous potato filling, coconut chutney. Long queue but it moves. Around ₹80 for the dosa. If you're a night owl in Hyd, this is the move.

The pork buns are the classic order. Ginger-scallion noodles are a solid second. Ramen has been consistent when I've gone. Counter seating is worth it if you're solo.

Half duck with pancakes, spring onion, cucumber, hoisin. Around £16 for the half. Skin is crisp. Line moves. It's touristy in Chinatown but the food is still solid.

Chicken over rice with white sauce and hot sauce. Around $10. Long lines at lunch and dinner. The 'original' cart on the corner is the one you want.