Butter Chicken in Mumbai v/s Butter Chicken in Delhi

Ask any Indian foodie what their favorite desi dish is, and most would exclaim, “Butter chicken, of course!” You would agree that there is something sinfully decadent and satisfying about eating a plate of well-made butter chicken. It satiates you like nothing else does – though most people also agree that it does no favors to their waistlines!

The butter chicken dish was said to be invented in Delhi in the early 1920s, by a clever tandoori chicken seller who improvised a dish out of his leftover chicken pieces. The story goes that he prepared a curry for the leftover chicken pieces to soak up, so that the food could be sold and he would not make a loss. Another theory goes that the butter chicken was first prepared in the kitchens of Moti Mahal in Daryagunj. It was said to be an experiment with existing Indian curries, using tomato chunks and butter instead of oil.

Delhi is thus known as the birthplace of butter chicken, but the dish is now found all over the country to lip smacking results. Still, the two main food centers of the country – Delhi and Mumbai – arguably serve the best butter chicken dishes in India.

Delhi butter chicken: The fundamental difference between the butter chicken found in Mumbai and that in Delhi is the treatment of the chicken itself. In Delhi, chefs roast or char grill the chicken after marinating it in herbs and salt. The curry, too, may be prepared using local tomatoes for a deeper color and more zing. Though butter forms the major base for the curry, it is perfectly balanced with a host of spices. The chicken is cooked slowly to ensure that its juices remain intact, and is served in succulent pieces doused in fiery red curry.

Mumbai butter chicken: The butter chicken found in India’s busiest city is milder and sweeter than its fuller-bodied Delhi counterpart. The chicken is often cooked raw with the curry instead of being pre-roasted. The curry is often sweeter and not spicy to the palate. While Delhi eats kebabs and tandoor roti with its butter chicken, Mumbai prefers the fattier butter naan or roomali roti.

Take a culinary trip to explore the many tastes of butter chicken in Delhi and Mumbai. Book a Mumbai to Delhi flight to embark on your tasting sojourn. Once your flight tickets are booked, start by sampling the best varieties of butter chicken in Mumbai and then move on to do the same in Delhi. So whether you find the clear winner in each city, your taste buds and tummy will sing with happiness!