The evergreen college canteens

A walk through some of Delhi’s iconic college canteens — the memories they evoke and the taste buds they tantalise

The students of Miranda House queue up for their samosas and chaat.

CANTEENS are large, bustling spaces, which are not simply messes to eat in, but places where friends meet up while satiating their hunger pangs. When people look back at their college years at the campuses of the Capital, they don’t only remember their classes, professors, and friends but also places where a plate of mince cutlets was shared or chaat devoured. The signature dishes of these places come to mind, taking one on a trip down the nostalgic lane.

Here’s a look at a few such places and dishes:


Colleges of North Campus like the Hansraj, IP College, and Khalsa, are always crowded with students and ex-students. The café at St Stephen’s College has always been talked of, with its wicker chairs, wooden tables, unforgettable food, and its general air of being an old congenial coffee house. "The mince cutlets will always be a classic dish. Scrambled eggs and toast also always filled us up to satisfaction," says writer and historian Mukul Kesavan, a Stephen’s alumnus who currently teaches Social History at Jamia Millia Islamia.

Walking from Stephen’s, the next hop for a delectable dish is the ever-popular SRCC canteen known for its wide-range of cuisines. Situated on the first floor of a building within the campus, it is large and airy, with a wall painted in blue to look like a serene sky. Rajinder Sahu, also known as Raju, who has been in charge of the canteen since 1981, says, "There’s something for every student here from continental, to South Indian. Poonam Jaganathan, a second year student adds in, Whatever I’m in the mood for, be it a hot dog or a masala dosa, I can have it within five minutes here."

At stone’s throw away from SRCC is the threestoreyed canteen at Ramjas College which similarly has all cuisines. Shaurya Rewat 34, content writer and a Ramjas alumnus, says, "We enjoyed the chole bhature, and I still remember the taste of samosas. They were beyond excellent." Second year B.Sc student Sonali Kaushik says that these choices are still followed.

A few metres away is the Hindu College, which offers a gourmet’s delight. The canteen is headed by Anil Burman for the last two decades and incidentally, he is also in charge of Miranda House canteen for the last five years. "The paranthas here are the musthaves, whether, be it aloo or paneer," Burman says. Adds Vikas Shukla, a second year B.Com student, "Students come here for the paranthas, but there are also many other favourites, such as the eggfried rice." College security guard Dheeraj Sharma comments on its popularity, "We even have students from other colleges who visit our college only for the food."

In North Campus, the Delhi School of Economics, or D-School, has always been a place of pride, with alumni and visitors frequenting the place for the mutton dosa and idli. The cool, dimly-lit canteen is also filled with students from other universities. Akanksha Mrignani, a second year student, from Indraprastha University says, "I’ve heard so much about this place that I had to visit it. And just one visit has made me come here time and again for the keema dosa and the chicken rice. The pav bhaji is also wonderful." Longtime canteen in charge Ambarnath Gupta says, "The keema dosa and cutlets are all-time favourites." At Miranda House canteen, it’s the Shahi Paneer. It has always been one of the great favourites, Burman adds. Mahi Sharma, a third year student adds, "Everyone likes masala dosa and idli sambhar." Second year student Meenal Nanda adds, "The fruit shakes, pasta, and samosas are also something everyone has to have every day."


The canteens at DU’s South Campus are no less sought after. A variety of dishes appeal to the many number of palates, including the purely vegetarian but no less-delicious fare on offer at the Sri Venkateshwara College. The students of Venkateshwara have never really been bothered by the absence of meat on the menu. Says Avni Bajaj, 25, who works at a publishing firm, and is an alumnus, "Even for us nonvegetarians, it wasn’t something we really thought about. In fact, the vada sambhar will always be one of my stronger memories of my time there."

There is no such absence in the café at Lady Sri Ram College (LSR), famed for its butter chicken and shahi paneer. Although, as Jyotsana Arora, LSR alumnus and current café convener, says," There was no non-veg in my time, the early 1980s. But, the food was talked about even then. Now, as the college has become more diverse, the menu has expanded as well, though there will always be few favourites." Anushka Saxena, a third year student says, "There is no lack of options for anyone, including the vegetarians. In fact, almost everyone makes a beeline for the honey chilli potato." Adds Jaswant Kaur, café-in-charge, "The honey chilli potato has always been one of the major dishes, as has the moong-dal chilla."


The campuses of the other prestigious universities of Delhi, such as Jamia and JNU, are also great food hubs. Jamia with its reputation for chicken curry and biryani, never has an empty canteen. Says Zoya Hussein, a 32-year-old PhD student, "The chicken biryani and the tikkas have been attracting outsiders for a long time." As for JNU, its decades old Ganga Dhaba, a cramped building with a much-sought-after dish like the bread omlette, will always command the loyalty of students and ex-students.

Former student and lawyer Pallavi Joshi, 43 says, "The bread omelette was part of life at the campus." It is by no means the only popular eatery in JNU; the Library canteen, with its chicken curry, and its lemon rice, is always packed. Second year student Sarthak Kohli adds, "Many come here for the idli sambharand dosa." Delhi’s belly sure yearns for these college canteens!

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