6 Best Food Stops Between Chandigarh and Delhi Highway (NH44)

Quick Summary

NH44 Road runs through Ambala, Shahabad, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Panipat, and Sonipat, and almost all of these towns have their own famous dhabas. Ambala is home to the newer Love Punjab Dhaba, while the food towns of Murthal and Karnal remain the biggest draws for travelers who stop just to enjoy the food journey.

A few quick points before we dive into the list:

• The distance from Chandigarh to Delhi lies around 250-260 kilometers depending upon the route.
• Most of the reputed restaurants lie within the range of Ambala to Panipat, which constitutes half of the total journey.
• Parathas, tandoori chicken, dal makhani, and lassi are the dishes that you will get at the majority of the food joints while traveling on this road.
• In case you travel in a rented taxi, the driver knows which restaurant is best during the particular time period of the day because some restaurants serve good breakfast and some serve delicious dinner.
• There is a rush during weekends and festive seasons at these dhabas, and thus if you are in a hurry, it will help you if you plan in advance.

If you have ever made a road trip on your own from Chandigarh to Delhi via NH44, then you must have realized that besides serving the purpose of getting to your destination point, this stretch of road has become equally important in relishing some tasty foods en route. This is the very reason why the specific stretch of road linking three states, namely Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi, has turned out to be a major food destination in the northern part of India. The long-distance truckers, travelers, students and one way taxi booking Chandigarh to Delhi clients visit here only to savor the food.

Since this is such a long drive of 250 km, it becomes imperative that those who have either rented a private car or booked outstation taxis from Chandigarh to Delhi must be aware of the best food destinations along this route. We bring you a list of Top 6 food destinations on Chandigarh-Delhi Highway in this blog post.

NH44 Food Stops at a Glance

Food Stop	Nearest Town	Famous For
Love Punjab Dhaba	Ambala	Punjabi thali, tandoori dishes
Manat Haveli	Kurukshetra	Haveli style dining, punjabi cuisine
70 Mile Stone	Panipat	Chole bhature, punjabi thali
Shiva Dhaba	Sonipat	Parathas, dal makhni, tandoori roti
Gulshan Dhaba	Murthal	Butter chicken, tandoori roti
Amrik Sukhdev Dhaba	Murthal	Parathas, lassi, desi ghee tadka

Distances are approximate and can vary slightly based on the exact route or bypass used.

Did you know? The GT Road that Murthal, Panipat, Karnal and Ambala all sit on ,the very road these dhabas line ,is one of the oldest and longest major roads in Asia, running roughly 3,655 km from Teknaf in Bangladesh to Kabul in Afghanistan, and it has linked Central Asia to South Asia for at least 2,500 years. It was built along an ancient route called Uttarapatha in the 3rd century BCE ,so the highway you’re eating parathas on today has been a trade route since before the Mauryan Empire. 

1. Love Punjab Dhaba

Closing out the list is Love Punjab Dhaba in Ambala, one of the more recent additions to the NH44 food trail and a handy first (or last) stop for travelers going between Chandigarh and Delhi. Being closer to Chandigarh than most of the other stops on this list, it makes for a great starting point if you want to fuel up right at the beginning of the journey rather than waiting until Murthal or Karnal.

The restaurant sticks to the classic Punjabi highway-dhaba formula: generous thalis, fresh tandoori breads, and rich, home-style curries, all served in a clean, spacious setup with quick service. It is especially convenient for groups and families travelling by private cab or self-drive car, since it offers ample parking right off the highway.

Highlights:

• Well-rounded Punjabi thali and tandoori menu
• Convenient first stop for travelers heading out of Chandigarh
• Spacious seating with good parking for cars and taxis
• Quick, friendly service, good for both quick bites and full meals

2. Manat Haveli

Manat Haveli becomes distinct not only due to the kind of food that they offer but due to the location as well. Being constructed in the haveli style, it is one step above an ordinary dhaba, thus becoming a popular venue for those families or groups of people that come here to sit comfortably and have their meal rather than eat and leave.

The menu that they serve includes dishes from Punjab cuisine, and the atmosphere of the place is very good, particularly during the evenings when it is well lit and full of energy. If you are visiting during the evenings, then this might be the place for you to hang around.

Highlights:

• Seating arrangement and decor in haveli style
• Punjabi menu offered along with casual dining atmosphere
• Good place to have meals in the evenings
• Good for family and group tours

3. 70 Mile Stone

However, if you want to get off the highway at an earlier stop, 70 Mile Stone located near Panipat should be your go-to option. As you can understand from the name, it lies about seventy miles from some reference points on the highway and is known as a stop mark for people traveling from Punjab to Haryana.

It has gained popularity owing to its Punjabi thalis and chole bhature dishes, making it ideal if you plan to take a break for lunch or breakfast while starting your journey from Chandigarh, Mohali or Rajpura.

Highlights:

• Popular for chole bhature and Punjabi thali
• Great initial halt for travelers from Chandigarh or Rajpura side
• Has enough parking space for private vehicles and taxis
• Provides fast service and hence suitable if you have to rush somewhere

4. Shiva Dhaba

Shiva Dhaba is a longstanding name on the Grand Trunk Road (NH44) stretch through Sonipat, and a favourite halt for anyone driving between Chandigarh and Delhi. Unlike some of the smaller roadside joints nearby, this one is built for volume, a big, bustling setup that keeps the tables turning through the day and well into the night.

The kitchen sticks to reliable North Indian and Punjabi staples: hot parathas served with a generous dollop of butter, rich dal makhani, comforting vegetable curries, and freshly made tandoori rotis, rounded off with a hot cup of chai. It’s an easy, no-fuss stop for a full meal rather than just a quick snack.

Highlights:

• Well-known GT Road landmark with a large, bustling dining area
• Generous parathas, dal makhani, and tandoori breads
• Good for a proper sit-down meal, not just a quick bite
• Busy through the day and into the night, so parking and seating are built for volume

5. Gulshan Dhaba

There is Murthal, which is again a very significant food destination on this particular route because of the fame created by Gulshan Dhaba. This dhaba is famous as it serves non-vegetarian items, which attract travelers because of their home-style taste.

This dhaba serves butter chicken with tandoori roti, which is the main reason why regulars keep returning to it. The seating arrangements are very basic, the service is fast, and the quantity of food is large enough to fill up the stomach of a hungry travel party.

Highlights:

• Delicious butter chicken and tandoori dishes
• Vegetarian thalis can also be ordered for a variety of customers
• Clean and well-spaced seating arrangements
• A perfect place to have a good meal after an hour’s drive

6. Amrik Sukhdev Dhaba

A discussion about the Chandigarh to Delhi highway food trail cannot leave out the Murthal dhabas, and among all of them, Amrik Sukhdev Dhaba was the first one to create the sensation. This place is located on GT Road (NH44) in the town of Murthal, Sonipat, and has been serving customers for decades now. It has earned Murthal a name for itself in terms of its cuisine.

The parathas served here come in good fillings along with a serving of white butter which melts before your eyes. Accompany this with a cold glass of lassi, and there you have your ideal meal to have on the highway. It is quite crowded throughout the day, but you get good service at all times.

Highlights:

• A wide range of stuffing options in paratha including potato, paneer, and gobhi paratha
• Fresh curd and lassi served right away
• Good parking facility available for cars, taxis, and buses
• Open for most part of the day and night

Tips for a Smoother Highway Food Stop

• Try to stop by Ambala, Karnal or Murthal as most popular dhabas lie in and around these areas along the route.
• If your travel time is early mornings then it would be better to have breakfast at Murthal or Shahabad, while Karnal would suit for lunch or dinner.
• It is always good to have both cash and other digital payment modes as some smaller dhabas on the highway prefer cash as it saves time.
• Try avoiding the most famous dhabas during evenings as people have their meals during weekends and it may cause delay due to lack of availability of a table.
• If you are traveling in a vehicle hired from a driver then he would help you out with his suggestions depending upon your travel time.

Final Thoughts

Chandigarh-Delhi Highway is not just an avenue for travelling from one big city to another, but it is also an experience of eating in itself. Be it the famous paratha of Murthal, the hearty Punjabi thali at Ambala’s Love Punjab Dhaba, or the haveli-style dining at Kurukshetra, each point listed here provides its own uniqueness and makes NH44 one of the best drives in northern India.

But for those who would want to have a nice food trail experience without bothering about traveling in the car, parking the car at places which seem difficult and getting tired from driving on a new highway, taking a professional taxi ride would make the whole experience very relaxing indeed. That is when Virk Tour Travels comes in handy. With the experience of offering outstation taxi service from Chandigarh to Rajpura, Mohali, Patiala and Delhi for several years, Virk Tour Travels offers you comfortable cars, expert drivers who are aware of this route and freedom to take halt wherever you wish during the journey. Be it one way taxi to Delhi, round trip taxi service for family holiday or airport pick up/drop, Virk Tour Travels takes care of everything for you on this Highway NH44.

And the next time you decide to go on a trip from Chandigarh to Delhi, do not just focus on your destination but also plan your food trail experience too.

Frequently Asked Questions