Moti Mahal (restaurant) facts for kids

Moti Mahal is a famous restaurant chain that started in Delhi, India. It was founded in 1947, right after India became independent. Three friends, Kundan Lal Gujral, Kundan Lal Jaggi, and Thakur Das Magu, opened the first Moti Mahal. They were among the first to share delicious Punjabi cuisine and North Indian cuisine with the world. Some of their most famous dishes include tandoori chicken, paneer makhani, dal makhani, and butter chicken. Today, Moti Mahal also has restaurants in other countries like Bahrain and the UAE.

History

How Moti Mahal Started

Moti Mahal was founded by Kundan Lal Gujral, Thakur Das Magu, and Kundan Lal Jaggi. They opened their restaurant in Delhi in 1947. Before this, they worked at a small eatery also called Moti Mahal. This first eatery was in Peshawar, which was part of British India at the time. They worked there from the 1920s until 1947.

Moving to Delhi

In 1947, a big event called the partition of India happened. This meant India was divided into different countries. Because of this, the three founders and their families had to move to Delhi. In Delhi, they found a small space in the Daryaganj area. This part of the city was considered new back then. There, they started their new Moti Mahal restaurant.

Famous Dishes Created

The Moti Mahal restaurant in Daryaganj became very famous. The founders are known for creating some of India's most loved dishes. These include the creamy butter chicken and the rich paneer makhani. They also invented dal makhani, a popular lentil dish. They are also credited with making the modern tandoori chicken popular.

A portion of Tandoori chicken. The founders of Moti Mahal helped create this famous dish.