Inside the busy food court of Pacific Mall in Delhi’s Tagore Garden, Lal Qilaa Express attempts to recreate the aromas, flavours, and energy of Old Delhi in a contemporary quick-service format. Launched by Limitless Restaurants, the hospitality group behind Papparoti India and Wok to Walk India, the outlet is the company’s first homegrown brand inspired by the food lanes of Chandni Chowk, Jama Masjid, and Daryaganj.
Opened around a month ago, Lal Qilaa Express blends North Indian street food and Mughlai cuisine with the speed of a modern quick-service restaurant. The interiors echo the red-brick hues of the Red Fort, while the menu celebrates dishes associated with Delhi’s culinary culture.
Rooted in Delhi’s food heritage
For years, Limitless Restaurants operated international food brands in India. Lal Qilaa Express represents a new direction for the company, creating an Indian brand centred on local tastes and memories.
“We’ve spent years mastering what makes a global brand thrive in India. With Lal Qilaa Express, we flipped the lens, taking the food we grew up savouring and infusing it with the systems and consistency of a world-class QSR,” Saumya Lohia Agarwal from Limitless Restaurants said. “This is our heartfelt love letter to Old Delhi.”
The restaurant takes its name from Lal Qila (Red Fort), which overlooks the historic lanes and kebab houses of Purani Dilli. The brand aims to bring that atmosphere into a mall setting while maintaining affordability and generous portions.
A menu inspired by Chandni Chowk
The menu spans street food favourites, tandoori appetisers, curries, rice dishes, parathas, rolls, and traditional beverages. Guests can choose from dal makhani, butter chicken, rajma, paneer lababdar, chicken lababdar, chole bhature, pav bhaji kulhad, and Amritsari fried chicken.
The starter section includes malai soya tikka, achari paneer tikka, tandoori chicken tikka, chicken seekh kebab, and Afghani chicken tikka. It also offers paneer tikka, chicken tikka, and seekh kebab rolls for diners looking for quick meals.
One of the key attractions is the biryani selection, including vegetarian biryani and chicken biryani. “The method of making biryani here is different from other outlets. We prepare the biryani by putting in a lot of effort,” Varun, one of the outlet managers, told Patriot.
Traditional North Indian breads such as roomali roti, butter naan, garlic naan, kulcha, lachha paratha, and chur chur naan accompany the curries and kebabs. The menu also includes rice bowls and express meals such as kulhad dal makhani chawal, rajma chawal, egg curry chawal, and butter chicken chawal.
For families and groups, Lal Qilaa Express serves larger platters and thalis featuring kebabs, curries, breads, rice, raita, and desserts such as gulab jamun. Beverages such as kulhad chai, masala chaas, shikanji, thandai, Rooh Afza, and sweet lassi add to the Old Delhi-inspired experience.
Quick-service experience
The outlet operates with a team of around seven to eight staff members, including housekeeping and utility workers. Varun, who also manages Papparoti, said the restaurant is still building its customer base.
“It will take time because the outlet is new, but we are trying our best to increase the business and footfall,” he said.
According to him, the food court sees peak rush hours between 7 PM and 10 PM, while lunch crowds usually arrive between 1 PM and 2 PM. The restaurant remains open from 11 AM to 11 PM. in line with the mall timings.
Expansion plans
Lal Qilaa Express is currently the company’s flagship Indian concept, and Limitless Restaurants plans to expand the brand across malls, transit hubs, and food courts.
The company describes its larger mission as bringing “the world’s best food to India and sharing India’s best flavours with the world.” With Lal Qilaa Express, it hopes to tap into diners’ appetite for regional and nostalgic Indian food served in a quick-service format.
As customers queue up for curries, kebabs, biryanis, and kulhad chai, the restaurant attempts to offer more than just a quick meal: a taste of Purani Dilli within a modern Delhi mall.
