New Restaurants in Chandigarh (July 2026)

Chandigarh's dining scene has always punched above its weight, but the last few months have brought a genuinely exciting wave of new openings — from Marwadi thalis you almost never find outside Rajasthan to South Indian counters doing things the city has barely tasted before. Whether you are planning a weekend outing with family or hunting for a quiet weeknight dinner, this guide cuts through the noise and tells you exactly where to go and why.

TL;DR

• 🍛 Lal Marwadi Restaurant brings rare Rajasthani home-style cooking to Chandigarh — open daily 8 AM to 11 PM.
• 🍖 Myra Handi Junction in Sector 19D is the new address for slow-cooked handi mutton and kebabs.
• 🌿 Sundarams Foods (Sector 26) and Avin Karthik (Sector 47) are both strong picks for South Indian cravings.
• ☕ Back To Source and Indian Coffee House are worth bookmarking for lighter bites and good coffee.
• 🗺️ Mohali is quietly expanding too — Punjabi Chulla 68 and Pinda Aale Restaurant are both worth the short drive.

Why So Many Openings Right Now?

Post-monsoon energy, a boom in young professionals settling in the tri-city area, and a noticeable appetite for cuisines beyond the usual butter chicken circuit have all pushed restaurateurs to take risks. The result is a more diverse eating landscape than the city has had in years. Several of the places listed below have opened or significantly refreshed their menus in 2026, so even regular diners will find something genuinely new.

The One That Fills a Real Gap: Lal Marwadi Restaurant

Authentic Marwadi food — the kind with dal baati churma, ker sangri, and gatte ki sabzi done with real technique — has historically been almost impossible to find in Chandigarh outside someone's home kitchen. Lal Marwadi Restaurant changes that. They are open every day from 8 AM to 11 PM, which means you can drop in for an early Rajasthani breakfast or linger over a late dinner. Their website is lalmarwadi.com if you want to check the menu before visiting. You can also reach them at +91 9462844950 or write to lalmarwadifamilyrestaurant@gmail.com for reservations or group bookings.

Handi Culture Is Back: Myra Handi Junction

There is something deeply satisfying about food that has been sealed and slow-cooked — the steam, the aroma when the lid finally lifts. Myra Handi Junction in Sector 19D (3165, Sector 19D) has built its identity entirely around that experience. Their menu spans mutton, chicken, kebabs, vegetarian options, and a solid bread selection — the kind of spread that works for a mixed group with varying preferences. Reach them at +91 86996 11114 or visit myrahandijunction.com for details.

Fine Dining That Feels Rooted: Aariki

Sector 7 is not the most obvious fine-dining corridor, but Aariki at SCO-35 Madhya Marg (entry from the backside) is making a quiet case for itself. The kitchen focuses on North Indian and Punjabi food executed at a higher standard — the kind of cooking where sourcing and plating both matter. Hours are 11:30 AM to 11:30 PM daily. For bookings or enquiries, the number is +91 98887 94555 and the website is aariki.in.

💡 Desi Insider Tip: At Aariki, arrive slightly before the dinner rush — around 7 PM — when the kitchen is at its freshest and the room hasn't yet filled. The back-entry approach through Madhya Marg also means easier parking than you'd expect for Sector 7.

The South India Corner Is Growing Fast

This is probably the biggest shift in Chandigarh's food map right now. Three solid South Indian options have either opened or expanded their presence, each with a distinct personality.

Sundarams Foods at SCO-35, Madhya Marg, Sector 26 is open 9 AM to 11 PM every day. Their website is sundaramsfoods.com. If you have been missing a dependable dosa or a proper South Indian filter coffee, this is the most accessible option in terms of location and hours.

Chennai Maratha takes an interesting dual approach — South Indian cooking alongside Maharashtrian food on the same menu. It is a combination that makes sense historically and works well practically. Contact them at +91 83609-33540 or through their website chennaimaratha.com.

Avin Karthik at SCO 50, Sector 47D is open Monday through Sunday, 8 AM to 10:30 PM, and is a good call if you are south of the city centre. The early opening time makes it genuinely useful for breakfast rather than just a dinner destination. Reach them at +91 172 506 8888.

Everyday Eating: Dhabas and Neighbourhood Spots

Not every outing calls for a full restaurant experience, and Chandigarh's newer neighbourhood-style places are filling that casual gap well.

Nukkar Dhaba in Sector 22C (Sector 22, 160022) runs a broad menu across North Indian, South Indian, and Chinese and keeps solid hours — 8:30 AM to 5 PM, then 7 PM to 11:50 PM daily. For quick family meals or a fuss-free solo dinner, it is hard to beat. Call 099884 49449.

Gurbax Dhaba at 3025-D Dakshin Marg is a no-frills option that has been building a following through word of mouth. Reach them at +91 9888869714. Similarly, Old Pal Dhaba (orders@paldhabachandigarh.com, website paldhabachandigarh.com) offers North Indian and Punjabi comfort food — the kind of menu that does not need to reinvent itself because it has always been exactly what people want.

Churi House at Bay Booth 4284, Sector 22D is worth knowing about if you are with a group that cannot agree on a single cuisine — pizza, burgers, Chinese, pasta, and dessert all appear on the menu. Reach them at 9803103232.

Worth the Drive into Mohali

If you are willing to cross the city boundary, Mohali has two new spots earning genuine buzz.

Pinda Aale Restaurant at Booth No 191, Mohali Bypass, Phase 10, Sector 64 brings rural Punjabi cooking into a restaurant setting — the name alone signals what they are going for. Call 09817800082 to check current hours before heading out.

Punjabi Chulla 68 at DSS 25, District One Market, Sector 68 is a multicuisine spot with a distinctly Punjabi soul. Their website is punjabichullaldh.com and you can reach them at +91 9780420201.

Light Bites and Coffee Culture

Not every visit to a new place needs to be a full meal. Back To Source (backtosource.in) is building a following for more considered, wholesome eating — check their website for current location and hours details. Indian Coffee House (indiancoffeehouse.com) needs little introduction as a brand, but if a new outlet has arrived near you, it remains one of the more reliable spots for a quiet coffee and a snack without spending a lot.

FAQ

Which of these new restaurants is best for a family with mixed food preferences? Churi House in Sector 22D and Nukkar Dhaba in Sector 22C both carry wide menus that cover multiple cuisines, making them practical for groups where everyone wants something different.

Is there anywhere new for authentic South Indian breakfast in Chandigarh? Yes — both Sundarams Foods (Sector 26, from 9 AM) and Avin Karthik (Sector 47D, from 8 AM) open early enough to work as proper breakfast destinations.

Do any of these restaurants take reservations? Aariki and Myra Handi Junction both have email and phone contacts listed above, and Lal Marwadi Restaurant can also be reached directly. For the dhabas and casual spots, walk-ins are generally the norm.

Which new options are available if I am heading to the Mohali side? Pinda Aale Restaurant in Phase 10 and Punjabi Chulla 68 in Sector 68 are both recent additions to the Mohali side of the tri-city area.

Are there any new vegetarian-friendly options on this list? Lal Marwadi Restaurant's Rajasthani cuisine is traditionally very vegetarian-forward. Sundarams Foods and Chennai Maratha also carry strong vegetarian menus rooted in South Indian cooking.

The Bottom Line

July 2026 is a genuinely good moment to be eating out in Chandigarh. The range on offer right now — Marwadi home-cooking, handi-slow-cooked meats, South Indian breakfasts, Maharashtrian flavours, neighbourhood dhabas — reflects a city that has grown more curious and more confident about what it wants from a meal. None of these places need you to travel far or spend big to have a memorable experience; most of them just need you to show up.

For more local guides, neighbourhood picks, and community-led recommendations, keep exploring Desi.Net — the people writing here live where you live.