Try tikki, Bittoo's way

Delhi is famous for the delicious chaat available at every nook and corner of the City. Following tradition, there is the very desired and sought after Satiram’s Bittoo Tikki Waala or BTW as he is known all over. What started as a small venture on a thela in 1991, has expanded to outlets across Delhi and Lucknow including orders for parties and marriages. Metrolife checked out why BTW is so special for so many.

Reaching the place is simple as the complex where this little outlet is, is close to Netaji Subhash Place Metro station. This outlet was opened in 2004 and its current manager is Ashwani Singh. This particular place offers the original tikki and dahi bhalla along with rasgulla, rasmalai and stick kulfi. Priced at Rs 60 per plate, the tikki is especially delicious and is quite unlike what you would’ve eaten at any chaat corner in Delhi. 

Made out of a mix of chana dal, aloo and cashew nuts, according to Ashwani, the tikki is cooked in olive oil. “That is the one thing that makes us different from the rest of the chaat corners. In the earlier times, when we started, we used to cook in desi ghee when everyone used refined oil. Now that everyone’s using ghee, we use olive oil,” he informs. Dahi bhalla is filled with dahi and a little bit of meethi chutney, but somehow it does not leave a very great taste. It is however, a hot favourite which was being ordered by every second customer, even at Rs 70.

For those with a sweet tooth and a major appetite (since the tikki is really filling!), there’s a choice between rasgulla, rasmalai and kulfi stick all under Rs 30. There’s nothing extremely extravagant about them but you could always give it a try.

The rasmalai is soft and tasty but the pistachio, which is normally an important ingredient of this sweet dish, is missing and therefore it feels very empty.

Kulfi is pretty ordinary unless you insist on having something very cold. Its taste doesn’t come up well. Not a lot of people were seen buying these desserts but the point is it is a tikki wala joint so obviously don’t worry about the sweet.

A popular place BTW gets anything between 800-900 customers every day. Ashwani says. “On weekends, it increases to 1300 sometimes so all in all, it does great business.”
There is no home delivery available from this outlet but the one at Rani Bagh does provide home delivery too. With about 1000 employees spread across the country, BTW definitely has come unto its own as a brand today. “All of our employees are trained.

They are first made to work at the godown and then brought here to the shop,” informs Ashwani. People from and near and far come to taste the magical tikkis, which remain the best product offered.

Bhavna Saxena, an employee in the financial sector and a regular visitor, says, “This is the best place for chaat in Delhi. I’ve come from Lakshmi Nagar. Even though I am this side of the city on official work, I made sure I do not miss this.”

Since the place is located at a shopping complex, it is accessible to everyone. Susheel Verma, scientist and a first time customer was really surprised at the excellent taste. “It is a typical Allahabad tikki and reminds me of home,” he says. Did you say you want to try out the tikki too?