Ghar Ka Khana vs. Restaurant Food: A Battle of Taste or Emotion?
As someone who has always loved eating as well as cooking food, I have had my fair share of indulgent restaurant meals and comforting home-cooked plates. But if you ask me what would be my comforting pick, then I would always choose ‘Ghar Ka Khana.’ And the reason for this is not because restaurants don’t offer great dishes, they absolutely do, but because home-cooked is served with something that the restaurant would never deliver and that is emotion, memory, and love.
A few years back I moved to Delhi for work and at first I was excited about all the street food Delhi has to offer I actually ate mostly everything in Delhi. From chicken tikka to golgappes, everything tasted ethereal. From fancy continental meals to local chaats, late-night biryani to gourmet sushi, it was all amazing. Until one day something started to feel off and that was when I could feel the need to have Home-Cooked Meals. That simple Dal, chawal, aloo bhujia was way much more tasty than all the dishes I explored in Delhi.
I still remember the taste of my grandmother’s cooking. The warmth and the taste that her gazar ka halwa delivered could never be achieved by the restaurant’s offering. Ghar ka Khana was never about simple food or its taste, it was always about rituals! Sitting together on the dining table and your mom asking if you want an extra chapatti, my dad complaining about extra salt, even when it is perfect, and my sister trying to steal the last piece of paneer; All this together was the true meaning of what Ghar Ka Khana means. It’s about conversations that happen over the kitchen counter and the comfort of knowing someone cooked just for you.
The simplicity that home-cooked food carries with it is way beyond what restaurant food would offer. A simple aloo tamatar ki sabzi with rice can sometimes feel more satisfying than a fancy four-course meal. Restaurants, on the other hand, offer and are mostly preferred for great sitting experiences. I love going out with friends and trying new cuisines. The ambiance, aroma, presentation, flavors, everything is special and sometimes extraordinary. You eat, you pay, and you leave, that’s all you do at the restaurant. And at one point in time, it will start fading away and you could feel the need for your mother’s home-cooked meal.
Another thing about home-cooked meals is that they are fresh and customized to your liking. It is made with familiar spices. It almost 8 years since I moved to Delhi, but still my mom knows how much chilly I like in my curry.
During the pandemic, I was forced to cook for myself every day. At first, it felt like a chore. But soon, I realized how calming it was. I started calling my mom for recipes, experimenting with my grandmother’s cooking style, and learning the value of every ingredient. That experience changed my relationship with food forever. Now, even when I eat out, I find myself missing that personal touch.
So yes, restaurant food might win in terms of variety and presentation. But ghar ka khana wins where it matters most and that is in heart, health, and soul. It carries a piece of home in every bite. And for me, no Michelin star can compete with that.
