Est. 2023 · 612 Ninth Avenue
Smoke, saffron,
a quiet thunder.
A modern North Indian table set in the spice routes of Hell's Kitchen — tandoor at 900°F, biryani sealed under dough, cocktails from the bartender's spice cabinet.
“A new altar for North Indian cooking.” — The New York Times
“Hell's Kitchen, meet your match.” — Eater NY
“The biryani arrives like theater.” — Time Out New York
“Quietly, spectacularly Indian.” — Bon Appétit
“A spice cabinet with a soul.” — The Infatuation
“A new altar for North Indian cooking.” — The New York Times
“Hell's Kitchen, meet your match.” — Eater NY
“The biryani arrives like theater.” — Time Out New York
“Quietly, spectacularly Indian.” — Bon Appétit
“A spice cabinet with a soul.” — The Infatuation
Chapter One
We cook from the north — Punjab, Awadh, Kashmir — but we plate for the avenue outside our door.
Founded by chef Ishaan Kapoor in 2023, Lal Qila draws from a childhood spent between Lucknow and Manhattan. Every spice is hand-ground each morning; every dish carries a memory worth telling.
Read our storySignatures
Four plates that tell our whole story.
Saffron · Rosewater · Aged Basmati
Lucknowi Lamb Biryani
Charcoal · Ajwain · Lemon Ash
Tandoor Bronzino
48-hr Tomato · Fenugreek · Cream
Butter Chicken 2.0
Aged Cheddar · Black Truffle
Truffle Kulcha
The Room
Brass, oak, and the low hum of a slow Saturday.
Forty-eight seats, two private alcoves, and one open kitchen where the tandoor never sleeps. We built it for long dinners that forget the time.
48
Seats
2
Alcoves
900°F
Tandoor
