The vendors around Kinari Bazaar (near Jama Masjid) and Sadar Bazaar prepare pani puri water that will absolutely destroy unprepared tongues. What locals consider 'mild' after building capsaicin tolerance since childhood will leave you crying for hours and unable to taste anything for days.

Start with aloo tikki (₹30-50) around Sadar Bazaar — Incredible flavor without requiring emergency medical attention. If you're feeling brave enough for pani puri at Kinari Bazaar, specifically request 'kam teekha' (less spicy) and point to your obviously foreign face for emphasis. The vendors here make their tamarind water particularly aggressive by default.

Pro survival tip: skip all red chutneys entirely unless you regularly consume ghost peppers. When the inevitable fire starts, grab lassi (₹40-60) or yogurt from nearby stalls — Never water, which spreads capsaicin around your mouth like napalm. Work up to local spice levels gradually over several days, or bring a local friend who can negotiate spice levels and point you toward stalls where other obvious tourists are successfully eating without tears.