‘Clinton, Obama and Trump ate with their hands here’: Delhi restaurant’s reply after founder asks for spoon

A Delhi restaurant reminded a founder that Bill Clinton, Obama and Trump ate with hands in their restaurant when the latter asked for a spoon

Delhi’s fine-dining scene has long doubled up as a soft-power showcase, with top restaurants hosting visiting world leaders and introducing them to Indian cuisine in its most traditional form. One such restaurant, Bukhara, is back in the spotlight after a founder’s casual dining experience sparked a wider debate on food, culture, and etiquette.

The episode was shared by Knot Dating founder Jasveer Singh, who recounted his visit to Bukhara in a post on X. Singh wrote that when he asked for cutlery, the restaurant manager politely informed him that only spoons were allowed. The manager then added, almost as an aside, that former US presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump had all eaten there using their hands. “The rest is up to you,” Singh quoted the manager as saying, joking that the unspoken message was, “Tum kya America se aaye ho?” He added that “reverse pressure works better.”

Asked for cutlery at Bukhara. Manager said sir spoon is allowed here - Then casually added Clinton, Obama, Trump ate by hand here. Rest is up to you In his head, tum kya America se aaye ho! Reverse pressure works better pic.twitter.com/32OCL8XAdW

— Jasveer Singh (@jasveer10) February 2, 2026

The post quickly went viral, triggering a flood of reactions from users debating whether tradition should outweigh personal comfort. Some backed the restaurant’s stance, arguing that certain foods are meant to be eaten by hand. “You can’t eat naan with a spoon, just like you can’t eat a burger with one. it’s just common sense,” one user commented.

Others echoed the sentiment, saying the experience is part of Bukhara’s appeal. A user noted that eating with hands is standard practice at both Bukhara and its sister restaurant Peshawri, adding that many foreign visitors willingly embrace the tradition. Another wrote that the restaurant’s insistence on hand-eating gives them “goosebumps” and is one of the reasons they keep returning.

Not everyone agreed. One user pushed back, saying restaurants shouldn’t be overly rigid about how diners eat. Drawing a comparison, the user argued that it would feel unreasonable if restaurants in China, Korea, or Japan refused forks and spoons to Indian diners and insisted only on chopsticks.

Bukhara’s reputation for tradition is rooted in its history. Over the years, it has hosted several global leaders, serving them its signature dishes, most notably Dal Bukhara. Clinton dined there during his India visit in 2000, Obama followed in 2010, and Trump ate there during his trip in 2020