Foods And Drinks In Darjeeling

● Momo

Category: Street Food

Details: **Momos are arguably the most iconic street food in Darjeeling. These delicious steamed or fried dumplings, originating from Tibetan cuisine, are a staple for locals and tourists alike. They are typically stuffed with a flavorful mix of minced meat (chicken, pork, or beef) or a savory vegetable filling (cabbage, carrot, onion, and paneer). Served with a fiery tomato and sesame**-based chutney and a clear soup, a plate of hot momos is the perfect way to warm up on

Where It's Found: Hot Stimulating Cafe, Kunga Restaurant, and numerous street stalls and small eateries around Chowrasta and Gandhi Road.

Price: (Rs.): 60-150 per plate.

● Thukpa

Category: Street Food

Details: **Thukpa is a hearty and wholesome Tibetan noodle soup. It's the ultimate comfort food for the cold weather, packed with a clear and savory broth. The soup contains a generous amount of Hakka noodles, fresh vegetables (cabbage, carrot, spinach), and your choice of meat (chicken, pork, beef, or a mix). The rich, aromatic broth is flavored with ginger, garlic, spring onions, and other local spices. It is a complete meal in itself, offering both warmth and nutrition, and is a must-try

Where It's Found: Kunga Restaurant, Keventer's, and various local cafes and street stalls.

Price: (Rs.): 100-250 per bowl.

● Aloo Dum

Category: Street Food

Details: **Aloo Dum is a spicy and tangy potato curry that is a beloved street food snack in Darjeeling. Small, boiled potatoes are cooked in a thick, flavorful gravy made with a variety of spices, including dried red chilies, turmeric, cumin, and coriander. It is often served with crispy potato wafers (bhujia) or Sel Roti. This dish perfectly balances spicy, sour, and savory flavors, making it a favorite for a quick and satisfying bite. Its robust taste is a testament to the influence

Where It's Found: Street food vendors near the Mall, and local restaurants like Kunga.

Price: (Rs.): 30-80 per plate.

● Shaphaley

Category: Street Food

Details: **Shaphaley is a delectable Tibetan dish that is a cross between a fried bread and a patty. It is a deep-fried dough pocket filled with a savory mixture of minced meat (beef or pork) and cabbage. The outside is golden brown and crispy, while the inside is soft and juicy. It is typically served with a tangy chutney on the side. This dish is a flavorful and filling snack that showcases the Tibetan influence on the local cuisine and is an absolute treat for meat lovers. **

Where It's Found: Tibetan restaurants like Kunga and Amdo, as well as local street food stalls.

Price: (Rs.): 80-150 per piece.

● Sekuwa

Category: Street Food

Details: **Sekuwa is a popular Nepali grilled meat dish. It consists of small pieces of meat (chicken, pork, or mutton) that are marinated in a blend of traditional spices and herbs and then grilled over an open fire. The result is a smoky, tender, and juicy skewer with a distinct flavor. The marinade often includes ginger-garlic paste, cumin, and coriander, which gives the meat a deeply aromatic taste. Sekuwa is a fantastic quick bite and is often enjoyed as an appetizer or a s

Where It's Found: Street vendors near the market and specific local eateries specializing in grilled foods.

Price: (Rs.): 100-200 per plate.

● Aloo Chop

Category: Street Food

Details: **Aloo Chop is the Darjeeling version of a classic Bengali snack. It is a deep-fried patty made from mashed potatoes and a mixture of spices. The mashed potato filling is seasoned with finely chopped onions, green chilies, and fresh coriander leaves before being coated in a spiced chickpea flour batter and fried to a golden crisp. It is a simple yet incredibly satisfying snack, often served with chutney or sauce. **

Where It's Found: Local street food stalls and snack shops.

Price: (Rs.): 10-20 per piece.

● Phambi

Category: Street Food

Details: **Phambi is a unique street food snack made from mung beans. These are like small, savory patties or cakes made from a paste of mung beans mixed with spices. They are then steamed or lightly fried. Phambi offers a different texture and taste compared to other fried snacks, with a slightly earthy flavor from the mung beans. It's a great option for a wholesome and authentic snack. **

Where It's Found: Found at select street food vendors and small local joints in the market areas.

Price: (Rs.): 30-50 per plate.

● Tibetan Bread

Category: Street Food

Details: **Tibetan bread, often served with a savory filling or as a side, is a popular item. It is a fluffy, slightly sweet fried bread with a distinct texture. It can be a simple side to dip in curries or soups or a standalone snack. The bread is prepared from a simple dough of wheat flour, yeast, and a little sugar, which is then deep-fried until it puffs up. This bread is a staple in Tibetan households and is a delicious accompaniment to many dishes. **

Where It's Found: Kunga Restaurant and other Tibetan eateries.

Price: (Rs.): 20-40 per piece.

● Samosa

Category: Street Food

Details: The samosa in Darjeeling is a local favorite, albeit with a slight regional twist. The crispy, triangular pastry is filled with a spicy mix of mashed potatoes, peas, and spices. It is often served with a tangy tamarind or mint chutney. The samosa is a classic Indian snack that has found its place in the heart of Darjeeling**'s street food scene, offering a familiar and comforting taste to both local residents and visitors. **

Where It's Found: Almost every sweet shop and street food stall.

Price: (Rs.): 15-25 per piece.

● Jalebi

Category: Street Food

Details: While known all over India, the jalebi is a crispy, sugary treat found commonly in Darjeeling**'s street food scene. The spiral-shaped sweet is made from a fermented batter of wheat flour, deep-fried to a golden-brown and then immediately soaked in a warm sugar syrup. The resulting sweet is crunchy on the outside and syrupy on the inside. It is often served hot, making it a perfect winter dessert. **

Where It's Found: Local sweet shops and some street food stalls.

Price: (Rs.): 10-20 for a small plate.

● Dal Bhat

Category: Local Delicacies

Details: **Dal Bhat is the staple meal of the Gorkha people and a must-try for an authentic experience. A traditional Dal Bhat thali is a complete meal that consists of a plate of steamed rice (Bhat), a bowl of lentil soup (Dal), and various side dishes. The side dishes can include a seasonal vegetable curry (Tarkari), a fiery pickle (Achar), and sometimes a portion of meat or fish. It's a simple, nourishing, and incredibly satisfying meal that represents the soul of Nepali cuis

Where It's Found: Nepali and local restaurants like Revolver and Shangri-La.

Price: (Rs.): 200-400 per thali.

● Gundruk

Category: Local Delicacies

Details: **Gundruk is a traditional Nepali dish made from fermented leafy green vegetables, typically mustard leaves or radish leaves. The leaves are wilted, then pounded and packed into a container and left to ferment for a few days. The resulting Gundruk has a distinct tangy and slightly sour taste. It is often prepared as a soup or a side dish and is rich in minerals and a great source of iron. It's a unique and authentic taste of the Himalayan hills. **

Where It's Found: Local eateries and traditional Nepali food joints.

Price: (Rs.): 80-150 per plate.

● Kinema

Category: Local Delicacies

Details: **Kinema is a traditional fermented soybean dish, with a strong, pungent aroma and a sticky texture. It is a staple food in the Himalayan region, including Darjeeling. Kinema is highly nutritious and is often cooked with onions, tomatoes, and spices to make a flavorful curry. It is typically served with steamed rice and is a common part of the local Dal Bhat thali. **

Where It's Found: Local Nepali restaurants and homes, rarely found in tourist-centric places.

Price: (Rs.): 120-200 per dish.

● Aloo Tama

Category: Local Delicacies

Details: **Aloo Tama is a unique and tangy curry made from potatoes (Aloo) and fermented bamboo shoots (Tama). The fermented bamboo shoots give the curry a distinctive sour and earthy flavor that is unique to the region. The potatoes are cooked until soft, absorbing the bold flavors of the bamboo shoots, spices, and herbs. This dish is a great way to experience a unique local delicacy. **

Where It's Found: Local Nepali and Gorkha eateries.

Price: (Rs.): 150-250 per dish.

● Kwati

Category: Local Delicacies

Details: **Kwati is a traditional Nepali mixed-bean soup that holds cultural significance, especially during festivals. It is made from a combination of nine different sprouted beans and lentils, including mung bean, black gram, green gram, and others. The soup is slow-cooked with a blend of aromatic spices, creating a thick and flavorful broth. Kwati is incredibly nutritious and a beloved dish for its warming and hearty qualities. **

Where It's Found: Found in local eateries, especially during festivals.

Price: (Rs.): 100-180 per bowl.

● Dhindo

Category: Local Delicacies

Details: **Dhindo is a traditional Nepali dish made from buckwheat or millet flour. It is prepared by continuously stirring the flour with hot water until it forms a thick, dough-like consistency. It is a dense and nutritious meal, often eaten with one's hands by dipping it into Gundruk soup or a meat curry. Dhindo is a very simple yet filling and wholesome food that is a staple for many in the hills. **

Where It's Found: Local Nepali restaurants and homes.

Price: (Rs.): 100-200 per plate.

● Mutton Pachoni

Category: Local Delicacies

Details: **Mutton Pachoni is a slow-cooked mutton curry that is a signature Nepali dish. The mutton is simmered with a blend of local spices, including ginger, garlic, cumin, and turmeric, until it is incredibly tender and flavorful. The curry is rich and aromatic, often served with steamed rice, Sel Roti, or Dhindo. It is a hearty and deeply satisfying meal, reflecting the region's love for rich, well-spiced meat dishes. **

Where It's Found: Traditional Nepali restaurants like Shangri-La and other local eateries.

Price: (Rs.): 250-400 per dish.

● Niguru

Category: Local Delicacies

Details: **Niguru is a traditional side dish made from the fiddleheads or tendrils of a specific fern plant found in the hills. The fiddleheads are saut�ed with local spices, creating a distinct and earthy flavor. Niguru is often prepared with churpi (a type of local cheese), which adds a creamy and savory element to the dish. It is a unique local vegetable delicacy that provides a fresh and healthy accompaniment to rice. **

Where It's Found: Local eateries and homes, particularly those specializing in Nepali cuisine.

Price: (Rs.): 100-180 per dish.

● Sinki

Category: Local Delicacies

Details: **Sinki is a traditional Nepali fermented food made from radish. The radish is chopped and then packed in a jar with other vegetables and left to ferment. It has a sour and slightly spicy flavor and is often used as a key ingredient in soups and curries. Sinki adds a unique, zesty flavor to dishes and is a testament to the local's resourceful use of seasonal vegetables and preservation techniques. **

Where It's Found: Primarily in local homes and some small, traditional restaurants.

Price: (Rs.): 80-150 per dish.

● Dalle Khorsani

Category: Local Delicacies

Details: **Dalle Khorsani is a fiery, round red chili that is a popular local pickle. It is known for its intense heat and unique flavor. The chili is pickled with mustard oil, salt, and other spices, creating a condiment that is both spicy and aromatic. A small amount of Dalle Khorsani can add a huge kick to any dish, and it is a must-try for those who enjoy hot and spicy food. **

Where It's Found: Available in local markets and served at many restaurants as a side dish.

Price: (Rs.): 50-100 per small jar.

● Sel Roti

Category: Sweets

Details: **Sel Roti is a traditional Nepali fried bread with a distinctive ring shape. It is a festive sweet, often prepared during Dashain and Tihar. The bread is made from a batter of rice flour, sugar, water, and ghee, which is deep-fried until it is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The taste is subtly sweet and aromatic. While it is a sweet, it is also served with savory dishes like Aloo Dum, making it a versatile food. **

Where It's Found: Street food stalls, and especially at local homes during festivals.

Price: (Rs.): 10-20 per piece.

● Rasbari

Category: Sweets

Details: **Rasbari is a local sweet similar to the classic Rasgulla but with a distinct flavor. These are soft, spongy cottage cheese balls soaked in a sweet, saffron-infused sugar syrup. The Rasbari is slightly denser than a traditional Rasgulla and has a unique taste that is a local favorite. It is a perfect dessert to indulge in after a hearty meal. **

Where It's Found: Local sweet shops like Narayan Das Sweets and other small confectioneries.

Price: (Rs.): 10-20 per piece.

● Doda Barfi

Category: Sweets

Details: **Doda Barfi is a rich and decadent sweet made from thickened milk, sugar, and dry fruits. It has a grainy, fudge-like texture and a deep, caramel-like flavor. The Barfi is often topped with chopped almonds and pistachios, adding a lovely crunch to the sweet. This sweet is a popular item to take home as a souvenir. **

Where It's Found: Famous local sweet shops and bakeries.

Price: (Rs.): 400-600 per kg.

● Peda

Category: Sweets

Details: **Peda is a traditional Indian sweet made from khoya (thickened milk solids) and sugar. It is a popular sweet in Darjeeling, with a soft and slightly grainy texture. The Peda is often flavored with cardamom and garnished with finely chopped pistachios or saffron. Its simple yet comforting taste makes it a beloved sweet for all ages. **

Where It's Found: Available in all local sweet shops.

Price: (Rs.): 300-500 per kg.

● Gulab Jamun

Category: Sweets

Details: **Gulab Jamun is a classic sweet found in Darjeeling. These are small, deep-fried dough balls made from milk solids and soaked in a fragrant rose-flavored sugar syrup. The Gulab Jamun is soft, juicy, and incredibly sweet, offering a burst of flavor in every bite. It is a perfect way to end a meal or as a standalone treat. **

Where It's Found: All local sweet shops.

Price: (Rs.): 20-40 per piece.

● Malpua

Category: Sweets

Details: **Malpua is a pancake-like sweet made from a batter of flour, milk, and sugar, which is deep-fried in ghee and then soaked in sugar syrup. The Malpua is soft on the inside and slightly crispy on the edges, with a rich, sweet flavor. It is often served with a dollop of thickened cream or Rabdi. **

Where It's Found: Sweet shops and some restaurants.

Price: (Rs.): 20-50 per piece.

● Ladoo

Category: Sweets

Details: **Ladoo is a round sweet ball made from various ingredients. In Darjeeling, you can find Boondi Ladoo made from small fried chickpea flour droplets, or Besan Ladoo made from roasted gram flour. Both are mixed with sugar and ghee and shaped into balls. They are rich, nutty, and sweet, a perfect festive treat. **

Where It's Found: All local sweet shops.

Price: (Rs.): 300-500 per kg.

● Bal Mithai

Category: Sweets

Details: **Bal Mithai is a popular sweet from the Kumaon region but is also found and enjoyed in Darjeeling. It is a dark brown, fudge-like sweet made from khoya and sugar, coated in small, white sugar balls. The sweet has a rich, caramel flavor and a unique texture. **

Where It's Found: Specialized sweet shops and bakeries.

Price: (Rs.): 400-600 per kg.

● Kheer

Category: Sweets

Details: **Kheer is a classic rice pudding made with milk, rice, sugar, and various dry fruits like almonds, cashews, and raisins. It is slow-cooked until the rice is soft and the milk has thickened, resulting in a creamy and aromatic dessert. It is often flavored with cardamom and saffron. **

Where It's Found: Many local restaurants.

Price: (Rs.): 50-100 per bowl.

● Apple Pie

Category: Sweets

Details: A classic dessert influenced by the British colonial era, the apple pie at places like Glenary's is a local favorite. The pie consists of a buttery, flaky pastry crust filled with a sweet, spiced apple filling. It is often served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce. **

Where It's Found: Bakeries and cafes, particularly Glenary's.

Price: (Rs.): 150-250 per slice.

● Darjeeling Tea

Category: Drinks

Details: Known as the "Champagne of Teas," Darjeeling Tea is world-famous for its delicate, muscatel flavor and fragrant aroma. The tea is grown on the misty slopes of the Himalayan foothills and is considered one of the finest teas in the world. Visitors can enjoy a freshly brewed cup at tea estates or local tea rooms, experiencing its unique and refreshing taste. This is not just a drink but a cultural experience. **

Where It's Found: Nathmulls Tea Room, Happy Valley Tea Estate, and virtually every cafe and restaurant.

Price: (Rs.): 50-200 per cup.

● Chaang

Category: Drinks

Details: **Chaang, also known as Tongba, is a traditional alcoholic beverage popular in the Himalayan region. It is made from fermented millet and has a low alcohol content. The drink is served in a bamboo container and sipped through a bamboo straw. Hot water is added to the container, and the Chaang is sipped until the flavor fades. It has a unique, slightly sour taste and is a local favorite. **

Where It's Found: Local pubs like Joey's Pub and other traditional eateries.

Price: (Rs.): 150-300 per mug.

● Local Coffee

Category: Drinks

Details: While Darjeeling is famous for tea, the local coffee culture is growing. Cafes like Himalayan Coffee offer a variety of freshly brewed coffees, from classic espressos and cappuccinos to unique blends. The high-altitude climate contributes to a distinct flavor in the coffee beans, making it a worthy try for coffee lovers. **

Where It's Found: Cafes like Himalayan Coffee and Tom & Jerry's Cafe.

Price: (Rs.): 80-250 per cup.

● Ginger Lemon Honey Tea

Category: Drinks

Details: This is a popular local beverage, especially during the cold winter months. It is a simple yet effective concoction of fresh ginger, a squeeze of lemon juice, and a spoonful of honey, mixed with hot water. The drink is soothing, and invigorating, and believed to have medicinal properties. It provides a natural way to warm up and soothe a sore throat. **

Where It's Found: Almost every cafe and restaurant.

Price: (Rs.): 50-100 per cup.

● Milkshakes

Category: Drinks

Details: **Darjeeling**'s cafes also offer a variety of thick and creamy milkshakes. From classic chocolate and vanilla to more exotic flavors, these milkshakes are a delightful treat. They are often topped with whipped cream and sprinkles, making them a perfect dessert-like drink. **

Where It's Found: Cafes and bakeries, including Glenary's.

Price: (Rs.): 150-300.

● Hot Chocolate

Category: Drinks

Details: A warm cup of hot chocolate is a must-have on a cold Darjeeling day. The cafes and bakeries serve rich, decadent hot chocolate made with real chocolate or cocoa powder and milk. It is often topped with whipped cream or marshmallows, providing a comforting and indulgent experience. **

Where It's Found: Glenary's and other cafes.

Price: (Rs.): 120-200.

● Fruit Juice

Category: Drinks

Details: Freshly squeezed fruit juices are available at various stalls and cafes, providing a refreshing and healthy option. The juices are made from locally available fruits like oranges, pomegranates, and apples. These juices are a great way to rehydrate and get a boost of vitamins after a day of exploring. **

Where It's Found: Fruit stalls and juice shops.

Price: (Rs.): 50-100.

● Lassi

Category: Drinks

Details: **Lassi is a traditional Indian yogurt-based drink, and in Darjeeling, you can find a variety of flavors. The Lassi is blended with sugar (sweet lassi) or salt (salty lassi) and sometimes flavored with fruits like mango. It is a cooling and probiotic-rich drink that is a great respite during the warmer days. **

Where It's Found: Street vendors and some Indian restaurants.

Price: (Rs.): 50-80.

● Lemon Tea

Category: Drinks

Details: A simple yet popular beverage, lemon tea is a common choice for a light and refreshing drink. It is made by adding a slice of lemon and a little sugar to a cup of black tea. The zesty flavor of the lemon cuts through the richness of the tea, creating a perfect balance of taste. **

Where It's Found: Almost every tea stall and cafe.

Price: (Rs.): 20-50 per cup.

● Yak Milk Tea

Category: Drinks

Details: A traditional Tibetan beverage, Yak milk tea is a strong and creamy tea made with yak milk. It has a slightly salty taste and is incredibly rich and filling. This tea is a great source of energy and a unique local experience. It is a must-try for those who want to experience authentic Tibetan cuisine. **

Where It's Found: Tibetan restaurants and some local eateries.

Price: (Rs.): 80-150 per cup.