Are you wondering what to eat in Dharamshala? Then, keep reading because we’ve got you covered with some of our favorite dishes and restaurants. Noelle here, by the way.
Dharamshala is a foodie’s paradise! You’ve absolutely got to try delicious Tibetan dishes like momos (steamed dumplings), tingmo (steamed bread), and thukpa (noodle soup). They’re packed with flavor and perfect for warming up on a chilly day.
Don’t forget the local Himachali cuisine too! Chana Madra (chickpea curry) and Tudkiya Bhat (a fragrant rice dish) are must-tries. And for a sweet treat, indulge in Banoffee Pie. It’s like a delicious caramel toffee banana pudding.
International cafes in Dharamshala serve Vietnamese, Japanese, and Italian food. With so many cafes and restaurants to choose from, you’re sure to find something you’ll love!
Here are the key dishes to try in Dharamshala:
- Momos: The most popular Tibetan dumpling dish with veg and non-veg fillings
- Thukpa: A hearty noodle soup with vegetables and meat, perfect for cold weather
- Tingmo: Soft, fluffy, steamed Tibetan bread served with spicy dips
- Chana Madra: A classic Himachali curry of chickpeas and spices
- Tudkiya Bhat: Rice, lentils, potatoes, and spices
- Siddu: A Himachali steamed dumpling
- Bhey: Spicy lotus stem
What to Eat in Dharamshala: Tibetan Momos!
Just so you know, the restaurants we ate at are all within walking distance of our hotel, The Posh, in McLeod Ganj. We took taxis to other parts of the city but always returned to this central area for eating.
There’s parking at the top of the hill if you keep going straight beyond the taxi stands. But since we walked everywhere, I can’t tell you much about what to do with your car. It seems like people just leave scooters wherever they like, so parking them isn’t so much of an issue.
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The Tibet Kitchen for the Win!
Our favorite restaurant in Dharamshala is the Tibet Kitchen. It’s on the right at the top of the one-way street going uphill. Yes, that’s all the direction you really need, lol. Seriously though, it’s on the Forsyth Ganj-Mcleod Ganj Road in the section where the road splits into one-ways for uphill or downhill traffic.
Each of the three (or was it four?) times we ate here, the place was crowded! Sometimes, you have to wait for a table, even though the restaurant covers three floors.
They serve Tibetan, North Indian, Bhutanese, Thai, and Chinese food. There are plenty of veg choices, but there are also non-veg dishes. We appreciated the pictures in the menu!
We loved the fried mutton hand pies (shabalay) and had a plate on each visit. They give you three! What? Why not four, so we could each eat two???
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We also tried the fried mutton momos (love) and the steamed veg momos (like). The steamed version was good but a little doughy for us.
Momos are similar to Chinese dumplings, but the dough is thicker. Since we’re used to the thinly rolled-out Chinese version, steamed momos felt a little toothy for us. Is that even a thing? Toothy? Should I say chewy? You get the picture.
We also tried the tingmo, which is essentially steamed Tibetan bread. It might be the same dough as the momo. We liked it better than the steamed momo but only tried it once.
Another favorite was the Chicken Thukpa, a super flavorful chicken noodle soup with veggies. We also tried the Pad Thai, which was okay but nothing to write home about.
Another delicious dish we tried at Tibet Kitchen was Alu Phing Sha. It’s a mutton stew with mung bean noodles and potatoes. So yummy on those cold days.
Dharamshala Street Food: Momos
On a side note, there are plenty of momo street vendors. They’re mainly on the downhill one-way near the McLeod Square Temple.
They’ll give you three momos on a little plate with dipping sauce. I only saw vegetarian street food options, but there are probably mutton or chicken options, too. They cost 50 – 200 rupees (~50 cents to $2 US).
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What to Eat in Dharamshala: Himachali Food
At our hotel’s restaurant, I tried a few great local dishes. I appreciated that they weren’t as spicy as other Indian dishes we’ve had.
Tudkiya bhath is a rice dish from Himachal Pradesh made with freshly ground spices, lentils, and potatoes. It’s similar to a pulao. I found an excellent recipe I plan on trying while we stay at an Airbnb in Goa. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Chana Madra is a chickpea curry that I liked. Since it’s curd or yogurt-based, it tastes slightly milder than North Indian curries. Plenty of flavorful spices, like cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, turmeric, cumin, and coriander, go into the dish. I’ve not yet mastered which bread goes with which meal. But Chana Madra goes with Babru, which is a type of flatbread.
Speaking of bread, paranthas are a breakfast staple and quite delicious. I especially liked our hotel’s aloo (potato) version.
Bhey or spicy lotus stems are another local favorite. We didn’t try them in Dharamshala, though. We’ve had them since then, and they aren’t our favorite. Emphasis on spicy! The thinly sliced lotus stems are cooked in garlic, ginger, onions, and gram flour. Some of them get pretty crunchy, almost like a chip. However, the thicker slices just taste spicy and chewy to me.
What to Eat in Dharamshala: Vietnamese Food
Next door to our hotel is a Vietnamese restaurant, The Hot Pot House Cafe. Steve and I love hot pots, so we take everyone to an out-of-this-world dive restaurant in Portland.
I’m looking forward to hitting it up when we’re home again. But in Dharamshala, we had the next best thing: Joy’s cafe, which is all about great food and making new friends. Delicious and welcoming!
On our first night, we had a chicken hot pot with Vietnamese pho broth. For proteins, we chose chicken and tofu. Then, we added Chinese cabbage, bok choy, carrots, zucchini, and mushrooms. Finally, to soak up the remaining broth, we selected rice noodles. It made for a tasty bowl of goodness.
Later in the week, we returned to share a Thai salad, Vietnamese summer rolls, and veg pho. Both meals were great, but the owner, Joy, made the experience even better.
Of course, the town lost power during our second dinner at The Hot Pot House. So, Joy’s husband brought out candles to turn it into a romantic dinner! How fun.
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What to Eat in Dharamshala: Japanese Food
On the downhill section of the one-way street is a Japanese noodle shop. The upstairs seating area was full, so we sat in the shop window. There was nothing like being the window display while we ate!
Ikigai Ramen Bar & Cafe serves Buldak and Nongshim brand noodles. Choose a flavor from the noodle wall, and they’ll cook it with whatever veggie additions you choose. You can add boiled eggs, cheese, or sausage for a few more rupees.
Many street food vendors cook up Maggi noodles. It’s the local Indian brand equivalent to Maruchan Top Ramen in the US. So, choosing the “fancy” brand at Ikigai is a special treat.
Steve and I opted for the Chicken Katsu Set meal with chicken, rice, soup, and salad. He worked in Japan off and on for many years and loves a good chicken katsu. This chicken did not disappoint! It was full of flavor and well-cooked.
Ikigai also serves Korean Kimbap (kind of similar to California rolls), Bibimbap (veg and non-veg rice bowl of goodness), and several Korean noodle dishes. This restaurant has something for everyone. It stays busy, but it’s worth the wait.
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What to Eat in Dharamshala: Italian Food
For Westerners missing familiar tastes, Jimmy’s Italian Kitchen hits the spot. Plus, the views are out of this world! It’s a great location with a wall of windows overlooking the hillside. Pointing out our hotel on the hillside on the other side of town was fun.
We often choose a meal to share, but not here! We each wanted our own decadent goodness. Needless to say, we waddled out of there!
Steve got a Sicilian pizza that was pretty tasty. The bread, cakes, pasta, and pizza sauce are homemade. So, we expected goodness and weren’t disappointed. His pizza had tons of cheesy flavor, with tomatoes, onions, and eggplant.
I ordered the Ravioli Pomodoro but got the Ravioli Florentine. It was delicious, even though it wasn’t what I expected. I didn’t bother explaining that I had the wrong dish; instead, I opted to experience something new.
The ravioli was stuffed with spinach and cheese, smothered in a creamy white sauce, and served with garlic toast. It was so delicious. I’d eat it every day if it weren’t so heavy (and calorie-laden.)
We shared a piece of Banoffee pie for dessert. We saw it on just about every menu, so we knew it was something we had to eat in Dharamshala. Apparently, it’s a British dessert, maybe a holdover from their occupation here.
Layer whipped cream, bananas, and caramel sauce over a crushed cookie biscuit base for a delightful treat. It’s similar to the banana pudding I grew up with in Louisiana but in pie form. It’s so good but very rich.
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What to Eat in Dharamshala Wrap-up
There are so many great restaurants and foodie options here that you’ll have no problem finding great meals. Knowing what to eat in Dharamshala is easy when you stick to local favorites.
By all means, stop at the Tibet Kitchen for the mutton shabalay. You can thank me later! Drop me a comment on other Indian or Tibetan dishes we should try while exploring here. But remember, we like a little spice, not a ton of spice. Ha!
Tour Guide Contact Info
Here’s the contact information for Zahoor, who helped us navigate northern India and the Golden Triangle. Although he’s based in New Delhi, he regularly communicates with us.
We found him very knowledgeable. He has an extensive database of local hotels for any budget. Depending on the area and our requests, he’s booked us low-cost hotels and luxury ones.
Zahoor’s team coordinated our transportation and drivers, so we didn’t need to worry about getting where we wanted to be. He took care of every detail. We don’t make any money as an affiliate for him, so this is just our suggestion for one of many tour operators.
107, Scindia House, Janpath, Connaught Place, New Delhi 110001
Zahoor +91 98912 64450, WhatsApp
India’s Best Driver
Along the same lines, here’s the contact info for our favorite driver in Delhi and the Golden Triangle, Rakesh. He’s part of Zahoor’s team, too.
Rakesh even took us to the doctor in Delhi when we were both so sick after our arrival. Of course, he teased us for the next couple of months about not getting us spicy food.
Reach Rakesh on WhatsApp at +91 99589 62179. He’ll take great care of you!
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