Darjeeling a small hill town in West Bengal, India is a beautiful cultural and historic hill station with breathtaking views of the Himalayas. Imagine yourself relaxing in the Darjeeling foothills and being caught away by its beauty!  Sounds lovely, isn’t it?  But why should simply the appearance be appealing? How can a visit be complete without sampling the region's delicacies? Food and culture complement each other. Craving food out of joy has a beautiful touch of ethnicity's rich flavor. Every community has its unique methods for preserving its cultural identity. As a tourist, therefore, you must enjoy the scenery of the location and your taste buds simultaneously.

Darjeeling's population is ethnically diverse. It's the people's different lifestyles that reflect a community of harmony, peace, and understanding. Darjeeling's culture revolves substantially around food. Darjeeling cuisines act as a synthesis to entice guests as the most sought-after vacation destination in the globe. The delicious essence of this place's traditional and authentic meals will have you licking your fingers. The most incredible thing, of course, is the hospitality of the Darjeeling people. You will feel at ease enough with them to exchange lovely words and gestures. And it's perhaps for this reason that every dish prepared contains a touch of affection.

Do you enjoy eating? Do you have an uncontrollable food-resistance ability? If you answered yes, you should be proud of yourself because there is happiness when there is food. Experimenting with cuisines that are in high demand among many is always a good idea. So, before you get confused about which one to try or not, here's a list of 11 delectable dishes that you must taste while in Darjeeling.

So, are you ready to embark on a culinary adventure?  Let's get going.

 

1) MOMO: 

The mouth-wateringly exquisite momo is one of Darjeeling's most popular dishes. What makes it even more remarkable is the variety of momos available, each of which provides a satisfying meal for your stomach. The texture and appearance of chicken, pork, beef, buff, veg, and aloo momos are fine. Every momo is unique and has its specialties to delight your palate. The stuffing’s utilized inside varies depending on whatever momo version is available.

For example, if you want to eat non-vegetarian momos, the meat chunks will be different. However, there are only a few common ingredients that result in a delicious delicacy. Maida covers the exterior coating. The meat of your choice is mixed with onion, Ajinomoto, oil, a pinch of ground ginger, and salt. You will have a lot of options to try with the vegetarian version as well. Cabbage, nutrella with carrots, and aloo momos are other examples. It goes exceptionally well with chutney and soup. 

These days, paneer, mushroom, and cheese momos are also in high demand—a vegetable momo costs between 30 and 40 rupees for each plate. The price range for non-vegetarian dishes is between 80 and 90 rupees. In Darjeeling, there are numerous restaurants and street stores where you may have the best of the best momos. As a result, momos are available in every nook of Darjeeling. However, the Dikila shop, which caters to students, is the cheapest. The second location where you may enjoy these delectable momos is Samarpan, located in Sonada, Darjeeling.

 

2) TYPO:

It is one of Darjeeling's most famous street foods and is quite popular among the locals. It has a taste similar to momo, but it is larger and has a spongy and fluffy exterior covering. You can also receive a half-boiled egg-like substance called keema inside the Typho. Mixed with meat chunks and other stuffings, it comes with hot spicy and soup on the side.

Typo is accessible in all eateries and costs between Rs.30 and Rs.50.On the other hand, Chauk Baazar would melt your heart away if you wish to experience a more fantastic taste. Because typos are often larger than momos, one typo will suffice to satisfy your hunger. If you have a big appetite, you can eat more than one to meet your demands.

 

3) TING MOMO WITH SOUP:

One of Darjeeling's most favorite meals is ting momo. It's essentially a steamed bun that reminds you of Tibetan food. It has the semblance of a Typo. However, there isn't any stuffing inside. It is served with aloo dum, pickle, dry and gravy chicken sapta, chutney, and soup. Ting momo has an incredibly fluffy and silky texture. It's light and refreshing, and it will thrill your taste senses. The main ingredients are flour, water, yeast, and a pinch of sugar. The finest spot to try Ting momo in Darjeeling is at Blind Date Restaurant( Chauk Bazaar) It is located in the fancy market. The price per piece varies between 40 and 50 rupees. Grated carrots are also utilized for a unique flavor and garnish.

 

4) SAEL ROTI:

For Nepalis, Diwali is incomplete without Sael Roti, just as Holi is incomplete without colors. It has the same spiral shape as a 'jalebi' but is thicker and more prominent in size. Darjeeling locales add coconut and ghee to make it more delicious. Rice flour, white flour, milk, sugar, and huge cardamoms are the essential ingredients. It's made in a locally made pan that's a little thicker in size. In shaping the batter, a perfect balance of high flame and deep oil is maintained.

The batter is poured into the oil and formed into a round jalebi-shaped bread by hand. Throughout the year, you may find Sael rotis in restaurants. However, Diwali and Dussehra are the best times to savor the dish. It gradually brightens your festive spirit. It's accompanied by chana, aloo dum, and other vegetables and non-vegetarian curries. You can also re-live the taste with tea or coffee at times. Sael roti is available at a price range of Rs.20-30 per piece.

 

5) CHICKEN SAPTA:

If you are a non-vegetarian and crave a spicy, sweet-sour taste, then Chicken Sapta is a recommended Tibetan dish. The key elements that enhance the flavor of this delectable palate are bone-less chickens, capsicum, onion, salt, tomato, chilies, ginger, and sauce. It isn't overly spicy by nature. Hence, you can try it frequently. Coriander is sometimes added as a garnish.  It is often paired with Ting momos, but you can also have it with rice or chapati. Hard beverages are frequently used to complement this taste. This dish is expensive and is available at Blind date restaurant (Chauk Bazaar) Darjeeling, at a price range of Rs.100-150 per plate.

 

6) PHUMBI:

It's also one of Darjeeling's most popular dishes. It has a distinct flavor from momo or typo. Mung beans are used to make it. The beans are powdered into liquid form for a more refined taste. It's then turned into steamed cakes and sliced into smaller chunks. It looks perfect when light-fried on the pan. It's especially tastier when served with aloo momo.  It resembles half-cooked Thukpa and looks like jelly. When done with a spicy red sauce, it's fantastic!! It's available in Darjeeling's fancy market at a price range of Rs. 50 -60.

 

7) CHICKEN SHAPALEY: 

It's one of the most well-known Tibetan dishes, and it's trendy in Darjeeling. It qualifies as a beautiful, delectable meal because it is a portion of natural street food. Shapaley, like momo and typo, is a delicacy among food buffs. The keema/stuffings in momo and shapaley are identical. Momo, on the other hand, is steamed, while shapaley is fried in oil. The main ingredients for the preparation of this fantastic dish are onion, carrot, salt, Ajinomoto, flour, and oil. A few places additionally prepare it in a unique method.

They steam it till it's halfway done, then deep fry it. Some folks prefer their stuffings stir-fried. It has a simple feel that resembles a bread pouch. Typically, it is packed with meat. It complements chutney, sauce, and any heavy curry quite nicely. This dish is available in all the restaurants and street food hubs at a price range of Rs.30-40.

 

8)ALOO DUM:

 Darjeeling's most favorite recipes. It is made up of potatoes, as the name implies (aloo). After boiling, the potatoes are chopped into cubes. Paanch Phorana (five spices), black cumin, red chili powder, turmeric, and salt are among the ingredients. Dalley imparts a pleasant flavor and scent. Aloo dum comes in a variety of forms. Dry, gravy, and jhol are some examples. Due to the frigid weather, Darjeeling residents prefer spicy cuisine. As a result, aloo dum is in high demand among students and residents in the area. It is served with Bhooja, wai -wai chips, ting momo, or beg and non-veg thalis at a price range of Rs.10 to Rs. 20. It's also good with rotis or pooris. Don't miss out on trying this mouth-watering cuisine at Beni's cafe on SM Das Road, near Big Bazaar.

 

9) THUKPA:

 Regardless of how strong one's desire for momo, typo, or ting momo is, thukpa reigns supreme. It is a soupy noodle full of nutrients as lots of veggies are used for stock. Those who are suffering from a cold should give their taste senses a try. Thukpa is available in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian varieties. In most cases, it is served in a bowl. The Thukpa served in restaurants is not the same as the one prepared at home. It's accompanied by chutney. It's essentially a noodle made up of cubed-shaped meat, vegetables, and an egg. The amount of food supplied is so large that it will fill your stomach to the brim. As a result, it's typically suggested that you skip the Thukpa as a starter. Instead, use it as a side dish with your main course. The style, texture, and ingredients will transport you to a Tibetan noodle soup. However, in Darjeeling, a redesigned version of these noodles is served, with qualities similar to a Tibetan dish, making it tastier, spicier, and more flavorful. Any restaurant in Jorebungalow and Tashi Delek(Darjeeling, Chowraasata) is the ideal spot to try this meal. The price range is between Rs. 40 -80 per bowl.

 

10) KWATI:

Darjeeling's Kwati cuisine is another loved dish. It's essentially a reinterpretation of a classic Gorkha meal. As a result, people's desire for it never fades. Kwati cuisine from Darjeeling is another popular dish. It's simply a reimagining of a traditional Gorkha dinner. People's hunger for it, as a result, never disappears. It's a blended soup that's high in protein. The flavor of the soup or broth is very similar to that of Thukpa. The Kwati, on the other hand, is created by hand and has a shape identical to macaroni or pasta.

It's a winter meal with Tibetan influences. It is eventually made by boiling nine distinct types of sprouting beans at the same time. These legumes include kidney beans, chickpeas, soya beans, mung beans, green beans, black beans, and black-eyed peas. Extra spices, on the other hand, are added to make it substantially thicker. As a result, the flavor and aroma are radically different. In addition to being delicious, it also boosts your immune system significantly.

Red chili chunks, tomatoes, vegetable stock, mustard seeds, salt, garlic, and ginger mixture are combined to give your food a unique flavor. Apart from its mouth-watering taste, it also helps tired people regain their vitality. If you want to try the greatest Kwati in Darjeeling, go to Jorebunglow, around 5.2 kilometers from the main town.

 

 11) DHINDO:

Dhindo transports us back in time. Yes, you read that correctly. One of the best traditional Nepali foods, Dhindo was once the only way to eat when food options were limited. It was previously utilized as a staple diet for hill people because rice harvesting was slightly tricky in frigid climates. Every Darjeeling household knows how to prepare it. To make this authentic cuisine, you'll need a lot of patience, hard work, and concentration. It is also served with gundruk, a dry fermented radish, mustard green, or cabbage leaf. Potatoes and beans are the only additional items needed. You can combine it with a variety of different curries. Kinema (fermented soybean), Shinki (fermented radish), and Sishnu (nettle leaf soup) are all excellent accompaniments. It's nutrient-dense and tasty. As a result, this pairing is deserving of your admiration. This meal is best served at Kathmandu's kitchen, Darjeeling, just below Gandhi Road. The price costs between Rs. 50 and Rs. 80.

If you prefer more authentic Nepali food, you can order a thali in addition to the meals mentioned above. Each of these meals, from vegetarian thali to chicken thali to pork thali to buff thali, has its particular flavor profile to tempt your taste buds. Kathmandu's kitchen is one of the most well-known venues to acquire these sorts of Thalis in Darjeeling. 

Food uplifts your spirits and allows you to introduce a new flavor of variety into your life. Darjeeling reigns supreme because its delectable cuisines are the main draw to satisfy your cravings for the best of the best. Experiment with Darjeeling's rich traditional cuisine and share your thoughts with us. Until then, happy eating!!