Top Ten Restaurants in McLeodganj, Dharamshala

When you visit a place you also like to eat the best food available there. McLeodganj has plenty of dining options at affordable prices specifically if you are interested in Tibetan, Chinese and Italian foods. The listing below is not in order of preference or ranking but in the simple order that I visited them.

Blue Cheese Pizza at Om Restaurant 

Om Restaurant – It has a good ambiance and beautiful location and you can sit for long and enjoy the view of the undulating mountains. The Blue Cheese Pizza that I had was very good.

Thukpa, Tingmo & Phigsa at Norling Cafe

Norling Café- Not a very big place but has been maintained nicely. However, it has no views as it is in the middle of the market. The Norling Café Special Thukpa was good with lots of meat in it. The Phingsa and Tingmo were also well prepared.

Rewa Cafe

Rewa Café – They may not score high on ambiance, location or view but the Thukpa (Rs 80 for a mutton Thukpa) and Momo (Rs 90 for a plate of mutton Momo) score highly. The Momos were really juicy. On top of that they kept the hot water in a thermos for drinking without being asked. The Tibetans prefer to take hot water throughout the day to keep them hydrated and therefore keep hot water in a flask.

Commonground

Common Ground – This restaurant is five minutes away from the main market, has been beautifully done and also has a good view if you sit outside. They specialize in Chinese (not Tibetan). I had ordered Dawa’s Sweet & Spicy Sizzler (Rs 200 for a plate), Sha Tag (Rs 230 for a plate), Momo and Tingmo. Both the sizzler as well as Momo were excellent.

Tuna Pizza at Family Pizzaria, Dharamkot

Family Pizzaria, Dharamkot – This is not in McLeodganj but in Dharamkot. Lots of foreigners and Indians who come for longer stays stay in Dharamkot to do Vipasana etc. The walk to Dharamkot is also nice. The restaurant is located amidst a small orchard and one can enjoy the food in this beautiful setting. The Tuna Pizza and Tea that I had here were good.

Veg Cheese Bhakleb at Peace Cafe

Peace Café – This place is good for breakfast. The inside ambiance is good but the location is nothing to write home about. Has only vegetarian options. I am seeing that over the years more and more vegetarian-only outlets are coming up in McLeodganj as it is becoming fashionable in the west. The Veg Cheese Bhakleb (Rs 150 for a plate) that I ordered with banana shake was good.

Momo & Shapalay at Palden

Palden Tea Shop – This place has no ambiance or view. It is a very small place with just two tables. I has ordered Shapalay and Momo and both of these were without doubt the best that one can have in Mcleodganj. It was manged by just one person only who managed to make the food, serve, clean utensils etc single handedly. If you are not fussy about going to glossy looking places then choose such small ones to get real authentic and delicious Tibetan food.

Shifan Pautse at Kailash Kunga

Kailash Kunga – This place is good for breakfast etc. Again the ambiance and location are not good but the Shifan Pautse that I had were delicious.

Meat Ball Thukpa, Momo at the Clay Oven

The Clay Oven – The place is located near the Main Square and has very well done interiors with real live clay oven working where you can watch your food being prepared. The Meat Ball Thukpa (Rs 130 for a plate) was well prepared and the Momo (Rs 120 for a plate) were very juicy.

Chicken Garlic Steak & Dessert at the Carpe Diem

Carpe Diem – I had an excellent Chicken Garlic Steak with rice, chips and butter veg (Rs 240 for a plate) followed by dessert called Hello to the Queen (Rs 130 for a plate). The place is spread over two floors and has good ambiance, western music and is popular with foreign tourists. The place also serves liquor. Comparatively expensive place but it is still value for money.

There are several vegan cafes also coming up as the demand is rising for such cafes.

The food in all the restaurants that I visited was good and comparatively much cheaper than in Delhi/NCR. The Momo prepared by all of them are fresh and juicy unlike the ones you get mostly in Delhi. So be prepared to give some time for your Momo to arrive! The best point about all these restaurants are that either they don’t charge GST at all or is part of the printed price so you know exactly what you would end up paying at end of the meal.

Also read:

Things to do in Mcleodganj: The Kora Circuit
Places to visit in McLeodganj: Bhagsunag Waterfall
McLeodganj, Dharamshala, Himachal
Why I love to go to McLeodganj
Skywatch Friday - Sunset at McLeodganj, Himachal
Places to visit in McLeodganj: The Church of St John-in-the-Wilderness

Food Review: Amritsari Kulche at Breakfast Point

Amritsari Kulche with Chole and Tamarind Chutney

Chole-Kulche is a popular fast food in the northern parts of India and is available at every nook and corner is most towns and cities. Most of the Kulchas (flatbread made of maida) though are made of maida (wheat flour without the bran) and lots of oil/ghee is put on it.

However, one joint that I have now visited thrice serves real authentic Amritsari Kulche. Unlike the normal kulcha the Amristsari Kulcha is made of wheat flour and is stuffed. It was just a matter of chance that I discovered the place called Breakfast Point in Prashant Vihar of Rohini in Delhi. I was passing by and noticed the board and since I was hungry I decided to give it a try. The Amristsari Kulcha is served with delicious chole (Chick peas) and tamarind chutney sprinkled with chopped onions. One can order either a single Kulcha (Rs 60) or a full plate having two kulcha (Rs 100).

The food is so yummy that despite the fact that there is hardly a place to sit (only two tables – eight pax - for sitting) but people stand and eat at the standing tables placed outside the shop. Lot many customers also order on phone as it has a free delivery service as well. If you are to go on weekends then be prepared to wait for sometime to be served due to the rush. I even saw few persons being served in their parked cars.

For eating this is the only thing on the menu. If you want something to drink then there is either sweet or the salted lassi (buttermilk). In fact I think such joints which have a fixed small menu are more successful as they served more authentic food then the ones putting several items on their menu but not able to make any one of them properly.

Though the Breakfast Point would get either no points or maximum a single star for their ambiance but for quality and taste they are finger licking good.

Also read:
Pundit Gaya Prasad Shiv Charan Paranthe Wala Restaurant

Delicious Food at Ali’s Restaurant in Dehradun

As I wrote in an earlier post on Dehradun, I had some spare time before I catch a train back to Delhi. On Gandhi Road near the Jama Masjid area I noticed several restaurants serving non-vegetarian food. It was still early for dinner, so I marked one of them – Ali’s.

Ali's Non-Vegetarian Restaurant on Gandhi Road, Dehradun

Later on I returned to Ali’s Restaurant. The decor of the place was nice and the place looked hygienic. I did wonder though why there were hardly any families around and it seemed mainly a male bastion. But then I saw some families emerge from the inside. Then I realised that this restaurant, like so many others in smaller towns in India, has a separate seating arrangement for families.

Mutton Seekh Kababs, Rumali Roti & Onion Rings at Ali's

Initially I ordered mutton Seekh Kabab with Rumali Roti. These were accompanied with onion rings and green chutney. I must say that they were one of the best kababs I have eaten in a long time. They were soft and kind of melted in the mouth. Also one must try their Mutton Nihari. The prices of the dishes are reasonable. In fact compared to the prices in the NCR and Delhi they are definitely on the lower side yet superior in quality (as well as quantity!).

The owner at Ali's Restaurant in Dehradun 

I was told that this restaurant is running since 1955. I also observed that they were serving kheer (an Indian sweet dish made of milk, rice and sugar) and I asked the owner that why no sweet dish has been mentioned in the menu. He told me that they have recently introduced this and are yet to come out with a menu. He invited me to try the kheer.

Delicious Kheer at Ali's Restaurant in Dehradun

And how could I refuse as there is always some scope for a dessert! The kheer (chilled) sprinkled with lots of dry fruits was delicious and amongst the best kheers that I have eaten anywhere.

Do check out the place the next time you are in Dehradun.

Also Read:
Skywatch Friday- A short visit to Dehradun

Pundit Gaya Prasad Shiv Charan Paranthe Wala Restaurant

Rocky and Mayur have ventured out to explore food from all parts of India and curate videos on Askme.com I'm contributing my part by relishing my favorite dishes at Restaurant Pundit Gaya Prasad Shiv Charan Paranthe Wala and sharing my views with you all!

You can also upload your video review on AskMe and stand a chance to meet Rocky and Mayur.

I recently visited Chandni Chowk area in Old Delhi and how could I miss Paranthe Wali Gali. It was morning time and I was with a group of 15 blogger friends out for a photo-walk. We decided to check on Pundit Gaya Prasad Shiv Charan Paranthe Wala. They have been serving since 1872 i.e. for nearly 150 years! As the name suggest they specialise in Paranthas (an Indian flat bread) of various kinds. In fact you will be amazed to know that they serve more than 25 different kinds of paranthas. Unlike paranthas elsewhere here they are actually deep fried and that also in Desi Ghee (Clarified butter). 

Paranthas are deep fried here

I tried their Gobi (cauliflower) parantha, Rabri (dish made with yoghurt and flour) parantha, tomato parantha and Nimbu (lemon) parantha and all of them were yummy. In the plate they also served two different kinds of Chutni, along with Chole and two vegetables.  

Gobi Parantha at Pundit Gaya Ram Shiv Charan

Along with the paranthas their Gajar (carrot) and Muli (Radish) pickle in vinegar in itself was so tasty that even before the parathas arrived we had attacked the pickle. 

The carrot and radish pickle in vinegar is very tasty

As it is a very old place it has a seating capacity of only 25 persons or so. And on weekends there is a long line of people waiting to be seated. If you stay in NCR and still have not visited Paranthe Wali Gali to savour the paranthas then do so now!

Why I love to go to McLeodganj

McLeodganj is a place that offers solace not only to those who are of religious bent but also to those like me who look at nature and food as an alternative means of solace. And McLeodganj has plenty of the latter two of these.

McLeodganj - Himachal Pradesh

Now there are lot of eateries in Delhi that do offer Tibetan food but the quality of food in McLeodganj is far superior and within a short distance there are so many restaurants that offer good quality Tibetan food and that also at very reasonable price. In fact compared to Delhi these are very cheap.

Amdo Momo with Rice Soup

One can have very good quality of Momos or Amdo Momos, Thukpa etc. Normal Momos are crescent shaped whereas the Amdo Momos are roundish. I also had Rice Soup served with the Momos for the first time.

Pizza Humpty Dupmty with another dish at Namgyal Cafe

The surprising thing is that I normally take the non-vegetarian Tibetan food but even the vegetarian Momos and Thukpa served here in several restaurants is exceptionally good especially the Spinach Momos.

Pizza Whale at Namgyal Cafe

But the most surprising part is that one can have the best of the pizzas here especially at the Namgyal Cafe whose thin crusted pizzas are definitely much better than any pizza offered by Pizza Hut, Domino's or any other multinational outlets in Delhi and elsewhere.

Thukpa

Earlier Namgyal Cafe was on the Temple Road and was part of the  Tsug-Lha-Khang Complex but recently has shifted to a lane close to the main town square.

Spinach Momos

McLeodganj can be reached by Delhi in about 12 to 14 hours. It is the headquarters of the Tibetan Government in Exile and the Dalai Lama (the spiritual head of Buddhist across the world) lives here.

Also read my earlier post on McLeodganj.

Wagon and Horses

I have visited Wagon and Horses several times and found their non-vegetarian menu superb. This restaurant and pub is in Abingdon near Oxford. Abingdon is a market town located on the Thames and is among the oldest towns  not only in the Oxfordshire but in the whole of Britain. I was taken there first by a friend who teaches in Oxford Brookes.

Inside decor of Wagon and Horses

The decor is excellent and the staff polite and the service excellent. The place also has excellent pub with all kinds of local beers giving a run for their money to the international brands.


I found that the restaurant had a large menu and the best is to go for the buffet menu which (at that time) used to be only under 10 GBP. The menu is a mix of British as well as Oriental.

A wide menu at the Wagon and Horses

Red Duck,  Beef, various kinds of chicken like garlic, chili; Pork Ginger; starters like Butterfly Chicken, Red Chicken, Barbecue Rib were the best.

Best Food 

My friend told me that Abingdon used to be on the trade route and lots of wagons used to pass this area which had to pay a tax as well. The restaurant probably took its name from there.

A friend inside Wagon and Horses

The venue has become so popular among the locals that it is advisable to book in advance especially on weekends otherwise you may not find a place to sit.

Puran Singh Da Dhaba - Revisited

In the last week I had to cross Ambala twice and what better food, if you are a non-vegetarian, than that of  Puran Singh Da Dhaba which of course I had both the times!

The food was as delicious as it was during my first experience. See my earlier post on the Dhaba for greater details.

Keema Kaleji, Mutton & Chicken Curry and at Puran Singh

The slight difference is that the mutton curry prices have gone up slightly but that is to be expected what with the general inflation.

The eatery is open only from seven in the morning till four in the evening.

What the Dhaba needs to do on an urgent basis is to renovate its outer and interiors as it seems that it has not even done white-washing for quite some time.

As it is the nearby dhabas which also claim to be the authentic ones are now advertising that they have been visited and recommended by the famous duo of Rocky and Mayur of the 'Highway on My Plate' fame.  

Puran Singh Da Dhaba

Recently while driving back from Chandigarh to Delhi I decided to halt at Ambala for lunch and I thought what better place to stop than the Puran Singh Da Dhaba (Puran Singh's restaurant). I knew the location to be near the Ambala Cantonement Bus Stand but when I reached there I saw at least more than ten restaurants claiming to be Puran Singh Da Dhaba. And they all beckoned to come to their place but I ignored them as they looked too swanky.

Puran Singh Da Dhaba

I was aware that the original one that is very famous does not have a great external appearance. Also I started looking for the lady whose son now runs the place (as I had recently seen her on a news channel). I finally found her in the back lane. She was chatting with me and told me that everyone wants to use her (husband's) restaurant's name to make a quick buck. This dhaba is located on the back side of the main road and has a rustic look. The dhaba was established in the late nineteen forties by a Punjabi refugee family from the erstwhile west Punjab (now in Pakistan).

VIshal Khatri with Mother (Wife of Puran Singh)

The Dhaba serves only three non-vegetarian dishes - keema kaleji (minced meat with liver), mutton curry and chicken curry. I ordered the first two with tandoori rotis (Indian bread). I found the two dishes absolutely delicious and good in quantity. It was a better fare than any restaurant food that I have eaten in Delhi and the price was may be one-third of what one has to pay in Delhi. In fact the waiter came and served another round of gravy without any further charge!

Mutton Curry and Keema Kaelji at Puran Singh

You can watch the full video of the show of the famous food critic and Indian film actor and director Kunal Vijaykar on how to cook Keema Kaleji at Puran Singh Da Dhaba.

According to Mrs Puran Singh several celebrities are regular visitors to her Dhaba.

All non vegetarian eaters must visit this place if they cross Ambala on the way.