The only true downside of eating everything under the sun is that sometimes even renowned institutions can leave you in a state of tepid dissatisfaction. Heavy blows, if you have not only spent countless nights pondering on what to eat and where to eat in Darjeeling but also obsessing on menus to figure out what to order and then fantasised about particular dishes. My first foray into taking a bite out off the high street of Darjeeling cuisine turned out to be one such misadventure. Debanjan, my co-traveller on this trip who puts up with my questionable dining choices was pretty pleased with Ara by Bellevue when we walked in on a quiet Sunday afternoon. Chic with upholstery that can be described as urban hip, Ara is the newest gastropub to open its doors in Darjeeling.

I started to question our choice after my first spoon of the American Chopsuey we had ordered. The Indianised version at Ara was a scalding hot gravy containing some vegetables and shredded, broiled chicken. It was thickened with cornstarch and marred by too much soy sauce. The gravy is to be poured upon the bed of deep fried crispy noodles and the 5-year old in me found the perfect opportunity to play with food, twirling the noodles to coat them in the tangy gravy. Unfortunately, the fun ended there. The acidity of raw tomatoes was overpowering and the flavour profile was a singular sour note. Heartburn aside, this meal made me reminisce about the very first, and satisfying, meal I had had in Darjeeling three years ago.

The American Chopsuey from Ara by Bellevue
The American Chopsuey from Ara by Bellevue

Back in 2015, on my first solo trip, I had reached the mall by way of a heart-attack inducing climb from the Chowk Bazar area one afternoon to find myself suddenly arrested by an unseasonal chill and gallons of wispy clouds that hung like a sinister shroud over the crowds. Hungry and longing for familiar comfort and too tired to search for an eatery, I had taken shelter in the nearest Café Coffee Day. Now, before I admonish myself for picking a restaurant chain over a local business in Darjeeling, I put my defence forth: Hunger knows not self-righteous culinary choices. Distracting myself from watching the damp dance unfurling outside, I had ordered a latte and a chicken sandwich. The latte, though ordinary and run-of-the-mill, did manage to warm up my arteries but to this day, the grilled chicken sandwich— cubed pieces of chicken smothered in spicy mayonnaise and spread generously on two humble slices of bread, then grilled to the perfect degree of smokiness— that came out of a standardised recipe in a corporate kitchen is still the best meat and bread combination* I have ever had. In the shivering cold of a rain-drenched Darjeeling, that sandwich had taught me two things: Never to disrespect any food, even when it’s formulaic, and to appreciate the flavour altitude imparts to simple meals. After countless bowls of Maggi and countless glasses of masala chai in the hills, this remains an undisputed truth.

Also readPlanning a trip to Darjeeling? Here’s a guide for you: 3 Days in Darjeeling: Nature Walks & Nostalgia.

Guide to Eating in Darjeeling: Roast Pork With Fries from Glenary's
The Roast Pork With Fries from Glenary’s

Where to Eat in Darjeeling

Glenary’s

As twilight looms purple over Darjeeling, I am given a simple task: To buy three chapatis and a non-threatening bowl of sabzi for Debanjan who has decided to stay in his room, at a comfortable proximity to the loo, following the eventful afternoon. Keeping Keventers on my left and making a mental note to orchestrate a breakfast performance there, I veer off towards Glenary’s, one of Darjeeling’s oldest eateries specialising in Continental Cuisine. The last time I had visited Glenary’s, I had a scrumptious Shepherd’s Pie in the family section upstairs and a glass of expertly concocted Bloody Mary. But that was after spending hours in the legendary Joey’s Pub and all I can recall now is the aromatic steam that gushed out as I sank my knife into the crust. This evening, I choose to pub it out and head downstairs to the slightly clubby, slightly loungey drinkers’ den. I settle down at a corner table and order a roast pork with a side of fries to celebrate my affair with food in Darjeeling. Cradling a drink, I indulge in people-watching.

Maybe Darjeeling does instil a sense of nonchalance and fearlessness.

My attention, until the pork arrived, is held squarely by the people at the table next to mine. A woman in her early twenties, probably a college student, is trying to coax her mother into ordering a glass of whiskey. Her mother, giving out a very middle-class Bengali bhodromohila vibe, is visibly perturbed at her daughter’s insistence. The daughter has almost convinced her mother when my food arrives: Thick slices of pork, both lean and fatty, drizzled generously with an orangey sauce. The spicy and slightly sweet sauce perfectly complements the succulent slices of pork. Most importantly, it is just the right quantity to let the flavours of the meat shine through. I pick up the fries one by one, dip them in the sauce, and put them in my mouth before digging into the pork. The meat and the fried potatoes slathered in the sauce bring forth a gamut of flavours, all fortified with a few rounds of rum on the rocks. A good glass of rum, a good winter, and a good dish of pork go handsomely together, don’t they? I clear my bill and put in a twenty for a bit of good faith and glance sideways to discover that the mother and daughter duo has downed more than a few pegs each. Maybe Darjeeling does instil a sense of nonchalance and fearlessness. Who knows? What’s a bit of liquid courage when your heart is glowing a deeper shade of red?

A closer look at the roast pork and fries
A closer look at the roast pork and fries

Eating at Keventers in Darjeeling

In Keventers for the “actual” breakfast, I order a Bacon Burger. The key to frying bacon is to not overdo it. Fry it less and it looks threateningly pink. Fry it up a notch in the hope of making it crispy and you have overcooked it to the point of charring it. The strips of bacon in my burger are done just right, the trace saltiness complemented by the sweet and sour mayo-based sauce. As I devour my burger, I wonder about Keventer’s elusive Cheese & Cold Cuts Platter. When pestered by my Where to Eat at Darjeeling question, a friend had recommended that if I manage to strike up a conversation with the owner, Mr Rahul Jha, I should inquire about this treasure that is not on the regular menu. Unfortunately, he is not around and therefore this gem of a dish with locally produced cheese of the finest quality and locally cured meat continues to be on my agenda for a future visit.

TIP: For breakfast, if you want a seat on the terrace at Keventers, arrive early before the crowds. Else be prepared to wait hours in line for a seat!

The Bacon Burger from Keventer's
The Bacon Burger from Keventer’s

Keventers epitomises the romantic soul of Darjeeling. A guide to eating in Darjeeling is incomplete with a mention of Kevs. My mother, who had visited Darjeeling before my birth, fondly remembers the conversations she had in broken English with an elderly British couple on the terrace of Keventers about the significance of sindoor. Twenty-five years later, sitting in the same spot on my first solo trip, I had thought of her walking the sunlit streets of Darjeeling in a saari. As I had taken a voracious bite out of the famous Keventer’s hotdog, the skies had magically cleared up and offered me a glimpse of the elusive Kanchendzonga. A few minutes later, a childhood friend with whom I had lost touch had walked in. What followed was a long and leisurely adda in the dappled sunshine.

Also read: Visiting Gangtok next? Here’s a list of our favourite restaurants: The 10 Best Places to Eat in Gangtok.

The Egg Fried Rice from Kunga
The Smoking Hot Egg Fried Rice from Kunga

Kunga: Tibetan Food in Darjeeling

Back in 2015, while researching where to eat in Darjeeling, Mohana had suggested me Kunga for lunch and paying due diligence to her, I had sauntered in into the homely Tibetan eatery on a damp and dark afternoon. I remember that I had to share a table with two monks dressed in maroon and orange robes, faces wizened, the skin on their hands wrinkled. I had ordered a plate of momo and thinking what good will a single plate of momos do, also ordered a bowl of Curry Rice: plain rice served with a big bowl of curried beef. When the food arrived, it was a gigantic feast. Momos, each half the size of my palm, ten of them, crammed with juicy, meaty goodness. The bowl of meat jhol, I could practically swim in! The monks had given me a look of displeasure, assuming that like yet another tourist, I would waste a lot of the food and walk away unaware of the hard work that goes into bringing produce to the plate. 45 minutes later, when I had finished off every last morsel and polished my plate clean, the older monk had smiled at me and remarked, “You are a very hungry boy.” Redeemed, that is to date, one of my proudest food memories.

This time, aware of the quantity they offer, Debanjan and I split a Pork Phing, Fried Rice, and Chilli Garlic Chicken. They arrive emanating copious amounts of aromatic steam that intensify our hunger. The Phing, a glass noodle soup, is the showstopper of the day and is the best Darjeeling food find on this trip. Sweet and sour with a characteristic umami, the Phing is a thick, peppery broth containing succulent chunks of pork and leafy greens like bok choy.  The jumbo-sized chicken pieces perched on a heap of sautéed chillies, garlic, and (surprisingly!) minced but not pulpy tomatoes were excellent accompaniments to the fried rice.

The Chilli Garlic Chicken from Kunga
The Chilli Garlic Chicken from Kunga

Street food in Darjeeling

Chor Bato, as the narrow, offshoot, winding roads characteristic of hill towns are called in Nepali, offer a simple pleasure to those who opt to stray away from the main roads. They allow the traveller to get lost. Egged by the pine-breathing freshness of dawn, I leave the warmth of my hotel room for a stroll. Close to Bhutia Basti, I encounter a cart selling piping hot momos, one of the high points of eating in Darjeeling. I am hungry after my long ramble and Keventers, my chosen breakfast spot for the day, won’t open until 8 am. The momos (8 for INR 50 for chicken / 8 for INR 40 for vegetarian) with their milky white covering of soft and supple dough are stuffed with flavorful minced chicken. As I tug at the pleats with my teeth, the savoury filling of chicken tumbles out on my tongue and the hot soupy meaty juices make me gulp rather abruptly. I slather the next one in the spicy red chilli sauce that accompanies the momos before devouring it. The heat is the antidote to the chill in the air. You don’t really need the sun to make a sunrise memorable, do you?

Guide to Eating in Darjeeling: The Vegetable Momo found near Bhutia Bustee
Vegetable Momos near Bhutia Bustee

As I write this piece, I can see a subconscious objective attached to my desire of retracing my food steps and eating at the same places I had eaten at on my last trip.  These places— restaurants, bars, food-carts— with their people, views, and stories are not merely place-markers but anchors in my memory that I will return to later in my life, that on looking back will provide me with a sanctuary of happiness and contentment. I wasn’t merely eating at the same places because they were good or familiar (which they indeed were) but I was also re-connecting with a relationship whose seeds I had planted three years ago.

But there are also other places, places that I haven’t eaten at, that I want to try. Penang, once acclaimed as the best restaurant in Darjeeling, tops my wishlist. Singalila comes highly recommended too. The family-run Nepali eateries in Chowk Bazaar that still have those little cabins for teenage lovebirds beckon me to partake of an untouristy experience of eating in Darjeeling. On a future visit, I want to visit some of Darjeeling’s Bengali restaurants where the menu is painted by Nepali hands and the ubiquitous Macch bhaat becomes “Moccher Jhol Bhot”. Maybe next time instead of smirking at the name “Hot Stimulating Café,” I’ll drop in for a latte or maybe I’ll spend an entire evening at the Mall gorging on phales, shaples, chowmien, and all the other street food that Darjeeling has to offer. But tonight, as the city prepares to sleep and I, unwillingly, prepare to bid goodbye at daybreak, I head back to Joey’s Pub. Between chugging from a bottle of Budweiser and munching on chanachur, I call Revolver, the fantastic hotel I’m staying at, and inquire what’s for dinner. Sailesh Daju informs me that they have some Naga specialities including bowls of pork curry with anishi (dried and smoked yam leaves) and dried bamboo shoots. How do they taste? Well, that is a story for another day!

*Mohana’s most memorable sandwich, or meat and bread combination as I call it, is a simple chicken sandwich that the staff at Bookman’s BnB in Gangtok, Sikkim lovingly made for her at 7 in the morning on her last day there.

Guide to Eating in Darjeeling

Mohana & Aninda

Mohana and Aninda are travellers and advocates for car-free travel. Two-together is their travel blog where they document their travels to encourage and inspire readers to seek solace in new places, savour local cuisines, and relish both unique and everyday experiences. When they are not travelling, they are actively researching trip ideas and itineraries, obsessing over public transport timetables, reviewing travel budgets, and developing content for their blog. They are currently based in Edinburgh and exploring Scotland and beyond by public transport.

60 responses to “A Nostalgist’s Guide to Eating in Darjeeling”

  1. arv! Avatar
    arv!

    Looks like lots of gastronomic adventures in this old colonial hill station.

    1. Bangali Backpackers Avatar
      Bangali Backpackers

      Yes! Darjeeling is well-known for some legendary eateries.

      1. arv! Avatar
        arv!

        Agreed 🙂

  2. prabhu Avatar
    prabhu

    it seem you enjoyed your food, me too a traveler and having different food is my first hobby.

    1. Bangali Backpackers Avatar
      Bangali Backpackers

      Yes, we loved our experience of eating in Darjeeling! Plus starting the mornings with a cup of sparkling black tea…heaven!
      Thanks for stopping by, Prabhu.

  3. Alex Trembath Avatar
    Alex Trembath

    I love the international flavour in some of these dishes! The food looks delicious. I hadn’t heard of momos before, they kinda remind me of pierogi in Poland.

    1. Bangali Backpackers Avatar
      Bangali Backpackers

      Both momos and peirogi are dumplings. Tibetan momos were traditionally made with yak meat but the ones that you find in India and Nepal usually have fillings like chicken, pork, and cabbage. Thanks for stopping by!

  4. Alexander Popkov Avatar
    Alexander Popkov

    AaAaaAaa! Damn, I wanna go there. The food looks fantastic. It looks os tasty, that I think I can eat all in one go.

    1. Bangali Backpackers Avatar
      Bangali Backpackers

      Thanks, Alexander!

  5. Kemi Avatar
    Kemi

    I love your writing style. Like I was reading a book! It just made me hungrier and now, off to the fridge to forge for food. Lol. I’d love to visit Darjeeling seeing as I love me some Earl Grey Darjeeling tea. Now, I can see that it’s not only tea Darjeeling is well known for. Food too!!

    1. Bangali Backpackers Avatar
      Bangali Backpackers

      Darjeeling has a unique cuisine that has elements from Tibetan, Chinese, and Bengali cooking. There are also restaurants that serve continental food. Try momos, hakka chowmein, roasted pork, and Bengali delicacies like chicken kosha. And if you are a tea enthusiast, you must visit Nathmulls and/or Golden Tips.

  6. Kimmie Conner Avatar
    Kimmie Conner

    Ohhh my GOODNESS this made me sooo hungry! I had never thought of Darjeeling as this much of a foodie heaven but now I have to try out these places!

    1. Bangali Backpackers Avatar
      Bangali Backpackers

      Darjeeling has some excellent restaurants. We had a great time!

  7. wanderlustwookies Avatar
    wanderlustwookies

    Hahaha – I love your story about the mom and daughter duo and their ‘liquid courage’ interaction! Sometimes all you need is the right environment of yummy food. And that giant plate you finished, eliciting praise from the monks – way to go!!

    1. Bangali Backpackers Avatar
      Bangali Backpackers

      Haha! Thanks 🙂 We’re planning to carry a Tupperware next time!

  8. TheRidgelineReport Avatar
    TheRidgelineReport

    I love how thorough and descriptive your recount of each bite is!! Too bad the first meal was a bit of a let down, but that last meal sounded incredible…. I’m here eating toast really wishing I was in Darjeeling too!

    1. Bangali Backpackers Avatar
      Bangali Backpackers

      Thanks! Darjeeling is full of quaint British era eateries and family-run restaurants specializing in Tibetan delicacies. We had a wonderful time eating in Darjeeling.

  9. Maloney Avatar
    Maloney

    I want one bite of everything! This all looked so good. I will definitely pin this so I remember when I finally travel to India.

    1. Bangali Backpackers Avatar
      Bangali Backpackers

      Haha! Thanks, Maloney!

  10. Karlie Avatar
    Karlie

    I love your writing style! You’re definitely making me crave a Darjeeling foodie experience.

    1. Bangali Backpackers Avatar
      Bangali Backpackers

      Thank you so much!

  11. Toques and Boots: A Travel Blog Avatar
    Toques and Boots: A Travel Blog

    There is nothing better than travelling and exploring the food of a new culture!

    1. Bangali Backpackers Avatar
      Bangali Backpackers

      Absolutely!

  12. Neeharika Satyavada Avatar
    Neeharika Satyavada

    Throughly enjoyed reading this post! You guys actually take your readers on a gastronomic journey. 🙂

  13. Jenn and Ed Coleman Avatar
    Jenn and Ed Coleman

    That bacon burger looks devine. I am a reasonably good cook and the exact magic required to cook bacon at home still eludes me. I think you have the gist of it called out. You have to pull it out before it’s “crisp” and let it finish outside of the pan. Every now and then I nail it just right, but I am also very happy eating bacon out for a whole host of reasons. Good cheese abroad is another miraculous find. Put them both together on a sandwich and that’s a win.

    1. Bangali Backpackers Avatar
      Bangali Backpackers

      Absolutely! Thanks for the tips and for stopping by 🙂

  14. Chandrima Avatar
    Chandrima

    I’m literally drooling right now! I’ve lived most of my life in Kolkata but would you believe, I’ve never been to Darjeeling. I so need to go there! Lovely post.

    1. Bangali Backpackers Avatar
      Bangali Backpackers

      You absolutely must! Darjeeling is an emotion <3

  15. sharanyaiyer Avatar
    sharanyaiyer

    YUM! What a lovely and helpful list. Can’t wait to go try them all!

    1. Bangali Backpackers Avatar
      Bangali Backpackers

      Thanks for stopping by, Sharanya!

  16. madelinestraveling Avatar
    madelinestraveling

    I had no idea Darjeeling had so many incredible culinary highlights. Those all look so delicious and I would love to try some of them. ❤

    1. Bangali Backpackers Avatar
      Bangali Backpackers

      It does! There’s some excellent Tibetan and Indo-Chinese cuisine in town. And also the old English regalia: the Continental dishes.

  17. TheGreatAmbini Avatar
    TheGreatAmbini

    That pork has literally made my stomach rumble! I love the little anecdotes that set the scene like the daughter wanting a whisky! I also miss momos so much, I lived off them during my time in Nepal.

    1. Bangali Backpackers Avatar
      Bangali Backpackers

      Oh I love momos! Aren’t they the absolute best?

  18. Kiara Gallop Avatar
    Kiara Gallop

    I’d absolutely love to visit Darjeeling, it’s a part of India that’s been on my list for a long time. And Indian food is one of my favourites 🙂

  19. weekendtrivia Avatar
    weekendtrivia

    omg this is so yaaamiiiiiiiiii <3

  20. Jing Avatar
    Jing

    This is my first time to read a food guide written in such poetic manner. I smiled when I read how you said that simple meals taste special when you’re on a high altitude. I also wondered about that whenever I’m on the mountains. Perhaps could be because a life in the mountains is often so simple and with the wonderful views it offers, you just have to appreciate what you have right there?

    1. Bangali Backpackers Avatar
      Bangali Backpackers

      Don’t they? Even a plate of Maggi gains all these extra layers of flavours at a higher altitude. I think you’re right: it is the simplicity of life in the mountains that adds to our ability to appreciate. Thanks for stopping by, Jing!

  21. footlooseinme Avatar
    footlooseinme

    This is an excellent Darjeeling food trail. It seems you explored every food options available in Darjeeling and beautifully depicted it in your pictures and words. Enjoyed reading your post.

    1. Bangali Backpackers Avatar
      Bangali Backpackers

      Thanks, Sarmistha. The boyf loves to eat. I tag along 😉

  22. Bernie Jackson Avatar
    Bernie Jackson

    That’s a true culinary adventure told with verve and passion. I get entirely what you say about returning to previously visited restaurants, because you only know part of the story when you dine there once. To me Darjeeling has always been simply associated with tea – and a fine cup at that – but this tells much more of cross-cultural food fusions, the beauty of simple food done well, and the tales of those with whom we share a meal. I like that the monks approved of your frugal ways and appetite.

    1. Bangali Backpackers Avatar
      Bangali Backpackers

      Of course, there’s the tea. Visit Nathmulls and/or Golden Tips for more about the exotic Darjeeling tea. We missed out on the street food experience because it was raining every single day we were there on our most recent trip. But the momos are awesome. In Darjeeling, they serve it with a tiny bowl of garlic-flavoured soup. Thanks for stopping by, Bernie!

  23. Jem Avatar
    Jem

    What a wonderful food adventure! It looks like you found lots of favourites in Darjeeling. I only know Darjeeling for its tea but it looks like it has excelled in other areas as well. Lovely writing style as well. Very beautifully written and beautifully photographed. I would have smirked at the name ‘Hot Stimulating Coffee’ as well haha

    1. Bangali Backpackers Avatar
      Bangali Backpackers

      Thank you! Maybe next time we will go in for a mug of hot, stimulating coffee!

  24. bye:myself Avatar
    bye:myself

    This is very interesting – practically none of the foods you are introducing looks like anything one would expect bein Indian cuisine – e.g. the Vegetable Momo look like Chinese dumplings, there’s a burger etc. Certainly broadens my perspective on Indian food.

    1. Bangali Backpackers Avatar
      Bangali Backpackers

      Most of what you find in Darjeeling is fusion: Indo-Tibetan, Indo-Chinese, and Continental dishes that sometimes have an Indian twist.

  25. Marteen Lane Avatar
    Marteen Lane

    You have an amazing way with words. I would love to try the vegetable momos. Would there be many vegetarian options in Darjeeling?

    1. Bangali Backpackers Avatar
      Bangali Backpackers

      Thanks for stopping by Marteen! There are plenty of vegetarian options in Darjeeling, from the streets to the big restaurants. You could opt for a traditional vegetarian Nepali meal. Momos, chowmein, thukpa, noodles, etc. are all available with vegetarian options. If you want a Bengali meal, you could go for rice with vegetable curries and dal. There are a few establishments that solely serve Vegetarian dishes! ☺️

      1. Marteen Lane Avatar
        Marteen Lane

        That’s wonderful to know, thank you 😊

  26. Shatadru Dru Dey Avatar
    Shatadru Dru Dey

    Brilliant

    1. Bangali Backpackers Avatar
      Bangali Backpackers

      Thanks!

  27. Debanjan Ray Avatar
    Debanjan Ray

    As always wonderful writing bro..waiting for some more “foodie” adventure together !!

    1. Bangali Backpackers Avatar
      Bangali Backpackers

      Thanks for stopping by!

  28. Soumya Gayatri Avatar
    Soumya Gayatri

    wow the food looks simply amazing. would love to try!

  29. Tony Avatar
    Tony

    Just like most of the other comments, I have to say that the food in this post looks really great! I only know about Darjeeling because of the tea, but now maybe it’s time to learn more! 😀

  30. Alice | Girl with a saddle bag Avatar
    Alice | Girl with a saddle bag

    What a mouth-watering post! Couldn’t agree more about the pleasures of enjoying good food when away, or re-visiting favourite places. Both can make a trip for me.

  31. Pia Avatar
    Pia

    OMG! How delicious this food looks like! I love food, especially, while I´m in a different country and I can taste local flavors. That´s awesome!

  32. Mathilde Avatar
    Mathilde

    Ah I really wanna visit! So many options and all looks so delicious! 🙂

  33. Lauren Avatar
    Lauren

    Those vegetable Momos and garlic chilli chicken look so good – this post has me so hungry and inspired to visit Darjeeling!

  34. Silly Little Kiwi Blog Avatar
    Silly Little Kiwi Blog

    All this food looks absolutely mouthwatering!

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