Shimla has always been a favourite hill station among tourists from India and abroad. And, like in any other destination, food plays an integral part in creating a memorable holiday experience here. So, if you are travelling to Shimla, you better be armed with the knowledge of the best delicacies that are found here, especially the traditional food of Shimla.
Shimla is home to a rich number of ethnicities, and the vibrant culture of the town is a representation of its lifestyle. One of the best ways to experience the Pahadi lifestyle is through its local food.
Madra, originating from the Chamba region, is one of the most famous local food in Shimla. It is a healthy and spicy chickpea-based vegan curry, that goes perfectly with rice and flatbreads along with a side of yoghurt and onion salad. Dham is another delicacy on the list of famous food of Shimla. It is essentially a comforting traditional vegetarian thali containing rice, rajma curry, curd, jaggery, dal and kadhi, that can be found in several local restaurants. It is also served in temples as prasad during special occasions.
Non-vegetarians can try out Chha Gosht, a mildly spiced traditional Himachali mutton delicacy that is cooked in a gravy of gram flour, and yoghurt, or Chicken Anardana, a unique and lip-smacking delicacy of Himachal, where tender chicken pieces are cooked in a sauce of dried pomegranate seeds, yoghurt, and aromatic spices. These curries, some of the most popular local foods in Shimla, can be enjoyed with rice, naan, roti or sidu - a traditional Himachali bread made of wheat flour. Bhey, which is fried lotus stem, and Babru, a kachori-like delicacy that makes for delicious evening snacks, are must-try local foods in Shimla.
The local food culture of Shimla is also influenced by the confluence of tourists, Tibetan immigrants, and retired army personnel who have made the town their home. It is comforting to have a plate of piping-hot Maggi with chai or to relish a bowl of steaming momos and Tibetan dim-sums during the chilly winter evenings. You could also find a number of food stalls at The Mall, selling fresh bread pakoras and omelettes, without which, no tour of local food in Shimla is complete. In the cafes, loved by international and Indian tourists alike, you will find that pizzas, burgers and indo-chinese delicacies have pretty much forayed into the everyday food scene of Shimla.