Last Updated At: 15-May-2025
Sikkim is one of the Indian states that is located in the northeastern part of the country. Along its borders are three countries - Bhutan, Tibet, and Nepal. The famous food of Sikkim has been hugely influenced by Nepal and Tibet. This is due to the fact that in this state, the ethnic Nepalese and Tibetan dominate the state; therefore, most of the people in this state are rice eaters. There is soup, dumpling, stew, meat, and lots of vegetables in this amazing intermix of the flavours of Sikkim. The state has much to offer for one to relish. Check out the famous food of Sikkim as you read below!
Sikkimese food is a delight to savour. Many dishes are available at local restaurants, cafes, and eateries. When visiting the state, enjoy the culinary delights available here. Savour stews, dumplings, soups, meats, and tasteful vegetables full of unique Sikkimese flavours.
A lip-smacking bread dish, Sel Roti, is usually prepared during Tihar, a famous Hindu festival celebrated in Nepal. Its unique circular shape makes it stand apart from other bread delicacies. It is usually served with a meat-based curry. Mildly sweet in taste, it is made with rice flour added with some spices. Pure ghee is added to the batter before it is fried in oil until golden brown.
It is a very famous Sikkim food enjoyed by the locals and people residing in nearby states of India and countries like Bangladesh and Nepal. It is a lentil soup and steamed rice combination. It is enjoyed as a daily fare by many locals of Sikkim. Although this dal chawal dish is commonly prepared in the country's northern parts, the one prepared in Sikkim is differentiated by its unique flavours. This comfort meal easily satiates the taste palette of food lovers. Dal Bhaat is the right choice if you wish to enjoy a light meal.
One of Sikkim famous food, Thukpa, is a perfect antidote to chilly weather. It is a flavoursome noodle soup that is believed to have originated in the eastern parts of Tibet. This dish from Sikkim seems to lead the culinary bandwagon with its unique flavour, texture, and aroma. Every street kiosk and vendor in Sikkim offers Thukpa. This staple food of Sikkim is prepared with chopped onions, garlic, green chillies and a dash of tang and spices. The soup is available in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian versions. Beat the chilly weather with piping hot and steamy noodle soup.
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An eclectic blend of bread, deep-fried flavours and packed with minced meat, this food of Sikkim is undoubtedly a must-try cuisine for non-veg lovers. This dish is believed to have originated from Tibet but has become a famous dish in Sikkim today. The pastry or the bread is stuffed with a mixture of cabbage, ground beef, and a variety of spices. It is neatly folded into a semi-circular shape and deep-fried until golden brown. Crispy and crunchy to the core, the flavouring of minced meat seems to melt in the mouth. These days, the Tofu version is available for vegetarians.
An ultimate favourite, Momos is an original Tibetan delicacy. Although a Tibetan delicacy, it has now embraced typical Sikkimese flavours. This scrumptious snack is also a popular Sikkim street food, available at street kiosks and restaurants. This succulent dumpling is filled with various fillings, like cheese, meat, and vegetables. These are steamed in a momo-maker. It has three levels, with tomato juice at the lowest layer. Relish the juicy and mouth-melting taste of momos with chilly chutney.
It is another non-vegetarian delicacy worth savouring. A cuisine of Sikkim, Phagshapa is a dish made up of pork fat, red chillies, and radishes. These fat strips are cooked and kept separate. The stew is made using spices and radishes, and later red chillies and pork is added as a final touch. These spices are added for a tangy and chilly taste. No oil is added to the dish. It's a perfect blend of proteins and vegetables, thus becoming a healthy meal.
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It is a famous drink made up of millet. Yeast is added to speed up the process of fermentation. Also referred to as Thomba, it is a traditional drink of people residing in Eastern Nepal. It is an alcoholic drink brewed locally. Enjoy it with a bamboo pie. This drink is available at a very low price and is prepared in local distilleries.
Commonly cooked by people in hilly regions, it is prepared by combining okra and nettle leaves. It is a typical and traditional Sikkimese cuisine served with piping hot steamed rice. This soup not only helps combat winter chill but also has a lot of therapeutic value. It helps in easing pain in joints and muscles. It also takes care of health issues like gout, anaemia, arthritis, and eczema.
These dishes are of Nepalese origin, and both are mouth-melting in taste. While Gundruk is made with cauliflowers and radish leaves and cooked with tomato sauce and spices, Sinki has tap roots as its major ingredient. These dishes have a unique sour taste as they are cooked using fermentation. Later, oil and mustard leaves are added to lend Gundruk a nice flavour and lip-smacking taste. This dish is rich in fibre and boosts metabolism. In erstwhile times, this dish was cooked in an earthen pot.
Most Sikkimese cuisines have originated from Tibet and Nepal, and Thenthuk is no exception. It is a delectable noodle soup from Tibet with several seasonal vegetables, mutton, and wheat flour. This Tibetan soup is spicy and a preferred dinner appetiser for Sikkimese people. You can enjoy a spicier version of this dish with added red chillies, depending on your taste.
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This delectable pancake is one of the famous dishes of Sikkim. Originating in Nepal, this pancake is enjoyed by local Sikkim people with Tomato Achar and various other pickle options. The unique aspect of this pancake is that the main ingredient used is finger millet which is considered very good for health. This finger millet is also called Kodo in Sikkim. Ghee and sugar are added to it to make it richer and tastier.
When planning a trip to Sikkim, make it a point to enjoy its local food. Niguru and Churpi is one such dish savoured by locals and visitors. It is prepared in every Sikkim household with a few variations here and there. This delectable dish will offer the true aroma, flavour, and texture of Sikkimese food. This dish is prepared with cheese cooked with the fiddlehead fern and is fermented to impart a unique taste and flavour.
It is a peculiar pickle which is made up of Shimi or string bean and is enjoyed with bread or seal roti. More flavour is added to the pickle with ingredients like sesame seeds, lemon juice, and green chillies. It is enjoyed with many vegetarian and non-vegetarian food in Sikkim.
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It is a popular dish of Sikkim cooked using fermented bamboo. This is a mouth-watering curry dish that can be enjoyed with steamed rice. The bitter taste of bamboo is taken care of by adding a pinch of turmeric to the dish. Also referred to as Tama Curry, it is a must-taste food of Sikkim available at many eateries and restaurants.
After enjoying the simple yet tasteful Sikkim traditional food, enjoy the famous Sikkim Tea. Every sip of this tea will introduce you to new and unique flavours that will stay with you forever. Tea leaves to prepare this beverage are hand-picked from the famous tea garden, Temi tea garden. Enjoy taking small sips from traditional cups!
Jaanr is a traditional Sikkimese alcoholic beverage made through the fermentation of cereals such as rice or millet. It is popularly used and enjoyed as a liquid refreshment product, more so on festive days or at social group meetings. Famed for their uniqueness and a bit of tanginess, Jaanr completely captures the Sikkimese traditions in brewing style. It is one such drink that is a must for every local celebration, and it gives the essence of rich Sikkimese heritage.
Chhurpi Soup is a typical Sikkimese platter where the regionally popular Chhurpi cheese floats in a nice broth. The soup is made with the Chhurpi cheese addition of local herbs and vegetables, giving the tangy taste and exuding flavours on a table in the cold. Chhurpi Soup is a creamy blend with delicious components, bearing the heritage of Sikkim's culinary culture, giving one a cosy and warm experience with every spoon.
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Gya Kho is a traditional Sikkimese dish cooked in a big pot, epitomising shared dining practices' zenith. Generally, this Sikkimese communal meal is cooked in a big pot, including cooked meats and vegetables with noodles inside, symbolingunity and warmth in their culture. It is usually savoured during special occasions, foregrounding the pre-eminence of family and community in Sikkimese culture. Gya Kho is not just a meal but rather an experience of Sikkim's hospitality and communal spirit.
Masaurya Curry is a special Sikkimese dish. It is prepared with sun-dried lentil balls in a spicy, thick curry sauce. With big flavours and hearty textures, it is meant for those people who want to explore a different kind of real Sikkimese dish. Masaurya Curry is the product of simple ingredients creatively prepared to prepare a dish full of flavours and energy. It stands as a culinary gem bringing to the table the taste of Sikkim's basic yet sumptuous rustic food culture.
A very simple definition of indigenous beer made from millet is Tongba, a locally-made alcoholic beverage in Sikkim prepared from the fermentation of millets. It is served hot during cold seasons and is an indispensable part of regional traditions and culture. It is central to social life for the people of Sikkim, enjoyed communally, and associated with a sense of bonding and warmth.
Dhido is a staple food, traditionally made from buckwheat or millet flour. The preparation involves pouring the flour into boiling water to be continuously stirred until it swells and forms a sticky, thick mass. Dhindo is appreciated due to its simplicity and nutritional quality and usually goes along with home curries or vegetable stews. The epitome of Sikkimese minimalist cooking focuses on sustainability and the usage of locally available ingredients. Dhindo could not be more symbolic of the local diet; it is one of those means through which they connect with their cultural roots and experience life in the Himalayas.
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Now that you have read the list of Sikkim's famous foods, what else would you like to know? Well, to plan your journey through Sikkim, you need a reliable travel partner who can help you plan it perfectly. Adotrip offers a wealth of information and travel support, including easy booking of flights, hotels, and tour packages.
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Q1. What is the famous street food of Sikkim?
A1. An ultimate favourite, Momos is an original Tibetan delicacy. Although it originated from Tibet, it has now embraced typical Sikkimese flavours. This scrumptious snack is also a popular Sikkim street food, available at street kiosks and restaurants.
Q2. What is the famous sweet sikkim food?
A2. A lip-smacking bread dish, Sel Roti, is one of Sikkim's most famous sweet dishes. It is usually prepared during Tihar; a famous Hindu festival celebrated in Nepal. Its unique circular shape makes it stand apart from other bread delicacies.
Q3. Which is the national and staple food of Sikkim?
A3. This staple food of Sikkim, Thukpa, is prepared with chopped onions, garlic, green chillies and a dash of tang and spices. The soup is available in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian versions.
Q4. What is the healthy & famous food of Sikkim?
A4. Phagshapa is a healthy dish made with pork fat, red chillies, and radishes. These fat strips are cooked and kept separate. The stew is made using spices and radishes, and later red chillies and pork is added as a final touch. These spices are added for a tangy and chilly taste. No oil is added to the dish. It's a perfect blend of proteins and vegetables, thus becoming a healthy meal.
Q5. What are momos called in Sikkim?
A5. The pan-fried version of momos is called
Kothay momos in Sikkim. Unlike regular steamed momos, these are pan-fried.
Q6. what is sikkim food information
A6 . Sikkimese cuisine reflects a blend of Tibetan, Nepalese, and Indian influences. Common ingredients include rice, maize, vegetables, and dairy products.
--- Published By Adotrip
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