Sikkim Trip 2025: What to Expect on a Food Tour in Sikkim

A huge part of travelling to faraway places also includes trying the local dishes and relishing  the unfamiliar flavours. There are some people who eat to live and some who live to eat. And if you fall into the second category, club your holiday and food tour together. What better way to learn about a culture of a place, interact with locals, and taste delicious foods than going on a food tour. One such interesting place to visit and try its local flavours is the Himalayan state Sikkim. 

Taking a food tour in Sikkim not only lets you relish the flavours of dishes. It also gives a profound insight into the culture and culinary tradition of the state. Sikkim shares its borders with Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet. The culinary influence of these bordering regions are strongly visible in Sikkimese cuisine. The influence of Sikkim’s local communities like Lepchas and Bhutias is also visible in shaping Sikkim’s culinary identity. Many Sikkimese dishes are prepared with nettles, wild mushrooms, and bamboo shoots. 

Food tours are fun, educational and flavoursome. Some of the best dishes to try on a Sikkim food tour are sha phaley, momo, thukpa and drinks like chang. If you are interested in taking a gastronomical adventure in Sikkim, here is what to expect on a food tour: 

Food Tour in Sikkim: What Exactly Happens on a Food Tour 

Many people wonder about food tours and question how it is any different for a regular tour and trying local food items. While there is nothing wrong with going on holidays and sampling local flavours, a food tour is more of an experiential based trip. A food tour is a guided experience in which a local guide takes you around to try dishes and give you its context. 

On a food tour, you will get an opportunity to visit markets, restaurants, bakeries to sample local flavours. At each point of the tour, you will be given a chance to sample a local dish or a drink. The guide will tell you stories and context about the dish and why a certain neighbourhood is more popular than others for trying a particular dish. You will get to enjoy the most authentic flavours from the best eatery. This also gives you an opportunity to learn some insider tips, history and interact with locals. A food tour helps you cover a destination at a slow pace taking everything in without any rush whether it's stories, flavours or social interactions. 

Who should go on a food tour? 

Foodies, trainee chefs, and cooking enthusiasts or any person interested in learning about the culture and history of a place can go on a food tour. 

What Items to Try on a Sikkim Food Tour?

You can taste an array of flavours in different dishes on a Sikkim food tour. However, there are some staple dishes and must-try flavour combinations that you should include in your food tour itinerary. Below are the dishes to try in Sikkim. 

1. Momo or Dumplings: Starting off with the most familiar dish on the list. You must have seen and eaten a variety of it but the ones that are authentically prepared hits your taste buds differently. Momo is one comfort food that is too good to ignore in Sikkim. Having its  origin in Tibet, dumplings are steamed and sealed pockets of deliciousness. They are typically filled with minced meat, chicken, veggies or cheese and are steamed to perfection.  

2. Thukpa: Thukpa or the noodle soup is a heartwarming dish to have in Sikkim’s chilly weather. It is prepared with rice or wheat noodles and boiled in a broth with chicken/ pork/ tofu and veggies. This flavourful soup is spiced up with chilli and garlic paste that enhances the flavours. Thukpa is available in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian versions. 

3. Sha Phaley: Sha Phaley is a popular Tibetan snack made with bread and ground meat (usually beef or pork). Sha Pahely looks like a big dumpling and its filling is prepared with pepper, cabbage, minced meat, garlic and ginger. This dumpling is deep fried until it turns golden brown. It is perfectly crunchy on the outside and succulent on the inside. 

4. Phagshapa: Phagshapa is a traditional stew made with pork-strips, radishes, and dried chillies. This stew is made with minimal oil and spices. The flavours of the dish are from pork, radishes and heat from chilies. It is served with rice and makes for a comforting flavourful meal. 

5. Gundruk and Sinki: We all know how fermented foods are good for gut health. In Sikkimese cuisine, the fermented dish Gundruk and Sinki is widely eaten. These are basically fermented veggies that are made from gundruk, leafy green and radish taproots or sinki. They are eaten as a side dish, as an appetizer or used in broths for enchanting flavours and textures. 

6. Chhurpi (Dry Cheese) : Chhurpi is a protein-rich dry cheese made from yak’s milk or sometimes with cow’s milk. The cheese is available in both hard and soft versions. You can eat this cheese as a snack or use it in a dish. People in Sikkim use yak’s cheese in soups or in chutney to enhance flavour profile. 

7. Sel Roti: Often prepared during festivals, Sel Roti is a Nepalese dish that is super popular and a must-try on your Sikkim food tour. Sel Roti is made from rice flour, water, sugar, ghee, and spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and fennel seeds. All the ingredients are combined to form a batter which is then deep friend in a circular ring. 

8. Kinema Curry: This dish is prepared with fermented soybeans along with tomatoes, onions, and local spices. Kinema Curry is a staple in many households and is often eaten with rice. 

9. Sishnu or Nettle Soup: Sisnu is a healthy soup that is an integral part of Sikkimese cuisine. It is made with garlic, ginger and spices to enhance flavours. Nettle soup is believed to purify blood and reduce skin rashes. 

10. Bamboo shoot: Bamboo shoots are a staple not just in Sikkim but all of northeast India. Bamboo shoot when cooked is edible and is often used with chicken or veggies in making Bamboo shoot curries, pickles and chutneys. 

11. Thenthuk (Han-Pulled Wheat Noodles): This dish is a soupy noodle prepared with wheat flour, vegetables, and meat. Another heartwarming and soul-soothing dish to enjoy in Sikkim’s cold weather. 

12. Butter Tea & Chang: 

Butter tea is made from tea leaves, yak butter, water, and salt. It is called “Suja" or "Po Cha”. Chang is an alcoholic beverage from millet and served on all special occasions like festivals or weddings. 

Places to Visit on a Sikkim Food Tour 

On your Sikkim tour, your food tour guide will take you to the best and most authentic places. These may include famous markets, restaurants or some hidden gem in the nook and corner of Sikkim. Gangtok’s MG Marg is a famous landmark for beginning your food tour. Start exploring cafes, bakeries and restaurants. Learn how to make yak cheese and get hands-on experience of making thukpa noodles. Observe and learn how to close a dumpling pocket like a pro.