Try 15 Famous Foods of Sikkim in 2024 with TripzyGo

The food of Sikkim truly reflects the rich culture and mountainous heritage. Mouthwatering and flavourful dishes like Momo, Thukpa, and Sel Roti, the cuisines of Sikkim blend Tibetan, Nepali, and Lepcha influences to give a unique culinary experience. 

The use of fresh and natural ingredients from the Himalayas, such as wild ferns, chayote, and dalle chilies, gives Sikkim’s foods a vibrant appeal and unforgettable taste. Fermented foods like Kinema and meat also make the taste unique, like the beauty of Sikkim.

This TripzyGo guide will take you through the top 15 must-try foods of Sikkim in 20224, their natural ingredients, and a culinary journey of Sikkim food that everyone wants to know.

Top 15 Famous Foods of Sikkim You Should Try in 2024

1. Momos 
2. Thukpa 
3. Kinema 
4. Sha Phale 
5. Daal Bhat 
6. Masurya Curry
7. Sel Roti
8. Bamboo Shoot Curry
9. Kodo Ko Roti 
10. Sinki
11. Chhurpi Ningro Curry
12. Gundruk Soup
13. Chhurpi Soup
14. Gya Kho
15. Thenthuk

From hot plates of Momo and Thukpa to Sel Roti and Kodo Ko Roti, the foods of Sikkim are pure delicacy and reflect tradition. Each dish carries a story of Sikkim’s rich culture and the fragrance of local ingredients that you can not resist. 

Here is a closer look at 15 must-try Sikkim’s famous foods:

1. Momos

Momos are the heart of Sikkim cuisine and are often called staple food. They are not just fillings of minced meat and vegetables! Momos are feelings of joy when you put them in your mouth. You can eat fried or steamed according to your taste, but when eaten with Momo Chutney, take the taste to heavenly heights!

Mostly famous as the local food of Gangtok, prepared with these ingredients:

1. Flour and water for dough 
2. Yeast or baking soda
3. For non-vegetarian momo: minced meat of chicken, pork, goat meat, or buffalo meat
4. For vegetable momo: Cabbage, onions, ginger, garlic, and coriander

2. Thukpa

Thukpa is a popular Tibetan noodle food, loved in Sikkim for its warmth, especially on chilly days. This wholesome dish is a perfect choice when you go on a romantic 6-day tour to Sikkim with your partner. Its homely taste and filling with vegetables, meat, and noodles fill your stomach but not your heart. 

Key ingredients to make this delicious Sikkim Food:

1. Noodles
2. Vegetables like carrots, bell peppers, spinach
3. Meat or tofu for a vegetarian option
4. Ginger, garlic, green chilies, and cilantro 

3. Kinema 

Kinema is a unique dish made from fermented soya beans, famous for its pungent and unique flavor, and is a great source of protein and a delightful treat when you plan a tour to Gangtok, Pelling, and Darjeeling. For rice lovers, this combination will make you fall for Kinema too!

Key ingredients to prepare famous food of Sikkim:

1. Fermented soybeans
2. Mustard oil 
3. Green chilies, onions, and garlic
4. Salt and turmeric 

4. Sha Phaley

Sha Phaley is a deep-fried bread stuffed with ground meat and cabbage, a Tibetan dish. With a crispy exterior and savory filling, it is an extremely perfect choice for meat lovers looking for something crunchy yet tender. 

To make this famous Sikkim food, you need:

1. Flour for dough 
2. Ground meat
3. Cabbage, onions, and spices 
4. Salt and pepper

5. Daal Bhaat

Daal Bhaat is a staple food in the cuisine of Sikkim, loved for its simplicity and homely taste. This traditional dish of daal, served with rice, is a wholesome lunch option for you during the Sikkim tour. It is often served with side dishes like mango pickles, greens, and vegetable curry. 

If you want to carry mango pickles while traveling to Sikkim, you can pick from several pickle brands available in India, like Satvic Foods, Nilon’s Classic Mango Pickle, and more.

To prepare this Sikkim food, you need the:

1. Lentils (Daal)
2. Rice 
3. Turmeric, cumin, and mustard seeds
4. Salt, garlic, and ginger

6. Masaurya Curry

Masaurya Curry is a traditional Nepalese dish that you can enjoy with your friends in Sikkim. It is made from fermented black gram dumplings, a famous food of Sikkim due to its rich and earthy taste. You can enjoy it with rice and salads.

To prepare this Sikkims’ famous food, you need:

1. Black gram (urad dal)
2. Tomatoes, onions, and garlic 
3. Turmeric, cumin, and coriander
4. Green chilies

7. Sael Roti 

Sael Roti is traditional Nepali-style rice bread in the shape of a ring; mainly you can enjoy it in the festival season of Sikkim. It is crispy outside and soft inside with a slightly sweet taste. You can enjoy chutneys and curry with it. 

To make this famous food of Sikkim, you need:

1. Rice flour
2. Sugar
3. Water
4. Ghee or oil to fry

8. Bamboo Shoot Curry

Bamboo Shoot Curry is a pure delicacy that reflects the unique flavor of cuisine of Sikkim. The tender bamboo shoots are cooked with spices to create a tangy and earthy dish that you can pair with rice and roti. 

To make these delicious Sikkim foods, you need

1. Fresh bamboo shoot 
2. Mustard oil 
3. Turmeric, garlic, and green chilies
4. Salt and pepper

9. Kodo Ko Roti 

Kodo Ko Roti is also known as Finger Millet Bread, a traditional food of Sikkim, gluten-free made with millet flour. You can imagine the health benefits of the unforgettable taste that you get with curry or chutney. 

To make this Sikkim food, you need these ingredients:

1. Finger Millet Flour
2. Salt
3. Water 
4. Ghee for flavor 

10. Sinki

Sinki is a traditional food of Sikkim, a fermented radish dish that adds a tangy and spicy taste to your Sikkimese plate. You can enjoy Sinki as a pickle or side dish that not only offers a unique sour flavor but also has probiotic benefits. 

Key ingredients to make this food of Sikkim:

1. Radish 
2. Salt
3. Spices for fermentation
4. Bamboo container

11. Chhurpi Ningro Curry 

Chhurpi Ningro Curry combines chhurpi and fern shoots to create a delicious and unique dish. Its chewy texture and mild flavor give you comforting and wholesome bites. 

To make this food of Sikkim, you require:

1. Chhurpi (local Cheese)
2. Ningro (fern shoots)
3. Garlic, onion, and green chilies
4. Salt and turmeric

12. Gundruk Soup 

Gundrak soup is made from fermented leafy greens that are filled with nutritious values and are the perfect choice for cold months. Its tangy flavor is going to be your favorite during your Gangtok and Darjeeling tour. 

To make this delicious food of Sikkim, you need

1. Fermented leafy greens
2. Onions, garlic, and green chilies
3. Salt and water 

13. Chhurpi Soup

A traditional dish of Sikkim, Chhurpi Soup, made from Chhurpi (local Sikkim Cheese) made from cow or yak milk, is not only delicious but provides nutrition during your travels to Sikkim. You can have this famous food of Sikkim in winter combined with vegetables and species, adding extra taste. 

Key ingredients to make this Sikkim Food

1. Chhurpi
2. Tomato
3. Onion, green chilies
4. Ginger, Paanch phiran, turmeric powder, and salt

14. Gya Kho

Gya Kho will definitely give you a feeling of “kho gye hum kahan,” a must-try dish that beautifully represents the food of Sikkim. The name “Gya Kho” comes from the unique bowl it’s served in, which resembles a chimney, keeps the soup warm, and adds smoky flavor from the coal used in cooking. 

To make this famous food of Sikkim, you need

1. Beed or yak meat 
2. Seasonal vegetables like carrots and greens
3. Ginger, garlic, and local herbs
4. Broth or water

15. Thenthuk

Thenthuk is a Tibetan-style noodle soup, but famous in Sikkim. It is made with hand-pulled noodles that also North Indians make at their home on Teez, fresh vegetables, and meat or tofu, creating a filling and delicious dish enjoyed on cold days. 

Ingredients used in this famous food of Sikkim

1. Hand-pulled noodles
2. Meat or tofu
3. Spinach, carrots, bell pepper
4. Ginger, garlic, and green onions

Culinary Treasures of Sikkim

The traditional food of Sikkim conveys a story of innovation, adaptation, and community influence, which makes the cuisine of Sikkim a center of attraction. Sikkim’s food culture has evolved over time due to cultural, environmental, and social factors. Let’s take a journey through the rich and vibrant culinary of Sikkim:

• Various ethnic groups like Lepchas, Bhutias, and Nepalis, each community brings its own flavor and tradition to dishes and serves a plate of taste.

• Unique ingredients that you won’t find anywhere are wild ferns, bamboo shoots, and stinging nettles to prepare a delicacy that gives homely feelings. 
• The locals of Sikkim are super clever in preserving food through a fermentation process. Their famous Gundruj and kinema are made of fermented leafy greens and soybeans that offer a tangy taste with a protein punch. 

• Sikkim uses traditional methods of cooking, they cook meat inside bamboo stems and also underground. With nature’s touch it gives unbelievable taste. 

• Instead of lacking a proper plain place, Sikkim managed to keep their traditional food culture alive while farming on mountainous terrain. Famous cardamom for rice cultivation is pretty remarkable.

After hearing about the beauty of Sikkim, if you want to explore the Gangtok to Darjeeling, Sikkim tour, let TripzyGo be your travel partner, guiding you to all the best foodie spots and activities. 

Momo is the Most Famous Food of Sikkim

While all the dishes are must-try, Momo stands out as the most iconic and beloved food of Sikkim, whether you dip it steamed or fried in Momo Chutney, making it a must-have food for you. 

Sikkim foods are a vibrant blend of Tibetan, Nepali, and Lepcha influences and reflect the traditional touch and homely vibes. Dishes like Thupka, Kinema, and Gundark Soup show cultural diversity, while fresh and local ingredients like ferns and bamboo shoots. 

Mouth Watering already? Why not explore Sikkim’s cuisine and mountains with a perfect guide like TripzyGo? Pack your bags and get ready to experience the unforgettable flavor of Sikkim food with TripzyGo!