The beautiful city of Shillong, up in the clouds and away from the chaos, dust and pollution of the plains, is a wonderful getaway. As much as its sights and landscapes are mesmerizing, there’s a lot of delicious food to be had as well. Given its Colonial past, there’s continental food aplenty but, of course, that’s not all. The local flavours are a brilliant introduction to the region’s cuisine and many of them are nothing like what you’ve had before. Few experiences can match up to gorging on delectable and warm food with a view of the majestic mountains. Check out this guide of where to eat when you visit Shillong next.
Munchies
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This place is proper nostalgia trip, with majority of custom coming from college students, reminding you of the good old days. Grab a table upstairs, and relive your college days with delicious, hygienic and affordable fast food. Try the perfectly-seasoned Munchies Special Burger, which comes with caramelised onions, bacon, mayo and lots of cheese. For something light, the Gourmet Maggi, which is loaded with veggies and a generous topping of cheese, is a great pick.
Café Shillong
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Café Shillong, which is part sports bar- part café, takes its music as seriously as its food. Try the khao suey, which is just the right consistency of soupy. The momos, which come with fiery chilli chutney and a comforting broth, warm you right up. It also offers a range of coffees, said to be the best in town.
Leena’s Khasi Dukan Jadoh Stall
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Leena and her daughter have been dishing out delicious local specialties for 30 years at their tiny stall, which offers tribal delicacies, and buzzes with the hum of locals swapping stories. Although a lot of the food is non-vegetarian, there are options enough for vegetarians too. Just make sure you get there early as the tasty food coupled with the affordable prices, means everything is sold out before end of day on frequent occasions. Language might be a bit of a barrier here, but friendly customers will help you translate if required. Sample the chutney, tungrymbai, made from soybeans fermented for over two weeks – an acquired taste but worth a try!
Trattoria
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This small family-run eatery is another place at which to try local food. With its classroom-style seating, dim lighting and framed poster of The Last Supper, it feels like a cross between a church and a dive bar. Try the yummy dai-nei-iong, a dal fry with black sesame seeds, or phansdieh, a simple, but delicious deep-fried potato dish lightly seasoned with turmeric.