Sikkim is preferred as an excellent tourist destination for its deep, sunken, lush green valleys, snow-capped mountain ranges, monasteries full of murals, and magnificent Hindu temples. Due to the unique geographical location of Sikkim, there are many variations in height even at short distances. This diversity is also seen in the food here. The food of Sikkim is simple and delicious in its way. Although rice is the main food of the state. But apart from this, many such dishes are made in the state which become the pride of this place and are also very much liked by the tourists. Let's learn about some traditional dishes of Sikkim...

Thenkuk
Thenkuk, a type of noodle soup, is one of the famous foods of Sikkim. Vegetables, chicken or mutton, and wheat flour are used to make it. If you are a vegetarian, then you can have veggie thennkuk. It is essentially a soup with vegetables, meat, or both, to which small pieces of dough are added and cooked slowly in a closed vessel. This is the dish that people in Sikkim eat for dinner.

Sel Roti
A delicious bread dish, Sel Roti, is usually prepared during Tihar, a famous Hindu festival celebrated in Nepal. Its unique circular shape sets it apart from other bread dishes. It is usually served with meat-based curries. Mildly sweet, it is made by mixing rice flour with some spices. Pure ghee is added to the batter before it is fried in oil till it turns golden brown.

Gundruk Soup
Gundruk soup has its origins in Nepal but is one of the staple foods of Sikkim. Gunduk soup is a fermented vegetable soup made from mustard, cabbage, or radish leaves. Sikkimese people make this dish in earthen pots. The soup is rich in roughage and helps maintain the body's metabolism.

Phagspa
Phagspa is a strip of pork fat cooked with dried chilies and radish. A spicy and tangy attempt at this Sikkimese dish, it is rich in protein and is made without oil. Well, there is no substitute for pork in this dish for vegetarians so there is nothing like that. What you can have at the Golden Dragon Hotel in Gangtok is the most authentic and delicious Phangspa in the whole of Sikkim.

Thukpa
This is one of the most popular dishes in Sikkim. Thukpa is a noodle soup served with momos. This soup is made with very tasty spices. Thukpa is easily available in most restaurants in Sikkim. You will easily find both veg and non-veg options in it.

Momos
An absolute favorite, momos is an original Tibetan dish. Though a Tibetan dish, it has now adopted distinct Sikkimese flavors. This scrumptious snack is also a popular street food in Sikkim, available in street kiosks and restaurants. These succulent dumplings are stuffed with various fillings like paneer, meat, and vegetables. They are steamed in a momo maker. It has three levels, the topmost layer is the second layer. There is tomato juice on the bottom layer. Enjoy the juicy and melt-in-the-mouth taste of momos with cool chutney.

Vachipa
Vachipa is a traditional Sikkimese dish of the Kirat Rai ethnic group. Cooked rice and minced chicken are mixed with a powder produced from burnt chicken wings. As a result, the powder has a distinct bitter taste. It is possible to make vegetarian vachipa by substituting the meat with the leaves or flowers of the bitter damlap plant. It is consumed mainly on special occasions.

Kineema
Kineema is a dish that is popular not only in Sikkim but also in Nepal and Darjeeling. It is a dish that is made from soybeans. The soybeans are boiled and fermented to obtain a sticky texture. This dish is high in antioxidants and low in fat.

Gundruk
Gundruk is a food of Nepalese origin and is one of the staple foods of Sikkim Gundruk is a leafy dish. Which is completely vegetarian and is made from a few leaves of mustard cabbage and radish. Properly made gundruk is only found in villages. Those who make it at home traditionally make it in earthen pots called sikka. But people have started using other methods of making the same dish.

Chang
This is a famous drink made from millet. Yeast is added to speed up the process of fermentation. Also known as Thomba, this is a traditional drink of people living in eastern Nepal. It is a locally brewed alcoholic beverage. Enjoy it with bamboo pie. This drink is available at a very low price and is prepared in local distilleries.

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