Apart from natural beauty and sacred sites, food is what attracts people to the land of this Himalayan state. Although most of the cuisines have similarities with Chinese and Tibetan cuisines majority of the dishes are made with a unique touch of Sikkimese flavor. Meat and rice is the part of staple diet while there are varieties of vegetarian dishes that are as good as non vegetarian foods. Some of the popular foods include:
Momo is a wheat dumpling that is generally stuffed with mixture of spices, vegetables and minced meat that are steamed. The momo is one of the popular foods of Sikkim that is mostly served with various sauces and vegetables soup.
Thukpa is one of the most consumed dishes of this region that are cooked with handmade noodles and vegetables or meats along with garlic, ginger, onions and other seasonal vegetables. Thukpa is easily found in the major parts of the state.
Made from fermented soya beans, Kinema is known for its strong flavor and unique taste. Being fermented for many days the dish might be hard to consume for many people but is one of the best foods to have in Sikkim.
Churpi is also a fermented dish made from milk that is a form of cottage cheese hard paneer. Churpi is available in hard texture as well as soft texture that are mostly cooked with variety of vegetables and are consumed with steamed rice.
Bamboo shoot curry is one of the most popular foods of Sikkim cuisine that is prepared using bamboo shoots and seasonal spices. These bamboo shoots are packed with essential minerals and nutrients.
Shaphaley is a popular snack of Sikkim cuisine that is available in the most restaurants. The food is similar to momo stuffed with vegetable and mined meat that are deep-fried and served with spicy sauces.