Where to Eat in Kargil
Eating out in Kargil is simple: cafés and hotel dining rooms in the main bazaar, and dhabas along the highway. Plan your meals around the drive, because food thins out fast once you leave the road.
2 places
Kargil
1 place
Dras
1 place
Mulbekh
Not sure what to order? The Kargil food guide starts from the dishes — what each one is, when to eat it, and which of these kitchens is known for it.
In town
Kargil's cafés and restaurants sit along the main bazaar and the river. The ones listed here serve thukpa, momos and simple Ladakhi and Balti meals. Silk Route Café is listed for momos, butter tea and khambir. Suru View Restaurant is listed for Balti dishes and thukpa. Most hotels also run a dining room, and on a first night after a long drive that is often the easiest choice.
On the highway
Travelling between Srinagar and Leh, you pass two useful stops. The Dras Valley Dhaba is listed for tea, momos and hot noodles, which is welcome in the cold at Dras. The Mulbekh Highway Dhaba, near the rock-cut Maitreya, is listed for thukpa and tea, and fits well into a stop at the statue. Highway dhabas open early and close early, so do not count on a late dinner outside Kargil.
In the Suru Valley
Past Sankoo, choices shrink to small tea stalls, the tourist bungalows at Panikhar and Parkachik, and summer tent camps near Rangdum. If you are driving to Rangdum or on to Zanskar, eat a proper meal in Kargil, carry water, fruit and snacks, and do not rely on finding lunch.
What to order
Ask for kisir or balay if you want something local; not every kitchen makes them, but asking is the only way to find out. Thukpa is the dependable hot meal. In late summer, buy fresh apricots from the bazaar instead of dessert.
Good to know
Meat is halal throughout. Menus are short and service is relaxed. Few places take cards, so carry cash, and note that the ATMs in town can run dry during busy weeks. Some places may keep shorter daytime hours during Ramadan.
Questions
Kargil — FAQ
Where should I eat in Kargil?
4 places are listed here, across 3 areas. Each entry says what that kitchen is known for rather than reprinting its menu, so pick by the dish you want and the area you'll be in.
What should I order in Kargil?
Start from the dishes rather than the restaurants — the Kargil food guide covers what each dish is and when to eat it, then links to the places that do it well.
Where should I eat on the way to Rangdum?
Eat a full meal in Kargil before leaving. Beyond Sankoo there are only tea stalls, tourist bungalows and summer camps near Rangdum, so carry snacks and water.
Do restaurants in Kargil take cards?
Few do. Carry enough cash for meals and fuel, as ATMs in town can run out in the busy season.
Is there food near the Kargil War Memorial?
Dras town, a few kilometres away, has dhabas and tea stalls. The Dras Valley Dhaba is listed for momos and hot drinks.