What to Eat in Mussoorie Today?

Bun tikki at Char Dukan

The dish most people climb to Landour for is bun tikki: a spiced potato patty in a toasted, buttered bun, served with chutney. The Char Dukan ("four shops") cluster near Lal Tibba has served walkers for generations. Order it with a glass of sweet tea, and add pancakes if you have come up for breakfast. Weekends bring a queue, so come early.

Momos and Tibetan food

Mussoorie has had a Tibetan community since 1959, when the Dalai Lama first stayed here, and Tibetan food is part of everyday eating. Steamed momos with a sharp red chutney are sold all along the Mall and at the stalls near Kempty Falls. Thukpa, a noodle soup, is what you want on a cold, wet evening.

Maggi at the viewpoints

A bowl of hot masala Maggi at a roadside stall is a hill-station habit, and every viewpoint has a stall selling it. The one at the top of Gun Hill comes with a view.

Bal mithai

Bal mithai is a brown fudge of roasted khoya coated in little white sugar balls. It comes from Almora in the Kumaon hills, but sweet shops across Uttarakhand sell it, and it keeps well enough to take home.

Café breakfasts

Landour has a long tradition of slow breakfasts: eggs, toast, pancakes and coffee in small cafés with a view of the trees. It is the best way to start a morning of walking.

Where to go

The where to eat page lists the cafés and restaurants for each of these dishes, both in Landour and on the Mall.

Practical notes

Most Mall stalls close early in winter. Vegetarian food is easy to find everywhere. Carry some cash for Landour's small cafés and roadside stalls, as not all of them take cards.