McLeod Munchies
Shani Grinspan
GREEN HOTEL RESTAURANT
Location: Bhagsu Road, McLeod Ganj
If you would like a medium-sized breakfast meal, head over to the restaurant at the Green Hotel! They have good coffee, delicious scrambled tofu, roasted potatoes, and special breakfast options such as the Canadian Breakfast. This includes: eggs with hash browns, tofu, toast, tomato, butter, with a choice of tea or coffee.
SNOW LION RESTAURANT
Location: Jogiwara Road, McLeod Ganj (close to Main Square)
Snow Lion also offers yummy breakfast combos. They even have a vegan breakfast combo including Tibetan bread slices with jam, scrambled tofu, potatoes, and fruit. If you like smoothies and shakes, try them at Snow Lion! You can order a tasty mango lassi or go for a healthy green smoothie. Another great option to have here are the steamed mixed vegetables or tofu mixed vegetables. Sometimes I find myself needing more vegetables in my diet from eating so much rice and dal. These dishes are perfect for filling that need. The tofu mixed vegetables can be ordered dry or in soup!
CREPE PANCAKE
Location: Jogiwara Road, McLeod Ganj
Crepe Pancake makes really good Masala Chai with soya milk. They also have healthy vegetarian and vegan options for a light lunch. I recommend their vegetable burrito (which can also be prepared vegan) and their vegetarian/vegan sushi! Their tempura veg roll is my favorite sushi in town. It includes carrots, cucumbers, pumpkin, brown rice, potatoes, broccoli, and I ask them to add avocado! The atmosphere at this café is also great for reading the many books they have on the shelves or enjoying a quiet and peaceful time.
Tempura veg roll (vegan)
Location: Crepe Pancake
ANANDA DHABA
Location: Jogiwara Road, McLeod Ganj
If you like Indian food, this is the place to go. Grab your friends and share a variety of delicious Indian dishes such as Chana Masala, Moong Dal, and Veggie Curry, accompanied by rice and Roti or Naan.
TIBET QUALITY BAKERY
Location: Jogiwara Road, McLeod Ganj
This bakery is run by a friendly Tibetan gentleman who always greets you with a smile. He has really good walnut and raisin bread that you can buy by the loaf. This bakery also has delightful pastries. My favorite one is the vegan Black Forest Brownie. It is better than any brownie I have ever had in my life.
Black Forest brownies (vegan)
Location: Tibet Quality Bakery
HOTEL TIBET
Location: Bhagsu Road, McLeod Ganj
Hotel Tibet also has a bakery that offers delicious pastries. Their chocolate covered donuts are a must-try! They also have loaves of brown bread that you can buy and eat with peanut butter and bananas.
Chocolate covered donuts
Location: Hotel Tibet
SEVEN HILLS OF DO-KKAE-BI KOREAN RESTAURANT
Dish: Bibimbap with Kimchi; rice, cooked vegetables, fried egg, kimchi
Location: Jogiwara Road
This Korean restaurant offers a variety of noodles and sushi. Some of their dishes also include kimchi! Kimchi consists of fermented and salted vegetables, such as radishes and cabbage. You can order gimpap (Korean sushi) with vegetables such as cucumber and avocado or meats such as tuna. My favorite noodle dish is the Raboki, which consists of thin rice noodles with a Korean spicy paste.
THE CLAY OVEN
Dish: Thai Red Curry
Location: Tipa Road, near Main Square
Clay Oven serves delicious Thai curries. They offer green and red curries. This dish consists of cooked vegetables in a curry sauce made with coconut milk, and rice on the side. It reminds me of the Thai curry my mother makes at home. This is a good option for those who would like a simple yet filling dinner.
SHANGRILA
Location: Jogiwara Road, McLeod Ganj (close to Main Square)
For the colder months, go to Shangrila for a warm Thenthuk or some momos! Thenthuk is a traditional Tibetan dish which consists of thick, flat noodles made of wheat, and mixed vegetables in soup. Momos are Tibetan dumplings! You can have them steamed or fried. I like to order vegetable and potato momos when I want a bite on the go.