Sikkim House Canteen
Overview
Sikkim House Canteen is Delhi's most authentic portal to Himalayan flavors, hidden within the Sikkim state bhawan. This unassuming eatery has been serving diplomats and food explorers since 1998 with recipes straight from Gangtok's home kitchens. The canteen's magic lies in its uncompromising authenticity - from the hand-kneaded momo dough to the aged pork belly used in traditional shapta. It's where Indian bureaucrats rub shoulders with Nepali expats over steaming bowls of thukpa, all under ₹500.
Ambiance
Step into a Himalayan waystation where the aroma of simmering bone broth mingles with the earthy scent of roasted barley tea. The no-frills space features canteen-style Formica tables adorned with miniature Buddhist prayer flags and vintage photographs of the Eastern Himalayas. The hum of conversations in Nepali, Tibetan and Hindi adds to the cultural immersion.
- Cultural Showcase – Walls lined with traditional Thanka paintings and Sikkimese handicrafts
- Open Kitchen View – Watch chefs hand-shape momos and stir giant pots of thukpa
- Communal Seating – Long tables encouraging conversation between strangers
- Himalayan Music – Soft folk tunes playing in the background
- Seasonal Specials Board – Handwritten menu additions celebrating Himalayan festivals
Cuisine
The kitchen follows generations-old Himalayan cooking techniques - slow-cooking meats for shapta, stone-grinding spices for chutneys, and fermentating bamboo shoots for authentic flavor profiles. Many ingredients like yak cheese and timur pepper are sourced directly from Sikkim.
- hearty soups : Thenthuk (hand-pulled noodle soup), Gyathuk (flat noodle soup), Churpi Soup (with yak cheese)
- momo variations : Kothey Momo (pan-fried), Chilli Momo (smothered in sauce), Jhol Momo (in broth)
- thali meals : Newari Thali (with beaten rice), Lepcha Thali (bamboo shoot curry), Bhutia Thali (with smoked pork)
- signature meats : Shapta (stir-fried beef/pork), Sikkimese Churpi (dried yak cheese snacks)
- beverages : Chaang (millet beer), Butter Tea (salted/sweet), Sea Buckthorn Juice
Chef Recommendations
- Gundruk Ko Jhol – Fermented leafy green soup (winter only)
- Chhurpi Salad – Hard yak cheese with tomatoes and timur pepper
- Tongba – Hot millet beer served in traditional wooden containers (seasonal)
Must-Try Dishes
- Buffalo Thukpa – Rich bone broth with chewy noodles and tender buff meat (₹220)
- Kothey Momo – Half-steamed, half-fried dumplings with crispy lace skirts (₹180)
- Churpi Soup – Heartwarming broth with melted yak cheese (seasonal)
- Shyakpa – Traditional Sikkimese pork stew with fermented bamboo shoots (₹280)
- Gundruk Soup – Fermented mustard greens soup (winter special)
Why Visit Sikkim House Canteen?
- Unmatched Authenticity – Recipes unchanged for decades, approved by Sikkim's cultural affairs ministry
- Budget Gourmet – Full meals under ₹300 without compromising on quality
- Culinary Time Capsule – Taste vanishing Himalayan dishes like churpi soup
- Diplomat's Secret – Favored by embassy staff for genuine regional flavors
- Seasonal Specials – Menus change with Himalayan harvest cycles
Contact Info:
- N.A