After the blog on My Favourite Places in Shillong yesterday, it is but logical that I do another with the ‘must-try food’ in Shillong. So without further ado, here you go!!
Jalebi from Delhi Mistan Bhandar, Police Bazaar tops my list. It makes sense to talk about snacks and food first, and then about desserts. But I have an over-powering sweet tooth, and can’t help not put the jalebis from Delhi Mistan Bhandar right at number one. Ask any Shillongite, and chances are that it will top their list too. We go there to buy a 250 gram packet and munch on it while simply loitering around PB. And when you buy for the house, you hop into the car straightaway, in order to get it as ‘warm’ as possible for your loved ones. They are super quality, no artificial colour, fried and dipped in sugar syrup right in front of you and all this for Rs 200 per kg (at least it was this much when I last bought it 2 years ago). Now, it rains ever so frequently in Shillong; imagine a packet of hot jalebi in the wet and cold weather. Is your mouth-watering?
Jadoh: Jadoh is a Khasi’s biryani. Traditionally cooked with pork and in pork blood, they make it sans the blood too. And is easily available in any Khasi stall along the roadsides. We love the one they serve at Trattoria in Police Bazar.
Momos @Anywhere! Really. Momos are to die for, to kill for just about anywhere in Shillong. If you are a non-vegetarian, you must order the pork or beef momos. If pork is a no-no, take heart, their chicken momos are also to rave about. Vegetarians, don’t be dishearted by all my meat-talk – they do make veg momos here, and guess what? Those veg ones may make you wish that you lived in Shillong!! No exaggerations here – you got to try them to believe it!! Have them from the street joints or the restaurants, but do not leave Shillong without trying them. Our favourite street-carts are the ones in Police Bazar and Laimtukhrah. The restaurants servings awesome momos include Red Rice in Police Bazar, Café Shillong in Laimukhrah.
Chowmein: After jadoh and momos, chowmein is the most popular food/snackcing option in Shillong. Allmost all Chinese restaurants excel at making them. Mind you, they are nowhere close to the hakka noodles you get in mainland India.
Pineapples: Yes, pineapples. I have carried them upto Delhi for aunts and uncles. The ones you get in Shillong are like no other. You can smell them from a kilometre away!! Extremely luscious and sweet, cut pineapples are sold even on the streets with some masala (a mix of salt and chillies, I guess). They taste yumm!! Throw caution to the winds and try them. You will not die of dysentery. Promise.
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- Juicy Pineapples in Shillong
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- Tea, Cha, in Shillong
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- RB Stores’ Bakery
Baked Savouries from RB Stores, Police Bazar: You won’t miss this multi-purpose store when you are in Police Bazaar. They sell some of the most delectable bakery items. So if you are planning a day-trip to Mawlinglong or Cherrapunji, buy a bag full of cakes, cookies and pastries from RB stores to munch on your way. Simple, and very tasty. English style.
Tea, nay, ‘Cha’: How can you not have tea when in Shillong? The ‘Kongs’, Khasi women-folk, make the best tea in the world and serve them in the cleanest of cups you can ever find. You won’t see such clean and gleaning cup and saucers even at 5-star restaurants!!! And don’t forget to peek into their basket of snacks. They call it ‘jinbam’. Pick a slice of cake or a muffin to go with the tea. Nothing like it on a wet day, or a day when you have walked and walked almost the entire city.
Betel Leaf (or Kwai as the locals call it): If you are not used to the wilder variety of paan (betel leaf), you wouldn’t know what has hit you!! I’d be giddy even speaking to the person chewing Kwai in Shillong. Certainly not for the faint-hearted!! But they say, if you haven’t tried it, you have missed something in life!! So much for experience!! Give it a shot, at your own peril though. Keep a water bottle handy. Better still, know where to run in case you need to throw up!!
Plan your Shillong holiday with help from our detailed posts at — Holiday in Shillong — Falling in love with her hills
Also read — My Favourite Places in Shillong , What To Buy When In Shillong and Plan a day-trip to Cherrapunjee When in Shillong
gr8….n o cors i vote 4 da same……..
🙂 Thanks Banani!!
now it has changed drastically,kimfa is not that good,nowdays you get quality chowmein in barbecue resturant in gs road,also broadway resturant has shifted to the opposite side of the road,with a new road LAMEE..
When in shillong,please visit laban locality and have momos in PICADILY..lots of meat and huge in size..but even now costs just 30rs
Wow!! That’s great news. I am planning to visit this Sept. will definitely check out Picadily
Hey..i was going through your blogs..as i am visiting shillong in february…got some really useful information from your blogs..specially about food…nd shopping…so first let me congratulate you for the wonderful job you people are doing in your blogs…!!!
And now..the reason i pinged you…i was chexking that there are 3 4 places where the hotels are…could you please suggest where we should book our hotel? In police bazar or somewhere else..? We want a place where we can take a walk in the evening…or can go out for tea or momos…means we dnt want any isolated place where u hv nothing to do n evening..
What do u suggest?
Then stick to Police Bazar…there’s Hotel Centre Point and Hotel Broadway, not very great in terms of staying experience, but right on the square where the action is.
Ri kynjai or somehthing is there..bt that us a little costly…royal heritage tripura castle will b good? What about asian confluence? I want something around 3k 3.5k per day…any suggestion?
And one more thing…how safe is shillong now? Like till what time in the evening you can roam around?
Frankly, Right on PB might not be a great staying experience.Do chk out Aerodyne cottage – PG. A little out of the way, but should be good. Ri Kynjai is in Barapani. That’s 45 min drive from Shillong city on a no traffic day. with traffic, can take more than an hour. You will cross. Barapani when you drive to Shillong. Tripura Castle is a good place but perched on a hill and you might find it difficult to get a taxi in the evenings. Chk out Eldorado too…not in PB…but shouldn’t be bad…
avoid Police bazaar coz its dusty dirty and chaotic , just like a bhendi bazaar. stay if u must in laitumukhrah /lachumere…laitumukhrah coz of the restaurants and cafes …for local food try jadoo restaurant / for best snacks / meals try munchies cafe ..both these are really reasonable .
also munchies has outdoor seating and music which i forgot to mention….try embassy in laitumukhrah for chinese ….all 3 open till late..cheers
Yes, they have ruined Police Bazar. More so, after the fire in the Assemby and when they chopped off the trees in the compound. Horrible.
Thanks Jim for the updates. Laimu is home, and it has undergone so many changes….looking forward to my next visit…
When I visited Pahalgam I actually wanted to believe I had already reached heaven. It was a divine place in my experience. Invariably I decided any place else would come second after Pahalgam.
And then I visited Shillong And felt the same sense of calm that Pahalgam gave me. Shillong is breathtaking and so beautiful. There is something special about the Khasi people who make a place in one’s heart. I found the usual sightseeing tourist spots a bit too crowded so I decided to visit the Sacred Forest, Laitlum canyons and Mowllynong primarily and drove around a lot and saw innumerable clouds resting on the mountains. Is what I feel peace? Yes Shillong is special. Not to mention the delicious pineapples and the dum-maaro-dum waala paan/kwai. Rykinjai was a perfect spot to stay at with a view of the lake.
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Thanks! Delighted you liked the blog
Regards,
Deepa