We spoke about food you must eat in Shillong in Must-try Food When in Shillong. Today, we will talk about some of Shillong best restaurants…
Shillong’s food scene has improved tremendously over the last decade. With a lot of tourist interest, it has a lot more restaurants than what used to be there in our girlhood years. Up until the end of the century, Shillong largely had its Chinese restaurants, Jadoh stalls, bakeries and a few ‘mainstream’ Indian cuisine restaurants. That has changed now with a whole lot of restaurants cropping up with local cuisine menus, pork and beef taking centre stage. Yeah, widely travelled visitors have brought more acceptability for the ‘non-veg’ food that my hills always had, but didn’t get enough appreciation for. My husband says, “Shillong is a foodie’s paradise, especially if you love pork”. The small local joints are the best – include them in your must-visit list: momos from the roadside stall in Laitumukhrah’s taxi stand, pork in skewers in Police Bazaar, jadoh from the food stalls.. And here’s a list of some of the most delectable restaurants in Shillong —
Heritage Club, Tripura Castle: This is the restaurant of the Tripura Castle hotel – the ambience and food here is out of the world! With football-themed décor and friendly staff, surrounded with pines and a lovely view when you step out to the open section, it is a very classy place. We went straight for the mains along with a glass of chilled beer — Pork Roast, Pork Spare Ribs, Roast Chicken and a Veg pasta – and savoured them all, the spare ribs and pasta being exceptional.
Café Shillong, near Don Bosco Square: This is another of those iconic places that you just cannot miss. We went there twice, feeling seriously starved! Right on the Laitumukhrah main road, it’s a cosy joint with live music on Sundays. Friendly staff, who suggest the popular items, we love their Beef Momos for starters — they are one of the best you can get! The soup accompanying the same is brilliant! Lapping up every opportunity to eat pork, we have loved their BBQ Pork Ribs served boiled, barbequed and mildly flavoured, and accompanying mash potatoes and veggies. We recommend you have their Chilli Beef with rice noodles — the meat was one of the best one can have. Their Beef Thukpa, well flavoured and loaded with mince, is wholesome. And their Roast Pork is brilliant again — mildly flavoured, really tasty sauce, garlic bread mash and veggies by the side. We loved everything, but missed the Beef Steak that was not available both nights. Hoping, we will get it in our next trip.
Trattoria, Police Bazaar: Trattoria is a nondescript place – blink and you will miss it! Located right opposite the famous Delhi Mistaan Bhandaar, it is the place to have Jadoh and the local Pork dishes. You sit on back-to-back, school-type benches here. The owner suggested we try out the ‘special’ pork tasting platter that they make for visitors like us who want to try out everything. It’s, by far, the best local food we have had in our trip. Perfect for one, it has their signature Jadoh, with Doh Shain, Doh Khlieh, Dohjem, Dohnud etc. That’s Pork Balls, Pork Curry, Pork Liver, a piece of Pork Belly, a Pork-based salad, couple of veggie dishes and signature dips / chutneys. Not a place to miss in the trip for sure. No frill, no ambience – you eat with locals! Just the type of places we love….
Jadoh, Don Bosco Square: Quaint li’l joint managed by two lovely Khasi ladies, selling simple local food that is a hit with the students from the nearby colleges. Had a simple meal of Jadoh with Pork Curry and mixed meat. Ordered a bowl of smoked beef curry along with that. It was one of the simplest and tastiest food we had in our trip – all for a princely sum of Rs. 155. A must-visit along with Trattoria for local food with locals.
Red Rice, Police Bazaar: Not very highly ranked, but we loved the Momos here. We gorged on pork and chicken momos, and fried pork. Great place to drop in for a quick snack in between shopping at Police or Bara Bazaar. Clean and quick service…
Dylan’s Cafe: That Shillong is a diehard Bob Dylan fan is well-known. What is surprising is that, finally, after all these years of fanhood, we have our own Dylan’s Café here. A lovely little place filled with music, knick-knacks, cheer, sunlight and loads of fresh air, you will fall in love with Dylan’s immediately. A view of the northern hills and a chance to paint one tile of the ceiling makes it even more enamouring. I met up with my school friends here…ordered chowmein and chicken, and laughed hard talking of school days. Truly a place to catch 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