Nawang's Restaurant - Darjeeling

 

NAWANG'S RESTAURANT at Darjeeling is special to foodies like me. Darjeeling is not a tourist place to me. People who know me, they know how I love that place from the bottom of my heart and how I always want to escape to that place. The reasons are very personal. Any trip of mine to Darjeeling is simply incomplete without visiting Nawang's. I will tell why but it's very important to know the history of this place. 

Nawang's Restaurant started almost 18 years back. Before that, the family used to conduct treks and tours for visitors. The owner was telling me "Sandakphu is not the same anymore. People are killing that place, including the government." I could see a sense of sadness in his eyes. Initially, the place started preparing local meals. Later, with the increased popularity of Momo & Thukpa amongst tourists, Nawang's came up with these addition in their menu. Needless to say, they did not need to learn the art of making Momo & Thukpa newly, it is in their genes, their art. With the increase in the number of Bengali tourists, they introduced Bengali thalis too, later. 

During my last visit to Nawang's during July, 2o24, I saw a young guy, a Bengali, suddenly . discovering Nawang's Restaurant. He had a plate of Momo there. He loved it so much that he finished his meal, went back to the hotel and got another 8-9 guys back with him for a treat. There is immense happiness in finding out something great like this. Isn't it? 

Well, Nawang's is like a family to me. As written earlier, any trip of mine to Darjeeling is incomplete to me with a visit to this restaurant, without having a chat with the owners. The Bhutia family knows the real meaning of warmth which reflects every now and then through their smile and eyes. Food is their love language. My visits are mainly for their Nepali Thali, Momo, Sha Plaley and Thukpa. Imagine, it is cold outside or maybe, rainy and you are sitting inside a "pahadi cabin" and gorging on some hot, freshly steamed Momo or a bowl of piping hot Thukpa. That is romance to me.
The Thali is a meal. It comes with rice, saag, daal, veg of the day, the choice of your meat(pork, chicken & beef) or egg or veg, papad. Do not miss the condiments like pickle, dhula acchar (a special dry, powdered pickle) and the serving of unlimited Dalle chillies and onion. 

Chicken Thali

Before you start off with the Thali, it won't be justified if you miss their Momo or Sha Phaley. Every damn time, both are served fresh. Every time, you will literally feel how the juice from the Momo or the Phaley gets dripping down your fingers while taking a bite. I can not remember a better word than ORGASMIC to describe this!

There will be unlimited dalle paste/sauce for you on the table to perfectly compliment your Momo or Phaley and believe me, that is super hot! Each plate of Steamed Momo/Phaley is a wonder at just 100 INR/plate(8 pcs for Momo, 2 pcs for Phaley).

I know people who are too much thoughtful of looks and interiors or ambience while eating out. Well, this place won't be an amusement to you from outside. If you're looking for a spick and span place with an aesthetic ambience, this place is not for you. You will be welcomed with a rustic, old charm and careless (read carefree!) setting and a lot of love and warmth which also reflects in their food.

During my last visit during July, 2024, I went there first for a plate of Momo during the afternoon. It was basically my lunch. Aunty remembered that I went there during April-end and gladly welcomed me. Just see what she served :

While I was finishing this plate, I could smell the country chicken getting cooked in the kitchen. I was dying to taste the same but I was completely full. Therefore, I told Aunty that I will again come back during the evening for a dinner. As a result, I came back again at around 8 PM and asked Aunty to just give me rice and chicken for dinner. Not that, I wanted to miss the veggie, the dal or the papad but I was way too full. Aunty served me the same, not to miss the hottest Dalle, the pickle and the dhula aachar.

Now, this becomes the most satisfying meal of the trip. It is literally hard to explain the feel once you have the first gulp. It tastes very homely and perhaps, because of the weather outside, the taste multiplies. Not to forget, Aunty has her own culinary skills due to which the amalgamation of the spices in perfect quantities, the perfect boiling of the chicken makes the Chicken such a balanced preparation. It is literally impossible to replicate the same at home. Well, the quantity that you are seeing in the snap is mine but the thali comes unlimited. Yes, you can have the same curry in pork or beef too!

While I was having this rice and chicken curry, I became a bit heroic. The red chilly has more hotness just like the color when compared to the green ones. Once the green ones turn red, they will have the original hotness, I was talking to the owners and took a big bite of the red one and they could not help laughing seeing my eyes turning red and watery within two seconds! Had to manage that with a sip of chilled coke! 

It really feels like home when you have such great hosts who take care of your meal. While I was finishing the meal, I had a hearty chat with the Daju & Aunty, who talked about everything on earth. At the same time, they did not forget to ask if I would like to take some more rice or chicken or if I require anything else.

Just a suggestion, when you are visiting the hills, try to be calm. They like people who are calm and not loud. We have this weird habit of assuming people of the hills. They are Nepalis but they are not from Nepal. They are Indians, Gorkhas. They can break bones very easily but not hearts. Respect that. 

I love Nawang's Restaurant. I love this Bhutia family. If they ever need me to be beside them even for the smallest things, I will leave everything to be there beside them. I am emotional. Take all my love.

Points to be check :

1. Cash & UPI are accepted here.
2. The place remains open on all days, till 9:30 PM. You can contact them at 09733005338 to know the time of opening.

3. Address : Keep Keventer's on your right, taxi stand on your left - walk straight for a minute on Robertson Road and you will see Nawang's Restaurant on your left.

Coming back real soon with a new blog!

In the interim, you might be interested to follow me at Instagram at @an.other.sen. Feel free to leave a honest feedback too, it will take less than a minute!

Note : 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘/𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒏𝒂𝒑𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕.

Email - foodiedibyajit@gmail.com

Blog and Image Courtesy : Foodie Dibyajit