It’s often in circumstances when you’re not searching, that you find exactly what you’re looking for.
Same goes for good restaurants.
After a 4 hour zigzagging mountain jeep ride from New Jalpaigur to Darjeeling, we were hungry. And so hungry in fact, that even though I wanted to find somewhere good, I was willing to eat just about anything.
And that’s when we stumbled right into a restaurant that was just like Vishalatchi Food and Catering in Kuala Lumpur (not by the genre of food they served, but by the deliciousness) – a restaurant so good I’d have to return to eat multiple meals in a row.
Singalila Restaurant is very simple.
Open the curtain, walk down 2 steps, and you’re in the little dining section where there are about 3 long tables paired with benches. The kitchen is just to the left hand side and during lunchtime hours the restaurant is always filled with jeep drivers satisfying themselves with delicious food.
It’s a family restaurant, mainly operated by another incredible motherly cook and her daughters.
The toughest thing about eating at Singalila Restaurant were the near freezing temperatures outside and inside… but once that food arrived, I nearly forgot about the outside temperature.
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There’s no menu at Singalila Restaurant, and you get whatever is available that particular day.
The food is mostly native dishes from the area, a mixture of Sikkimese and Tibetan flavors accompanied by a bit of Indian influence.
You always start off with a plate of rice, a couple of mixed vegetable curries of the day, and a side of dal.
From there, you can order a meat addition. The first day I had the beef curry and pork curry (pictured above), a powerfully flavorful concoction of chunks of meat that were ridiculously tender, warm, and so flavorful.
The next day I had the chicken curry, an equally delightful curry.
And one of my personal favorite things about Singalila Restaurant was the communal plate of garnishes and hot sauce.
The little ball chillies were about the size of marbles, but they were indeed fiery, and warmed me right up. The green sauce, which I still haven’t been able to fully identify what it all included, was one of the top sauces I’ve ever had.
Just like pol sambol, I had dreams about the green sauce.
Though I ate the rice meal at Singalila Restaurant nearly everyday I was in Darjeeling, India, I hadn’t tried their Tibetan style thukpa noodle soup.
So on my last day in Darjeeling, in addition to a plate of marvelous rice and curry, I had a bowl of the motherly beef noodles. It was served quite plain, but after adding a few squeezes of lime, those insane chillies, and some onions to the mix, it was quite a beefy delightful bowl of noodles. Still, I preferred the rice.
There are few things more rewarding than finding and eating motherly meals when you travel!
Singalila Restaurant – Darjeeling, India
Hours: Opens around 12 pm or so, best to eat here for lunch
How to get there: The restaurant is located in a jeep driver hangout parking lot, across the street from Hotel Capital and across the intersection from Keventer’s (a famous restaurant). It’s just down the main road from Chowrasta Square at the 4 way intersection.
If you’re on your way to Darjeeling, be sure to check out my Darjeeling travel guide.
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Puran Subba
2 years ago
We are wholesaler of fine quality buff dried meat, please let us if you have requirement
Health and Fitness
2 years ago
Historical blogs.
Chering
5 years ago
Hello Mark,
This is he recipe for the green sauce:
Blend a handful of Mint & Coriander with boiled tomato (1) & chili and salt in a mixer.
Cheers
SaravanaKumar
9 years ago
I just went through your Darjeeling Travel Guide which was very informative. I have planned to visit this beautiful place within couple of months..I will ensure that I, with my family go to the Singalilas..
Devdutta Sen
10 years ago
Will definitely check the place out in May.
Devdutta Sen
10 years ago
I am travelling to Darjeeling in May this year.Will definitely visit.The food looks delicious. You get the some variety of food in all the hill areas of North East India.Do visit again.
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Davdutta, great to hear from you and that you’ll be going to Darjeeling soon. Enjoy the food!
paul | walkflypinoy
10 years ago
I fell in love with the chutneys and curries in India. I am amazed at how they combine simple ingredients and spices into sauces that has layers and layers of flavor. probably like the green sauce you had above. And yeah, local family run restaurants usually spell good food.
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Yes, those curries and sauces at homestyle restaurants are just unbelievable!
Laura
10 years ago
Oh man, now I’m regretting reading this! My mouth is watering, but I have to go to bed. Aiyah…
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Thanks Laura!
Maria
11 years ago
What a spread?! To judge that restaurant by it’s ‘cover’ I’d never guess… so glad you took care of that for me. *grin*
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Haha, yes just a small curtain… and it leads to meals that are so delicious!
CJ
11 years ago
It looks SOOO GOOD! God, I have to visit Darjeeling again! It been 9 years and I wasn’t adventourous about food back then! Your blog rocks!
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Thanks CJ, hope you can visit Darjeeling again soon!