We all know that Mandi is famous for its challenging hikes, natural beauty, and stunning handicrafts. But what most of us don’t know is that Mandi is equally popular for its mouthwatering cuisine. Himachali food, served in Mandi, is an interesting mix of Punjabi and Tibetan cuisine. Lentils, rice, pulses, wheat bread, and red meat are synonymous with Himachali cuisine.
But there’s more to Pahari food than these dishes. We came across these restaurants in Mandi that are changing the way Pahari food is cooked and consumed. The best part is that these places to eat serve both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.
10 Awesome Restaurants In Mandi
We have shortlisted 10 best restaurants in Mandi that you must visit on your family vacation to try famous Himachali dishes. These food items will surely give you more than one reason to fall in love with the Himalayan mountains:
- Black Pepper Restaurant – Eat A Hearty
- Chawlas Square – Taste The Perfect Amount Of Spice
- Highway Treat – Serving Authentic Food
- Minakshi Restaurant – A Casual Restaurant
- Anmol Hotel And Restaurant – North Indian Flavors
- Ekant Restaurant – A Family Place
- Meera Mahal Family Restaurant – A Featured Place
- Copacabana Bar & Restaurant – Try The Indian Flavors
- The Treat Restaurant – Get A Fabulous Dinner
- AM PM Resort Restaurant – With A River View
1. Black Pepper Restaurant – Eat A Hearty Breakfast
A majority of Himachalis are known to be early risers. The concept of meeting friends over breakfast is far more popular than evening coffee or a round of drinks at night. If you want to experience Mandi like a local, we suggest you have a hearty breakfast at the Black Pepper Restaurant. If there’s a nip in the air, you can order thukpa or thenthuk to keep you warm. For those of you who don’t know, they are popular Himachali comfort foods.
Location: National Highway 21, Saulikhad, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh 175001
Cost for Two: INR 400
Timings: 12 am to 10:30 pm
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2. Chawlas Square – Taste The Perfect Amount Of Spice
The menu at Chawlas Square favours the non-vegetarians. Popular dishes served here include chicken tikka and butter chicken with tawa roti or naan. The chicken dishes have the perfect amount of spice. The chicken is tender and will immediately melt in your mouth. You can finish off your meal with rabri or kheer. The restaurant’s decor is minimalistic, casual, relaxed and fun.
Location: National Highway 21, Shila Kippar, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh 175001
Cost for Two: INR 300
Timings: 11 am to 11 pm
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3. Highway Treat – Serving Authentic Food
Perched on the busy main road, we suggest you visit Highway Treat for the best food in Mandi. Their menu is multi-cuisine. From Dham and Sidu to Madra and trout, they have been serving authentic Himachali food for the longest time. The dishes are rich and packed with flavors. Surrounded by trees, this restaurant’s walls are plastered with posters and the seating is extremely comfortable.
Location: Mandi, Himachal Pradesh 175018
Cost for Two: INR 500
Timings: Open 24 hours
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4. Minakshi Restaurant – A Casual Restaurant
It is a casually done up restaurant that specializes in Indian and Tibetan cuisine. It is not very difficult to locate and offers free parking space to its customers. The momos are worth trying. The cook’s way of preparing familiar, low-brow fare with meticulousness will warm your heart. The food is delicious. If you have a child accompanying you, they will be more than willing to adjust the spice levels according to your requirement.
Location: Village and Postoffice Gawali, Tehsil Padhar District Mandi, Himachal Pradesh 175012
Cost for Two: INR 400
Timings: 8 am to 12 am
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5. Anmol Hotel And Restaurant – North Indian Flavors
Anmol Hotel and Restaurant is by far one of the best pure veg restaurants in Mandi. It is a no-frills, inexpensive restaurant that serves the authentic flavors of Himachal Pradesh. The subtly spiced aloo sabzi will win you over. If spicy food is not your thing, go for their dal makhani. It is out of the world. You can devour it with tawa roti or butter naan. You can ask the server to make the dish less oily or spicy according to your requirement.
Location: National Highway 21, Shila Kippar, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh 175001
Cost for Two: INR 600
Timings: Open 24 hours
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6. Ekant Restaurant – A Family Place
Ekant Restaurant is packed, noisy and brimming with happy families. One of the most popular Mandi restaurants, it caters to both vegetarians as well as non-vegetarians. Sample some Mittha, Babru, Kaddu ka Khatta, Patande and Bhey among other lip-smacking local food items here. This restaurant has reserved a special place in our hearts because the flavors of the food remind us of our mother’s cooking.
Location: Link Road, Saulikhad, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh 175124
Cost for Two: INR 300
Timings: 10 am to 12 pm
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7. Meera Mahal Family Restaurant – A Featured Place
This high ceiling restaurant with an open kitchen has been featured in several blogs and travel publications. That doesn’t come as a surprise since it has remained a tourist favorite for the longest time. The food served here is mildly spiced and caters to almost everyone’s tastes. Some of the most popular dishes served here include chicken anardana and thenthuk. Chicken anardana is chicken marinated in garam masala, sour yoghurt and dried pomegranate seeds Eating at this restaurant and enjoying the tasty food must be on your list of the best things to do in Mandi.
Location: 351/13, Near Bharat Petrol Pump, National Highway 3, Saulikhad, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh 175001
Cost for Two: INR 300
Timings: 9 am – 11 pm
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8. Copacabana Bar & Restaurant – Try The Indian Flavors
One of the best restaurants in Mandi, Himachal, Copacabana Bar & Restaurant is the place for you if you’re looking for a good ambiance and a beautiful garden. Snowfall in Mandi is a common pattern in winters. To stay warm, visit the fully-functional bar and get delicious and flavorsome dishes. Masala mushroom, andoori trout, chicken tikka and mutton palak are a few dishes you must try here.
Location: Rajmahal Palace Hotel, Mandi
Cost for Two: INR 200
Timings: Noon to 11 pm
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9. The Treat Restaurant – Get A Fabulous Dinner
If you’re looking for some dinner restaurants in Mandi, The Treat Restaurant is the right place for you. Families come here for birthday parties and anniversary celebrations. The restaurant serves delicious Indian, Chinese, Tibetan, and Continental dishes.
Location: Ground Floor, Indira Market, Mandi
Cost for Two: INR 300
Timings: 10 am to 10 pm
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10. AM PM Resort Restaurant – With A River View
One of the finest Mandi restaurants is the in-house restaurant of AM PM Resort. Run by a friendly couple, on the way to Manali, this restaurant serves some delicious dishes along with a view of the river making it one of the best places to visit in Mandi. If you’re looking for a place to stay in Mandi, which has an in-house restaurant, this is the place. You can enjoy a delicious meal without being the resort’s guest.
Location: Near 239 Military Transit Camp, Mandi
Cost for Two: N/A
Timings: 7 am to 12 am
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Himachali food is one of the most underrated cuisines in India. Some say, it’s the lack of availability of the raw ingredients that make it such and few say that the dishes are underexposed to the outsiders. We beg to differ. The aforementioned restaurants in Mandi are providing interesting food to tourists and locals. Make sure to taste it on your trip to Himachal Pradesh. We promise that you’re in for a treat!
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