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Restaurants in Mandi: Enjoy The Rich Flavours of Himachal
The best restaurants in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh are not the fancy ones. They are the riverside dhabas on the Manali highway, the family kitchens near Bhima Kali Temple, and one palace garden in the middle of the old town where you eat trout with a view of the shivalik ridgeline. Mandi sits where the Punjab plains hand over to the mountains, so the food is a genuine mix: Punjabi tandoor and Amritsari naan on one plate, Tibetan momos and thukpa on the next, and underneath it all the real prize, authentic Pahari cooking like siddu, dham and madra. This guide ranks 15 places worth your appetite, tells you exactly what to order at each, and points you to the ones with a river view, the cheap veg eats, and where to eat out near Rewalsar Lake.
Quick Takeaways
- Order Pahari cooking at Highway Treat and Ekant, where dham, siddu, madra and babru are on the everyday menu, not just at festivals.
- Budget for two at a Mandi meal, roughly 200 to 600 rupees at most places on this list. Sit-down palace dining runs a little higher.
- Chase river views along the Manali highway. Chawla’s and AM PM Resort both put you next to the Beas; Raj Mahal Palace looks over the town.
- Join the crowd at Sachdeva Food Corner near Bhima Kali Temple for Amritsari naan with kadhi-pakoda, arguably the best budget plate in town.
- Eat out at Rewalsar Lake, 24 km south-west of Mandi, at Kora Community Cafe for a thali with a lake view.
Restaurants in Mandi
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Famous Food Of Mandi: What To Order Before You Read The List
Himachali food is one of the most underrated cuisines in India, and Mandi is one of the best places to actually taste it. Before you pick a restaurant, know the dishes. Order these and you will eat what locals eat, not a generic North Indian menu.
The five dishes to try in Mandi
- Siddu. A steamed wheat bread from the Mandi-Kullu belt, made with slow-fermented dough and stuffed with a walnut-poppyseed paste or spiced potato. It is a winter favourite, eaten hot with ghee, dal or a coriander chutney.
- Dham. The festive thali of Himachal, cooked by traditional chefs called botis and traditionally served on leaf plates. A dham plate runs through rice, madra, sepu vadi, mah ki dal, a tangy khatta and a sweet mittha to finish. If you catch one, cancel your other plans.
- Madra. A slow-cooked, yoghurt-based curry, usually with chickpeas, rajma or sepu vadi, rich and mildly spiced rather than fiery. In Mandi you will often see Sepu Vadi Madra and dry-fruit madra.
- Babru. The Himachali cousin of the kachori: a deep-fried bread stuffed with spiced black-gram paste, eaten with tamarind chutney or a bowl of khatta. It is a Mandi, Kangra and Chamba staple.
- Trout. Himalayan trout, farmed in the cold rivers around Mandi and Kullu, served pan-tossed or tandoori. The tandoori trout at the Raj Mahal Palace is the one to try.
A few more worth chasing: kaddu ka khatta (a tangy pumpkin dish), patande (the local pancake), bhey (spiced lotus stem), and mittha, the sweet saffron rice that closes a dham. On the Tibetan side you will find thukpa, thenthuk and momos almost everywhere, a legacy of the trade routes that run through this valley.
15 Best Restaurants In Mandi, Himachal Pradesh
Here is the shortlist at a glance. Prices are an approximate cost for two, and every venue below is placed by locality so you can plan by where you are, not just what you want to eat.
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Chawla's Square: eat by the Beas on the Manali highway
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Highway Treat: the one place for a proper Pahari spread
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Ekant Restaurant: home cooking, packed and noisy
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Black Pepper: start the day with thukpa
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Minakshi Restaurant: casual, and good with kids
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Anmol Hotel And Restaurant: reliable pure-veg on the highway
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Meera Mahal Family Restaurant: the one that keeps showing up in blogs
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The Treat Restaurant: a full menu in Indira Market
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Raj Mahal Palace (Copacabana Bar and Restaurant): dinner in a palace with a view of the town
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AM PM Resort Restaurant: the river-view table
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Sachdeva Food Corner: the best budget plate in Mandi
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Cafe Alimentaire: coffee and a Continental break
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Cafe Treat: cheap and cheerful in Samkhetar
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Kora Community Cafe: a thali with a lake view at Rewalsar
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Tasty Bite: a simple vegetarian stop in town
| # | Restaurant | Area | Best known for | Cost for two |
| 1 | Chawla’s Square | Shila Kippar, NH-21 | Riverside North Indian, tandoor | Rs 300 to 600 |
| 2 | Highway Treat | Maloh (Mandi bypass) | Authentic Pahari: dham, siddu, madra, trout | Rs 500 |
| 3 | Ekant Restaurant | Saulikhad | Home-style Himachali, babru, patande, bhey | Rs 300 |
| 4 | Black Pepper | Saulikhad, NH-21 | Breakfast, thukpa, thenthuk | Rs 400 |
| 5 | Minakshi Restaurant | Padhar | Indian and Tibetan, momos | Rs 400 |
| 6 | Anmol Hotel and Restaurant | Bindrabani, NH-21 (Manali Road) | Pure-veg North Indian | Rs 600 |
| 7 | Meera Mahal Family Restaurant | Saulikhad, NH-3 | Multicuisine, chicken anardana | Rs 300 |
| 8 | The Treat Restaurant | Indira Market | Indian, Chinese, Continental | Rs 300 |
| 9 | Raj Mahal Palace (Copacabana) | Old town centre | Heritage garden dining, town view, trout | Rs 400 to 600 |
| 10 | AM PM Resort Restaurant | Pandoh, Beas riverside | River-view multicuisine | Rs 500 |
| 11 | Sachdeva Food Corner | Near Bhima Kali Temple | Amritsari naan, kadhi-pakoda (budget) | Rs 200 to 300 |
| 12 | Cafe Alimentaire | School Bazar | Cafe, Continental and Chinese | Rs 400 |
| 13 | Cafe Treat | Samkhetar Bazar | Chinese, South Indian, quick bites | Rs 250 |
| 14 | Kora Community Cafe | Rewalsar Lake | Lakeside thali and pancakes | Rs 150 to 300 |
| 15 | Tasty Bite | Tarna, Mandi | Vegetarian snacks and Chinese | Rs 250 |
Explore Popular Destination In Himachal
01
Chawla's Square: eat by the Beas on the Manali highway
A Mandi institution that has been feeding travellers on the Kiratpur-Manali road since the 1960s, now sitting right beside the river. The cream chicken, cooked lighter with milk, cream and green cardamom, is the order the regulars swear by. The decor is casual and the point is the food and the water rushing past below.
| Where | National Highway 21, Shila Kippar, Mandi 175001, on the bank of the Beas |
| Cuisine | North Indian, Mughlai, tandoor |
| Must-try | Chicken tikka, butter chicken with tawa roti, cream chicken, rabri to finish |
| Cost for two | Rs 300 to 600 |
| Timings | 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM (approx.) |
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02
Highway Treat: the one place for a proper Pahari spread
If you only eat authentic Himachali food at one address in Mandi, make it this one. Dham, siddu, madra and trout are all on the menu, cooked rich and full of flavour, and because it stays open around the clock it rescues plenty of late highway arrivals. Seating is spread under the trees, which makes a slow Pahari lunch feel exactly right.
| Where | Maloh (Mandi bypass), Mandi 175018 |
| Cuisine | Himachali, multicuisine |
| Must-try | Dham thali, siddu, madra, Himalayan trout |
| Cost for two | Rs 500 |
| Timings | Open 24 hours |
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03
Ekant Restaurant: home cooking, packed and noisy
This is the everyday Pahari kitchen, the sort of place that is loud, full and reminds locals of home cooking. The menu reads like a Himachali festival: babru, kaddu ka khatta, patande and bhey all show up, and the mittha is worth saving room for. It caters to vegetarians and non-vegetarians without fuss.
| Where | Link Road, Saulikhad, Mandi 175001 |
| Cuisine | Himachali, Pahari home-style |
| Must-try | Babru, kaddu ka khatta, patande, bhey, mittha |
| Cost for two | Rs 300 |
| Timings | Hours vary; call ahead |
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04
Black Pepper: start the day with thukpa
Come here for breakfast. The kitchen leans into the Tibetan side of Mandi’s food story, so a bowl of thukpa or thenthuk is the way to start a cold mountain morning before you drive on. Portions are generous and the pricing stays gentle.
| Where | National Highway 21, Saulikhad, Mandi 175001 |
| Cuisine | Himachali, Tibetan comfort food |
| Must-try | Thukpa, thenthuk, a hearty breakfast |
| Cost for two | Rs 400 |
| Timings | Opens early, closes around 10:30 PM (approx.) |
05
Minakshi Restaurant: casual, and good with kids
A relaxed roadside stop out towards Padhar that will dial the spice up or down for you, which makes it an easy call with children or older travellers. The momos are the crowd-pleaser, and there is free parking, a small thing that matters on this stretch of highway.
| Where | Village and Post Office Gawali, Tehsil Padhar, District Mandi 175012 |
| Cuisine | Indian, Tibetan |
| Must-try | Momos, spice-adjusted curries |
| Cost for two | Rs 400 |
| Timings | 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM |
06
Anmol Hotel And Restaurant: reliable pure-veg on the highway
A no-frills, pure-vegetarian kitchen that never seems to close. It will not win design awards, but the dal makhani is dependable, the spice and oil are cooked to your ask, and for a vegetarian traveller who wants a hot meal at an odd hour it is a safe bet.
| Where | National Highway 21 (Manali Road), Bindrabani, Mandi 175001 |
| Cuisine | Pure vegetarian, North Indian |
| Must-try | Aloo sabzi, dal makhani |
| Cost for two | Rs 600 |
| Timings | Open 24 hours |
07
Meera Mahal Family Restaurant: the one that keeps showing up in blogs
A high-ceilinged family restaurant with an open kitchen that has picked up a following in travel writing. The food is mildly spiced and easy to like, with chicken anardana, cooked with tart pomegranate seeds, as the dish to try. It is built for families and large tables.
| Where | 351/13, near Bharat Petrol Pump, National Highway 21, Saulikhad, Mandi 175001 |
| Cuisine | Multicuisine |
| Must-try | Chicken anardana, thenthuk |
| Cost for two | Rs 300 |
| Timings | 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM |
08
The Treat Restaurant: a full menu in Indira Market
Right in the shopping heart of Mandi, this is where you land when the table cannot agree on a cuisine. Indian, Chinese, Tibetan and Continental all share the menu, and it doubles as a party venue for birthdays and anniversaries, so expect a buzz on weekends.
| Where | Ground Floor, Indira Market, Mandi |
| Cuisine | Indian, Chinese, Tibetan, Continental |
| Must-try | Mixed multicuisine spread |
| Cost for two | Rs 300 |
| Timings | 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM |
09
Raj Mahal Palace (Copacabana Bar and Restaurant): dinner in a palace with a view of the town
The Raj Mahal Palace is a heritage hotel in the old palace of the Mandi kings, and its garden restaurant with the Copacabana bar is the most atmospheric meal in town. You dine among peacock-backed chairs and old royal photographs, looking out over Mandi. Order the tandoori trout. This is the top pick if you are searching for a Mandi restaurant with a view without leaving the town centre.
| Where | Raj Mahal Palace Hotel, old town centre, Mandi |
| Cuisine | Indian, Chinese, Continental, bar |
| Must-try | Tandoori trout, masala mushroom, mutton palak |
| Cost for two | Rs 400 to 600 |
| Timings | Noon to 11:00 PM |
10
AM PM Resort Restaurant: the river-view table
The in-house restaurant at AM PM Resort is open to non-guests and its draw is simple: a table looking straight at the Beas. It is run by a friendly couple, the pace is unhurried, and it is the spot to book when the view matters as much as the plate.
| Where | Near 239 Military Transit Camp, Pandoh (Mandi district), on the Beas |
| Cuisine | Multicuisine |
| Must-try | Whatever pairs with the river view |
| Cost for two | Rs 500 |
| Timings | 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM |
11
Sachdeva Food Corner: the best budget plate in Mandi
A tiny, much-loved counter near Bhima Kali Temple that punches far above its size. The Amritsari naan comes with a cream bhalla kadhi-pakoda, and in season the makki di roti with sarson ka saag is the plate to get. It is a small operation, so food can take a while, but the price and the flavour make the wait easy.
| Where | Near Bhima Kali Temple, Bhiuli, Mandi |
| Cuisine | Punjabi, vegetarian |
| Must-try | Amritsari naan special with kadhi-pakoda, makki di roti te sarson ka saag |
| Cost for two | Rs 200 to 300 |
| Timings | Around 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM (confirm at the counter) |
12
Cafe Alimentaire: coffee and a Continental break
When you need a break from thalis, this is the town cafe to duck into. The menu wanders from Indian tandoori snacks to Oriental combos and Continental plates, and it is a comfortable place to sit with a coffee for an hour. A good pick for a lighter, vegetarian-friendly meal.
| Where | School Bazar, Mandi HO |
| Cuisine | Cafe, Continental, Chinese, tandoori snacks |
| Must-try | Coffee, fried rice with noodles, tandoori snacks |
| Cost for two | Rs 400 |
| Timings | Around 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM |
13
Cafe Treat: cheap and cheerful in Samkhetar
A budget favourite in the Samkhetar market for a fast plate of Chinese or a South Indian dosa. It is not trying to be more than that, and that is the appeal: quick, filling and light on the wallet when you are shopping in the old town.
| Where | Samkhetar Bazar, Mandi |
| Cuisine | Chinese, South Indian, fast food |
| Must-try | Chinese combos, dosa, quick bites |
| Cost for two | Rs 250 |
| Timings | Around 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM |
14
Kora Community Cafe: a thali with a lake view at Rewalsar
Rewalsar Lake sits about 24 km south-west of Mandi and is a small pilgrimage town worth a half-day. This lakeside cafe, run by an owner named VJ and his family, faces the water a few steps behind the main road. The thali is the recommended order, the pancakes are a soft-spot, and the setting does most of the work.
| Where | Rewalsar Lake, Rewalsar (Mandi district) 175023 |
| Cuisine | Himalayan, Indian cafe |
| Must-try | Thali, pancakes, cashew chow mein |
| Cost for two | Rs 150 to 300 |
| Timings | Daytime cafe hours (confirm before a special trip) |
15
Tasty Bite: a simple vegetarian stop in town
A straightforward vegetarian option in the town centre for snacks and a quick Chinese plate. It rounds out the list for pure-veg travellers who want something fast and central rather than a sit-down meal.
| Where | Mangvayin Road, Tarna, Mandi 175001 |
| Cuisine | Vegetarian, North Indian, Chinese |
| Must-try | Veg snacks, Chinese |
| Cost for two | Rs 250 |
| Timings | Around 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM |
Best Restaurants In Mandi With A River Or Valley View
If the view is the point, three names do it best. Chawla’s and AM PM Resort both sit right on the Beas along the Manali highway, so you eat with the river moving past you. In the old town, the Raj Mahal Palace garden restaurant looks out over Mandi from the former royal grounds, which is the pick for a heritage dinner without a drive. This is the group that answers the ‘best restaurants with view’ search, and it is worth planning a meal around one of them.
Vegetarian And Budget Places To Eat In Mandi
Mandi is easy on vegetarians and easy on the wallet. For pure-veg, Anmol Hotel and Restaurant runs all day and Tasty Bite and Cafe Alimentaire cover snacks and cafe food in town. For the cheapest genuinely great meal, join the queue at Sachdeva Food Corner near Bhima Kali Temple, where two people eat well for 200 to 300 rupees. Cafe Treat in Samkhetar is the other reliable budget stop. Across town, a filling meal for two rarely crosses 600 rupees unless you are dining at the palace.
Where To Eat Near Rewalsar Lake (Mandi District)
Plenty of Mandi trips add a half-day at Rewalsar Lake, the small pilgrimage town about 24 km south-west, sacred to Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists alike. The eating there is simple and lake-facing. Kora Community Cafe is the standout, a clean, family-run spot a few steps off the main road with a thali worth sitting down for and pancakes for later. It is a cafe rather than a full restaurant, so treat it as a relaxed lunch stop rather than a dinner plan, and check it is open before you drive out.
How To Eat Your Way Through Mandi In One Day
Short on time? This is the food crawl that covers the range, from a highway breakfast to a palace dinner.
- Start at Black Pepper on the highway with a hot bowl of thukpa or thenthuk to warm up.
- Mid-morning, join the queue at Sachdeva Food Corner near Bhima Kali Temple for an Amritsari naan with kadhi-pakoda.
- For lunch, go straight to Highway Treat and order a dham thali, or siddu and madra if a dham is not being served that day.
- Take an afternoon coffee break at Cafe Alimentaire in School Bazar, or push out to Rewalsar and eat a thali at Kora Community Cafe by the lake.
- End with dinner and tandoori trout in the garden at the Raj Mahal Palace, with the town lights below you.
Which Mandi Restaurant Suits Your Craving
| If you want | Go to | Order |
| Authentic Pahari food | Highway Treat, Ekant | Dham, siddu, madra, babru |
| A river view | Chawla’s Square, AM PM Resort | Tandoor plates, cream chicken |
| A heritage dinner with a town view | Raj Mahal Palace | Tandoori trout |
| The best budget plate | Sachdeva Food Corner | Amritsari naan, kadhi-pakoda |
| Pure vegetarian | Anmol, Tasty Bite | Dal makhani, veg thali |
| A cafe break | Cafe Alimentaire, Cafe Treat | Coffee, Continental, Chinese |
| A lakeside meal | Kora Community Cafe, Rewalsar | Thali, pancakes |
| Late-night food | Highway Treat, Anmol (24 hrs) | Whatever is hot |
Plan Your Mandi Food Trip
Himachali food is underrated because it rarely leaves the hills, which is exactly why eating it in Mandi is worth the detour. Start with one Pahari meal, add a river-view table and a lakeside thali, and you will have tasted the valley properly. When you are ready to build the wider trip, our Himachal Pradesh travel guide covers where to go and when, and you can browse customisable Himachal tour packages if you would rather have the route, stays and Mandi stop planned for you.
FAQs
FAQ: Restaurants And Food In Mandi
Mandi's famous food is Pahari, the traditional cooking of the Himachal hills. The dishes to try are siddu (a steamed, stuffed wheat bread), dham (a festive thali of rice, madra, sepu vadi and khatta), madra (a yoghurt-based chickpea or rajma curry), babru (a stuffed fried bread) and Himalayan trout. You will also find plenty of Tibetan momos and thukpa thanks to the region's trade history.
Highway Treat is the top pick for authentic Himachali food, with dham, siddu, madra and trout on the everyday menu. Ekant Restaurant is the other strong choice for home-style Pahari cooking like babru, patande and bhey. Both let you eat what locals actually eat rather than a generic North Indian menu.
Yes. Anmol Hotel and Restaurant is pure-vegetarian and open around the clock, Tasty Bite and Cafe Alimentaire cover veg snacks and cafe food in town, and Sachdeva Food Corner near Bhima Kali Temple does an excellent vegetarian Amritsari naan with kadhi-pakoda. Most Mandi menus carry a strong vegetarian side by default.
Mandi is inexpensive. A meal for two runs about 200 to 300 rupees at budget spots like Sachdeva Food Corner and Cafe Treat, around 300 to 500 rupees at most sit-down restaurants such as Highway Treat and Meera Mahal, and 400 to 600 rupees for heritage dining at the Raj Mahal Palace. Prices change, so treat these as a guide.
For a river view, Chawla's and AM PM Resort both sit on the banks of the Beas along the Manali highway. For a view over the town, the Raj Mahal Palace garden restaurant in the old town centre is the pick. All three let you plan a meal around the setting, not just the food.
Kora Community Cafe is the best-known place to eat at Rewalsar Lake, about 24 km south-west of Mandi. It is a small, family-run, lake-facing cafe with a good thali and pancakes. It keeps daytime cafe hours, so plan it as a lunch stop and confirm it is open before making the trip.
Yes, and it is a highlight. Mandi does excellent non-vegetarian food, from the tandoor at Chawla's and chicken anardana at Meera Mahal to Himalayan trout at the Raj Mahal Palace. Red-meat curries feature in traditional Pahari cooking too. Vegetarians are equally well served, so mixed groups are easy to please.
For coffee and a lighter meal, Cafe Alimentaire in School Bazar does Continental plates and tandoori snacks, and Cafe Treat in Samkhetar Bazar is the cheap-and-cheerful pick for Chinese and a South Indian dosa. Out at Rewalsar Lake, Kora Community Cafe is the standout lakeside cafe for a thali and pancakes. All three are relaxed, budget-friendly, and easy to reach in and around the old town.
