Traditional Lunch at Sikkimese Homestay

A traditional lunch at a Sikkimese homestay is not just about the food — it’s a heartfelt experience steeped in culture, warmth, and genuine hospitality. You will be having lunch at Phamlhakhang Homestay in Pelling, West Sikkim. The host family is incredibly warm and attentive, going above and beyond to make you feel at home.The food is simple, home-cooked, and absolutely delicious—comforting in every way. They cook all the meals in the same kitchen with self grown vegetables. The food is prepared with local customary less spices but good in taste. On a clear day, you can also get an amazing view of Mt. Kanchenjunga range from the homestay. Great views and great Food!  

A normal lunch would begin with a warm serving of gundruk ko jhol — a soup made from fermented leafy greens that’s rich, earthy, and deeply comforting. This is followed by a wholesome spread of red rice, dal, saag (wild spinach), ningro with churpi (ferns cooked with local cheese), and a variety of homemade pickles. Depending on the season and the host’s family tradition, you might also be treated to phagshapa (pork stewed with radish and dry chilies) or shimi ko achar — a tangy, sesame-based string bean salad.

Meals are served in a slow, mindful manner, often with stories — about the land, the ingredients, or how the recipe has been passed down through generations. The host will likely sit and eat with you, or hover with gentle curiosity, offering second servings with a proud smile.

There are no menus, no rush, no formalities — just real, soulful food shared between guest and host like old friends. In this quiet mountain setting, surrounded by forested hills and the sounds of village life, lunch becomes a beautiful pause — a moment where culture is not performed, but lived and shared, one warm plate at a time.