Restaurants & food

Dining in Zanskar offers a deeply authentic taste of traditional Himalayan and Ladakhi culture, designed for high altitudes and cold climates. * **Signature Dishes:** Local staples include *thukpa* (hearty noodle soup with vegetables or meat), *momos* (steamed dumplings), *skyu* (a traditional pasta-like stew made with root vegetables), and *tsampa* or *ngamphe* (roasted barley flour). * **Beverages:** *Gur gur cha* (traditional salty butter tea) is universally served and essential for staying warm and hydrated. *Chhang*, a locally brewed barley beer, is also culturally significant. * **Eateries:** Padum has a modest selection of small *dhabas* (roadside cafes) and restaurants offering Ladakhi, Tibetan, and basic North Indian food. Most visitors dine at their guesthouses or homestays, where meals are prepared from scratch using locally sourced, organic ingredients.