Nathu's( Pure Vegetarian Restaurant) — Restaurant in Ladakh

From the narrow lanes of Delhi 6 all the way to over 11,000 feet above sea level, Karim's has made a long journey right to the heart of Leh. Just opened to the public, this popular eatery, which has been serving Mughal food for over a century (since 1913 to be precise), is the latest addition to Leh's culinary scene. Before it, Nathu's sweet shop and restaurant – another Delhi favourite – landed in the Ladakh capital. Given the flood of tourists to Leh from every possible corner of the world, it was perhaps only a matter of time before popular eateries and food chains such as these made an appearance in the northern-most region of India. Ladakh's cuisine is vastly different from what Karim's serves but the interest around the Mughlai dishes is evident. The effort that has been put into the look and feel of the place indicates that Karim's is fully invested in Leh. The expansive restaurant is starkly different from the flagship Karim’s outlet near the crowded Jama Masjid in Delhi, which has consistently invited rave reviews. The Karim's Leh, too, is next to the Jama Masjid and has well-trained chefs who have been flown in from Delhi. "Leh may seem like an unlikely choice but not for us. We are confident that there is enough demand for Karim's food in the mountains, not just among tourists but also locals, many of whom have been coming to dine here,” says Mohammed Aslam, manager, Karim's Delhi. Karim's outlet in Leh. (Photo: Nazia Iqbal)

The biggest challenge for them, he says, was procuring quality raw material, cooking it at an altitude of 11,500 feet and ensuring the quality and taste is maintained. “But our chefs, who have been training for over a month, have ensured that brand Karim's lives up to its name." Food joints in this tourist hub have mostly been known to serve Ladakhi, Tibetan and Kashmiri cuisine. But now, suddenly, there is a burst of...

Nathu's( Pure Vegetarian Restaurant)

August 2024: This restaurant was recommended by a local, and I'm glad I listened! The food was great. I ordered a "Nathu Special Thali", since I was very hungry, but also because I wanted a wide sampling of the different dishes on offer. Well, I'm no longer hungry, I'm stuffed! The thali was humungous, and also very tasty. I'm surprised by the large range of items they have on their menu (they even have a Jain menu!, and the Jain food is cooked separately from the rest of the veg food), but I'm also amazed by the very budget prices. Any regular tourist could easily afford this place, and have a taste of the home food they've been missing out on while traveling.

Point to note: Usually, thalis have mediocre desserts, but the Gulab Jamun that came along with my thali was DA BOMB! Really, really good, yummy! 🤤🤤🤤🤤

The restaurant is easy to find and conveniently located right on Leh Main Market Street... They also have free wifi, a bathroom, and a clean washbasin inside the restaurant, and these are ALL very much appreciated while staying/traveling in Leh (trust me on that!).

I give it 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Should you eat here, you won't leave...

This restaurant is an absolute rip-off. I ordered Kadai Soya Chaap for ₹360 + 5% tax, and to my shock, the dish had only two tiny pieces of soya chaap—the rest was just onions and gravy. When I questioned this at the counter, the staff member, Shairaz, dismissively said that “it happens because they scoop it from the main kadai.” So essentially, they are charging more than ₹150 for a piece of soya no bigger than half a thumb.

The response was careless, unapologetic, and downright shameless. Such pricing and attitude show that the restaurant is more interested in cheating customers than serving quality food. I strongly advise everyone to...