Food of Manipur

If one needed to explain Manipuri food in one word, it would be – healthy. The ingredients of Manipuri cuisines is mainly chilli and pepper thus making it devoid of any other form of masalas, thus rendering food organic and very healthy. They also do not use oil which is indeed a very positive effect on the body.

Food in Manipur


Manipuri primarily cook vegetables with fish being their complimentary food besides the vegetables. Usage of less oil has been in vogue since the olden times and one visiting the Manipur rural areas are sure to experience this taste of oil-less food.

Ngri is a type of fermented fish which carries a very strong smell and is loved immensely by the locals. This item is used in a lot of dishes prepared here.

Food in Manipur


The staple food of Manipur consists of rice, a lot of leafy vegetables and fish. They love vegetables so much that one can see vegetables growing in their own houses. The cuisines also tend to be very seasonal since the people here grow the food in their own households itself. The taste of the Manipuri cuisine is very much different from the rest of the Indian mainland cuisines owing to the extravagant use of local herbs and other aromatic spices in its preparation.

Herbs of Manipur

Herbs and spices form a very important part of Manipuri cuisine. Since they primary have their food boiled, thus it is only these herbs and aroma giving spices that do the wonder of giving the food it required essence. The herbs are grown by the people in their own households. They do believe in growing their own vegetables and herbs and having food from their own garden. Some of the inevitable herbs used in Manipuri cuisines are as follows:

    Food in Manipur


    • Awaa phadigom (Mexican coriander)
    • Mayang-ton (Lemon Basil)
    • Toning-khok (Chameleon plant)
    • Mukthrubi
    • Phakpai (Vietnamese coriander)
    • Chantruk (Wavy Bittercress)
    • Khanghuman
    • Nungshi hidak (Mint)
    • Maroi napaakpi (Hooker chives)
    • Maroi naakuppi (Chinese chives)
    • Takhel-manao
    • Lomakha-mapan
    • Leipung-khankha
    • Yaipan
    • Kang-hu mapaan

    Cuisines of Manipur

    The Manipuris make their food mainly steamed and boiled rather than frying it. The Manipuri platter mainly consists of rice, vegetables, salad, a curry of fish and meat. The food definitely is tasty, but the aroma is more than heavenly. The people here are lovers of both vegetarian and non vegetarian dishes.

    Mentioned below are some of the cuisines made in Manipur:

    Chamthong or Kangshoi

    This is a boiled dish prepared with seasonal vegetables cut along with onions, maroi, cloves, ginger, garlic and salt. These vegetables are boiled and then topped with Ngari and served hot. Soupy in nature, this dish is served with rice.

    Food in Manipur

    Eromba

    Eromba is a very popular dish, not only in Manipur but also in the other nearby states. The dish is prepared by boiling a lot vegetables along with dried fish. The smell it emits once the dish is ready is terrific. The dish once readied is garnished with coriander leaves and Maroi.

    Food in Manipur

    Kang-ngou or kaang-hou

    This is however a fried dish which is prepared by using various local herbs and spices.

    A-nganba

    Another of its traditional boiled dishes, A-nganba is a dish where the used vegetables are bit different from the regular items. The vegetables used here are French beans, pumpkin, carrots, peas, etc amongst others.

    Morok Metpa

    A very tasty and delicious chutney made with green and dried chilllis and then the coarse paste is boiled with Ngari and then mashed with salt.

    Food in Manipur

    Sana thongba

    A vegetarian dish prepared by the use of paneer in its ethnic Manipuri style.

    Singju

    Singju is a very delicious type of local salad where there is no vegetable one will not find. It consists of onions, cabbage leaves, ginger, coriander, lotus stems, sinju pan and many other seasonal vegetables which is finely mixed with Ngari.

    Mangal ooti

    A type of local popular Manipuri dish wherein the main components are yellow peas and ushoi.

    Paknam

    It is a type of fish cake.

    Nga-thongba

    Another fish curry prepared with the usage of local herbs and spices.

    Restaurants in Manipur

    Being a tourist spot, Imphal the capital of Manipur receives a lot of tourist all round the year. With the increase tourists one tends to explore its rich cultural heritage as well. Thus, with the passage of time a lot of restaurants and food joints have come up in Manipur thus giving the visitors a chance to taste the local ethnic food and relish it.

    Also Read: Food of Imphal | Five Best Restaurants in Manipur

    Food in Manipur


    Some of the restaurants in Manipur where one can taste its ethnicity are as follows:

    Blue Chilli
    Address:
    Kwakeithel Thokchom Leikai,
    Imphal,
    Manipur
    Phone No.: 098561 47207

    Naoba's Chakhumang
    Address:
    Rims Road,
    Next to Axis Bank ATM,
    RIMS Road, Thangmeiband,
    Imphal,
    Lamphel,
    Manipur 795004
    Phone No.: 0385 241 4827

    Fire Bowl Restaurant
    Address:
    Nongmeibung Road,
    Angom Colony,
    Imphal,
    Manipur 795005

    Classic Café
    Address:
    Inside The Classic Hotel,
    North A.O.C,
    Imphal 795001,
    India
    Phone No.: 3852443969

    Life Cafe
    Address:
    Rengkai Road,
    Churachandpur,
    India
    Phone No.: +91 8413-937285

    Flavour
    Address:
    Thangmeiband Road
    Opposite Dm College,
    Imphal,
    India

    Happy Belly
    Address:
    Thangmeiband
    DM College Road
    Near Abc Godown,
    Imphal 795004
    Phone No.: +91 98 56 482493

    Cafe Rita
    Address:
    The Classic Hotel,
    Imphal,
    India

    Michelle's Sweet Temptation
    Address:
    Moirangkhom,
    Yaiskul Main Road,
    Imphal 795001
    Phone No.: +91 9436021708

    People's Popular Canteen Number 4
    Address:
    Behind Polo Ground,
    BT Road,
    Imphal 795001

    Fresh Point
    Address:
    Chandel,
    Imphal 795135
    Phone No.: 08860559927

    Uptown Cafe
    Address:
    Keishampat Aheibam Leirak
    Opp: Cada Office,
    Imphal 795001
    Phone No.: 09774684811

    Thoibi Hotel Restaurant
    Address:
    B.T. Park,
    Imphal

    Cine View Restaurant
    Address:
    Churachandpur,
    Imphal

    RTC Route39
    Address:
    Mantripukhri,
    Imphal 795002
    Phone No.: +91 82 57 034522

    Elrey Restaurant
    Address:
    Churachandpur,
    Imphal

    Sauliim Restaurant
    Address:
    National Highway 150 B
    Churachandpur,
    Imphal

    Takuppi Thokchom Restaurant
    Address:
    Ngaikhong,
    Imphal

    Laughing Buddha
    Address:
    Sagolband Moirang Leirak,
    Imphal

    Nikheel Café
    Address:
    North AOC,
    Imphal,
    Manipur 795001

    A to Z
    Address:
    Kwakeithel,
    Imphal,
    Manipur 795001

    Rita Café
    Address:
    Classic Café,
    North A.O.C,
    Imphal, Manipur 795001
    Phone No.: +91-385-2443967

    Sumo's Hotel
    Address:
    Chingamakha,
    Singjamei,
    Imphal,
    Manipur

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