Food and Restaurants in Ooty

Shinkow’s is one of the oldest restaurants in this hill station but is also said to be one of the best restaurants in Ooty for Chinese food. This iconic restaurant which has been a favourite among locals and visitors continues to serve up its delicious, hearty Chinese food with a desi touch. What’s interesting is that here in Shinkow’s, everything that is used in the restaurant – soya sauce, vinegar and chilli sauce are prepared inhouse. Even the noodles that go in the Hakka fried noodles are prepared by hand and not store bought. Some of the best food in Ooty can be found here, namely chilli chicken in hot garlic sauce, chicken with almonds and chicken with pineapple. Chilli beef, chilli pork and sweet and sour pork are the stuff of legend here. 

For a cosy dining experience, head to Nahar’s Side Walk Café which is one of the restaurants in Ooty that serves Italian food. This charming eatery offers vegetarian fare and you can see quite a few locals and visitors coming here for their delicious wood-fired pizzas. It’s a wonderful place to relax and enjoy a quiet evening alone or with friends and despite being located on a busy street, it remains an oasis of calm inside.

This lovely restaurant is no secret though and it’s one of the popular restaurants in Ooty for various reasons. There’s a certain elegance and a throwback to colonialism here, which flavours its ambience largely. Whether you eat inside or in the glassed-in conservatory which looks out over the hotel’s green lawns, you will surely enjoy your meal in this bungalow turned hotel’s exclusive restaurant. The feeling of being in a vintage restaurant is compounded because of the quaint décor here but have no fear when it comes to the culinary scene. There’s continental, Mughlai and Chinese, the mainstays of most Indian restaurants and you can be sure to find some old favourites here. Some of the dishes you should try are Mee-Goreng Noodles, stir-friend Mongolian lamb and Vietnamese Spring Roll. Also, most people swear by the brownie here, as the best way to end the meal on a sweet note.

For a refined culinary experience where you can enjoy a rich meal in an elegant ambience, head to Fernhill Royale Palace hotel which houses the Curry and Rice restaurant. The ceilings and walls of this restaurant are ornate and delightfully decadent while the food is top-notch. The cuisine follows an Anglo-Indian bent but their chicken and prawn curries are quite famous too. They are also known for some of the royal recipes that come from the royal Wodeyar family of Mysore. A little expensive than other eateries, the food and the ambience is well worth the money spent though.

Tired of vegetarian food in Ooty? Head to Kabab Corner for some meaty delights and as the name of the eatery suggests, it’s mainly succulent kababs here. The ambience is certainly not fancy, but you won’t care about that once you’ve got your turn to order and you have your plate of kababs in front of you. The famous dishes to try here would be chicken tikka and seekh kabab.

For simple and non-fussy food, the fastest service can also be the best. If you’re looking to grab a quick bite that’s not too expensive but also filling, A2B is your best bet. A recognised brand name throughout South India, most people can walk in here, knowing that they will get value for their meal and will be served quickly. The only downside is that it tends to be crowded especially during lunch time as people come here for the thalis and meals on offer.

If you’re craving something to drink, head to Taj Savoy’s bar which has a rustic and colonial sort of décor. There’s a certain old-world charm about the place which makes it a great place to catch up with friends over drinks or to simply sip some wine. When it comes to food, they have an excellent selection of snacks and desserts.

If you are making plans to visit Ooty, then do head to the SOTC website for exciting offers and deals on Ooty holiday packages.