Assam is a state located in the North-Eastern part of India and is a rich reservoir of local heritage. Being the habitat of different endemic fauna, Assam is also famous for its aromatic tea leaves and kaji nemu (a type of lemon known for its flavour). Guwahati, the gateway to North-Eastern India, depicts a part of Assam’s culture with its delicacies and lifestyle. A typical Assamese thali consists of steamed rice served with lemon, chilli and bamboo shoot pickle known as “khar”, accompanied by (mashed potatoes, lentils, fried veggies, a local green vegetable and sour fish curry.
Where to find delicious Assamese thali in Guwahati?
To know about an area’s food pattern is the best way to learn about their culture. Having said it right, let us know about the top 20 places in Guwahati to try out the authentic Assamese thali.
Michigan:
One of the best restaurants in Guwahati is known for different kinds of ethnic thalis. With a cosy ambience and delicious foods, it aces to the list of top 20s. They offer different types of thalis, from Assamese to Naga thalis starting from 150 INR. Pork with dry bamboo shoots and lotha style chicken are the best sellers.
Paradise:
It is a traditional Assamese restaurant serving since 1984 in Guwahati. The thali starts from 500 INR. It comprises of a welcome drink, steamed rice, Khar, dal, aloo pitika, vegetable fry, pigeon or duck curry, steamed fish wrapped in plantain leaves, masor Tenga, sides (kahudi, kharoli and khorisa), and a traditional Assamese dessert (includes thick cream, puffed rice, jaggery along with Assamese sweets). This thali is included in the list of bestsellers with many choices of side dishes.
Missing Kitchen:
Apart from their authentic Missing thalis, the restaurant also serves Assamese dishes. With a beautiful ambience and cordial hospitality, they serve delicious food whose quantity is more than enough for one person. The pork thali is one of the bestsellers. Their thalis start from 150 INR.
Khorikaa:
If you are looking for a casual, understated restaurant to try out the Assamese cuisine, this place is a must-visit. This place serves the authenticity of North East India. Their duck thali and chicken with coconut milk are auspicious. A delicious platter, along with heartwarming hospitality with a pleasing ambience, is all you need to spend quality time with your loved ones.
Uruka
Abiding by its name, this restaurant gives off the essence of North-Eastern India. Their buffet prices 490 INR and gives you various food options to try out, and makes you feel at home away from home. The staff dressed in the traditional Assamese garments helps you visualize the North-Eastern culture.
Gam’s Delicacy Restaurant
Gam’s Delicacy Restaurant is your go-to place if you want to try out an extensive array of North Eastern Indian dishes. Set in the blonde wooden backdrop, this restaurant has a beautiful ambience. The food is wholesome and delicious. They serve a wide range of accompaniments such as bamboo pickle, masoor dal bota (lentils paste) and olive pickles. Their veg thalis start from 190 INR.
Bhut Jolokia Restaurant:
This place serves affordable thalis, and it is a must-visit if you are an ardent lover of spicy foods. The restaurant is surrounded by the aroma of freshly cooked Assamese dishes. The portions of food are significant. The chicken with sesame seeds is a best seller giving you an exquisite tender and juicy chicken. However, if you visit the place, try to cash because the card option is unavailable.
Majulir Asanj
The restaurant’s name is derived from the famous riverine island located in Assam- Majuli. The thalis are delicious and wholesome, capable enough to satiate your taste buds. Poita bhaat (fermented rice) is a must-try. There is a scope of improvement in their services which is overwhelmed by the homely atmosphere.
Nagameez, Naga and Chinese Cuisine
Affordable and tasty; these two adjectives are self-explanatory for the restaurant. Portions are significant, and it is easy on the wallet. Chicken bamboo shoot curry is one of their bestsellers, and do not miss out on the pork fried rice, even if it is not a part of Assamese thali. The place is tiny, so you usually have to wait for a table. But if you are okay with the waiting part, then you can visit this place.
Maihang Ethnic Restaurant
With a beautiful Assamese aesthetic, it serves as a nice ambience. The food is delicious, waiters are cordial, and the hygiene is also maintained. The kheer of black rice is very creamy and a must-try, although the chicken khorikka needs some work. The food presentation is excellent, and this restaurant is a refuge for the people who need to escape from the city’s hustle.
Hotel Urshita
If you want to devour Assamese thali at a pocket-friendly price, Hotel Urshita is the best choice. Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis are available here, with a variety of meat and fish options available. The food is adequate in quantity and has many accompaniments. The veg thali starts at 100 INR.
Assamese Gorkha Kitchen
If you want to taste the traditional Gorkha dishes, this place is your go-to place. The Gorkhali Thali and Sel roti with til ka achaar are remarkable. The restaurant falls short in hygiene but comes with affordable prices.
Naga Bowl
Tasty ethnic foods at an affordable price and sufficient quantity- Naga Bowl is your sure shot in ethnic cuisines if you search for these criteria. There are significantly fewer options of Assamese thali, but the taste is excellent. Pork akhuni which is a Naga dish is a must-try.
Karen the Ahom Kitchen
This place is a food lover’s paradise. A wide range of traditional dishes from chicken to pork and other vegetarian meals are served in this restaurant. The taste of food will make you miss home. The prices are up to mark based on the quality and portions of food. If you visit this place, do not miss out on the Kareng style Duck kosha.
Alohi Restaurant
The term Alohi refers to guests in Assamese. And the restaurant justifies the name- homely environment, cordial hospitality, and good food at pocket-friendly prices. The restaurant is spacious, making it children friendly. The Assamese thali starts from 120 INR comprising steamed rice, yellow dal, black dal, veg Anja, Ritika, homemade pickle, dry sabji, Khar, behuwa and kheer.
Juha
The vegetarian thali here is a steal deal. The food dissipates a homely essence. The ambience is warm, making it a perfect place to spend quality time with your near and dear ones. The food is affordable, and the veg thali starts from 150 INR.
Bamboo Heights Multi-Cuisine Restaurant
Bamboo Heights is a North-Eastern cuisine restaurant with google ratings of 4.6/5 stars. This place specializes in Bamboo dishes which is an essential cooking ingredient in Assam. The food is authentic with a flavourful aroma and moderate spiciness. Pigeon curry is a must-try though, the thought of having pigeon meat must sound bizarre, but what’s wrong with giving a shot. The ambience is beautiful, keeping in mind the essence of bamboo forests in Assam. The pricing is moderate, and the hygiene is well maintained.
Tholgiri Store
This location is everything to learn about Assam’s rich culture. The place is decorated with musical instruments, ethnic garments, and ornaments to give out a sublime ambience. Apart from the Assamese thali, you can relish the sweetness of different pithas, Larus (sweets), and various coolers. The food is served in such an ethnic way that it will leave you reminiscing about your village. The pricing of the food is affordable, and the quality is also good. However, the restaurant is not much spacious.
Tai Singpho
One of the well-known ethnic restaurants of Guwahati, it has the best food in the town. The ambience is not extraordinary, but it is balanced with the courteous staff and delicious food. The thalis are tasty and fulfilling. If you are an ardent pork lover, then this place is a paradise for you. Tender pieces of pork are cooked with bamboo shoots, making this dish the perfect aggregation of herbs and spiciness. If you want to try something new, go for tupula bhaat with chicken or pork bamboo shoot.
Heritage Khorikaa
With a 4.1 out of 5, this place makes it to the list of top 20s. With the authentic Assamese and cordial hospitality of the workers there, you can’t get enough of this place. The Bamboo chicken shoot and pork with sesame seeds are worth trying. The restaurant usually remains busy during peak hours. But if you are planning to visit, try to book a table in advance. The food is budget-friendly too.
The Assamese platter or the thali refers to the taste of Assam. The simple aggregation of lentils, steamed rice, aloo pitika (mashed potatoes), and chicken with the boiled bamboo shoot is a heavenly meal for anyone. The entire platter shows the simplicity of the culture. The best part about Assamese culture is that they serve new sweets unknown to many world people. If you ever visit Guwahati, do try out the Assamese thalis from the places mentioned. The food will make you feel at home.
Article Proofread and Edited by Shreedatri Banerjee
