Hunza food is a beautiful reflection of the valley’s culture, climate, and centuries-old traditions. Shaped by the rugged mountains and fertile terraces, the cuisine is simple yet deeply flavorful, relying on pure, local ingredients like apricot oil, whole wheat, yak meat, and sun-dried fruits. Dishes such as chap shoro, dawdo soup, and butter-filled girde bread are not just meals—they’re pieces of history passed down through generations. Sweet treats like walnut cake and apricot jam offer a taste of Hunza’s orchards, while herbal teas brewed from wild thyme and mint warm you against the crisp mountain air. Eating in Hunza isn’t just about satisfying hunger—it’s about experiencing the generosity, resilience, and warmth of its people in every bite.
| Restaurant Name | Menu Highlights | Famous Specialties | Exact Location | Price Range of Dishes (PKR) | Key Ingredients Used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Café de Hunza | Breakfasts, coffee, pancakes, local desserts | Walnut Cake (akhrot cake) | Karimabad Bazaar (main road, near Baltit side) | 400–1,800 | Walnuts, mountain honey, wheat flour, dairy |
| Hunza Food Pavilion (Laal Shehzadi) | Chapshuro/Chamshoro, Daudo soup, Hunza breads | Chapshuro (meat-filled flatbread) | Near Baltit Fort, Karimabad | 350–1,200 | Whole-wheat, yak/beef, onions, local herbs |
| Pizza Pamir (Karimabad) | Stone-baked pizzas, “Hunza” pasta | Pamir Special, Yak Pizza | Baltit Fort Rd, near Fort Chowk, Karimabad | 700–2,300 | Apricot oil, mountain herbs, wheat flour, dairy |
| Pizza Pamir (Aliabad) | Pizzas, fast-casual mains | Pamir Special | Aliabad Bazaar | 700–2,300 | Same as above |
| Pizza Pamir (Hussaini) | Pizzas with local toppings | Herb Pizza | Hussaini Village (near KKH) | 700–2,300 | Same as above |
| Pizza Pamir (Attabad Lake) | Pizzas, snacks with lake view | Pamir Special | Attabad Lake promenade | 700–2,300 | Same as above |
| Dawat-e-Hunza | BBQ, Hunza breads, soups | Giye (Hunza whole-grain bread), grilled meats | Karimabad, near bazaar | 500–1,800 | Whole grains, seeds/nuts, beef/chicken |
| Hidden Paradise Hunza | Balti/Hunzai dishes, broths | Yak Karahi, Yak Steak (Supra) | Main Karimabad Bazaar | 600–2,800 | Yak meat, local grains, qurut (dried cheese) |
| Kha Basi Café (Altit) | Women-run café; Dowdo, chapshuro | Dowdo (wheat-noodle soup), Almond chapati | Altit Fort Gardens | 500–1,800 | Whole-wheat, almonds, garden herbs |
| Glacier Breeze Café & Restaurant | Cakes, tea/coffee, light meals | Apricot Cake | Passu (on moraine above village; view of Passu Cones) | 400–1,200 | Dried apricot, walnuts, wheat flour |
| Eagle’s Nest (Restaurant) | Traditional + Pakistani + Chinese, breakfast with views | “Eagle’s Nest Special”, Hunza specials | Duikar (Eagle’s Nest viewpoint) | 800–3,500 | Local grains, fruit preserves, yak/beef |
| Rusty Café (Horizon Resort) | Karahi, BBQ, soups, cakes, teas | Yak Karahi; Walnut/Apricot Cake | Horizon Resort, Attabad Lake | 700–3,000 | Yak/chicken, walnuts, apricots, tumuro (thyme) |
| Khunjerav Café | Pakistani/Chinese; winter yak dishes | Yak Nihari, Yak Karahi | Sost (upper Hunza/Gojal) | 600–2,200 | Yak meat, chilies, wheat |
| Khunjerab Hotel & Restaurant | Comfy Pakistani/Chinese staples | Mixed Karahi, soups | Sost town (near KKH) | 700–2,200 | Beef/chicken, wheat, local veg |
| Café de Baltit | Coffee, light bites, chapshuro | Specialty coffees with valley views | Baltit/Karimabad (near Baltit Fort road) | 400–1,500 | Coffee, wheat, dairy, local honey |
| Hunza Darbar (Rooftop Restaurant) | Multi-cuisine; local breakfast spreads | Parathas with apricot jam | Zero Point, Karimabad | 500–2,200 | Wheat, apricot preserves, dairy |
| Café Culture Hunza | Hunzai snacks & dumplings | Rose dumplings, Almond chapati | Altit/near Karimabad (short drive) | 500–1,800 | Almonds, rose, poppy seeds, wheat |
| Hunza Lounge (in-house dining) | Home-style Pakistani & local items | Seasonal soups, chapshuro | Baltit/Karimabad | 500–1,800 | Wheat, seasonal veg, herbs |
| Women’s Development Café (Baltit area) | Simple local plates, tea | Chapshuro, local breads | Approach to Baltit Fort | 300–1,200 | Whole-wheat, local greens, qurut |
| Karimabad BBQ & Karahi spots (bazaar kiosks) | Fresh BBQ skewers, karahi | Seekh kebab, chicken karahi | Karimabad Bazaar cluster | 400–1,500 | Beef/chicken, tomatoes, chilies |
| Aliabad Local Dhabas (cluster) | Chai, paratha, chholay | Breakfast paratha sets | Aliabad main bazaar | 200–600 | Wheat flour, chickpeas, tea |
| Ganish Village Tea House (heritage area) | Tea, snacks, simple soups | Tumuro tea | Ganish heritage settlement | 200–600 | Tumuro, wheat, dairy |
| Gulmit Local Kitchens (family cafés) | Hand-made noodles, soups | Dowdo, mamtu (momo) | Gulmit (Gojal) | 400–1,200 | Wheat noodles, yak/beef, greens |
| Attabad Lakeside Snack Bars (row) | Fries, burgers, chai; a few Hunza items | Walnut cake slices, tumuro tea | Attabad boat area | 300–900 | Potatoes, wheat buns, walnuts, tea |
