Gilgit is more than just breathtaking mountains and serene rivers — it’s a food lover’s paradise. From sizzling BBQ kebabs in the bustling bazaars to freshly caught trout served by the river, Gilgit’s dining scene blends traditional mountain flavors with modern culinary twists. In this guide, we’ve listed the 40 best restaurants in Gilgit where you can enjoy everything from authentic chapshoro and yak meat delicacies to continental coffee shops and rooftop cafés with panoramic views. Whether you’re a local looking for your next meal or a traveler exploring the Karakoram Highway, these restaurants promise a taste of Gilgit’s rich culture, hospitality, and unforgettable flavors.
| # | Restaurant Name | Menu Highlights | Famous For | Exact Location (landmark / street) | Price Range (PKR) | Key Ingredients & Cultural/ Historical Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mawaid | Chicken Malai Boti, Mixed Grill, Chapshoro | Charcoal-grilled kebabs & local-style platters | Ghazi Market, near FCNA, Jutial, Gilgit. | 600–1,800 | Chicken, local spices (red pepper, coriander), clarified butter; popular with locals for post-market meals. |
| 2 | Mama Chicken (MaMa Broast) | Broast chicken, Zinger burger, Fries | Crispy broast — city fast-food favorite | Snow Leopard Market (FCNA), Jutial, Gilgit. | 350–900 | Chicken (marinated, deep-fried), secret spice mix; family-friendly fast food. |
| 3 | Paradise Hotel & Restaurant | Mixed Pakistani platters, Trout karahi | Riverside views + Pakistani classics | Jutial / near Gilgit River | 700–2,500 | Mutton, trout, basmati rice, local ghee; used by tourists for combination of view + food. |
| 4 | Gilgit Hujra Restaurant | Biryanis, Kebabs, Local stews | Traditional hujra-style dining experience | Central Gilgit (near main bazaar) — large dining room with mountain views. | 500–1,800 | Mutton, local pulses, regional spices; hujra denotes traditional communal guest space. |
| 5 | Mezbaan Restaurant (Jaglot / Gilgit) | Pulao, Karahi, Grills | Highway stop for travelers on KKH | Karakoram Highway junction — Jaglot/Gilgit crossroad. | 500–1,800 | Mutton/beef, onions, tomatoes, local chilies; historically a traveler’s rest-stop cuisine. |
| 6 | Dawat Restaurant | Curries, Kebabs, Chinese fusion | Homestyle Pakistani & fusion dishes | Main Bazaar / Gilgit central area | 400–1,600 | Mutton, chicken, spices; family-style portions common. |
| 7 | The Food Corridor | Mixed menu: Pakistani, Chinese, Continental | Small food-hall concept with varied stalls | Near central Gilgit commercial area | 300–1,200 | Diverse ingredients (chicken, veggies, rice); designed for groups with varied tastes. |
| 8 | Gilgit Food Yard | Fast food, Wraps, Local snacks | Street-food hub for quick eats | Food-street area / central Gilgit | 150–700 | Wheat (chapati), minced meat, chutneys; represents Gilgit street-food culture. |
| 9 | Sahil Restaurant | Traditional karahi, Chapshoro, Tea | River-view dining and local karahi | Near Gilgit riverbank | 500–1,600 | Beef/mutton, tomatoes, local spices; noted for river outlook. |
| 10 | Dumani Inn (hotel restaurant) | Breakfast buffet, Grills, Local dishes | Hotel dining with regional specialties | Danyor / Gilgit area | 600–2,000 | Eggs, local dairy, mutton; caters to hotel guests and travellers. |
| 11 | Raja Mamtu Corner | Fried trout, Local snacks, Tea | Popular local snack corner | Central Gilgit / market-side | 150–700 | Trout (river fish), local herbs; trout has cultural importance in mountain diets. |
| 12 | Food Street Apixoq | Pizza, Kebabs, Noodles | Casual dining with variety | Market area / food-street cluster. ( | 300–1,200 | Wheat flours, meats, cheese; attracts younger crowd and travelers. |
| 13 | Gilgit Grand / Hotel Restaurant | Continental dishes, Local stews | Upscale hotel dining option | Near airport/central hotel strip | 900–3,000 | Beef, chicken, imported goods; used by business travellers. |
| 14 | Nanga Parbat View (hotel restaurant) | Local & continental, Tibetan-influenced items | Scenic-view dining (name used by several local eateries) | Gilgit region — hilltop/hotel restaurants. | 700–2,500 | Local vegetables, mutton, regional herbs; marketed for panoramic views. |
| 15 | Brusho Basa Hotel (BBH) — restaurant | Breakfast, Local home-style meals | Family-friendly hotel dining | Central Gilgit / guesthouse area. | 500–1,500 | Local dairy, eggs, pulses; small hotel with local menu. |
| 16 | Mezbaan E (local variants) | Pulao, Kebabs, Chapshoro | Regional hospitality + meat dishes | Main road / Hunza Road (Gilgit region). | 500–1,800 | Mutton, rice, regional spice blends; name “Mezbaan” implies host/feast tradition. |
| 17 | Henzal Bayak Shinwari | Shinwari-style grills, Naan | Pashtun/Shinwari grill flavors in Gilgit | Market/restaurant strip (Evendo). | 400–1,600 | Beef/mutton chunks, rock-salt, charcoal grills; Shinwari grills are historical trade cuisine. |
| 18 | Yak Cuisine / Yak Grill (regional) | Yak steak/burger (where available), Trout | Local mountain-meat specialties | Outskirts / KKH-linked eateries (some branches near Gilgit-Hunza route). | 700–2,200 | Yak meat (where served), local herbs; yak dishes tie to highland pastoral traditions. |
| 19 | Al Kausar Hotel & Restaurant | Pakistani mains, Breakfast | 24-hour hotel dining option | Jammu & Kashmir (street name area), Gilgit. | 400–1,600 | Chicken, mutton, eggs; convenient for travelers and long-haul drivers. |
| 20 | Bozlanj Café (branch listings) | Apricot cake, Coffee, Pastries | Local baked goods (apricot/walnut) | Café in Gilgit-Hunza circuit; café-style spot | 250–900 | Apricot, walnuts, local butter; reflects Hunza apricot baking tradition. |
| 21 | Glacier Breeze Café (regional/chain) | Apricot cake, Coffee, Light lunches | Famous for apricot cake (more in Gojal/Passu) | Often listed for Passu/Hunza — sometimes referenced by Gilgit guides. | 300–1,000 | Apricot, flour, local cream; cultural signifier of Hunza’s apricot industry. |
| 22 | Café de Hunza (noted in region) | Hunza muesli, Walnut cake, Tumoro tea | Traditional Hunza breakfast & cakes | Karimabad/Hunza (listed in regional guides; often visited from Gilgit). | 300–1,000 | Dried apricots, walnuts, local cream; represents Hunza diet heritage. |
| 23 | Pizza Pamir (regional) | Pizza, Pasta, Local variants | Roadside pizza popular with travelers | Main road eateries on KKH (listed regionally). | 350–1,200 | Wheat, cheese, local vegetables; adaptation to traveler tastes. |
| 24 | Highway Food Point | Fast snacks, Tea, Wraps | Stopover café on main highway (for onward travel) | Ghalapan / Mini Switzerland area (KKH). | 150–600 | Potatoes, bread, tea; aimed at highway travelers. |
| 25 | Paradise / Riverbank Cafés (cluster) | Trout, Tea, Kebabs | Cluster of cafés offering river views | Multiple riverbank locations near Gilgit riverfront. | 300–1,500 | Trout (local river fish), herbs, greens; local fishing culture reflected in menus. |
| 26 | Khunjerav / Khunjerab Café (regional) | Simple local meals, Tea | Travel-cafe style (on route to Khunjerab) | Along KKH corridors; used by travellers from Gilgit. | 200–900 | Local dairy, bread, vegetables; historically tied to caravan routes. |
| 27 | Rainbow / Local Guesthouse Restaurants | Home-style menus, Bread, Soups | Guesthouse hospitality & organic produce | Guesthouses in/around Gilgit & Nomal road. | 200–1,200 | Local produce, barley, apricot kernels; emphasizes home-cooked, seasonal fare. |
| 28 | Ruby Juice Point / Juice kiosks | Fresh apricot juice, Smoothies | Apricot juices and seasonal fruit drinks | Market kiosks and bazaars. | 50–300 | Apricots, sugar, local water; apricot juice is a regional specialty. |
| 29 | Hunza Food Pavilion (regional vendor) | Traditional Hunza breakfast, Chapshoro | Showcases traditional Hunza dishes | Karimabad/Hunza listings (accessed from Gilgit). | 200–900 | Apricot oil, local yogurt (pai), dried fruits; strong cultural heritage. |
| 30 | Khyber Ibex Restaurant (nearby region) | Mountain mutton, Kebabs | Local Ibex/ mountain-themed menu (name/branding) | Roadside / tourist route (listed across GB). | 600–2,200 | Mutton, local herbs; ties to mountainous pastoral diet. |
| 31 | Bozlanj / Small Cafés in Gilgit Bazaar | Local snacks, Tea, Pastries | Bazaar café culture | Gilgit Bazaar lanes (various small cafés). | 100–600 | Wheat, tea leaves, local dairy; typical bazaars’ quick eats. |
| 32 | Raja Trout Point (local outlet) | Fried trout, Trout karahi | Fresh river trout preparations | Near river markets / fish stalls in Gilgit. | 300–1,400 | Trout, local chilies, coriander; trout is a mountain staple. |
| 33 | Khawaja Hotel Restaurant | Pakistani mains, Breakfast | Hotel-style local dining | Central hotel strip / Gilgit hotels. | 400–1,600 | Eggs, mutton, tea; used by guests and motorists. |
| 34 | Local Mantu / Dumpling Stalls | Mantu, Momos, Chapshoro | Hand-made dumplings (local & Central Asian influence) | Street-food zones in Gilgit bazaar. | 100–500 | Flour, minced meat, onion; reflects cross-border culinary exchange. |
| 35 | Trout Karahi House (small restaurant) | Trout karahi, Trout pulao | Specializes in trout dishes | Market area near river. | 350–1,500 | Trout, tomatoes, garlic; fish-centric mountain cuisine. |
| 36 | Continental Café (mid-range) | Sandwiches, Coffee, Cakes | Western-style café in Gilgit | Near tourist guesthouse cluster. | 300–1,200 | Coffee, wheat, dairy; serves visiting tourists used to continental fare. |
| 37 | Local BBQ/Grill Stalls (evening) | Seekh kebab, Malai boti | Night-time grill culture | Various locations: Helicopter Chowk, Ghazi Market. | 150–900 | Minced meat, skewers, charcoal; part of local evening social life. |
| 38 | Himalayan & Karakoram Guesthouse Kitchens | Home-cooked set menus | Authentic regional meals for guests | Guesthouses across Gilgit & surrounding valleys. | 200–1,000 | Barley, local greens, apricot oil; hospitality emphasizes regional produce. |
| 39 | Local Bakery & Sweets (Gilgit Bazaar) | Walnut cake, Apricot pastries | Traditional baked goods (Hunza/Gilgit fusion) | Bazaar bakery lanes (market). | 80–600 | Walnuts, apricot paste, local honey; baked goods reflect Hunza heritage. |
| 40 | Small Hotels’ Roof-top Cafés | Tea, Light meals, Local desserts | Rooftop views + light dining | Various small hotels in Gilgit (Jutial, Danyor roof-top cafés). | 200–1,200 | Tea, local bread, yogurt; popular at sunset for views of the ranges. |
