Chotiwala - Rishikesh

This restaurant is well-known and has received awards over the years (while still remaining very affordable, like most things in India). My go-to dish, and the reason we keep coming back, is the soya tikka. After spending plenty of time in Rishikesh and trying out many different places, this restaurant is a top choice. It's clean, offers mostly good service, and serves delicious food.

Two adjacent stores have two live human mascots with painted face makeup. They offer simple, pure vegetarian Indian cuisine. The thali is decent, but there are better places to try out in Rishikesh.

This restaurant has become well-known over the years, resulting in slightly higher prices (though still very affordable, as is the norm in India). My go-to dish, the Soya Tikka, never fails to impress. Having visited Rishikesh multiple times, we have tried several dining spots, but this one has consistently stood out as a great choice. The restaurant is clean, offers mostly good service, and serves delicious food.

During a previous trip to Rishikesh, India, my husband and I visited an older restaurant and enjoyed dining on the patio under the stars. The food, however, was just average. We ordered paper dosas (crepes stuffed with spiced potato filling) and plain dosa (crepe only) which were served with sambar, a spicy watery stew for dipping, and naan that we enjoyed. The special mixed vegetable dish tasted odd and didn't sit well with us. The pakoras (deep fried vegetable fritters) were a bit oily and served in small portions. Unfortunately, samosas were only available during the day, not at night. We decided that we would try the other location next time.

We had a great time at this place with plenty of space. The seating is spacious and everything is beautifully decorated. The food is delicious and unique.