Pappi Da Dhaba

If you’re near the local bus stand in Sanjauli, you’ll find our dhaba pretty easily. Shimla is a hilly place, so there’s always people walking up and down, and a lot of them end up coming through our door. We’re right there in the middle of it all. The place is often full of commuters waiting for their next bus or workers taking a quick break. It gets a bit steamy inside when the weather is cold outside, which is most of the time up here. We serve simple, hearty food that fills you up. There’s no fancy menu, just the daily specials written on a board. We use big pots and heavy ladles, and the kitchen is right where everyone can see it. It’s a noisy place with the sound of buses outside and people shouting orders inside. We don’t have much in the way of décor, just some old calendars and posters. The benches are wooden and have been there for years. We like the bustle of Sanjauli and being near the transport hub. It means we meet all sorts of people from all over. We just keep the dal simmering and the rotis coming off the fire. It’s honest work and we’ve been doing it for as long as I can remember. The address is 171006 if you’re looking us up on a map, but we're hard to miss if you're in the area. We usually have the tea ready early if you’re catching the first bus out.