Nagaland has been known across India for its vibrant tribal culture, heritage and the fiery Bhut jolokia chilli. Today, a growing number of Naga restaurants in Bengaluru are introducing diners to a cuisine that is more nuanced than its reputation suggests. In the bylanes of Kammanahalli and Kalyan Nagar, a cluster of these restaurants are serving dishes rooted in tradition and memories of home. Many are run by first-generation entrepreneurs who arrived in Bengaluru searching for work and eventually found themselves building spaces that connected the city’s North-Eastern community to familiar flavours. We visit a few of these Naga restaurants.Naga RelishAmong the earliest of these establishments is Naga Relish, which opened in 2023 and was among the first dedicated Naga restaurants in the Kammanahalli-Kalyan Nagar area. The restaurant was founded by Helis Achumi, who belongs to the Sumi tribe of Nagaland. The idea emerged from a simple problem: finding authentic North-Eastern food in Bengaluru was difficult. “There was a lack of Naga representation. That is why I wanted to do this,” she says. The menu remains rooted in Naga cooking traditions. All the ingredients are flown in from Nagaland every fortnight to ensure the produce is fresh, consistent and of course, authentic.
A taste of the hills: We find authentic Naga restaurants in Bengaluru’s Kammanahalli
We speak to the restauranters who have made Bengaluru their home and share a taste of home for the community
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