Gordon May, a tourist from Britain, loves authentic Indian food but at the same time he doesn't mind trying Israeli food as well.

'You just can't miss out on Indian food. It's spicy and tasty. I love Indian food. But when you are in Leh, you must try different cuisines and that is what I am doing. No harm in doing that,' May said.

One can also binge on authentic Kashmiri cuisine. This is one of the few places in India where you will get lamb kababs and rista (meat balls) on the roadside, paying Rs.15 for a skewer of lamb kebabs and Rs.30 for a rista.

'This food is not meant for everyone. Tourists and foreigners mostly avoid eating here thinking it is unhygienic. There are very few people who come and taste our food,' says Arif Khan, who sells seekh kebabs.

'We serve the poor and hence we are thronged mostly by labourers and taxi drivers,' he added.

But Mriganka Sarkar, a tourist enjoying rista, said: 'If you want to enjoy any place and its food, go to these roadside food joints. They will serve you the real thing cheap.'

Also, when in Leh, make sure you taste authentic yak cheese. You might not like its taste in the beginning, but it will surely grow on you.

(Shilpa Raina can be contacted at shilpa.r@ians.in)