Manipuri cuisine is among the most distinctive in India — lighter and less spicy than most Indian food, with an emphasis on fresh vegetables, fermented ingredients, and locally caught fish. The fermented fish paste called ngari and the pungent fermented soybean paste eromba are the defining flavours of the kitchen.
Ema Keithel (Mothers' Market) is the best place to eat cheaply and authentically — the stalls around the market serve rice and fish curries at minimal prices. Classic Hotel near Paona Bazaar is a reliable choice for proper Manipuri meals including singju (a spicy salad), iromba (a mashed vegetable dish with ngari), and chamthong (vegetable stew). Hiyangthang Restaurant serves good thalis with multiple Manipuri side dishes. The Ima Market area comes alive in the evenings with street food stalls serving momos, pakoras, and local snacks.
Be adventurous — Manipuri food is genuinely unlike anything you will find elsewhere in India, and it is very good.