It is safe to say that one you dine like a king here in Kathmandu. The range of restaurants in the city is quite staggering. Food ranges from you average Nepali dal bhat to a more sophisticated salmon steak.
Here are a list of restaurants you should visit to kick start your new year:
Breakfast
It is often believed that a good breakfast is an important part of a balanced diet. Those who take breakfast on time are less likely to be overweight and have reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.
That said, Kathmandu has only a few good breakfast places. There are a few here and there, but not all prepare food with hygiene and care that a good breakfast place needs. But crossing all the boxes is a 37-year-old establishment called the Pumpernickel Bakery, in the heart of the tourist hub Thamel.
The place serves the best bakery items and breakfast sets. Everything is prepared in the compounds of the bakery. The bread is fresh and soft along with the croissants which are probably the best in the country especially the chocolate ones.
Apart from breakfast, the place also has really good sandwiches and burgers which are both healthy and delicious. Their special is the yak cheese sandwich which has been severed since the day they started the place. Along with the organic salad with boiled eggs, it’s quite famous amongst the patrons.
Lunch
Opened by a French lady named Caroline, the restaurant has been running in Babar Mahar Revisited for the last two decades. Caroline believes she started this place here because she felt it is in a different world altogether. The complex is brilliant with its uniqueness when it comes to architecture and the way the space has been utilised. Set in an old Rana place, you do get a royal feel when you’re dining at Chez Caroline.
You could try their mango and duck salad which is quite unique or go for their meal of the day which changes every day. It’s mostly a juicy chicken dish served with rice. Not too spicy the place is perfect for an afternoon lunch.
Dinner
Mittraan Da Dhaba is a typical Punjabi restaurant which has been serving authentic Punjabi food to its patrons since 2016. Set in an alley near the Sajha petrol pump, the restaurant has a rustic feel to it. It doesn’t resemble a typical dhaba from the highways in India, but it does have the same feel to it.
The Gilauti Kebab is a must try dish at the restaurant. The dish had the perfect blend of spices and is full of flavours. The dal and chicken curries are just as good but the best thing thing about the restaurant is its range of mutton curries which are lip-smashingly good.
Indian:
The place even though has a range of food items like the mutton rogan and chicken jalfraezi the place it known for its biryanis. The biryani had a unique taste–not found in other restaurants in Nepal. The chicken is marinated and spiced to perfection and complements the rice which has a lot of flavours. The raita and sauce that comes with the dish complemented the dish well.
This classic Bombay restaurant located in Jawalakhel serves delicious and healthy Indian food. The owner to offer something new prepares the food using less oil and at times also uses olive oil. She forbids the use of any colours in her food and the lustrous colour in her menu is often a rich blend of organic flavours. Tasneem King’s Kitchen is perfect for the foodie, who loves spices and new tastes without being concerned about calorie counts. It is where you can enjoy authentic Indian food from the spiciest to the sweetest made from the healthiest ingredients.
Chinese
This Chinese restaurant has an extensive menu with most of its items being imported. The dry chicken chilly is quite nice and not like the ones you get in other restaurants. Their signature item twice cooked pork is juicy tender and spicy which is ideal for a the Nepali tastebud. Apart from this, the restaurant also has a wide range of seafood options which is well received by both Nepalis and tourists
Mechung is a family-run restaurant that opened its doors 40 years ago. The restaurant, which started as a momo and chowmein joint, has come a long way and now serves a range of Nepali, Tibetan and Chinese cuisine.
Their dry buff thukpa is amazingly good. It comes with minced buff and pok choy and a peanut topping. Their pork dishes are just as good. One such dish is the pork ribs with red chilly. The fried pork ribs are spicy and meaty and is a must try dish at Mechung.
