There are many pubs, cafes and restaurants in the Jhamsikhel area and choosing one to go for a meal has become increasingly hard. But one restaurant that does stand out amongst them all is GG (Go Green) Machaan.
Established in 2011, this restaurant that serves Asian fusion food was one of the first few restaurants in the area to kickstart a revolution in Jhamsikhel that has seen the rise in the number of eateries.
As the name, the place is built on stilts surrounded by trees a reason why it reminds you of the tree houses you can see in Chitwan. And sound of the birds gives a feeling that you’re away close to nature away from the hustle and bustle. As you soak in the atmosphere, the manager Raman comes to greet you and recommends some of their signature dishes.
For starters, you can go for the lemon grass chicken and it will be a correct call. The dish is very well made with the lemongrass stem complimenting the chicken which is smoky, savoury, and just a touch sweet thanks to the sweet chill sauce. The tender chicken breasts are marinated and seasoned and then are skewered with a lemongrass steam and grilled.
Then you can try another item being added soon, the Asian lettuce wrap. The wrap looks visually appealing and tastes even better than it looks. The dish has chicken breast cooked in oyster sauce with shiitake mushrooms and bamboo shoots. Along with chicken dish, it has cucumber salad, bean sprout and glass noodles cooked in Thai curry sauce and tamarind and soy ginger sauce.
The dish is pretty unique and is like tacos. The chicken filling is full of different flavours as the bamboo shoot and the shiitake compliments the chicken. The tamarind and soy ginger sauce gives out unique flavours of their own.
To end the day, you can try the famous jhol momo from GG Machaan. If you have heard a lot of their momo, it would have been quite disappointing if you hadn’t tried them. The momo filing is like any good momo, but the soup that is quite brilliant. It is not spicy per say, but it has enough to tangle ones taste buds. A dish one shouldn’t miss out on when visiting this place.
While you will be indulging in your meal, the bartender may ask you to try one of their signature cocktail – The Lord of the Drinks. As the name, the drink is not for the faint hearted or those who can’t handle their liquor. The drink has all strong spirits that humans have made – whiskey, brandy, rum, vodka, gin, Cointreau, lemon juice, grenadine syrup and topped off with sprite. It is quite strong and is ideal if you’re motive is to get drunk or else you can lay off it.
The ambience of the place is what makes it stand out amongst other restaurants in the area. Unlike many restaurants which are based on an old resident, this one has been made from scratch to make it look like a restaurant.
You also get all type of food here. From Indian curries to Thai fusion, you’re covered when you visit GG Machaan. There is seating in the ground floor as well as one of the top which is neat and cosy – perfect both for formal meetings or hang out with friends as the place can cater up to 200 people.
The place also does live BBQ every evening which is another upside to the place along with using all organic products to cater the needs of their patrons. The walls in the restaurant are full of paintings from local painters as the open space also acts a gallery with the paintings on exhibition changing every month.
The place is more than a restaurant: it is a quiet haven for people who love to spend time in a cosy paradise eating some really good food and spending time with their loved ones. The music, the ambience and the food all combine to make your time at GG Machaan a memorable one.
Location: Jhamsikhel
Opening hours: 12 noon to 10 pm
Phone: 01- 555429
