Uncharted Thoughts.

I am not sponsored by any of the restaurants featured in this post.

Nepal isn’t known for its cuisine, unlike Italy, India or France, there is not a huge emphasis on Nepalese food. Perhaps for good reason you may be thinking, well. No. Nepalese food was surprisingly good. I don’t mean to insult anyone who lives in Nepal by saying that it isn’t in my top five cuisines of all time. I don’t think their food compares to Greek, Italian, French, Spanish or Portuguese foods, but then again they are competing with some of the greatest.

But, as I said, Nepalese good was surprisingly good. Unfortunately I can no recall every meal I indulged in on this trip. However, I plan on updating this section of the post when I revisit Nepal next year.

Uncharted Thoughts has supplied you with the perfect restaurants in Kathmandu for both when you are ready to explore new local cuisine and, when you want a taste of home:

• The Third Eye (Thamel)
• The Roadhouse Cafe (Thamel)
• Bhojan griha (Close to Thamel)
• UP Street Food Cafe (Near Airport)
• Kathmandu Streets (Everywhere)

The Third EYe

The renowned Third Eye Restaurant in Thamel is without doubt one of the greatest restaurants in Kathmandu. Opened since 1989, this restaurant has a ambience that incapsulates the Nepalese charm. With bright light open spaces, and dark warm cosy private eating spaces, it reminds us of both the mountainous regions of light and wind, and the ancient modesty of the temples.

There are multiple areas to eat, there is the main dinning area, the popular garden, the sitting area (a sort of lounge) and of course the rooftop view. Each produce a particular element of luxury and essence that is Nepalese.

And although the design of the restaurant is filled with love and beauty, with traditional windows, lanterns and ornaments. It is the food that drives people to the ‘Third Eye Restaurant’.

They say that the food is “Unique flavours of Indian, Continental & Nepalese cuisine” but I believe it is food from the heavens. From Chicken Tikka, Mutton Boti Kabab, Special Raan and Gosht Shahi Korma to Chicken Stroganoff, Pepper Steaks and of course the Nepalese special Baal Bhat. Each dish perfectly cooked, each dish has fresh ingrediency and perfectly presented.

Whether you are looking for traditional foods, or maybe a little come comfort. The ‘Third Eye’ has it all, at a great location, with great food and at a reasonable price.

Mouth watering soups raging from 350r (£3), delicious spicy curries at 735r (£4.14) and steaks at 1400r (£8). Although it is a little more expensive than some restaurants, a rewarding evening here will not break the bank. If you are looking for drinks, perhaps there are other bars that can provide cheaper alternatives, but at the ‘Third Eye’ cocktails, shots, and domesticated beers are all available.

https://www.thirdeye.com.np/

The Road house Cafe

While it is all well and good trying out new foods from distant lands and washing it down with a brew that tastes like the mountain waters of Nepal. Every now and then, every traveller must go back to their roots. When I finished the Annapurna Base Camp Trek, all I wanted to do was eat pizza, and drink beer. That is exactly why we went to the Roadhouse Cafe.

A taste of Italy, in Kathmandu. Here, the signature woodfire pizzas are plentiful and fresh. The drinks are served ice cold and both are handled with passion. Roadhouse is a chain of cafe/restaurants and the site in Kathmandu, was the first ever. So you know this is their baby.

Being on the cheap side of travel, I got a beautifully cooked margarita, with chips and a cocktail for under £10. But, if you have a budget to pig out and really get stuck into that reward meal, then the sky is your limit.

With outdoor seating, friendly smiley staff and a vast selection of everyone’s favourites, Roadhouse is without doubt the place to eat after a hard trek in the world greatest mountain range.

See menu below.

bhojan griha

The building in which bhojan griha is located is 150 years old and has a history like no other. The architecture is traditional Nepalese, the waiters and waitresses dress in traditional Nepalese attire, guests are encouraged to sit in the traditional Nepalese style. The food there is locally sources and organic.

While there are many greats in the cuisine of Nepalese style foods. None, top the Dal Bhat. Dal meaning Lentil Soup and Bhat meaning boiled rice. Dal Bhat is the most consumed meal throughout Nepal. Not only because it is cheap, but it is tasty and often unlimited.

Here at Bhojan griha. Dal Bhat is not unlimited, but, it is often considered one of the best in Kathmandu, and therefore one of the best in the world.

This isn’t any old plastic chair, sloppy beer and tourist fuel up before the next elevation. No, this is Bhojan griha. A experience like no other. Dancers will entertain you as you fest of multiple course meals. Traditional music will echo through this once Royal hall.

https://www.bhojangriha.com.np/index.php

UP Street Food Cafe

Enough with the fancy stuff, when you travel like us at Uncharted Thoughts, you don’t have time, money and the patience for lavish lifestyles. What you do have is 900r (£5) and a bus to catch in 20 minuets to Pokarah. A eight hour drive with no breaks.

When I first landed in Nepal, I was chased down by a taxi driver and he convinced me that HE was the cheapest taxi in town. I said ok, lets go, but I need food, good food. I hate airplane food. So he took me to ‘UP Street Food Cafe’.

I arrived, and was ready for some food that I was probably going to regret eating in 5 hours time. But I was pleasantly surprised. For under £5, I managed to eat Nine Momos, some crunchy ‘supersized spring roll and a drink.

It is unremarkable to look at, but the taste was outstanding and it filled a gap of a eight hour flight like nothing I have ever had before. So much so I gave a Momo or two to the driver after he charged me almost double the correct fare. But, that’s what happens in airports, after that taxi I was charged the normal standard charge and never had another issue.

The Streets of Kathmandu

The food in Kathmandu is vastly underrated, it is a cultural pot of Indian, Tibetan, Chinese and Nepalese, with some western foods out there for fussy eaters. At Uncharted Thoughts we are dedicated to getting travellers to best experiences possible, while on a budget.

Nepal isn’t America, it isn’t England. Food here is cheap, tasty and grounded in the fast pace environment of the busy city. I ate out every single night, in places that looked like the sitting room of someone’s home, or some cut off restaurant that can be filled with four large westerners and a small Nepalese chef. Each place I ate, I ate with people who love their country, love their food and are welcoming beyond belief.

I was never ill, I was never cautious about what I ate, and I never turned anything down. So, while my list is filled with fantastic places to eat, some of which you must not miss out on, I implore you to leave the hostel, walk five minuets up or down the road and find something that looks cheap and cheerful. It’s even better if the locals are sat in there.