Kathmandu - eats

I've covered food that's mainly not traditional Nepali. Most of the retaurants do have a traditional set meal available. In all honesty if you're heading off trekking or rafting you'll get a traditional Dhal-Bhat somewhere on your adventure. By the time you get back to Kathmandu you'll probably fancy something a little more interesting . . .

Food is an adventure in itself in Kathmandu. Many places offer a wide variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner from almost every nation on Earth. Mostly people from around the globe have fallen in love with the Himalayas and the chef's amongst them have settled in Kathmandu!

Breakfast at Alices is good value and cheap. A quality and good value bakery style breakfast is available at the Pumpernickel and the coffee there is excellent.

The Northfield cafe, (an off shoot of Mike's Breakfast) has great breakfast where the quality and quantity is good. They have both cheap simple options and also regular breakfasts and burrito breakfasts that are huge. And if you like classical music with your breakfast - then this is the place to go!

Lunch is available throughout Thamel but if you're exploring the valley you may well snack on Samosas and Chappattis. A French fry stall has opened opposite the Vaishali hotel and is cheap, clean with good portions - it's called BK's and sells local snacks also - try the momos and samosas. If you want a lunchtime meal the Lhasa (Tibetan food) is very good value.

Most of the breakfast restaurants offer a lunchtime and evening menu.

On an evening the sky is the limit for choice and value. KC's is one of the old favourites as is the Everest steak house a short walk out of Thamel on Chetrapati.

At the top end by Thamel standards (but still great value) are The Yin - Yang (Thai) and The Third Eye (Indian) which are both excellent. The Yin Yang is by far the best restaurant in Thamel in my opinion.

La Dolce Vita (opp. Alices) is the best authentic Italian restaurant in Thamel it has good food and a relaxing atmosphere. It is also considerably cheaper than the Yin Yang and Third Eye.

Others well worth a mention for evening food are KC's, Roadhouse, New Orleans Bar, Helenas, The Old ViennaLe Bistro (under the San Miguel sign) and The Utse in Jyatha (towards Fire & Ice.)

For a lively bar (no food) try Tom & Jerry's who do great cocktails and free popcorn. A visit to Rum Doodles is also a must where food is served aswell as having an interesting collection of signed cardboard feet. If you are an Everest fan, all the sumiteers have socialised here and left their autographs.

My favourite place for an evening drink is Sam's Bar, at the top of Thamel you'll find this bar stocked with a range of people from some of the old Kathmandhu characters to local guides and agency staff. An open fire (!) on the terrace, great music and chilled out atmosphere, will mean you will probably come back here again and again.

A summary table of restaurants and eats is shown below

Restaurant/Bar	Breakfast	Starter	Snacks	Main	Beer	Comments
Authentic & Value
Yin Yang	n/a	150+	150+	180-250	140	The Best in Thamel, Authentic Thai food, imported delicious seafood continental menu also, great value for money
Roadhouse Cafe	n/a			170-275	110	Local ownership, delicious wood oven pizza, great ice cream, close second to Yin Yang
La Dolce Vita	70-155	85+	15-70	85-240	125	Authentic Italian food, central Thamel, cheaper options available
Third Eye	n/a	<200	<200	200-280	130	Indian food in central Thamel, great atmosphere in the back room
Old Vienna	n/a	80-200	80+	90-295	120	Austrian & German style food, locally made sausages, imported Pork
BAR
Rum Doodles	n/a	65+	65+	140-290	120	Old favourite of Thamel, great atmosphere, good food available
Tom & Jerry's					120	Great bar, central Thamel, free popcorn, good music & entertainment
The Jump Club					120	Great bar, the nearest you'll get to a night club in Thamel
Restaurant/Bar	Breakfast	Starter	Snacks	Main	Beer	Comments
General & Value
North Field Cafe						Outdoor setting, best breakfast in Thamel, busy with a good atmosphere, prices good
K.C.'s		80-100	80+	150-300	120	old favourite in Thamel, new garden area, plenty of choice
Lhasa				less than 70!	110	cheap Tibetan restaurant, central Thamel, great value & prices
Alices	70-130	70+	30-70	60-190	120	Roadside location 1st floor level, rooftop terrace also
Everest Steak House		75-100	60-140	140-225	130	Great value, huge portions, south of Thamel
B.K.'s				30-70!	100	Snack bar north Thamel, samosas, fries, chicken satay, great value for money
Tash Delek		30+	30+	35-115	100	Good quality food, cheap lunches and dinners if on a budget
Maya		60-190	60+	260-285	130	Popular bar now doing food, mainly mexican menu
Sunny Garden	50-80!	60+	55+	110-130	115	in south Thamel, value food and cheap!

To Summarise, the best breakfast by far is at the Northfield Cafe. They have a massive choice from big steak and burrito breakfasts through to simple curd and toast choices. The setting is in an outdoor garden, indoor seating is also available.

Top Evening Choice for Thamel, Kathmandu -



On an evening the choice was the Yin Yang Thai restaurant. This place has a truly amazing choice of authentic Thai and Continental cuisine. This is the most popular Thai restaurant in Kathmandu and booking is essential unless you arrive early.

The Thai food is prepared by a very talented Thai chef, who if you wish, will personally discuss your meal with you. Seafood, shelfish and meat are prepared in various green and red curry dishes - the chilli prawn soup is a must!
Other Thai dishes include chicken satay, chilli mushroom soup - the list goes on. There is also a large selection of continental dishes available



A close second, especially if you're a pizza fan, is The Roadhouse Cafe. The wood oven baked pizza's are as delicious as any in Kathmandu I'm sure. They have a good range of many other main courses from around the world and the prices are very reasonable. Ice cream is served all day and is a great way of cooling off mid afternoon.

As with the Pokhara section below, there are many, many more restaurants in Thamel and indeed in Kathmandu city. I've included places that have either been consistent over the years or places that were execeptional on the first visit.
If a place you've visited is worthy of mention, let me know and I'll credit you with the update on the page.

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