Food · Kathmandu · Nepal
What to eat in Kathmandu
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Kathmandu, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Gerd Eichmann, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Momo, Dal bhat tarkari and Newari khaja set. Compare buff, chicken and vegetable momo, steamed, fried and in jhol soup, across old-city stalls and Thamel restaurants. Buff (water buffalo) is the usual red meat; beef is not eaten by most Nepalis.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Momo
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 7
- Tipping
- Many tourist restaurants add a 10% service charge, so extra tips are optional.
- Food experiences
- 4
11 foods to try
Street food
1.Momo
Nepal's favourite snack: steamed or fried dumplings filled with buffalo, chicken, pork or vegetables, served with a tomato-sesame achar. Jhol momo come in a spicy soup.
Where: Everywhere, from street stalls in Asan to Tibetan kitchens in Boudha and restaurants in Thamel.
Dish · Vegetarian
2.Dal bhat tarkari
The national meal of rice, lentil soup, vegetable curry, pickles and greens, often with meat curry; refills are customary, and many Nepalis eat it twice a day.
Where: Local bhojanalayas and Thakali restaurants across the city; Thakali-style sets are especially good.
Dish
3.Newari khaja set
A Newar feast platter built around chiura (beaten rice) with spiced buffalo choila, black soybeans, potato pickle, bara and boiled egg, traditionally eaten with rice wine.
Where: Newari restaurants in Patan, Kirtipur and Bhaktapur, and some in central Kathmandu.
Snack · Vegetarian
4.Bara (Wo)
A savoury lentil pancake, sometimes topped with egg or minced meat, fried on a flat pan. It is a staple of Newar festivals and snack shops.
Where: Newari snack shops in Patan and Bhaktapur and khaja houses in the old city.
Dish
5.Choila
Buffalo meat grilled over flame, then mixed with mustard oil, chilli, garlic and fenugreek; smoky, spicy and usually served with beaten rice.
Where: Newari restaurants and khaja ghar (snack houses) in Patan and the old city.
Dessert · Vegetarian
6.Yomari
A fig-shaped steamed rice-flour dumpling filled with molasses and sesame, made especially for the Yomari Punhi festival in December.
Where: Newari restaurants and sweet makers in Patan and Bhaktapur, most widely during winter.
Dish
7.Thukpa
Tibetan noodle soup with vegetables or meat in a ginger-garlic broth, ideal on cold winter evenings.
Where: Tibetan restaurants around Boudhanath and in Thamel.
Street food · Vegetarian
8.Laphing
Cold, slippery mung-bean noodles in a spicy chilli and garlic sauce, a Tibetan street snack popular with young Kathmandu residents.
Where: Small stalls and shops in the lanes around Boudhanath.
Dessert · Vegetarian
9.Juju dhau
Bhaktapur's 'king of curd', a sweet, thick buffalo-milk yoghurt set in clay bowls.
Where: Shops around Bhaktapur's squares; some Kathmandu sweet shops sell it too.
Bakery · Vegetarian
10.Sel roti
A sweet, ring-shaped rice-flour bread deep-fried until crisp outside and soft inside, made at home for Dashain and Tihar and sold at tea stalls.
Where: Tea stalls and sweet shops, especially in the festival season of October and November.
Drink · Vegetarian
11.Chiya
Sweet, milky tea boiled with spices, drunk throughout the day from small glasses at street-side tea shops.
Where: Any tea stall; locals gather at those around Asan and Indra Chowk.
Food experiences
Momo crawl
Compare buff, chicken and vegetable momo, steamed, fried and in jhol soup, across old-city stalls and Thamel restaurants.
Newari feast in Patan
Order a khaja set with choila, bara and beaten rice in a Patan Newari restaurant after visiting the Durbar Square.
Tibetan breakfast in Boudha
After the morning kora, sit down to Tibetan bread, thukpa and butter tea in a café overlooking the stupa.
Cooking class
Several Thamel-based schools teach momo folding and dal bhat in half-day classes, often with a market visit.
Quick bites and street food
- Momo — Everywhere, from street stalls in Asan to Tibetan kitchens in Boudha and restaurants in Thamel.
- Bara — Newari snack shops in Patan and Bhaktapur and khaja houses in the old city.
- Laphing — Small stalls and shops in the lanes around Boudhanath.
- Sel roti — Tea stalls and sweet shops, especially in the festival season of October and November.
Vegetarian options
Of the 11 foods in this guide, 7 are usually vegetarian: Dal bhat tarkari, Bara, Yomari, Laphing, Juju dhau, Sel roti and Chiya. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Buff (water buffalo) is the usual red meat; beef is not eaten by most Nepalis.
- Many tourist restaurants add a 10% service charge and 13% VAT to the menu price; check the bill.
- Dal bhat comes with free refills of rice, lentils and curry; say 'pugyo' when you have had enough.
- Drink only treated or bottled water and avoid ice of unknown origin.
- Restaurants close early by international standards; outside Thamel, many kitchens finish around 9pm.
Tipping
Many tourist restaurants add a 10% service charge, so extra tips are optional. Tipping trekking guides and porters at the end of a trek is expected, and a small tip for taxi drivers and hotel staff is appreciated.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Namaste | Hello / goodbye |
| Dhanyabad | Thank you |
| Kati ho? | How much is it? |
| Mitho chha | It's delicious |
| Pugyo | Enough |
| Tashi delek | Tibetan greeting, used in Boudha |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Kathmandu famous for?
Momo, Dal bhat tarkari, Newari khaja set and Bara. Nepal's favourite snack: steamed or fried dumplings filled with buffalo, chicken, pork or vegetables, served with a tomato-sesame achar.
+Is Kathmandu good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Dal bhat tarkari, Bara and Yomari.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Kathmandu?
Many tourist restaurants add a 10% service charge, so extra tips are optional. Tipping trekking guides and porters at the end of a trek is expected, and a small tip for taxi drivers and hotel staff is appreciated.