Good to know
Good to Know
- Thamel and Paknajol are the best neighborhoods for affordable restaurants; both are adjacent and easily walkable
- Many restaurants add 10% service charge and 13% VAT (23% total) to bills; always ask if these are included before ordering
- Kathmandu's food reflects Tibetan, Chinese, and Indian influences; cow meat is not served due to Hindu beliefs
- Food is predominantly vegetarian due to Hindu and Buddhist practices, making the city excellent for vegan and vegetarian travelers
- Local customs: avoid alcohol in certain sacred areas; dine on the ground floor when invited to local homes as a sign of respect
- Momo shops are ubiquitous—expect to find one within walking distance in any neighborhood
- Street food is generally safe from established vendors with high turnover, but use judgment and observe hygiene practices
- Traditional dal bhat is one of the cheapest meals (often under $3) and fuels most local daily nutrition
Supermarkets
Shop Right Supermarket
- Neighborhood
- Thamel
- Notes
- Popular tourist supermarket with bakery and terrace seating
Thamel Supermarket
- Neighborhood
- Thamel
- Notes
- Mini departmental store in central Thamel
Bhat-Bhateni
- Neighborhood
- Bhat-Bhateni area, accessible from central districts
- Notes
- Offers full range of products including fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy, and frozen meat
Big Mart
- Neighborhood
- Multiple locations including Kamalpokhari
- Notes
- Chain supermarket with fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy, and frozen meat
Budget
Newa Momo
- Price Range
- NPR 300
- Neighborhood
- Kawabahal/Kaldhara Marg
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Momos, dal bhat, curries
Third Eye Restaurant
- Price Range
- NPR 400
- Neighborhood
- Thamel
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Nepali and Indian food
Thakali Restaurant
- Price Range
- NPR 350
- Neighborhood
- Thamel
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Dal bhat, Thakali khana (rice, lentils, vegetables)
High End
Soaltee Crowne Plaza - Garden Terrace
- Price Range
- NPR 2,500
- Neighborhood
- Central Kathmandu
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Fine dining, International cuisine
Bao-Xuan at Soaltee Crowne Plaza
- Price Range
- NPR 2,200
- Neighborhood
- Central Kathmandu
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Chinese fine dining
Mid Range
OR2K
- Price Range
- NPR 1,010
- Neighborhood
- Thamel/Sagarmatha Bazar
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Middle Eastern, vegetarian (hummus, falafel, tahini)
Rosemary Kitchen & Coffee Shop
- Price Range
- NPR 800
- Neighborhood
- Thamel Marg
- Cuisine Or Dish
- International, Nepali (rosemary chicken, Thai curry, salads, lamb)
Lavie Garden
- Price Range
- NPR 700
- Neighborhood
- Boudha
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Nepali, Indian, European cuisine
Forest and Plate
- Price Range
- NPR 750
- Neighborhood
- Thamel
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Salads, pasta, vegetarian options
Delivery Services
Foodmandu
- Notes
- Nepal's first and leading food delivery service; delivers from 1000+ restaurants across Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur; also offers fresh groceries via OneMart; operates 11 am to 8:30 pm
Pathao Food
- Notes
- Ride-hailing app expanded to food delivery; connected to 1000+ restaurants; operates 9 am to 9 pm; offers discount and combo offers
Bhoj Deals
- Notes
- Food delivery with special focus on deals and discounts; serves 150+ restaurants in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur areas; includes takeaway service
Foodmario
- Notes
- Unique platform connecting users with home chefs; delivers homemade meals; flexible ordering available throughout the day
WL Food
- Notes
- 24-hour multi-vendor food delivery company; operates 365 days; user-friendly app with Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp ordering options
Bhok Lagyo
- Notes
- Late-night food delivery service; operates 4 pm to 4 am; serves momos, pizza, fried rice, curries
Local Must Try Dishes
Momo
- Description
- Steamed or fried dumplings filled with meat or vegetables, the most beloved snack in Kathmandu
Dal Bhat
- Description
- Rice and lentils with spicy curry, vegetables, pickles and condiments; considered a holy dish and staple of Nepali cuisine
Thukpa
- Description
- Hearty noodle soup with vegetables and meat (usually chicken or buffalo), of Tibetan origin; warming and popular near Boudhanath Stupa
Newari Cuisine
- Description
- Bold, spicy traditional dishes including Chatamari (Newari pizza - rice flour crepe with savory toppings), Samay Baji (beaten rice with spiced meats and pickles), Bara (lentil pancake), and Yomari (steamed dumpling with jaggery filling)
Sel Roti
- Description
- Deep-fried rice flour ring, crispy outside and soft inside, often enjoyed with tea
Pani Puri
- Description
- Hollow fried dough shells filled with potato, chickpeas, and spices; widely available street food especially on Shital Phedi road near Durbar Square
Juju Dhau
- Description
- Fried dough pieces served with spicy sauce; popular sweet snack particularly in Bhaktapur
Vegan Vegetarian Dining
- Overview
- Kathmandu has a strong vegetarian and vegan dining scene. Traditional dal bhat is widely available and typically vegan. Many restaurants offer vegetarian-specific sections or fully vegetarian establishments. The city caters well to vegan diets with dedicated venues and vegan-friendly options across most restaurant categories.
Venues
OR2K
- Cuisine
- Middle Eastern vegetarian
- Neighborhood
- Thamel
- Notes
- Three-floor restaurant with floor seating on cushions; features hummus, falafel, tahini, and other vegetarian Middle Eastern dishes; popular with travelers
Places Restaurant & Bar
- Cuisine
- Mixed vegetarian/vegan (Nepalese, Italian, Mexican, Middle Eastern, Asian fusion)
- Neighborhood
- Saath Ghumti Marga, Thamel
- Notes
- Vegetarian restaurant offering vegan dishes; cozy floor seating on cushions and pillows available; open 9 am to 11 pm
Forest and Plate
- Cuisine
- Organic vegetarian (salads, bowls, smoothies, plant-based options)
- Neighborhood
- Thamel
- Notes
- Organic cafe with smoothies, herbal teas, coffee, smoothie bowls, cold pressed juices, mushroom burgers, and sourdough; many gluten-free options available
Vegetarian Happiness
- Cuisine
- Vegetarian/vegan Nepali
- Neighborhood
- Boudha Road, Boudha
- Notes
- Vegetarian restaurant offering vegan dishes with views of Boudhanath Stupa; open 8 am to 9 pm daily
Avatar (Nourish by Avata)
- Cuisine
- Vegan Nepali and international
- Neighborhood
- Thamel and Baluwatar
- Notes
- Vegan restaurant serving Nepalese and international cuisines including seitan and mushroom kebabs, chilli momo, vegetable pizza, pakora, vegan burger
Annakoot Veg-Vegan Cuisine
- Cuisine
- Vegetarian/vegan (Jain and Vaishnav dishes)
- Neighborhood
- Paknajol
- Notes
- Specializes in dishes free from onion and garlic while maintaining authentic flavor; uses fresh, locally sourced ingredients; free WiFi available
Halal Dining
- Note
- Specific halal-certified restaurants not documented; most vegetarian options and general dining suitable for vegetarian Muslim travelers
Kosher Dining
- Note
- Kosher-certified dining establishments not documented for Kathmandu
Gluten Free Dining
- Overview
- Gluten-free options available at select establishments, particularly organic cafes and vegan-focused restaurants. Forest and Plate and other health-conscious venues advertise gluten-free options. However, cross-contamination risk exists in most traditional Nepali kitchens due to shared cooking facilities.
Michelin Restaurants
- Note
- Kathmandu is not a Michelin-starred city; Michelin guide does not currently rate restaurants in Nepal
International Cuisine
Kathmandu's restaurant scene offers diverse international options including Italian pizza, Mexican food, Chinese, and continental cuisine, particularly concentrated in Thamel and mid-range establishments. Many restaurants serve both traditional Nepali and international dishes on the same menu.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed September 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this food & dining research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
- 1.thelongestwayhome.com
- 2.mountainroutes.com
- 3.magicalnepal.com
- 4.sotc.in
- 5.willflyforfood.net
- 6.ammoniteadventure.com
- 7.nepalguidetrekking.com
- 8.gstreksnepal.com
- 9.boudhamandalahotel.com
- 10.travelsetu.com
- 11.db.happycow.net
- 12.happycow.net
- 13.northabroad.com
- 14.wanderlog.com
- 15.wanderlog.com
- 16.footprintadventure.com
- 17.veganfoodquest.com
- 18.foursquare.com
- 19.tripadvisor.com
- 20.en.wikipedia.org
- 21.imnepal.com
- 22.nepalitelecom.com
- 23.english.onlinekhabar.com
- 24.english.ratopati.com
- 25.exploreallaboutnepal.com
More About Kathmandu
Data last updated September 2026 · Verify anything important.