2 Best Restaurants in Nepal

This oddly named establishment, tucked away down a small side alley in central Thamel, is a popular Israeli-run vegetarian restaurant that serves an eclectic range of European and Middle Eastern dishes. Attracting the younger backpacking crowd, it is usually abuzz. There are no tables and chairs as such—remove your shoes and take a pew on one of the cushions on the floor. The falafels are a perennial favorite. A small stand at the front also sells takeaway snacks.

The influx of refugees who flooded into Nepal following the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1959 means that Tibetan cuisine is almost as common as Nepalese in some parts of Kathmandu. And you really should not leave the city without trying momos: Tibetan dumplings, served steamed or fried with a variety of fillings. Locals and foreign visitors alike swear by this small family-run place in the heart of Thamel, saying it serves the best momos in town. It is popular enough you will need to arrive early to ensire a table (reservations are not possible). The fried chili momos are much-praised here, along with the chicken version. For much of the evening the kitchen is a continuous momo production line—and it needs to be to cope with demand. Some Western dishes are also offered, but they pale in comparison to the main attraction.