On my first day in Thamel, I was greeted by heavy rain which made it difficult to explore the food places. Hunger soon took over and with limited options nearby, I spotted a Pizza Hut. Craving something hearty, I found one unique item on the menu that I had not tried previously - “Chicken Tikka and Keema”. I ordered them and to my delight, they were as delicious as they looked in the pictures. Later, I revisited the same spot that time for snacks and treated myself to their pizza and indulgent choco lava cake.
My hotel stay included a buffet breakfast offering each day with a fixed menu for everyone. I often enjoyed a plate of bread with omelet, potatoes, chicken sausage and a comforting cup of coffee. On some mornings, I was pleasantly surprised to find Lucchi on the menu.
I was eager to try the Nepali version of biryani and many locals recommended a few popular spots for it. I decided to go to the Bismillah Halal Restaurant for that and order their chicken biryani. They cooked much drier than what I’m accustomed to in my hometown. While it was a different experience, it wasn’t bad overall and was definitely worth trying for its unique flavor.
I visited two Movenpick outlets to try their ice cream as this international food chain is one I’ve enjoyed in my own country as well.
One day, I decided to try the Turkish kebab dishes at Anatolia Halal Food and it turned out to be one of the best meals I had in Thamel. The dish included a serving of rice alongside a variety of chicken and mutton kebabs. Since beef is not commonly available in Nepal, it wasn’t included on the menu. But the meal was delicious and satisfying without it.
Another recommended spot I tried was “ALEV KEBAB SULTANATE.” At first glance, the exterior left me a bit unsure, it didn’t immediately look like a restaurant. However, curiosity led me inside and I decided to order a Turkish lunch. The dishes caught my eye after seeing their photos on the map and I wasn’t disappointed by the flavorful experience.
On my last morning in Thamel, I enjoyed a refreshing cold coffee paired with a chicken sandwich and crispy French fries at the Himalayan Java Coffee shop. A good way to end my journey in Kathmandu.
