Nepal has a wide variety of ethnic cuisines. From Tibetan to Newari to Thakali, Nepal has it all. Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, has a dozen street vendors offering delicious food items. Here is a list of 20 street foods from Kathmandu you must try:
1 Laphing
If you love having a dish with lots of spices, then Laphing is a must have. It is a cold noodle dish made from flour starch or potato. Many restaurants serve it with chili sauce. Ingredients like onion, coriander, garlic, and vinegar enhance the flavour, and make it spicier. Since it is quick and easy to serve, you won’t have to wait long for it to arrive. It is a popular street food available in Kathmandu.
2 Bara
Bara is a traditional Newari snack which is considered to be healthy as compared to other fast foods. It is a spongy patty which looks like a pancake. It is made from yellow or black lentil. There are two versions: pan-fried Bara and deep-fried Bara. Though it is a vegetarian dish, you can combine it with eggs and meat.
3 Thukpa
When the day is cold, all you want is to have something fulfilling and warm. The answer to this should be a hot bowl of thukpa. It is a Tibetan noodle soup which has boiled noodles with broth as well as meat and vegetables. Addition of garam masala makes it spicy.
4 Sel Roti
Sel Roti is a sweet street food available in Kathmandu. It resembles a slim doughnut. The main ingredient is rice flour which makes it crunchy & crispy on the outside and tender & soft on the inside. Combine this dish with your morning milk tea, and kick start your day with energy.
5 Samosa
Samosa is not a new street food for us Indians. It is not much different from our version. It is a deep fried dish that has a filling of mashed potato, peas, onions, and other spices. It tastes best with a hot cup of tea leaving you with a sense of satisfaction.
6 Pani Puri
Pani Puri is the easiest street food available in the streets of Kathmandu. There are two elements to it- pani and puri. The water is heavily seasoned which makes it pani whereas the crisp, puffed deep fried bread is the puri. The puri is stuffed with potatoes, chili, and onion and then dipped into the pani before it is served. Beware as it can be very spicy.
7 Juju Dhau
Juju Dhau is a traditional Newari variety of yogurt. The name means “King of Yogurt.” It is sweet and has a thick custard – like consistency which melts within the first bite. Numerous dairy shops sell it in clay pots.
8 Chatamari
Chatamari is perfect for the time when you prefer having something light. It is paper thin Newari pancake which uses rice flour as its main ingredient. Many eateries in Kathmandu sell this food item. Other versions with different toppings are also available. The toppings consist of minced meat and eggs. Nepalese people often refer to it as Nepali Taco or Newari Pizza.
9 Sekuwa
If you love having barbequed meat, then going to a restaurant which serves Sekuwa is the best option. You can easily find one place where they have grills fired outside their door. You can easily get to know their distinct Nepali flavor because of all the spices used. You can choose from chicken or mutton sewara depending on your taste.
10 Momos
Momo is a popular street food. An average Nepali consumes around four plates per week. They are available in street, restaurants, hotels, and roadside carts. It is a steamed dumpling where meat is stuffed in flour. Varieties like pork, chicken, and veg momo are also available. They are served with other varieties of chutney. You can consume them steamed, fried, or in the soup.
11 Khajuri
Khajuri is a popular sweet available in Kathmandu. They are neither too sweet nor too oily in spite of being cooked in oil. They are made from wheat flour, ghee, and sugar. They can be found in all bakeries all the time.
12 Lassi
Lassi is a drink made from yogurt which is sweetened and chilled with ice. In spite of being originated in India, it is popular in Kathmandu. Lassi is topped with pistachio, raisins, and cashew nuts.
13 Dahi Puri
Puri, a small crunchy shell made from dough is found in almost every corner in the street. Dahi Puri is another popular dish loved by all. The puri is stuffed with chickpeas and potato mixture; then it is drizzled with dahi (yogurt), tamarind sauce, coriander, seasoned with chili and cumin powder.
14 Samosa Chaat
Samosa Chaat is a popular Indian snack found in Kathmandu. The samosa is broken into pieces, and it is then topped with tomato, onion, yellow peas, curd, and coriander. Spices like chili powder, himalayan salt, and cumin powder are added to enhance the taste.
15 Aloo Chop
Aloo Chop is a tasty chicken and potato croquette popular in Kathmandu. It is served with tamarind chutney. Both locals and tourists love this dish.
16 Choila
Choila is popular Newari street food in Kathmandu. It is a spicy grilled buffalo meal eaten with rice flakes, chiura, and choila which is spicy and hot. It is served with meats like chicken, mutton, or duck. It is mostly available at the local restaurants of Kathmandu.
17 Gundruk
Gundruk is a wildly popular Nepali street food. It is made by fermenting green vegetables. It is made into pickle known as gundruk ka achar. It tastes slightly salty and mushroomy and complements well with Nepali curries.
18 Yomari
Yomari is a special food that it has a festival called Yomari Punhi. This marks the end of the rice harvest and sweet yomari is eaten on this day. The fish-shaped dumplings are made from rice flour, and have a stuffing of coconut or sweet molasses.
19 Sandheko
Sandheko is a spicy Newari salad made with peanuts or potatoes and a lot of chilies. Other ingredients include onions, spices, and fresh coriander. It is a very popular snack.
20 Dal Bhat
Dal Bhat is a popular Nepali street food. The rice and lentil dish is a staple food of Nepal. In restaurants, this dish is accompanied with meat curries, pickles, salad, and curd.
