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Offered languages
- English
While most travellers get stuck in the 'dal bhaat ceiling', this evening food tour ventures to the backstreets of Thamel to find the flavours that define Kathmandu. Led by a foodie guide, it’s a 15+ tasting expedition that's stripped away the guesswork to secure access to the real kitchens where the city’s cuisine is hiding. Once you’ve tasted the secrets of Kathmandu valley, you’ll never look at a tourist menu the same way again.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Meet inside Universal De Bakery in the heart of Thamel, near to Durbar Square. It is walking distance to most hotels in the Thamel district.
Itinerary
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1Kathmandu
Kathmandu is the culinary crossroads where the salt-yak caravans of the high plateau met with the spice merchants of the Indian plains. Whether you’re fuelling before Everest, or you want more than the tea house menus, the true depth of Nepalese cuisine remains an enigma to most - and it's kitchens go far beyond dal bhaat rice and lentils.
1 hour • Admission ticket free -
2Thamel
Over generations, the Newari, Indian, Sherpa and Tibetan mountain tribes have forged a food culture like no other. We remove the guesswork and embark on a 15+ tasting crawl to the hole-in-the-wall eateries tucked within the backstreets of Thamel. Start at Indrachowk, a market labyrinth hiding a neighborhood kitchen that has survived for over two decades. Tear into a Newari khaja set - a textural riot of crunchy beaten rice and smoky roasted soybeans. It's served alongside rice-flour crepes topped with minced buff meat and a punch of herbs. Toast the expedition with chhyang; a milky rice wine that acts as the ultimate local aperitif.
1 hour • Admission ticket free -
3Thamel
Head to a women-led street food hotspot for chaku yomari rice dumplings oozing with dark, bittersweet molasses. Round out the Newari comfort food with bara tarkari pancakes dunked into an aalu tarkari curry. We’re only a few rounds into our food marathon, with more surprises to come. Duck into hidden alleys and courtyards of Asan bazaar for momo dumplings, the undisputed culinary anchor of Kathmandu’s street food. Slip behind a tailor’s shop to find a legendary stall for flaky samosas, and orange pretzel-shaped jalebi deep-fried in syrup. Pivot to litti chokha dough balls stuffed with roasted gram and charred over an open fire. Balance it with dahi puri crispy shells that explode in a cooling mess of yoghurt and tangy tamarind.
1 hour • Admission ticket free -
4Kathmandu
Hop on a bicycle rickshaw ride through honking horns and ancient temple bells. We pay tribute to Tibetan culinary influences, with slippery laphing noodles in a signature timur chili oil, paired with cured buffalo jerky stir-fried into a smoky delicacy. For those with a sweet tooth, try silky burfi milk fudge and laddu chickpeas desserts. Wash it down with a lassi that's dusted with nuts and saffron. Experience a side of Thamel that most visitors walk right past, led by a food-obsessed local guide. The tourist cafes won't stand a chance once you’ve found the secret kitchens where the locals eat.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- See 'What to Expect' section and 'What's Included' for info on dietary restrictions
- We recommend comfortable walking shoes. Bring rain gear/umbrella, if rain looks likely. There's lot of tastings to try, come hungry!
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Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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