The Best Walking Food Tour of Kathmandu, Nepal

Following the Himalayan Travel Mart press trip, a number of us went on a walking culinary tour of Kathmandu. If you read the blog often, you’ll know that I adore walking food tours and have done so in Morocco, Hong Kong, and Istanbul.

Stephen and Nadja of A Backpackers Tale, Steph from Every Steph, Raphael from Journey Wonders, and last but not least- our patient and experienced local guide Bhisma, who probably had no clue what he was getting himself into when he agreed to lead a tour for a group of bloggers.

We met in a central location, which was ideal because it would be the only time throughout the trip when I knew precisely where I was. My favorite part of this trip is that, save from one stop for a lassi drink, we would never have found any of the venues on our own.

Each station was located along a tiny, twisting lane. In pursuit of the greatest local cuisine, we followed our guide through tortuous alleyways, dipped under half-walls, and traversed secret courtyards.

Our first stop demonstrated this well. We discovered a group of local ladies hard at work along a maze-like lane and up a dark set of tiny steps.

They huddled around pans and enormous flat top cooking surfaces, masterfully searing and flipping what seemed to be pancakes.

We all sat and watched as they worked, dishing out plates based on first-come, first-served. And what we got was certainly worth the wait. This cuisine is called bara, and it consists of spicy lentil patties. These came with potatoes, and I, of course, drenched mine in a spicy sauce.

We were offered yomari, a Nepalese dessert, at the same establishment.Yomari is a steamed dumpling with two distinct fillings. The first half included sweetened milk (khuwa), while the second half contained concentrated sugar cane.

To be honest, this was the only dish on the trip that I didn’t like, but that’s probably because I’m not a big fan of sweets. I would have liked a second helping of the spicy lentil dish!

Back down the steps, through the crowded streets, and into another alley, our next destination was one I knew I’d like. If you follow me on social media, you already know Ive been filling my face with momos since the aircraft landed.

Momos are a savory variation on steamed dumplings. Though they originated in Tibet, they are now a staple cuisine in Nepal. Momos come in a variety of fillings, including chicken, cheese and potato, and pork. I even discovered Bolognese momos, which were disappointing. At all.

I knew I’d like the momos on this trip since I’d eaten them so many times before: buffalo momos. It may seem strange, but since the majority of Nepalese are Hindu, buffalo is the most popular meat, even more so than chicken.

And, as predicted, they were fantastic. Dumplings in a spicy sauce that are bite-sized and packed with minced meat.

We followed our guide once again, this time slipping through a narrow doorway and emerged into a courtyard full of people milling about eating or waiting in line. I figured any establishment this crowded with people and with a wait in the middle of the day had to be fantastic.

Sauce with a sweet taste.The vendors served a variety of foods, but we came for what may have been the biggest samosas I’d ever tasted. Samosas are deep-fried pastry-like dough packed with a delicious filling. These were served hot and fresh from the fryer, packed with potatoes, peas, onions, and cilantro (coriander), and topped with a little spicy sauce.

The samosas were amazing, especially the filling. I could have used a little less sauce (again, because to my sweet craving), but it was still delicious. The filling was flavorful and satisfying. Two of them might constitute a full dinner.

Also, I’m not sure whether you saw the bowls that came with the momos and samosas, but they’re all-natural, 100% biodegradable bowls that seemed to be made of leaves. I was pleased to see how environmentally conscious they were.

Our following visit featured the tour’s most intriguing food. Dahi Puri is a delicacy of mashed potatoes stuffed with flour and topped with chutney, yogurt, and red chili powder.

You’re supposed to consume each one in one mouthful. These were delicious, particularly with the yogurt on top.

We passed local areas of interest and temples as the excursion progressed. Our tour guide excitedly discussed the history of each location and highlighted its significance. I’ve always appreciated learning about a place’s history while sampling local cuisine.

We then went to get lassi, a drink I’m acquainted with. If you’ve never tasted lassi, it’s a yogurt-based drink that’s been combined with water and spices. To be honest, I’m not generally a fan of lassi, but I really liked this one.

What made this lassi so unique that I enjoyed it? It had dried fruits and nuts on top. I would drink a lassi every day with what amounted to trail mix in it!

Our guide also informed us that this version incorporates Nepali butter, which, although less healthier, explains why I preferred it over other varieties.

We stopped for flavored drinks as we finished the trip. The seller provided a plethora of various flavorings for soda water. Orange, lemon, ginger, medicinal plants, herbs, and so forth.

I went for a traditional lemon soda. It was extremely effervescent and refreshing after some of the heavier foods.

No trip to Nepal would be complete without a drink of tea at the end. It was a terrific chance to discuss the trip, argue our favorite foods, and learn more about Nepali culture in general.

This excursion is highly recommended if you are visiting Kathmandu. It’s a terrific chance to sample some of the greatest local delicacies from vendors that are recognized for having excellent standards while also learning about the city and its inhabitants.

Practical Information: Our guide made certain that we only visited well-known locations with good standards of cleanliness. Eating street food in any underdeveloped nation may be risky, but none of us had any stomach distress or other problems as a result of our excursion.

Disclaimer: I’d like to thank Backstreet Academy for asking me to join them on this trip as their guest. Although the trip was provided at no cost, all thoughts remain my mine, as they always have.

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Which dish looked best to you? Would you consider a walking food tour of Kathmandu during your time in Nepal? Let me know in the comments section below!