Feb29

Taco’s & Burritos

Posted on 29 February, 2012 by E.M.

Location: Durbar Marg, west side, just north of Annapurna Hotel
Establishment: Mexican Restaurant
Cost: 200-400Nrs for a meal and drink
Near by walking: all of Durbar Marg, Sherpa (10 minutes)
Info:
★★★★★★
01-4220937
Hours: ?
Tucked in to a hole-in-the-wall walkway on King’s Way (Durbar Marg) is the second place in town to bill itself as a Mexican Restaurant. Appropriately called “Taco’s & Burritos,” this snack-shack offers up on-the-spot-made mexi-snacks familiar to those who grace the doorways of Chipotle and Baja-Fresh in the You-Ess-of-Aay.
Finding the signage on Durbar Marg can be challenging as always, just look for the small white signage with “Tacos and Burritos”, duck in to the walkway, and then squeeze in to the 3 meter by 2 meter space. Order up! The two-sided laminated menu lists the regulars; I recommend the soft tacos and fresh guacamole and chips.
Seating is limited to soft diner stools and counter-top eating, so larger parties (10+) may not fit.
The best part about this place, aside from the excellent food, is the service. The owner is RIGHT THERE, making your food along side his cooks, and at least in these early days, is taking suggestions.
I hope this place isn’t open late, because it wouldn’t be too hard to stop in after a Thamel bender to satisfy a craving…

Posted from Kathmandu, Central Region, Nepal.

Feb17

Le Sherpa

Posted on 17 February, 2012 by E.M.

Le Sherpa

Location: Lazimpat, just south of Pani Pokari
Establishment: French Restaurant
Cost: 500-1000Nrs for decent meal
Near by walking: Bike Station, Bhumi (10 minutes), Saigon Pho
Info:
★★★★★★
Sporting a chef from Chez Caroline, Le Sherpa seems poised to dominate Maharajgunj and Lazimpat’s market for French cuisine. Though it has a quarter of the menu options Chez Caroline has, the price is just a tad lower, the restaurant probably not having to pay the kind of rents comparable to those in Babarmajal. If you’re hankering for a nice meal with a friend or the family, and are in the north side of town, look no further.

The dining area is split up into an awning-covered outside courtyard with fireplace, bordered on two sides by slightly more indoor seating options.
Parking is ample, the restroom is in Ramalaya Furniture shop next door.
The food is exquisite, and the chocolate mousse is decadent. Have the latter with a cappuccino or latte.

Posted from Kathmandu, Central Region, Nepal.

Feb15

Saigon Pho

Posted on 15 February, 2012 by E.M.

Saigon Pho

Location: Lazimpat
Establishment: Vietnamese Restaurant
Cost: 400 – 800 Nrs for a meal
Near by walking: Shangri-la Hotel, Bhumi, Asian Village, Le Sherpa
Info:
★★★★★★

The amazing folks from Upstairs Cafe have taken it up a notch. Looking for a location where they can benefit from nearby westerner-traveled hotels, they’ve opened an aptly-named sister restaurant further south from Upstairs Cafe, right across the street from Shangri-la hotel.

Parking is ample for several cars, though the turn-in is sharp, so get ready! The establishment fills out both stories of an old Nepali house, and even has balcony seating upstairs. The same friendly staff rotate between the two restaurants, and the Vietnamese woman has begun cooking here, while her sister mans the kitchen at Upstairs.

The menu is physically different, hardly the “picture menu” of old, professionally printed. The array of dishes is quite similar, and the same excellent style of preparation is present here in the portfolio of available dishes. The atmosphere is excellent, the staff attentive, and if you live or visit in this part of town, Saigon Pho is a must.

Posted from Kathmandu, Central Region, Nepal.

Feb8

Makos

Posted on 8 February, 2012 by E.M.

Makos

Location: Dwarika’s Hotel
Establishment: Japanese Restaurant
Cost: 1500 – 2000 Nrs for a decent meal and drink
Near by walking: Krishnapan (Dwarika’s), etc
Info:
★★★★★★Dwarika’s Hotel, it’s Krishnapan (traditional Newari), and it’s western-style continental restaurant are already highly successful and offer an amazing array of foods, so it’s hard to think why the establishment chose to open a Japanese restaurant, except so as to capture all possible traffic from its guests and well-to-do Kathmandu patrons.
Indeed, Makos (makes me think of shark fin soup, neh?) seems poised to snare the attention of any Japanese food connoisseur, offering standard fare with flair.

I ate a set course meal, so did not get to peruse the choices; from what I had, it seems the usual sushi/sashimi make an appearance along with Miso soup, tempura of various kinds, and stir fries as well.

Even a tempura fried ice cream is available, making me reminisce to an American, Mexican chain of old.

Makos isn’t as inexpensive as some other Japanese restaurants in town, but it certainly is one of the classier ones.

No free wifi per-se, and parking is limited to what you can get at Dwarika’s, but sophistication and style, and sheer convenience if you’re already staying there, are worth something.

Posted from Kathmandu, Central Region, Nepal.

Feb6

Strawberry House

Posted on 6 February, 2012 by E.M.

Strawberry House

Location: Lazimpat, south of Police Academy and north of Panipokari, diagonal road heading west
Establishment: Nepali / Japanese Restaurant and Strawberry delivery
Cost: 400+ Nrs for a meal
Near by walking: not much
Info:
★★★★★★

This is not a high class establishment by far, but it’s good for a bite to eat. The japanese set is authentic, and the food is all around decent. The atmosphere will make you think you’re a bit out of the city, nearly in a village.
Small parking lot can accommodate a few vehicles. The staff is friendly. Get their number and have strawberries delivered to your abode while they’re in season!

Posted from Kathmandu, Central Region, Nepal.

Third Culture Life

Living here…so you don't have to.

Taco’s & Burritos

Le Sherpa

Saigon Pho

Makos

Strawberry House