About this experience
Join our Kathmandu lunchtime food tour to understand how mountain dishes have been deliciously refined in the backstreet kitchens of the city. Long ago, Tibetans trekked over the Himalayas, carrying their prayers and survival recipes to this corner of the Kathmandu Valley. This is a 15+ tasting food expedition showcasing the cuisine of the Sherpas, Newaris, and the Tibetan diaspora. Some of the most interesting cuisine in Kathmandu lives in humble hole-in-the-wall eateries that have been quietly serving the local crowd for generations. Come hungry.
At a glance
- Duration: 4 hr
Plan your experience
Set aside 4 hr for the experience itself, with additional time to reach your meeting or pickup point.
Before you go
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- We recommend comfortable walking shoes. Bring rain gear/umbrella, if rain looks likely. There's lot of tastings to try, come hungry!
What is included
- Movable feast with 7-8 stops around the streets of old Kathmandu and Boudha
- Led by professional foodie guides
- 15+ food tastings included, more than any other Kathmandu food tour
- Max 8 exclusive guests, smallest group size in Kathmandu
Not included
- Alcoholic drinks excluded
- Pick up and drop off from hotel excluded. Easy-to-find meeting point for all guests.
- Vegetarians have 2-3 less tastings due to limited alternatives
- Unsuitable for severe allergies, halal & celiac disease, due to risk of traces & cross-contamination
Itinerary and highlights
We’re heading to ground zero for Himalayan food in the shadow of the great white dome of Boudhanath Stupa. Whether you’re fueling up for the ascent to Everest or recovering from the thin air of the Solukhumbu, this is where mountain cuisine comes to the city.
At this neighbourhood’s heart is a living mandala of Tibetan refugees, high-altitude Sherpas, and indigenous Newaris. It pays to know the ropes in a place this thick with culinary history.
Tuck into fuel down in the Kathmandu valley floor: rikikur potato pancakes griddled to a golden crust, tender water buffalo chunks tossed with green chillies and onions, and a steaming cup of creamy yak-buttery su cha tea - the traditional remedy to warm the lips amid crisp winds from higher passes.
Hand-pulled laphing noodles come slicked in a signature timur chilli oil that defines modern street food for Kathmanduites. Next, a decades-old eatery for the heavyweight champions: steamed buff and chicken momos, and later try aalu tarkari potato curry paired with silky rilduk dumpling soup. With 15+ tastings in all, this trek led by a food-obsessed guide still has higher peaks of flavour left to summit.
We’ve included entry tickets to the spectacular UNESCO masterpiece of Buddha Stupa. Walk clockwise to Kora through the hum of prayer wheels, alongside a flutter of colour with prayer flags and the red-robed monks, all under the unblinking gaze of the Eye of Wisdom, watching over for more than 1500 years.
A women’s community-led kitchen serves up chatamari crispy rice-flour crepes, followed by a dish for the adventurous - sapu mhichā bone marrow tucked inside leaf tripe. Balance the richness with bhatmas sadheko toasted soybeans, tossed with ginger.
Head to a local dairy favorite, sampling juju dhau, the "King’s Curd," a thick, custard-like yogurt set in traditional clay pots. Your final ritual is a steaming cup of masala chiya tea brewed with fresh ginger, cardamom, and a black pepper heat.
Most visitors never scratch the surface of Himalayan food, but trust us - you’d be one momo short of a steamer basket not to join your daily culinary marathon. This is the ultimate crash course in the local flavours at the 'Roof of the World.'
Meeting and pickup information
- We'll meet at the Sherpa Inn and Karaoke Box cafe in the fascinating Boudha district. Hop in a taxi across town and your guide will be waiting inside.
Languages and tickets
- English — Guide
- Mobile Only
Tour operator
- A Chef's Tour
Accessibility and practical details
- 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!
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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