Day 11 - Food Tour (Kathmandu)

Okay, as I promised in the last blog, today was all food, all day.

I literally had only one thing planned today and that was a 3 hour food tour around the city this afternoon.

I’ve come a long way from those intensive jam packed days in Tibet a few days ago, that’s for sure.

This is the kind of traveling I like to do – taking it easy and not planning too much for one day.

So, what did I do before I had to head out in the afternoon?

Why, grab a late breakfast, or course!

The French Creperie

Amazingly, two of the restaurants on my gluten-friendly list here in Kathmandu both have the word “French” in their name.

I’ve gone to the French Bakery restaurant directly across the street from my hotel a few times but today I wanted to try out the other “French” place – the French Creperie.

This place is about a 10 minute walk away and a little harder to find since it’s tucked away down a couple alleyways.

Thank God for Google Maps, however, as it led me right to where I wanted to go.

Like the donair I had yesterday, it’s also been awhile since I’ve had a crepe.

This place offers galettes which are basically crepes made with gluten free buckwheat flour and I was excited to have one.

They offer a selection of both sweet and savory but I went with the classic – egg, cheese, and ham.

And, oh my God, it was amazing.

They even had fresh squeezed orange juice!

In total I paid only 700npr ($7) for the entire meal.

Let’s just say I’m 100% going back there tomorrow.

On the way home I spotted a shop selling hand embroidered t-shirts and a shirt with a “Tintin in Nepal” design lured me inside.

The shopkeeper showed me his sewing machine and told me he embroiders them by hand and they take about 3 hours to do.

So, out came 1500npr ($15) from my wallet and I walked away with my new favorite t-shirt.

By 11am I was back at my hostel and, with a few hours to kill before my food tour started, I spent time whipping up yesterday’s blog and catching up on the latest Survivor episode.

Kathmandu Food Tour

Unlike the free tours I usually take where you tip at the end, this one was booked online for a $26 fee ahead of time.

At 1:45 I met up with our guide Deepak and 7 other fellow foodies and off we went.

Our group consisted of myself, a couple from northern Italy, another couple from the Netherlands, a guy from the UK, a woman from Lithuania, and another woman from the good ol USA.

I’ve had a list of Nepali dishes I wanted to try and today I got to knock most of them off that list.

Most of the food we tried today was naturally gluten free but Deepak went out of his way to make sure that I could also somehow try the dishes that weren’t.

Okay, ready for a bunch of photos?

I should also note that the descriptions of the dishes were so kindly supplied to us after the tour by Deepak.

Here are the dishes we tried:

Egg Chatamari

This thin and crispy rice-flour crepe is topped with a perfectly set egg and seasoned with traditional herbs. It offers a rich, savory, and protein-packed bite that is a staple of Newari cuisine.

Nepali Masala Milk Tea

The heartbeat of local hospitality. This fragrant, soul-warming staple is slow-brewed with a special blend of CTC tea and local spices—cardamom, ginger, and cloves—combined with creamy milk for the perfect Himalayan pick-me-up.

Chaku Yomari

A celebratory steamed rice dumpling shaped like a fig. It features a molten heart of chaku (dark molasses) and roasted sesame seeds, providing a deep, earthy sweetness that traditionally defines the winter harvest festival.

Plain Bara

A golden, savory lentil patty that is light and fluffy on the inside with a signature satisfying outer crunch. This traditional Newari comfort snack is protein-rich, simple, and incredibly addictive.

Mix Thukpa (Buffalo, Egg & Vegetables)

The ultimate Himalayan comfort bowl. This robust noodle soup features savory buffalo meat, seasonal vegetables, and a rich egg in a warming, spiced broth that is both hearty and soul-satisfying. Mine was served without noodles to make it gluten free

Panipuri

An iconic street food experience. These crispy, hollow dough balls are filled with a spiced potato and chickpea mash, then dunked in tangy, herb-infused “fire water” for an instant, mouth-watering flavor explosion.

Since I couldn’t have the dough balls, I was given a sample of the filling to try instead. Oh my God, it was spicy!

A plate of 8 panipuri sells for only 60npr (60cents) and we were told that she sells 2000 panipuri each day.

Sugarcane Juice with Lemon

Nature’s own energy drink. Freshly pressed for a raw, deep sweetness and brightened with a sharp, zesty citrus kick, it is the ideal way to refresh your palate after a spicy snack.

I’ve had sugarcane juice before while I was on a similar food tour in Vietnam. A small cup sells for only 60npr (60cents) and a large cup for 120npr ($1.20).

Momos, Paneers, and Mustang Aalo

Momos are the undisputed king of Nepali snacks. Hand-wrapped dumplings filled with succulent, spiced minced chicken and steamed to juicy perfection. Best enjoyed with a side of spicy tomato achar. Sadly, I couldn’t have these but not to worry because I had plans for later.

Paneer is the perfect textural harmony. Stuffed with spiced paneer and aromatics, these are pan-fried on one side to a golden crisp while the rest remains tender and steamed. A smoky, savory delight. These I also couldn’t have.

Mustang Aalo are a spicy, mountain-style treat. These potatoes, sourced from the high-altitude Mustang region, are sautéed with aromatic herbs, Himalayan salt, and local chili for a bold, earthy heat.

Nepali Sweet Lassi

A velvet-smooth, cooling classic. Thick, creamy yogurt is whisked to perfection with a touch of sweetness and topped with a sprinkle of nuts—the ultimate soothing finish to your culinary journey. This was hands-down the best thing I had on the tour.