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Luma Restaurant, in Boudha, Kathmandu, is one of the first Asian fusion restaurants in Nepal. Run by Pranaya Limbu, the restaurant is located at the Boudha complex and offers a breathtaking view of the surroundings as well as delicious food to enjoy with it. The setup is cozy and comfortable, and you can choose to sit indoors as well if you are so inclined. 

The B.O.B Bao is the restaurant’s most popular food item. It’s a basket filled with six baos in pork, oyster mushroom, katsu, oyster buff, shiitake, and black bean tofu. The presentation is spot-on. The colorful arrangement is a visual treat. The fluffy steamed white buns look lovely.  The buns taste a little bit like biting into a cloud. We must say each bao was a surprise package of deliciousness. But our personal favorites were pork, shiitake, and oyster buff. 

The buns come in a variety of textures—from perfectly cooked pork with a crispy exterior to tender chicken with a crunchy coating. Vegetarians have the option to savor the earthy goodness of shiitake mushrooms with its umami-rich flavor. The subtle seasoning and rich savory base make it clear that the ingredients used are of good quality, justifying the price. 

We tried their famous Hot and Sour Noodle dish, in the buff option. It was served in a huge sleek black bowl. The broth had an amazingly tangy flavor, and a bit of chili pepper kick with just a hint of citrus. We enjoyed the Pressed Chicken Fried Rice as well. It came with a garnish of spring onions and the crispy texture perfectly complemented the fluffy rice. Adding a dash of chili sauce brought out even more flavor. It was well cooked and not overly greasy as fried rice often tends to be. 

The Chilli Garlic Prawns arrived in a stunning blue porcelain plate, adorned with generous portions of prawns, fresh lemon slices, and garnished with coriander. The presentation was enough to whet our appetites. The prawns were incredibly fresh and juicy and the chili coating was even. It didn’t overwhelm us with its spiciness. 

The restaurant has a rooftop bar and coffee counter as well. They’ve got a wide selection of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, including some Asian beverage options like Tepache and Kombucha. Their mocktails are really good too. We tried the Pineapple Ginger Beer which is made with fresh pineapple and non-alcoholic beer.

Luma restaurant is a good place to hang out with friends and family. The food is delicious and you’ll want to keep coming back for more. And it’s affordable. Parking is a no-fuss. You can park at the Kimchi Korean restaurant’s parking lot a stone’s throw away from the restaurant.

Their specials: 

B.O.B Bao

Pressed Chicken Fried Rice

Chilli Garlic Prawns

Hot and Sour Noodle

Location: Boudhanath Road, Boudha Complex Rooftop, Kathmandu

Meal for two: Rs 2,000 

Opening hours: 11:00 am – 10:30 pm 

Contact: 9813059827

Online Payment: Accepted

Parking: Available​​​​​​​

I love breakfast. The idea of it makes me happy. A Pinterest-worthy elaborate spread of toast, muffins, eggs, sausages, bacon, pan-fried potatoes, tea (for my husband), and coffee (for me) is what I aspire for on the rare occasions when our schedules allow us to indulge in a breakfast or brunch session. I don’t enjoy cooking very much but putting together breakfast is something I’m more than capable of. It doesn’t seem like too much effort. And I love how different textures and tastes come together for a satisfying meal.

Chikusa in Thamel, Kathmandu, used to be our go-to brunch spot. Then we moved and Thamel is so out of the way that we rarely ever go there. Now we occasionally try out new restaurants, in hopes of finding a place that serves a nice breakfast. We haven’t been lucky. I thought it would change when we decided to go to Mr. Breakfast in Jhamsikhel, Lalitpur, on Christmas this year. I had heard quite a bit about it from my colleagues. Though the reviews were mixed, I was looking forward to it.

The place looks nice and has different kinds of seating arrangements that are visible right from the road. There’s even a cute balcony with a wrought iron table and two chairs. We thought we would sit there but it was a bit cramped and the chairs weren’t very comfortable either. We chose to sit on the bigger veranda space that had rattan furniture.

The server came quickly with the menus, which we appreciated because we were famished. A glance at it made us believe we were in for a treat. There was quite a range of options, from all the usual breakfast items to grilled chicken and other heavier meals. We took our time to decide as everything sounded really good.

We settled on a breakfast set and pancakes to start with. The set had eggs benedict, croissant, sautéed mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, potatoes, sausages, bacon, baked beans, a bowl of lettuce with dressing drizzled on top, and a bowl of fruits dipped in yogurt. It came with a choice of tea or coffee. They even let us select one from the available teas on the menu. My husband chose the tulsi tea instead of the regular milk tea. I ordered a cappuccino.

Good things first: The cappuccino came within minutes. It was what you would expect while ordering a cappuccino. They didn’t make a fuss about changing the tea that came with the breakfast set to one that’s available à la carte. And they did it at no additional cost. The server was nice, refilling our glasses of water without us even having to ask. The food was on the table within 20 minutes or so. It was plated nicely and looked delicious.

There’s nothing that can go wrong with set breakfasts. Toast is toast, unless you burn it but nobody will serve you charred bread. Fried sausages and bacon are always sinfully delightful. Grilled tomatoes taste the same everywhere. The eggs benedict, on the other hand, can be a game-changer. I was looking forward to digging into some lusciousness. But the bread was stale and the whole thing felt off. I pointed this out to the server who said they don’t bake their own bread. I didn’t know what to say to such a silly excuse. He told me he would get me a feedback form and he didn’t.

I’m a sucker for pancakes. I could have them for dinner. So, I ate my share without any complaints. There were two pieces on one plate. My husband thought it was a bit too doughy and stuck to the roof of your mouth.

We ordered grilled chicken with mashed potatoes since the breakfast wasn’t very filling. This we enjoyed. The mashed potatoes were creamy and the chicken was juicy and tender. The vegetables on the side had just the right amount of crisp. We should have just skipped breakfast and gone straight for the mains instead.

Our verdict was that Mr Breakfast wasn’t trying hard enough to stand out. It’s serving the same kind of items at similar prices. It has to work on its menu to give its customers a reason to go back. It has a lot of potential as it’s located in a nice area and the stakeholders seem to have put in a lot of thought in decorating the space to make it feel calm and relaxing.

We came across Feels in Jhamsikhel, Lalitpur, right before Tihar when we were looking for a place to have brunch on the Saturday right before Laxmi puja. We had a great time. The restaurant was stunning. The food was great. We ended up staying for five hours, chatting and sipping on all kinds of hot beverages. Turns out, they had only had a soft launch back then. According to their Instagram page, they formally opened their doors a few days before Christmas.

 Feels is a restaurant we highly recommend. It’s aesthetic. The food is delicious. You really can’t go wrong with ordering anything on the menu. You could close your eyes, place your finger anywhere on the menu, and order that item and you wouldn’t regret it. We had the breakfast platter, chicken meatballs, tortilla wrap, and peri peri fries.

 The best thing about them all, apart from the fact that we couldn’t find anything to complain about in terms of taste, was just how beautifully they were plated. The dishes used were heavy ceramic pieces in pastel shades that made the food stand out even more. Wooden trays were used for the platters. The fries came in paper cones in mental holders, atop a plate. The orange juice came in champagne flutes. We pretended they were mimosas. 

The prices are reasonable, given the portion sizes. Three of us ordered almost two drinks each (non-alcoholic) and four food items and the total bill was still a little less than Rs 5000. We also didn’t feel bad about parting with the money because we had enjoyed our time there.

There are plenty of seating options at Feels. We haven’t been there since the official launch but going by some friends’ posts on Instagram and Facebook, there have been quite a few upgrades and additions. And all of it looks quite lovely.

There’s a post on Feel’s official Instagram page where the founder talks about wanting to open a place that wasn’t just a restaurant, but a space where you could relax and have a good time without feeling obliged to keep ordering. Five different sections of the restaurant include a brunch area, study area, bar, boho-themed section, and a 90s space.

The brunch area has hues of blue and gray. The study area doubles as a co-working space. The bar is interestingly done, and there are some mean cocktails on the menu. The boho-themed area has plants and white macramé décor whereas the 90s space has interesting knickknacks sourced from the founder’s family and friends. We had fun looking at tape recorders and one of those chunky phones where you have to spin the wheel to dial a number. It was all very nostalgic.

 All in all, Feels stood out as a spectacular restaurant. We loved it. We will definitely be going back and we urge you to give it a try as well. You won’t regret it.

Aayush Tamrakar, a co-owner of T’s Your Palate, started the business with three of his cousins. They decided to name the restaurant after the shared initial of their last name—T for Tuladhar and Tamrakar. The burger joint is located in Thamel, Kathmandu, and it has been providing patrons with a delightful food experience. Their slogan—‘Good Food, Good People and Good Moments’—is their motto and they are trying their best to fulfill it. 

The menu at T’s Your Palate is a burger lover’s dream as it has so many options. The names are enticing, making you want to order everything you come across. We opted for the Jaw Dropper and Hook-a-Chuck as they are crowd favorites.

The Hook-a-Chuck Chicken Burger is amazing. It’s a flavor burst. You’ve got this crispy soft bun, loaded with fresh lettuce, onions, and tomatoes, covered in melted cheese and zesty sauce. The smoky and juicy grilled chicken elevates the taste. We appreciate how they offered crispy nacho chips with salsa dip on the side. They also nailed the presentation on this one. 

The Jaw Dropper burger makes your jaw drop. The mix of caramelized onion, sizzling buff meat, crispy bacon, and cheese was a flavor masterpiece. The T’s team has nailed the art of blending flavors.

“We play around with the ingredients and ask customers for their feedback. If something becomes a hit, we add it to our menu,” says Tamrakar.  You won’t be let down by the taste or the portion size at this burger spot as everything is super fresh and they don’t use frozen meat items. Each burger comes with a fun, small flag on top of it. The flags have caricatured pictures of the four owners. 

In addition to the wide variety of unique burgers, they offer nachos and chicken wings with a fusion of Nepali spices. The toppings are evenly distributed and the nachos are made of corn and millet. The snack doesn’t just satisfy your cravings but also provides a savory delight with buff meat, zesty jalapenos, diced tomatoes, and creamy guacamole on top.

Don’t forget to try the Smokey Barbecue Wings. These are drenched in smoky barbecue sauce that adds a sweet and savory kick that’s just perfect. It smells really good and tastes even better. The wings are cooked to perfection. It’s neither too juicy, nor too dry. 

There are limited vegetarian options so for those who don’t enjoy meat or have it at all, T’s Your Palate might not be the place for you. But if you’re in the mood for a drink, you can grab some brewed Sherpa beer. The ambiance, with hanging lights, indoor plants in ceramic planters, funky mirrors on the walls, and unique chairs in warm undertones, is just right for some relaxing time with friends. 

If you don’t want to head to Thamel in this cold but want to have some delicious burgers, you can order their food through Foodmandu, Bhoj Deals, and Pathao. 

Their specials:

Jaw dropper

Hook-a-Chuck

Nachos

Smokey Barbeque Wings

Location: Thamel, Kathmandu

Meal for two: Rs 2000

Opening hours: 11:30 am – 8:30 pm

Contact: 9802264388

Online Payment: Accepted

Parking: Available