Luma Restaurant: Good food, stunning view, and budget-friendly

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​​​​​​​