Eating out is something all of us enjoy and there is no dearth of restaurants in town. There are all kinds of places, catering to different types of tastes and moods. However, eating out can be an expensive affair and yet it’s something we do regularly because we need to grab lunch with colleagues, catch up with friends, or are too lazy to cook at home. To help with that, we have listed five places where the food is good and the bill won’t leave you feeling guilty about grabbing lunch or dinner out as often as you must.
Handi Biryani, Boudha
It’s a small eatery in Boudha, near the Boudhanath Stupa, that you might miss if you aren’t looking for it. It’s located on the first floor, approximately 200 meters before you reach the main entrance of the stupa on the other side of the road. The entrance to the eatery is located inside an alley but you can see the sign on the window from the main street. It has a select few items on the menu. There are some starters and the main highlight is definitely the biryani. The single portion is more than enough for one. You can also order a bunch of sides at additional costs which is as little as Rs 80. We highly recommend this place for the fast service and the delicious food. The chicken wings are worth a mention too. But tell the server how spicy you want it to be beforehand.
Monster Meal, Jhamsikhel
If you want to grab a quick lunch and you’re in Jhamsikhel, look no further than Monster Meal. Located near the famous Mantra Thakali, this place serves mouth-watering delights like wings, burgers, momos, lunch combos, and more. The food reaches your table real quick and tastes really good. It’s not a place to hang out for long, just somewhere to drop by to get a quick meal. Our favorite is their chicken wings which are smoking hot and delicious. You can’t just eat one. We challenge you. It’s flavorful, juicy, and spicy—just the way chicken wings are supposed to be. It tastes great when paired with their virgin mojito that is fresh and just the right amount of sweet. The burgers too are freshly prepared and great value for money.
Croissant Cafe, Thapathali
Located about 300 meters ahead of Prasuti Griha, in the road that connects Thapathali to Maitighar, Croissant Cafe might be inconspicuous to most people but it’s quite a popular joint among those who are familiar with the area. This is mostly because the space is nice and the food is even better. There are large enough tables and private spaces for meetings as well. They serve a variety of beverages, including alcoholic ones. They have a wide selection of items on the menu. They have pizzas, pastas, momos, biryani, curries, and more. It’s easily one of the places that serve everything you could want under one roof. The ambience is nice as well. We recommend their butter chicken and rice combo as well as their chicken chili. But you can’t go wrong with anything here. The chef really knows what he’s doing.
Mumbai Street Food, Basantapur
We chanced upon this small eatery in Basantapur when we were there recently. The name caught our eye and the open space looked neat and clean as did the tiny kitchen behind the counter. We stepped in, hesitant at first, but eager to try everything once we saw what was on the menu. The place quickly gets packed because there are only a few tables but if you are able to grab one, then we recommend you don’t leave without trying their delightful vada pav and rolls. Like most places on this list, this too only has a few items on its menu but everything tastes great. The nachos are crunchy with just the right amount of softness. The sandwich is simple and filling. Their vada pav and pav bhaji are the best we’ve had in town. They have a good range of drinks as well, from Turkish Coffee to Bubble Tea.
Shreeya Sweets, Jawalakhel
If you want some quick Indian food at reasonable prices, then Shreeya Sweets in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, is a great place. It serves rotis, parathas, dosas, chaats, and many other Indian delicacies at affordable prices. It’s a bit packed during lunch hours as many people stop by to grab a bite to eat here. The samosa and pani puri are also really good here. We recommend the samosa when it’s freshly made and ask them to make the pani puri a little on the spicier side. There are also many Indian sweet treats to choose from. Their speciality is the ‘besan ko laddu’ that they claim has the right amount of besan and sugar, and not more of the latter as most mithai shops tend to do. They also serve different kinds of teas. For those who don’t like tea, there’s coffee, juice, and lassi.
