The 6 Best Cheap Restaurants in Thamel, Kathmandu

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LOOKING FOR THE BEST CHEAP RESTAURANTS IN THAMEL, KATHMANDU?

You’ve come to the right place! I have been visiting and periodically living in Nepal since 2015 and during this time, I got to try many restaurants in Thamel.

Thamel is full of restaurants serving all kinds of cuisines and catering to every budget. You can find everything from Nepali, Italian, Middle-Eastern, Korean to Japanese cuisine. There is really a wide variety of choices depending on your preference.

If you are looking for affordable restaurants, I recommend the following places as the best quality, cheap restaurants in Thamel.

Best Cheap Restaurants in Thamel, Kathmandu

1. NEWA MOMO

• Cuisine: Nepali, Newari
• Price range: Rs 140-500

Newa Momo is known for its tasty and affordable dishes. It is a family-run restaurant and is located off a main road in Thamel.

Although, it is mostly famous for its momo, you can also try Newari dishes here, such as bara (Newari lentil pancake) or the samay baji.

For momos, they not only have the usual veg and non-veg options, but also have special momos with chocolate, spinach and cheese.

I found the portion of the momos is not as big as in other places, so if you are very hungry, you should order some other side dishes/snacks in addition to the momos.

2. WESTERN TANDOORI

• Cuisine: Indian
• Price range: Rs. 170-500

Western Tandoori is a very popular restaurant serving Indian dishes. A friend of mine showed me this restaurant many years ago and it has remained one of my go-to places for Indian food in Thamel.

The dishes include various veg and non-veg curry, naan and paratha. They use a lot of spices so the dishes can be a little bit spicy. The place can get packed with people during lunch and dinner times.

3. YANGLING TIBETAN RESTAURANT

• Cuisine: Tibetan, Nepali
• Price range of meals: Rs. 220-360

Yangling Tibetan Restaurant is another restaurant famous for its momos and Tibetan food.

The restaurant is located in Paknajol which is still considered as a budget-friendly area around Thamel. It is one of the most popular budget-friendly restaurants that serve tasty and good quality dishes in Thamel.

4. FIRE PIZZA

• Cuisine: Italian
• Price range: Rs. 400-700

Sometimes, after the endless amount of momos and dal bhat, there always comes a time when we need a break from Nepali food.

Fire Pizza has 3 branches in and around Thamel. They make wood fired pizza and considering the price, it is pretty good. There are options for veg or non-veg pizza and the service is pretty quick.

Most of the restaurants that serve pizza in Thamel will have it priced 2 times more expensive. So finding a pizza place in Thamel that sells delicious and budget-friendly pizza is a win.

🍕 For the most authentic Italian pizza, check out Roadhouse or Fire and Ice Pizzeria in Thamel. The prices are higher but can worth a treat!

5. MUKTINATH THAKALI KITHCEN

• Cuisine: Nepali
• Best for: thali set
• Price range: Rs. 290-600

A Nepali friend of mine took me to the Muktinath Thakali Kitchen a couple of years ago to have Nepali thali set (dal bhat) here. Although the restaurants is located in Thamel, it is mostly frequented by locals.

The restaurant is up on the first floor of a building off the main street, so look for the stairs to get up to the restaurant.

The thali set starts at Rs. 290 which is one of the best prices I have found for a thali set in Thamel. It is really tasty, and as in all the other restaurants, the thali set portions are refillable for no extra charge.

6. ACE HIMALAYAN CAFE

• Cuisine: Nepali
• Price range: Rs. 200-500

The Ace Himalayan Restaurant is tucked away on the western side of Thamel. I discovered it by accident and has been a good place for budget meals.

The restaurant is run by a really nice family and they serve mainly Nepali dishes. Although it is a little bit dim inside, they have great momos and dal bhat here.

BONUS: Budget-Friendly Accommodation in Kathmandu

Apart from budget-friendly restaurants, if you are looking to save some money, here are two of our top recommendations for hostels in Kathmandu:

BONUS: Free and Cheap Things to Do in Kathmandu

Apart from the budget-friendly restaurants listed above, if you are looking for some free and cheap things to do in Kathmandu, check out this list below.

Although most tourists only spend a few days in Kathmandu, if you have already visited the World Heritage Sites and other main attractions, here are some additional budget-friendly activities in Kathmandu:

Museum Exhibitions:

• Taragaon Museum: Rs. 100 for foreigners
• Military Museum: Rs. 100 for foreigners
• National Museum of Nepal: Rs. 150 for foreigners

🖼️ Check out my guide to the best museums in Kathmandu here!

Classes and Workshops:

• Vipassana Meditation Course: Free (including food and accommodation)
• Singing Bowl Sessions: Nepal Singing Bowls and Healing Centre (free), Nirvana Singing Bowl (donation-based)

Markets:

• Asan Market: Free to wander around, cheap items to shop
• Le Sherpa Farmers Market: FREE (unless you shop – and it will be hard not to). Every Saturday at 7:30 am-12:30 pm

Nature:

• Ranibari Community Forest: Rs. 10

💰💰💰Looking to save more money? Check out my complete guide to the best free and cheap things to do in Kathmandu here!

BONUS: Budget-Friendly Restaurants in Pokhara

Planning a trip to Pokhara? Pokhara is full of great restaurants serving various cuisines for all budgets.

Here are our top 3 recommendations for the best affordable restaurants in Pokhara:

• Tara’s Restaurant: best for Nepali food + vegetarian options
• Flying Spirit Organic Kitchen: best breakfast and falafel
• Potala Tibetan Restaurant: best Tibetan food and momos

🍽️ Check out my full guide on the best affordable restaurants in Pokhara here!

FAQs: Cheap Restaurants in Thamel, Kathmandu

What’s the average cost of a meal in Kathmandu?

This can vary a lot depending on the type of restaurants you are having a meal at. Typically, local Nepali restaurants tend to be cheaper (around Rs. 150-400), while high-end western-type restaurants are more expensive (Rs. 600-1,500).

What is the price of street food in Nepal?

Street food in Nepal is very cheap. Typical street food will include samosa, donuts, boiled eggs, or snacks with potatoes and chickpeas. Some prices are as follows: 1 piece of samosa: Rs. 30, 1 boiled egg: Rs. 30, donut: Rs. 20.

How much does 1 plate of momo cost in Nepal?

The price range for 1 plate of momo is generally between Rs. 200-350. If you eat in a local restaurant, the price will be cheaper than in a fancier restaurant. One plate of momo, usually has 10 pieces of momos.

Is food costly in Nepal?

Well, it depends. If you eat Nepali food in local restaurants then you will be able to get by on a low budget. If you go for western-like food and restaurants, they tend to be on the higher end of prices.

The same goes for the prices in the supermarkets. The imported food products have a higher price, while you can save a lot if you buy the products that are produced in Nepal.

What is the famous food in Kathmandu?

The most famous and popular Nepalese dish is the dal bhat. Dal bhat is a staple dish in Nepalese households and most people have it at least once a day.

Dal bhat is made of rice, lentil soup, vegetable curry, meat and other vegetable side dishes.

If you have dal bhat in a restaurant, the portions are usually re-filled for free of charge. fIf you order dal bhat, the restaurant staff will come to check with you if you’d like to re-fill any of the portions within the dish for free.

Is Kathmandu cheap or expensive?

Well, the answer is that it depends. For many Nepalese who earn local wages, the rising inflation and prices in Kathmandu is considered expensive.

For expats or Nepalese who work for foreign companies and receive their salaries in foreign currency, Kathmandu is not expensive.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are many quality, budget restaurants in Thamel.

The most affordable restaurants serve local, Nepali dishes. They are great places to try dishes like dal bhat or momos.

Some other affordable restaurants also serve continental dishes, so ultimately, there are many different options to choose from.

The prices are very affordable in Nepal and if you are on a budget, you can get meals under USD 2.