Kathmandu Street Food Guide: What to Try and Where

Are you in Nepal? Thinking of trying the Kathmandu street food in 2026, and wondering what to eat and where to go?

Kathmandu offers a lot to food enthusiasts, from steaming momo stalls tucked into busy corners to vendors flipping snacks on hot griddles. The strong, intimidating smell of food cooking on the roadside will surely pull you to take a bite.

Whether you are a food enthusiast or food vlogger, travelling solo or in a group, this blog will help you taste the city with confidence, curiosity, and a happy stomach, while staying safe as a foreigner when trying traditional local delicacies.

Mo: mo

In Kathmandu, eating momos is less about ticking off a food item and more about slipping into everyday city life. You’ll find small steamers hissing at street corners, especially in busy areas like Asan or Thamel, where local people wait for hours in line.

Momo is served with a spicy pickle, sesame seeds and tomato pickle. You can find a variety of options in pickle, also like made up of tomato and mint or tomato and sesame seeds.

Many enjoy momo stuffed with chicken, buffalo or vegetables, depending upon their preference. Places like Delicious Momo in Jamal, Narayan Dai ko Momo franchise, Shandaar Momo franchise, Rodeos Cafe in Kaldhara are some of the places where travelers can enjoy the momo, the Kathmandu street food.

Shabhaley (Sha Phaley)

Shabhaley, also known as Shafal, is one of the most popular streets food. It is a Tibetan dish which is stuffed with minced meat feeling and after you order it is deep fried and served. You can enjoy it with a tasty pickle made up of sesame seeds and tomato.

It depends on your choice whether you want to eat it in chicken or buffalo filling; both have a unique taste. But I will suggest you try both.

Chatamari

It is also called Nepali pizza, which is made up of a thin rice-flour crepe that gets topped with eggs, minced meat or veggies, making it crispy and delicious. It is a classic Newari street food and is a gluten-free option for a diet freak.

You can try it in a Bhatti Restro located in front of the Basantapur Durbar Square, Pasa Newari Kitchen, Newa Ghasa located in Sorakhutte or Basantapur, or Haasaa Newari Kitchen and Sekuwa Station of Kapurdhara.

PaniPuri and Chaat

Panipuri and Chaat are quite famous among youngsters in Nepal. The bold flavour of sour tamarind water, crunchy shells of puri, and spicy potato filling make you eat more and more.

The burst of all these things inside makes a perfect balance of spices, which is very intimidating. You can eat Panipuri at places like Tiptop, Makhan Galli, and Tiwari Brothers. It is quite cheap, and everyone from students to adults enjoys eating it.

Sekuwa

Sekuwa is marinated meat grilled over open charcoal flames, making it one of the most flavorful items in Kathmandu street food.  The most common types of sekuwa are Buff sekuwa, chicken Sekuwa, and mutton Sekuwa, which you can enjoy in Yangtaru Sekuwa Corner, Bajeko Sekuwa, Local Sekuwa, and Town Top Lama Sekuwa Corner.

Choila

The Kathmandu street food includes a spicy, grilled Newari meat dish known as Choila. It is best enjoyed in areas like Asan, Patan, and Bhaktapur, where it is either made with buffalo or chicken, tossed in mustard oil, chili, and traditional spices.

Choila is enjoyed best with beaten rice and some Newari beverages like Aila, which is a strong, clear, home-brewed liquor or Chhyang, made up of a fermented, milky rice beer. Some of my personal favorite places to enjoy it are Machha Choila Ghar and Pasa Newari Kitchen.

Laphing and Keema Noodles

Laphing and Keema noodles are Tibetan foods that are very spicy. You can eat them in Tibetan Restaurants of Swayambhu, Bouddha, and in Basantapur Durbar Square, like Manjushree Laphing Centre and Om Laphing in Swayambhu, Cold and Hot spicy noodles in Boudha, Keema Noodles & Delicious Laphing center, Sangye La Cafe and Restro.

If you are strolling in the streets and craving for hot and spicy things, I suggest you try Laphing and Keema noodles.

Selroti and Tea

Sel Roti is a unique snack often enjoyed with a cup of morning tea. It is commonly sold at street stalls near temples in the early mornings, which you will surely enjoy if you have a sweet tooth. It is made from rice flour, which has a distinctive texture that sets it apart from regular bread and is made by deep-frying.

Its outside part is brown and crispy, while inside is very soft and airy, which melts as soon as you take a bite. You can buy it in the Asan and New Road street stall where middle age woman are selling it freshly, or you can also buy from roadside sweets vendors.

Vegetarian and Vegan Street Food Options

Jerri Swari

Jerry is a sweet item that is fried at first and then served after dipping in a sugary syrup. Swari is a flat roti which is softer than a typical roti. Jerri and Swari is a best combination, you should try when exploring the Kathmandu street food in 2026.

One of my favorite places to get it is in Bishal Nagar Marg and Handigaun Marg near the Krishna Temple, Tiptop franchise, and in local street shops of Asan and New roads.

Samosa

They’re one of the easiest snacks to grab when you’re on the move, since most shops keep batches ready to go behind the counter. In Nepal, samosas are usually vegetarian, though it’s always smart to double-check if you have specific dietary needs.

The filling is simple but satisfying, composed of mashed potatoes mixed with onions, peas, and warm spices, all tucked into a thin pastry and fried until crisp. They’re typically served with a tangy, slightly sweet dipping sauce that pulls everything together. One spot that really stands out is Tip Top Sweets in Kathmandu, Angan Sweets Nepal, Laddu Gopal Sweets, Sangam Sweets and so on.

Alu Fry

Alu fry is quite a common Kathmandu street food that is sold in the small alley of Asan, Thamel, Boudha, and Swayambhu Area where you can eat piping hot, freshly fried. It is quite simple and is packed with bold flavors, and is consumed by sprinkling a mixture of salt, chilly, and sometimes chat masala served in small paper plates or bowls.

Yomari and Lakhamari

Yomari and Lakhamari are two traditional Newari sweets found in every Newari street vendor. Yomari is a rice-flour dumpling filled with either sugarcane molasses or custard, and it’s especially popular in Asan and Thamel roadside vendors.

In addition to this, Lakhamari is a hard, crunchy dough coated in sugar, often enjoyed during festivals and holidays, which you should try when you are trying Kathmandu street food. While Yomari is soft and rich, Lakhamari offers a crisp, sweet bite, and both can be found at local sweet stalls or Newari restaurants throughout the city.

You can buy them in Lakha Chhen of Sorakhutte, Lakha Dhuku, Yomari Che Newari Restaurant, and other Newari Sweets shops located in Asan, Thamel.

Final Thoughts: How to Enjoy Kathmandu Street Food Safely

Kathmandu street food is more than just a dish, it also displays the culture, history and flavors of the local. From steaming momos, sweet and sour panipuri,  slurping Thukpa near Boudha or biting into spicy Sekuwa in a local chowk to fiery choila, each bite tells a story of tradition and creativity.

If you are a foodie and want to explore the Nepali street food, make sure to try all these items during your stay in Kathmandu. Use this Kathmandu street food guide to explore the very best Nepali street food in Kathmandu, one bite at a time, whether you are exploring Kathmandu for a food hunt or if you have a free day in Kathmandu before or after a trek.

Check out our blog on “Best Restaurants in Kathmandu” to enjoy these street delicacies in more hygienic cafes and restaurants.