Popular street foods found in the Kathmandu Valley

Nepal has a huge variety of ethnic cuisines; wherever you go, you can find different varieties of foods with different tastes. Not only for its natural beauty but also for its variety of food, every year thousands of tourists come here and provide their reviews of our food. Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, is known for its vibrant street food culture, and many popular street foods can be found there.

Here are some of the most famous street foods that everyone should try: 

• Momo:

Momo, which is known as dumplings and can be found in every street, restaurant, and hotel in Nepal, is filled with meat or vegetables and served with a spicy sauce called chutney. Momo can be consumed in different forms, including steamed, fried, in soup, and many more. Momo is one of the most popular dishes in Nepal because it is cheap, healthy, tasty, and available on almost every street corner in Kathmandu.

• Chatpate:

Chatpate is one of the most popular and desired street foods in Kathmandu and throughout Nepal. Children, teenagers, as well as adults, especially females of almost every age group, are obsessed with chatpate. It is a spicy and tangy snack made with puffed rice, boiled potatoes, chopped onions, tomatoes, and coriander leaves. It is then mixed with tamarind sauce, chili powder, and other spices to give it a unique and delicious flavor.

• Panipuri:

Panipuri is a popular street food snack that originated in India but has become popular in Nepal. It consists of small, crispy balls made from semolina or wheat flour that are filled with a mixture of spiced potatoes and chickpeas. The balls are then dipped in tangy, spicy water made from tamarind, cumin, chili powder, and other spices.

• Chatamari:

Chatamari is a light food made with rice flour and topped with minced meat, eggs, or vegetables. It is a type of Nepali pizza as well as a traditional Newari food that is typically consumed during festivals and other special occasions. It is a popular snack among locals and tourists alike, found on many streets in Kathmandu Valley.

• Sel Roti:

Sel Roti is a sweet street food in Kathmandu and other parts of Nepal that is a circular rice flour bread deep-fried in oil. The main ingredient is rice flour, which makes it crunchy and crispy on the outside and tender and soft on the inside. It is usually eaten during festivals or as a snack. It was mostly prepared in Dashain and Tihar before, but now it can be found everywhere and at any season.

• Samosa:

Samosa is a triangular-shaped snack filled with mashed potatoes, onions, peas, and spices and deep-fried until golden brown. They are typically served with a variety of dipping sauces. Samosas are popular all over the world, and they can be found in many different types of cuisine, including Indian, Nepali, Middle Eastern, and African. Samosas can be found on every street corner in Kathmandu. 

• Sekuwa:

Sekuwa is a popular Nepali street food that is often enjoyed in Kathmandu. It is a type of grilled meat that is marinated in a blend of spices and cooked over a charcoal fire. People can have chicken, mutton, pork, buff, etc. according to their tastes. It is a tasty and satisfying street food that is enjoyed by locals and tourists in the Kathmandu Valley.

• Chana Masala:

Chana masala is a popular vegetarian street food made with chickpeas cooked in a spicy tomato-based sauce and served with bread or rice. It is a popular food that is enjoyed for its rich and spicy flavor, vegetarian ingredients, and accessibility, and it is a staple of the Kathmandu street food scene.

• Chatt:

Chaat is a popular Indian snack that is found on the streets of Kathmandu. It is made with fried dough and topped with tomato, onion, yellow peas, curd, and coriander. To enhance the taste, spices like chili powder and cumin powder are also added. It is a popular vegetarian snack item and can be found in many street food stalls in the Kathmandu Valley.

• Chhole Bhature:

Chhole bhature is a popular North Indian street food that has become popular in Nepal, especially in the New Road area of Kathmandu. It is a combination of chhole (spiced chickpeas) and bhature (deep-fried bread). Chhole is made by cooking chickpeas with a blend of spices such as cumin, coriander, turmeric, and garam masala, whereas bhature is made by mixing flour, yogurt, and semolina with a leavening agent like yeast or baking powder. It is a spicy chickpea curry served with deep-fried bread called bhature.

• Chow mein:

Chow mein is a popular street food in Kathmandu that is enjoyed for its stir-fried noodles, vegetables (such as cabbage, carrots, and bell peppers), and sometimes meat, as well as its affordability. It is a filling and satisfying meal that is widely accessible throughout the city and is enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds.

• Thukpa:

Thukpa is a popular street food in Kathmandu that originated in Tibet and has become popular in many parts of Nepal. It can be found at street food vendors, small restaurants, and cafes throughout the city. Thukpa is enjoyed for its hearty noodles, fresh vegetables, and warming broth. It is a nutritious and satisfying meal that is widely accessible throughout the city and is enjoyed by people of every age.

• Laphing:

Laphing is a popular street food that originated in Tibet but has gained large popularity in Kathmandu, especially among the younger generation, due to its unique flavor, affordability, health benefits, socializing aspect, and vegetarian nature. It is a cold and spicy noodle dish made from mung bean starch and served with a variety of spicy sauces and toppings.

These are only a few of the numerous famous street ingredients that may be found in the Kathmandu Valley. The street food scene is constantly evolving, and new dishes are continually appearing, so there is usually something new to try. Street food is very popular in the Kathmandu Valley due to its affordability, variety, convenience, flavor, and socializing aspects. The craze for street food is likely to continue to grow as more people discover and fall in love with the vibrant and diverse street food scene in the valley.