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Donuts are my escape. It’s a comfort food I crave on a bad day, which is how I ended up at Donut Drool in Pulchowk, Lalitpur. They serve some of the best donuts with a wide range of flavors. Their other outlet is in Dhapasi, Kathmandu, where you can only get takeaways. But rather than bringing a box of donuts home, I like to enjoy them at the shop itself. For me, something about takeaways doesn’t feel right. So I prefer the one in Pulchowk since they have a dining facility, as well as some great options for drinks.  I was a bit worried that the place would be noisy and polluted, since it’s located on a main street. Luckily, I was wrong. The place is calm, clean, and cozy. And you don’t need to worry about parking. The place has enough space for both two and four-wheelers. When I entered, I noticed that the place had minimalist designs. Everything in the room compliments one another, from furniture to potted plants placed in the corners of the restaurant. Also, their leather couch-like armchairs looked comfortable and elegant. The bakery has a self-service system. So, a customer needs to order their donuts at the counter. As I stood there, I was overwhelmed by the variety of donuts that were on display. I realized that no matter who visits the restaurant, they will find something they like.  For my order, I asked one of the staff members to recommend some of their best selling treats. Their first recommendation was the Custard Donut. It’s a fluffy and crispy baked dough that is filled with custard. The moment I took a bite, I could taste the creamy and milky richness of the custard, which went perfectly with the crispy texture of the donut. It’s definitely one of the best custard donuts I have had so far.   Their next suggestion was the Dora Cake. I believe this is the best option for anyone who enjoys chocolate. It’s a chocolate glazed donut filled with melted chocolate that has a hint of coffee for some extra flavor. Usually, I’m a bit skeptical when it comes to chocolate donuts. I don’t like it when the chocolate becomes overpowering. But Dora Cake was perfect. The bitterness of the coffee balanced the sweetness of the chocolate.  Since I wanted to try something with berries, I placed an order for a Strawberry Creamy Donut. This donut is served with a strawberry cream cheese filling inside, with fresh strawberries and strawberry glaze  on top. The best thing about this donut is that you won’t be dissatisfied with either its appearance or its flavor. There are also several other options like blueberries and raspberries that you can enjoy.  Besides flavors, the quality of their donuts is what makes them so special. From appearance to texture, everything is immaculate. With every bite, one can taste how fluffy yet crispy these donuts are. Also, they’re perfect for vegetarians, or anyone who avoids eggs since all of their products are eggless.  For beverages, they have some unique options. The one I tried was Hibiscus Tea. It’s a tea that’s brewed by extracting juice from hibiscus flowers. Its slightly sour taste goes well with the sweet treats. The other drink I enjoyed was Iced Matcha Latte. Even if you aren’t a big fan of matcha, you can go for the safest drink there on the menu: Chocolate Mocha. One should definitely visit Donut Drool if you are looking forward to enjoying some of the best donuts with different flavors. And the place is not that expensive. You will definitely find something that is under your budget. Price depends on the ingredients that are used. For instance, the ones with blueberries will cost you a little more than others since the ingredient itself is expensive. But no matter what you order, you are in for a treat.  Their specials:

• Custard Donut

• Dora Cake

• Strawberry Creamy Donut

Nepalis love having Thakali khana. It’s our comfort food. But some restaurant’s thakali khana sets are just not good enough to leave you with that blissful feeling. Good thing that’s not the case when it comes to Cafe De Tukche Thakali in Lazimpat, Kathmandu. The place is located near the main street and I was happy to see that it was neither dusty nor noisy. Don’t get me wrong, they’re usually packed. Yet, the noise is minimal.  The restaurant is spacious. As soon as we entered, we could see that it’s spread over two floors, with separate smoking and non-smoking zones. However, I wasn’t quite happy with the seats they provided. While some of the seating areas had chairs, some had couches. The couches were a problem as it was quite difficult to eat while sitting in soft, sagging cushions that didn’t give your back much support. So, during your visit, I suggest you opt for a table with chairs.  Without a doubt, our order was Chicken Thakali Khana Set. It included chicken gravy, rice, spinach, radish pickle, chutney, vegetables, deep-fried bitter gourd, papad, salad, daal, and curd. Usually, I’m quite skeptical about the chicken gravy at  any restaurant. I don’t think it will be good. Sometimes, I have been in situations where I hardly had any good chicken pieces. But here, I was quite happy. The chicken was tender, and the gravy was delicious. Although they used a lot of spices, it was well-balanced.  I was a bit disappointed with their vegetable gravy though. It lacked flavor and the dish actually didn’t go well with the rest of the food. Also, I found the spinach to be a little undercooked but I think that will depend on how you like your spinach. In my case, I like it a bit overcooked. If you want something different, you can also try mutton, veg, or fish thakali set.  For folks who are looking to avoid rice, Tukche Thakali also has several options for Thakali Dhido Set. I personally prefer rice but do give it a shot if you are looking to try something new.  Not everyone prefers to start their meal with a Khana Set. For them, Tukche also offers several appetizers, both veg and non-veg. Some of my favorites were Alu Timur (potato fried with sichuan pepper), Mustang Alu, Sukuti Sadeko, and Kanchembo (buckwheat finger-chips). You can also order other items from the menu that you think will go well along with your thakali khana set.  We suggest Khutti Ko Achaar. It’s a mutton-leg served in bite size pieces, with a little bit of gravy at the bottom. The flavors were on point and I would highly recommend it. Sometimes, there is always an odd one in the group who wants to have something different and not a khana set. Fortunately, Tukche has got them covered. Not only do they serve delicious Thakali Khana Set but they also have a variety of options for other main courses. For those who enjoy a glass of drink on the side, the restaurant also has a bar. There you will find anything from cold drinks to cocktails. From what I saw, most people there preferred to have a bottle of beer. If it were me, I would go for a cocktail. It looked delicious.  Like I said before, the place is usually packed. But surprisingly, their service is quick, especially if you order a Thakali Khana Set, since that’s what’s ordered the most. Our meal was ready within 10 minutes after we placed the order. The servers are quite friendly too. They were always around in case we wanted to add more food. They were polite and the entire hospitality of the restaurant was quite admirable. Best of all, it was clean.  Their specials:

• Thakali Khana Set 

• Thakali Dhido Set

• Khutti Ko Achaar

A sophisticated dining experience is more than just about food. Good service and a peaceful environment are equally important. That’s exactly what we got on our visit to Paradise Garden Restaurant and Event. This charming eatery in Gairidhara, Kathmandu, has both good food and a lovely ambience. Most of their seating areas are outdoors but they also have private rooms for large groups. The restaurant is lush with plants, the furnishings are cozy, and the warm lighting creates a pleasant atmosphere.  We recommend you start your meal with Momo Platter which is their signature dish. The platter includes a mix of 20 beautifully presented chaat, kothey, crispy fried kurkurey, gravy, tandoori, sadeko, steamed, and jhol momo. And it comes with three dips on the side. Every bite of the momo is satisfying. The filling is juicy and has a spicy and tangy flavor. It’s best to share this dish with a friend as the portion is quite big. It’s a bit expensive for 20 pieces but it’s worth the money.  Don’t miss out on trying Handi Biryani if you want to spice up your meal. I was excited by the dish’s presentation and the taste was equally good. In every spoonful, I could feel the burst of the spices they used. None of the flavors were overpowering though and the heat was well-balanced. It’s available in three options: mutton, chicken, and veg. I guarantee that when the biryani pot is empty, you will be left wanting more.  Achari Mushroom Tikka is a good option for vegetarians. Mushroom is marinated with a blend of spices, which is then grilled, giving a smokey taste. It’s tender, juicy, and flavorful. If you’re not a big fan of mushrooms, this probably isn’t the best option for you. However, for me, this dish turned out to be my guilty pleasure, despite not liking mushrooms. Also, it’s the best dish to order if you have some alcoholic beverage on the side. It’s that kind of snack.  Also try Veg Tongue Twister. The idea for this dish comes from the recipe of cheesy nachos. But the restaurant has replaced nachos with steamed savory potatoes which is equally good. The dish is spiced up with cheese toppings, and garnishes like spring onions, and lemon slices covered in melting sour cream, with salsa on the side. I did feel that the dish would have been even better had the potatoes been fried, but the version they served wasn’t bad either. They also have a bar that offers a wide range of drinks. My favorite was the Pink Fruit Punch. It’s refreshing, sweet, and has a hint of citrus. You can also try the Blue Lagoon Cocktail which is tangy and invigorating.  Anyone who has a thing for Indian, Mexican, and Nepali food should definitely visit this restaurant. The service is impeccable and the atmosphere is delightful. It’s a great option for any type of special celebration, whether it be a family gathering or a catch-up session with friends. Their specials:

• Handi Biryani 

• Momo Platter

• Veg Tongue Twister 

I’m starting to find most restaurants in Kathmandu mundane. Maybe that’s because I eat out almost every day. My orders are usually the same and I don’t find much difference in terms of taste either. So, while looking for some unique restaurants, I ended up at Frango in Chabahil, Kathmandu.  At first glance, I wasn’t impressed with the place. But when I looked at their menu, that was when I got excited. It had a lot of options and, honestly, it took me a while to decide what to eat. I noticed that most of the dishes included chicken, although a few options for vegetarians were also available. But there was another menu that caught my attention—a separate one that includes calorie counts, perfect for fitness enthusiasts. Looking at my order, I assumed it would take a good 30 minutes to be served. I was wrong. The service here is quite quick. My first order was the Wings Platter, which arrived at the table in around seven minutes. The platter had a total of 12 wings in six flavors: mango and lime, lemon and herb, salsa, mild, extra hot, and extremely hot. Pre-cooked wings were grilled and marinated with different spices, and they came with a side of Peri-Peri Fries, which was absolutely delicious. The meat was juicy and tender. Also, I liked the fact that they gave us gloves to avoid sticky fingers.  In terms of flavors, all of them were good. But my personal favorite was the mango and lime one. It had just the right mixture of tangy and sweet flavor. I wasn’t a big fan of lemon and herb. It was too sour for my taste. In terms of spiciness, even ‘extremely hot’ was mild for me, while the person who had accompanied me had to have sips of his drink between bites. So, picking a favorite depends on your preferences. You won’t know unless you try.  For the next dish, the restaurant recommended Jalapeño Pitta. It’s a hollow bread with fillings inside, which, in our case, was chicken breast, jalapeños, cheese, red onions, and lettuce tied together with a blend of other spices. It tasted immaculate. I was surprised to see how tender and well-cooked the chicken was. But the bread they used stood out the most. It was soft, flaky, and quite different from what I have had in other restaurants, maybe because they made it themselves. The portion was a bit small for the price, but I would order it again on my next visit.  Don’t miss out on their Quesadilla, a Mexican dish with fillings stuffed inside a tortilla. It’s a perfect option for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Like pitta, the tortilla was what I loved. It had a slight crunch and was soft at the same time. In terms of fillings, everything was well-balanced, and the chicken was flavorful. It also had sweet corn, which gave just the right amount of sweetness, to make this savory dish a perfect one. The next dish we tried was Quarter Chicken. Although its name sounds a bit confusing, the dish is as simple as it could get. It’s a chicken leg. Pre-cooked meat is grilled and marinated with a blend of spices, making the dish slightly tangy. For those who don’t like spicy food, this can be a good option.  With meals like these, a drink is a must, for which Frango has got you covered. They have a wide variety of both hot and cold drinks. We suggest you try their mocktails. There were many options, but the one I liked was the Virgin Piña Colada. The hint of pineapple in every sip I took was quite soothing and went perfectly with the dishes. You can also try their Fruit Punch and Mint Lime Refresher. They are equally good.  From the moment I entered to the moment I left, I didn’t have much to complain about the restaurant. The entire setting is absolutely clean. I know the restaurant prioritizes cleanliness by seeing how neat and well-managed their kitchen is. The staff were quite friendly and were happy to help us out with recommendations. It’s worth a visit. And who knows, you might even end up becoming a regular.  Their specials: 

• Wings Platter 
• Quesadilla 
• Pitta