With Chinese cuisine, there’s a lot that can go terribly wrong. It’s packed with a lot of flavors and can be delicious. But one mistake, and it becomes inedible. But with Chinese Kitchen in Naxal, Kathmandu, you need not worry about that. Ajay Acharya, owner and chef, knows exactly what he is doing.  Acharya started Chinese Kitchen after working at restaurants in China for the past 20 years. He has received his training from a chef coach in China, and is well versed in the cuisine. The menu, which has around 70 dishes for you to choose from, reflects that. There are plenty of options for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. And the food is as authentic as it could get as all the spices and sauces used come from China.  For appetizers, the Chinese Fruit Salad is a great one. It has lettuce, garlic, black bean sauce, and bantam eggs (eggs smaller than the standard size). The ingredients are tied together by the black bean sauce that has a hint of lemon. For those of you who would like to avoid eggs, you can opt for Broccoli and Ocean Root Salad. It’s a simple dish. It has raw broccoli with some sesame oil and salt, with slices of raw ocean roots, garlic, and black fungus mushrooms. The salads aren’t very filling but it prepares you for the main course.

We highly recommend Lamb Chop for the main course. It’s basically roasted lamb ribs marinated in cumin powder. Its crispy texture is balanced by the special lamb sauce on the side. Some of you might find it a tad bit oily but we are sure no one will complain about its taste. 

The Whole Fish Dish deserves a mention too. As the name suggests, this is a whole fish on a plate, cooked in Chinese hot sauce. The fish is well-cooked, juicy, and tender. Some might find it a little too spicy, but the dish is so good that you won’t be able to put down your fork.  The Dry Pot Chicken is also equally good. The presentation, we believe, adds to its flavor. It comes in a pot with chicken and veggies mixed together. The chicken is first fried in Chinese sauce and red wine. Then it’s mixed with capsicum, garlic, black fungus mushrooms and several spices to give it a burst of flavors. It’s hot and spicy, just what you might need on a chilly winter evening. It comes with a side of vegetables, pickled chili, and black fungus mushrooms marinated with sesame oil, vinegar, and Himalayan pink salt.  The food is really good at the Chinese Kitchen and the ambiance matches up as well—with serene indoor and outdoor seating areas. There are private rooms for large groups and a balcony area from where you can enjoy a nice view of the city while tucking into a fabulous meal.  Chef’s specials Lamb Chop  Whole Fish Dish  Dry Pot Chicken Location: Bhatbhateni, Naxal, Kathmandu  Meal for two: Rs 1,500 Card/online payment: Accepted  Contact: 01-4427055  Parking: Available Opening Hours: 10 am to 9.45 pm