Frango: Different in a good way

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
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 9:00 pm Location: Chabahil, Kathmandu Meal for two: Rs 1,500 Online Payment: Accepted Reservations: 9817129443 Parking: Available