Vegan Food in Nepal

As a self-acclaimed foodie, I get so much joy from exploring new places and trying new vegan food. It is so exciting that I can take this hobby and treat my stomach across the globe! I still love seeing all the classic sights when I travel, but another great way to explore a country is to immerse yourself in the culture and indulge in the local cuisine. Let’s embark on a culinary journey as I share the amazing vegan food in Nepal.

Nepal is a South-Asian country that overlooks the breathtaking vastness and beauty of the Himalayas and is home to the largest mountain in the world, Mount Everest. Nestled between India and China, this amazing country is not only renowned for its majestic landscapes, but also its warm hospitality. Seriously, when I wasn’t being mesmerized by the mountains, I was being charmed by the warmth and kindness of the people I encountered.

Now, some might think that travelling while adhering to a plant-based lifestyle may be a daunting or unrealistic task. Fear not, I did lots of research before my travels and marked down all the vegan delights near where I was staying. Join my journey as I explore the alleys, restaurants, and markets, discovering delicious vegan food in the land of prayer flags and towering peaks.

Is it possible to eat vegan food in Nepal?

Yes – it is absolutely possible! I was mainly situated in Kathmandu. It has a large tourist population due to the ginormous mountains that people flock to hike. In Kathmandu, I spent most of my time in a neighbourhood called Thamel. It is widely known for its vibrant and busy narrow streets lined with an eclectic mix of shops, restaurants, and lively street markets. To my surprise, vegan food was so easy to find in this area!

You might think the large amount of plant-based restaurants may be due to the attempt to appeal to tourists. However, Nepal is situated on land containing fertile soil making fruits and veggies a large part of their dietary consumption. Nepal’s culture is also largely influenced by two major religions – Hinduism and Buddhism. Both promote plant-based eating for spiritual and ethical reasons. 

In Hinduism, the concept of ahimsa, or non-violence, is central to dietary practices. Many Hindus follow a vegetarian or plant-based diet, avoiding the consumption of meat, poultry, and sometimes even dairy. This stems from a belief in the interconnectedness of all living beings and a commitment to reducing harm. 

Similarly, in Buddhism, the first precept emphasizes abstaining from harming living beings. This extends to choices made when it comes to food. It is common for many Buddhists to adopt vegetarian or plant-based lifestyles as a way to align their eating habits with their moral principles of compassion and mindfulness. 

In both cases, the act of mindful eating reflects a profound respect for all forms of life and contributes to a harmonious relationship with the natural world. The same values hold true for many Western plant-based eaters too. That is not to say that you’ll be surrounded by nothing but fruits and veggies. Walking through the markets you’ll still have to avoid looking at the display of dead animals for sale. And you have to navigate menus the same way you would back home in the supermarket and at restaurants. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find a lot of vegan food available in the city of Thamel. The only time I had to be the “girl of a million questions” was at the resort in Dhulikhel.

Vegan Food in Nepal: Tips for Communication

TIP: If you are going to be travelling to a place that is not strictly vegan, I recommend brushing up on a few words. I found it helpful to keep them in the Notes section of my phone. It will help you to communicate easily with staff.  Keep in mind these are just from Google Translate but it should help to open the communication.

While staying at the resort, all meals were prepared buffet style. Navigating vegan food while in an unfamiliar country is always tricky. Adding a language barrier makes it even harder to clarify ingredients. That said, there was always at least one person from the restaurant staff willing to help answer questions such as “does this have butter, cream, or ghee?”.

Eventually, one staff member recognized me (likely as the weird girl who asked a million questions) and would kindly guide me around the chafing dishes. On the occasion that there weren’t a lot of options, the staff would often bring out a bowl of fruit or daal free of ghee or cream. Despite insisting that I was fine. While there may have been a language barrier, the joy of giving food is something we share in common.

Nepal Delicacies – Traditional Dishes

MOMO FOMO and why you should have it. 

Do not miss out on this Tibetan and Nepali cuisine delicacy. Momos are dumpling-like foods usually stuffed with veggies or meat. Veggie momos were quite popular and always an option everywhere I went. Also, many restaurants have their own spin on momos making it super fun to try out all the different variations. It would be a shame to leave Nepal without trying momos so I highly recommend putting them on your list of vegan food to try in Nepal.

Other Nepali Traditional Dishes that you’ll come across:

Another traditional Nepali dish is Dhal Bhat, which is essentially lentils and rice. And let me tell you, I consumed A LOT of this during my visit. From the airplane to the resort in the mountains, there is an abundance of dhal waiting to be devoured. It was served for lunch and/or dinner at the resort as one of the few but consistent vegan options. It was nice because I’m a big dhal fan so this wasn’t a problem for me. But it did become a little much after 2 weeks. I remember coming home and avoiding rice for weeks after because I had more than my fill during the visit. 

Tarkari was another vegan-friendly item that often appeared at the buffet. There were different variations every day but always with the same principle, a curry-like dish made with an array of vegetables in a deliciously seasoned sauce. Sometimes these dishes would include vegetables like bitter gourd, okra, cauliflower, French beans, mushrooms, and Bok choy.

There were a few other options at the resort such as Saag Aloo. A fried potato and green vegetable stir fry with beans or bitter gourd. It is also sometimes made with a leafy green side like Rayo Ko Saag (a mustard spinach leaf side dish). This dish ended up being one of my favourite buffet options. I would look forward to every time our meals were served. 

There’s something about Nepali food that is so comforting. Whether it’s the protein-packed legumes, the aromatics of spices, beautifully flavoured curried sauces, or the vitamin-rich sautéed veggies, the food will warm your belly and fuel you for a day of fun and exploring.

It truly is super easy to eat vegan in Nepal.

Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in Thamel, Nepal

While the resort was an amazing experience and I loved being situated in the mountains (feeling like I woke up in a postcard vista every morning), the hustle and bustle of lively Thamel is like no other. To the point where I was longing to go back, so we made one more stop there before heading home. 

Thamel, nestled in the heart of Kathmandu, is such a magical area that encapsulates the essence of Nepal’s capital city. Known as the tourist hub, Thamel is a kaleidoscope of shops, restaurants, cafes, and markets. P.S. It is also a great place to grab spices to bring home! This area was also booming with vegan food and vegetarian restaurants. So much so that we didn’t have time to visit all the places on our list. But here is a rundown of the fully vegan or vegan-friendly places we visited:

5 Vegan-Friendly Places to Eat in Nepal 

1. Always Happy Food Co (Vegan Food) 4.5/5

This was one of the first places I went for a meal in Nepal and it set the bar high. This vegan food spot was located in a cute little alley among other shops, pubs, and artisan stores. From outside, you can see a beautiful display of tasty vegan sweets which will immediately lure you in (well played). For a quaint little restaurant, this place had a huge menu. So many delicious options which is both amazing and a challenge for this decision-anxiety individual. Nonetheless, I made my selections and I have zero regrets about what I ordered. 

To start, I got an order of their Roasted Garlic Tofu (located on their Small Bites Starters section on the menu). What a delicious way to start the food adventure in Nepal! This dish came with four fried tofu triangles with two delicious sauces drizzled over top of them. Let’s just say this plate was empty within seconds. 

For the main course, my partner ordered the Grilled BBQ Mushroom Salad Bowl. The portion is extremely generous and the deep bowl is loaded to the top with a deliciously tossed, and well-dressed salad with the saucy grilled BBQ mushrooms on top. This dish was out of the kitchen first and with that first bite, I was worried that I ordered wrong. The BBQ Mushroom bowl is an excellent choice.

Not really knowing what it entailed, I decided to order the Mexican Rice Beans Sizzle Salad Platter. I liked all the things in the title so it seemed like a good choice. First, they bring out two plates and I am puzzled. The panic ensues. Did I order too much?! Then the sizzler comes out in all its steamy, sizzley glory. As the plate set down in front of me, I realize I am incredibly assured and happy with my choice. Despite it being a two-person meal, I devoured the whole thing. I offered it to my partner but he was full from his meal. This dish had it all, rice, lettuce, grilled veggies, a black bean patty, and FRIES. My favourite part, was not one, not two, but THREE sauces drizzled over the entire skillet. I love my sauces, so this was an absolute delight! 

While the expression “always room for dessert” usually applies to me, on this occasion, post-sizzler, it did not. My partner however did order a Mocha Frappe and it looked incredible and he really enjoyed it!

This was one of those restaurants that I was eager to return to for my entire trip. There are so many tasty items on the menu that I didn’t get to try! But that’s a quest for the next visit to Nepal.

2. Organic Smoothie Bowl and Cafe (Vegan Food) –   4 / 5 

Trying to eat healthy, or finding vegan food, while travelling can sometimes be a challenge but I didn’t find it that difficult in Nepal. After seeing the menu for Organic Smoothie Bowl and Cafe online I knew we had to stop here. Hidden down a little side street, this gem awaits. Again, a small little shop with a cute ambiance. If weather permits, I highly recommend sitting on the patio outdoors. It’s the perfect little spot to sip your coffee or fresh pressed juice and enjoy the scooters zipping by.

This place also had a fabulous menu and was truthfully exactly what we were looking for. To start I ordered a fresh pressed Detox juice which had spinach, parsley, apple, cucumber, lemon, and ginger in it. It was so refreshing and a much-needed dose of health after two days of travel. But I didn’t stop there. I still wanted to kick my immunity up so I ordered an Anti-inflammatory immune shot. I’m always desperate to repel any travel germs.

My partner ordered the Anti-inflammation cold pressed juice with turmeric, carrot, ginger, lemon, apple, cucumber, and ground pepper. He also got a steamed elixir drink called Flu Slayer with apple, lemon, ginger, bell pepper and orange. We were on a mission to ward off any sickness that comes with travel. All of the drinks were exactly as we expected – super delicious and nutritious. I also had to order a matcha. It is not a common drink found in Nepal, so I took every opportunity I could to order one.

The main reason we were excited to visit Organic Smoothie Bowl and Cafe was because of the gorgeous smoothie bowls photos we saw online. My partner ordered the Oasis Smoothie Bowl. It consists of bananas, apples, dates and almonds blended with coconut milk, topped with assorted fruits, chia seeds, coconut, nuts, seeds and served with muesli. My bowl of choice was the Dragon Fruit bowl but unfortunately it was unavailable. I opted for the Strawberry Bowl which had strawberries, bananas, beets blended with coconut milk, topped with apples, bananas, pomegranate seeds, chia seeds, coconut, nuts, seeds, and muesli. Both were incredibly delicious bowls and something I would definitely order again. 

3. Loving Heart Vegan Restaurant (Vegan Food) – 3.75 / 5

After a quick trip to the mountains, we arrived back in Thamel eager to try Loving Heart Vegan Restaurant. We passed this vegan food spot many times while wandering the markets and even noticed they had a vegan event one night! We decided to meet some of our new friends there and have a nice vegan feast. I always love going out for food with friends because, if they are open to sharing, you’re able to try so many more dishes! 

When we arrived there, our friends already had a plate of momos ready to go. My kind of people! We started with fried momos, and eventually went on to get a steamed batch next. Both are excellent but I’d have to say the fried ones were what I was feeling at that moment. 

As for drinks, my friend ordered a Banana Shake, and I got an Oreo one. I will warn you that the milkshakes here are not cold, they are more of a room-temp vibe. They were just ok. Probably not the type of milkshakes that Kelis would write about. Next time I’d probably try another bevy option instead. 

I was really excited to order the Mushroom Chowmein because it looked so delicious from the menu photo. It is such a generous portion and packed full of sautéed veggies along with the mushrooms. It had a rich flavour with a nice little kick and frankly, this dish stood out. My partner and I also decided to get Tofu Stairs which were certainly a tasty choice. The dish has big chunks of tofu bathing in a delicious oyster mushroom sauce that is seasoned with Nepali spices and wrapped with a little ribbon of seaweed. It came served with a side of white rice too. I probably would have loved the tofu stairs more if I hadn’t spent a week in the mountains having rice with every meal 😅. But the tofu alone was quite tasty and the sauce was divine. 

Our friends ordered the Cauliflower Wings and they really enjoyed them. They are perfectly fried and pack a delicious crunch. They also ordered the Arancini which I soon became envious of – it was incredible. Picture a large tennis-ball-sized creamy risotto rice ball complete with a delightfully seasoned red sauce marinara topped with vegan cheese. Highly recommend ordering this if you go! 

Overall this was a fun spot with a great menu. The vegan food we had was delicious and the ambiance was lovely. Unfortunately, some items were unavailable, which happens, but our choices were a little limited. It would have been nice to try a couple more things on the menu. 

4. Places Restaurant and Bar (Vegan Food Options) – 4/5

Another gem situated in Thamel is Places Restaurant and Bar. While not entirely vegan, they are a vegetarian restaurant and offer a number of vegan options on the menu. This place was located on the second floor and had such a cute vibe – you could choose to sit at a table with chairs, or at a coffee table and seated on some cushions for a more relaxed vibe. We chose the table and chairs at the window, overlooking the busy streets of Thamel and got to watch the neighbourhood come alive while we ate our breakfast. 

As always, we had to try the momos. Once we saw the Pesto Momo listed on the menu we needed them as our starter. They are steamed dumplings made from pesto dough, are super delicious, and definitely a hit. We couldn’t stop reaching for them. Naturally, we made another order. When in Nepal right? And there it was on the menu, a pumpkin momo. Sounds intriguing right? I thought so. We all agreed and ordered that next and wow, I have to say these are a must! They come with a chilli-chocolate sauce, which I know seems like a weird combination, but trust me. It was amazing! These sweet momos were certainly something to write home about. 

For drinks, I ordered a Green Detox Fresh Juice. I was attempting to keep a healthy balance in my system before heading home. It had green apple, cucumber, spinach, mint and celery in it, both refreshing and delicious. On the same health mission, my partner got a True Blood Probiotic Drink that had beetroot juice, celery, apple, mint and lemon in it. He also grabbed an espresso to help with our 4am wake-up call we had that day. All of the drinks were tasty and we would recommend them!

As for the mains, we also hit the jackpot. After being at the resort for the week and seeing people eating non-vegan pancakes, I had been craving them! So my partner and I ordered them. These vegan pancakes were everything I had been dreaming about over the past week. Nothing wildly exceptional but I feel like the joy of pancakes is that they are a “what you see is what you get” kind of meal. Both comforting and exactly what I was looking for. They did come with an almond/coconut butter to spread which was a nice way to elevate a traditional pancake. Overall I enjoyed them. Our friends got some non-vegan options on the menu and they really enjoyed them too. They were lucky enough to have a few extra days in Nepal and went back a few times!

This was a great spot and a wonderful option if you’re looking for a spot that will appeal to your vegetarian friends as well. I love restaurants with extensive menus giving everyone an option that will satisfy their tastebuds.

5. Nourish by Avata (Vegan Food Options) – 3.75 / 5

Our very last top before heading to the airport was Nourish. We literally grabbed takeout on our way to airport. Unfortunately, our experience was quite rushed, but I was able to get a glimpse of the place while we waited for our food. This vegetarian restaurant is situated on the grounds of the Avata Wellness Centre so it embodies that nourish your mind, body, soul vibe that they promote.

While we didn’t stay at this centre, it seemed to be a relaxing resort experience that offers yoga, massage therapy, sound baths, shirodhara, forest walks, and other activities for those after a holistic, healing and rejuvenating trip to Nepal. After all the travel and hustle and bustle, a day at this wellness centre sounded quite dreamy. That said, in our short time frame we had to settle for grabbing a meal to go (not very zen of us, I know).

Walking up to the path of this restaurant, it certainly had a different vibe than the other places we had been. Most of the restaurants we ate at are situated in the city chaos of Thamel. Nourish, on the other hand, is a little hidden oasis tucked away from the vibrant character Thamel offers, and in its own boho spa-vibe bubble. Comparatively, it was a more bougie, finer dining experience appealing to travellers visiting. I could see it being a nice spot to meet friends and have a nice long dinner, chatting in an intimate and calming environment. For takeout, we certainly missed out on the whole experience. I found the meal a little pricey for what we got, but then again, had we dined in, I think it would have been a different experience altogether. All this to say I wouldn’t get takeout next time.  

The vegan food, although inhaled quite quickly based on the time crunch, was tasty. My partner and I both got wraps because we figured they would be the easiest to consume in a hurry and when we have our hands full. I ordered the Mushroom Sorma made vegan, which had mushrooms, pickles, jalapeño, potato, and red onion. My partner ordered the Hummus Veggie Wrap made with veggies and mint pesto. There are so many other dishes to try but the wraps are a great introduction and I would like to try eating here again but in a more relaxing sit-down setting. 

I find it so funny that in my town in Ontario, Canada, my options for vegan restaurants are so limited, but when I travel almost 7000 miles away, vegan food is abundant and all around me. Seriously, when booking this trip I mapped out all the vegan spots close by and even marked off ones a little further in case we were heading on an adventure. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to try all the restaurants on our list but in case you haven’t gathered from this long post, I am a big fan of Nepal and plan to go back. So, in the meantime, I’ll share some extra gems we wanted to try but didn’t get the time to, and I’ll update this list as I treat my stomach by visiting Nepal again.

Other places I wanted to try:

• Utpala Cafe – Vegan
• Aniyor Veg & Vegan Restaurant – Vegan and Vegetarian
• Vegan Central – Vegan 
• French Bakery – Vegan options

Looking for vegan matcha and cute cafes?

Matcha isn’t the easiest to find while in Nepal but I did enjoy matcha at two places where I was able to get my matcha fix. 

1. Malai Matcha (vegan food options)

While exploring Buddha Steppa, I made an effort to track down Malai Matcha. This is a very small but cute cafe, attached to a hotel, offering a wide array of matcha drinks along with non-dairy milk options. This spot is mainly situated outside on a covered patio so your drink is best to enjoy with good weather. We were lucky enough to visit on a great day and it was the perfect stop after lots of walking. Being the matcha fiend that I am, I ordered both a cold and a hot latte. I wasn’t sure when I’d get the opportunity to have one again. 

2. 4 Stories (vegan food options)

Now, in Thamel, around all of the other vegan food spots I visited, was a cute little coffee shop called 4 Stories and this spot is a VIBE. It has multiple floors, maybe even 4 stories, I didn’t fact-check, but the whole aesthetic of the place was very modern, and minimal, with boho-plant vibes which is a personal favourite of decor trends. They have everything from matcha, cappuccino, cortado, flat white, espresso, macchiato, americano etc., equipped with non-dairy milk options such as soy, oat and coconut milk. This place was stunning and more suitable than the previously mentioned shop if you’re going with a bunch of friends. The place is more central, with lots of seating and a plethora of drink options that everyone would enjoy. This place was a 4.75/5 for me. 

Side note: I am not typically a cat person (I don’t dislike them, I’m just indifferent because I haven’t been around them much) and the cutest little cafe cat jumped up on my lap, unprompted, and slept there while I had my latte. That surely contributed to the adorable cafe vibes of this place. Also, the music playlist that they were bumping in there was perfection. Just a great mixture of melodic soft cafe vibes (Girl in Red was playing) that instantly made me feel welcome and relaxed while I sipped my more matcha and cozied up with the cutest kitten.

I hope you enjoyed a little glimpse of my adventure to Nepal. If you’re plant-based and looking to travel to Nepal, rest assured knowing there are so many vegan food places that you can explore. Whether you’re enjoying the vegan food options at a resort in the mountains, or indulging at all the vegan restaurants in Thamel, I can guarantee you won’t be hungry during your travels.

If you check out any of my recommendations please feel free to comment and let me know what you think. Or tag me on Instagram or Pinterest so I can travel to Nepal again vicariously through you.

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