From Japanese to Tibetan food, eating alone can be lively too

Wandering in Pokhara, I love sneaking into alleyways alone to eat—no need to cater to others’ tastes, no need to wait for anyone. Sitting with a bowl of rice, staring at snow-capped mountains in a daze, it’s a wonderful kind of freedom. Here are 5 solo dining spots I tried, with surprises and misses—follow this guide and you won’t go wrong～ 1️⃣ Aozora 🍱｜The most hassle-free Japanese eatery, perfect for solo diners Tired from wandering Lakeside, I popped into this Japanese restaurant with an “Aozora” sign. No Japanese staff in sight—more like local chefs making “adapted Japanese food,” but it’s quick and convenient, ideal for a solo quick bite. Tried the oyakodon (chicken and egg rice bowl) in Photo 1: Chicken pieces marinated in soy sauce, ginger, and garlic, pan-fried to a slight crisp, with silky egg coating the meat. A spoonful mixed with rice— (unfortunately) the rice was local long-grain, a bit hard and rough, slightly letting down the tasty chicken. The ramen in Photo 2 was decent: Light pork bone broth, thin but tender chashu, and a perfectly runny onsen egg, yolk oozing down the chopsticks 🍜. Order a main + a cup of green tea for a solo meal—won’t cost much, and you’ll leave ready to explore the lake again. Great value! 2️⃣ cafe camilia ☕🇰🇷｜A gem run by Korean owners, no bad choices! Highly recommended by many, and it lived up to the hype! A small shop run by a Korean couple, menu mixing Korean dishes, light meals, and coffee—far from “traditional Korean food,” but every bite feels “thoughtful,” perfect for a satisfying solo meal. Highly recommend the bibimbap in : Nothing like the Korean bibimbap we’re used to—no heavy gochujang, but a sauce seasoned with local spices, mixed with charred zucchini, carrots, and a runny fried egg. Stir it up and the crispy rice crust crunches—so fragrant it makes you tap your feet! Their breakfast set is amazing too: Toast crispy outside, soft inside, slathered with homemade honey butter, paired with a latte. Sit by the window watching Lakeside life go by, and a solo morning feels unhurried～ 3️⃣ dorjee Tibetan Restaurant 🍲｜A hidden surprise, beef noodle soup is legendary! This Tibetan restaurant is a bit tucked away—pushing the door feels like stepping into a cozy cabin. The lighting is so dim it’s impossible to take good food photos (seriously, no usable shots 😅), but the taste makes you overlook everything. The beef noodle soup with flat dough pieces is a game-changer: Freshly pulled dough, thin as paper, sliding into your mouth. Beef stewed tender, broth fragrant with Tibetan spices—even friends who’ve been to Tibet sighed, “This soup is better than many in Tibetan areas!” Big momo is actually a big steamed bun, with fluffy, cloud-like dough. Bite into it and hot filling spills out (vegetable with vermicelli is super fresh, meat with a hint of Sichuan pepper). One fills you up, perfect for a solo main～ 4️⃣ cindermint ☕｜A morning haven for brunch lovers If you want a quiet place to eat breakfast, this is it. A cute, airy spot with sunlight streaming through windows—order a meal + coffee, and you can sit for hours alone. The mousse bowl + egg croissant in is a must: Yogurt-based mousse mixed with banana and oats, light and not cloying. Croissant crispy with layers, filled with runny scrambled eggs and ham—salty and fragrant in every bite. Add an iced Americano, total around 1300 NPR (≈60 RMB)—great value ☕🥐. 5️⃣ juicery cafe 🥴｜An “internet-famous” flop, (avoid!) warning! Hyped up in guides as an “internet-famous cafe,” but it turned out to be the most underwhelming meal of the trip… My friend’s French toast was sickeningly sweet, like a whole jar of sugar poured over bread; my eggs benedict with fried mushrooms was salty enough to make me wince, mushrooms still a bit raw. We ended up swapping bites—me using his sweetness to balance my saltiness, him using my saltiness to dilute his sweetness. It was quite a funny scene 😅. The vibe is “instagrammable”: Window seats with street views, but flies buzzed around, killing any photo mood. Maybe we ordered wrong? Probably won’t be back… Tried a few Chinese restaurants too—generally worse than those in Kathmandu (e.g., yuxiang shredded pork lacked vinegar zing, tomato and egg too bland)—no need to recommend them separately～ Eating alone in Pokhara is best for taking your time—sitting in a Japanese restaurant watching rain, squatting in a Tibetan restaurant sipping soup, even staring at a laptop in a cafe. It’s all your own, slow, happy time～ #PokharaFood #NepalTravel #SoloTravel #FoodHunt