From Misses to Hits—These Spots Won Over My Stomach 🌮

Days wandering Pokhara always include “which spot to eat at today” on my happiness list. Scanning streets with my phone, I’ve hit duds and found gems—these spots in the photos hold my true feelings from “frowning” to “cleaning the plate”… 🌱 ｜Chinese Garden Restaurant: Some Surprises, More Annoyance I was lured in by the “Chinese Garden” sign when passing by Five Crossroads—it’s really spacious, with red wooden tables, chairs, and lanterns, feeling like a sudden trip back to a Chinese restaurant. I ordered spinach in broth, and was confused when it arrived: it’s stir-fried with shredded pork! The spinach was tender with a crunch, the broth mixed with meat aroma, richer than plain stir-fry. Tofu fish soup was even better—milky white broth with soft tofu and small fish pieces, a sprinkle of cilantro, and one sip made me squint with freshness. Shredded potato salad, thin-cut with just the right tangy-spicy kick, paired with rice for extra helpings. Just as I was enjoying it, checkout hit a snag: the bill listed “tax” separately. It was only a few RMB, but after eating at dozens of Pokhara spots, I’d never seen this. The owner said “it’s a rule,” but it left a weird feeling—tasty, yes, but this “formality” makes me not want to return. 🍚｜Chinese Kitchen Doboto Restaurant: My “Pokhara Canteen” A friend practically forced me to try this place, and I became a regular after the first visit. Tucked in an alley off the main street, the small storefront has a faded “Chinese Kitchen” wooden sign, but pushing the door always reveals regulars—Chinese uncles packing fried rice, students bringing foreign friends, and a Sichuan owner with a loud voice: “Want twice-cooked pork today?” Prices on the wall: stir-fried veggies 80 NPR, tomato scrambled eggs 120 NPR, priciest fish-flavored shredded pork 200 NPR—nearly half cheaper than Chinese Garden. Portions are generous: tomato eggs with fluffy golden eggs, sauce enough to mix two bowls of rice; mapo tofu uses local soft tofu, spicy but not burning, perfect with porridge to warm the stomach. Now I head here without thinking at mealtimes—after all, in a foreign country, affordable, tasty “home-style” food is more healing than anything. 🍖 ｜Grilled Pork Chop & Fried Chicken: Try the Chicken, Skip the Chop Craving meat one day, I followed navigation to this BBQ spot. An open-air stall with a charcoal grill sizzling, the owner fanning smoke, aroma drifting far. I ordered grilled pork chop and fried chicken: the chicken had a crispy golden crust, juice “zipping” out when bitten, sprinkled with chili powder—so good I gnawed to the bone. But the pork chop disappointed—thick-cut, but a fishy taste lingered, like it wasn’t cleaned properly. Even with sauce, I left half uneaten. Try the chicken if you want a change, but skip the chop—Pokhara has better meat spots, no need to settle～ 🥟 ｜Himalayan Dorjee Restaurant: Beef Momo Reigns! I’ve raved about this Tibetan spot before, but it surprised me again. Tried beef momo for the first time—steaming hot when served, beef and scallion aroma hitting my nose as the steamer lid lifted. Bigger than other momos, pleated like little ingots. Bite a ，and juice flows out—filling is solid minced beef with ginger and onion, tender but not loose. Fried momo is even better: crispy crust, tender meat inside, dipped in Tibetan chili sauce—so good I wanted to chew the skin. Stir-fried baby bok choy was a happy surprise: lightly stir-fried with garlic and salt, leaves tender enough to squeeze water, slightly sweet to cut the momo’s richness. Great spots just don’t miss—no matter what you order! The point of food hopping in Pokhara? Surprises and regrets. Misses teach you to choose better next time; favorites get revisited. After all, a happy stomach makes life tastier～ #Pokhara #PokharaFood #NepalEats #ChineseStomachInNepal