So Many "Chinese-Style Surprises" š³šµ
Wandering Pokhara, I worried my stomach wouldnāt adaptāthen these local eateries proved me wrong. Tucked in alleys and corners, they serve Nepali-style "Chinese dishes": juice-dripping fried dumplings, beef noodles with Chinese chili oil, stir-fries piled high with ingredients⦠Every bite says, "Donāt worry, your stomachās in good hands." Perfect for curing homesickness! š³ Rebecca Khaja Ghar: Juicy Fried Dumplings, Cheap Enough to Stock Up A tiny shop in the old district, with a glossy glass cabinet out front. "Fried dumplings" caught my eye firstāgolden, puffy, like mini pan-fried buns. 50 NPR (āĀ„2.5) gets you 4, so cheap I wanted to buy them by the kilo. First bite: crunch from the crispy shell, then savory meat mixed with onion, hot juice dribbling out. Not as juicy as Shanghaiās Yang Sheng Jian, but finding this in a foreign street? Pure satisfaction š. The table next to me raved about their set mealsāmild curry with fried egg and pickles, like "improved Chinese rice bowls." Next time, Iām trying that! š Lhasa Tibetan Restaurant: Beef Noodles + Chinese Chili Oil, So Good I Licked the Bowl This Tibetan spot near Phewa Lake hits you with beef aroma as you walk in. My beef noodles arrived with red oil floating on topānot Nepaliās spice-heavy heat, but the fragrant kick of Chinese fried chili oil. Toss it, and every noodle glistens. Beef is tender, no tough bits; noodles are hand-rolled and chewy. Their potato mash sauce, creamy with a hint of milk, mixes surprisingly well with the noodles š¤¤. Donāt skip the big momo (baozi)! Neatly pleated, with juicy pork fillingā40 NPR (āĀ„2) each. Affordable enough to make it a daily breakfast. š² Himalayan Dorjee Restaurant: Tibetan Beef Noodle Slices, Broth Good Enough to Take Home Another Tibetan spot, close to Lhasa, specializing in wide noodle slices. Slices are softer than regular noodles, soaking up the rich, clear brothāsimmered with beef bones, itās light but full of meaty flavor, no weird aftertastes. Their chili oil is spicier than Lhasaās, with a hint of Sichuan peppercorn. Drizzle it over the slices, and the heat hits just right. A friend said, "Tastes like my hometownās beef soup." Slurping it down, I ended up sweating, warm from head to toe š. 220 NPR (āĀ„11) for a bowl that fills you up. š Laxmi Khaja & Chat House: New Stir-Fry Spot, Piled High with Ingredients Stumbled on this new shop, with "stir-fried noodles" scrawled on the sign. Ordered on e on a whimāand was shocked: the plate overflowed with noodles, egg, chicken, greens, ingredients hiding the bottom. Sauce is Nepali-style but mild, salty-savory, not as heavy as other local dishes. Noodles are dry, not clumpy, coated in sauceālike "homestyle Chinese stir-fry." 150 NPR (āĀ„7.5) for a huge portion, perfect for students or budget travelers! These spots kept me going in Pokhara. Turns out, you donāt need Chinese restaurants to save your stomachāthese local spots with "Chinese vibes" hold the sweetest kindness. After all, good flavor knows no borders āØ. More finds comingāstay tuned! #food #LocalEatsWhileTraveling #FindingFoodWhileTraveling #HiddenFoodGems #LocalPeopleFood #Nepal #NepalTravel #NepalFood #Pokhara #PokharaTravel