When In Manila, I can’t tell you enough how much you need to travel around both the Philippines and the rest of the world. As the saying goes, “Travel is the only thing you buy, that makes you richer.”
With that said I highly recommend you book a spiritual retreat to Nepal!
I’ll talk more about the specifics about flying into Nepal. The process, visas, things needed to bring and the reason you should come to Nepal, but for now, after my first AMAZING dinner and first time trying Nepalese food, I just had to get this story out of my system.
When In Nepal, if you can, book a night or two at one of, if not THE, best boutique style hotel in Kathmandu, Nepal: the Dwarika’s Hotel. You can book through our friends at AGODA and then also book some tours and get your dinner reservations to the best restaurants or adventures through our tour guide friends Himalayan Encounters Tour Group (contact info below). You really want to spend at least one night ere at the Dwarika’s Hotel as this is also where you’ll find the absolutely tasty and authentic restaurant known as Krishnarpan.
When In France, before starting a meal, they say “Bon Appetit.” When In Nepal, they say “Krishnarpan.”
Krishnarpan literally translates to “Offering to the god Krishna.” This becomes even more apparent as you told about the traditional practice where Nepalese families would put aside food at the beginning of each day as an offer to the god KISHNA as a sign of gratitude and for good luck. So, at this restaurant, they add a small leaf shaped plate in your table settings and advise you to offer up a small gift to the god KISHNU during the first course.
The Krishnarpan Restaurant is open for dinner only, to both Dwarika’s Hotel guests and to the public, but be advised that you do need a reservation from this often fully booked restaurant.
Once you arrive you’ll first be given your customized menu that you will pick when you make your reservation. Meals start with their 6-course menu and goes up, to their 9-course menu and beyond. Being our first time trying Nepalese food we opted to go for the basic 6-course meal, which was more than enough.
After receiving your customized set menu, you’ll be asked to take your shoes off and then wash your hands. After which you are led through their exquisite dining hall onto your table. This is where the Nepalese magic begins!
Everything about the restaurant boasted both elegance and authenticity. The feel of Krishnarpan really struck a cord and made you feel like you were about to receive a home cooked, traditional, Nepalese meal.
Once seated your server then helps you put on your full sized apron, or bib… depending on how you want to look at it, or how you look in it…. as seen below…
Then comes a pouring of Rice Wine.
*WARNING: I was expecting it to be some really light type of wine but NOOO, this felt like a shot of Tequilla! It’s actually the on the picture below, in that little shot like small container next to the white wine.
Then comes the Six Course Krishnarpan Dinner:
First course:
Somaya Bajee
Assortment of Nepali hors d’oeuvres served during religious ceremonies
Second Course (my favorite of this meal):
Chyau Ko Sekuwa
Pan grilled oyster mushroom finished with fresh cream
Roti
Unleavened griddle roasted bread
Rato Simi ko Tarkari
Organic Kidney Beans Curry
Third Course:
Momo
Traditional Nepali Minced Meat Dumplings Served with Chutney
Fourth Course:
Tarkari Ko Jhol
Mixed vegetable soup cooked with Nepali Spices
Fifth Course (main course)
Sada Bhuja
Organic steamed rice
Dal Jheneko
Organic Lentil tempered with Himalayan herbs
Kukhura Ko Masu
Traditional Nepali Chicken curry cooked with aromatic Nepalese Herbs & Spices
Pidalu ra lasun ko tarkari
Alocasia and garlic cooked with Nepalese spices
Rayo ko Saag Bhuteko
Sauteed Mustard Leaf
Ramtoriya Tareko
Stir-fried okra cooked with Nepalese spices
Lapsee Ko Achaar
Homemade Hug-Plum pickle
Tyamater ko Achar
Tree Tomato Pickle
Sixth Course (Dessert):
Sikarni
Fresh yoghurt flavored with cinnamon sweetened w/ honey
Krisshnarpan Restaurant Price List
6 Course Nepali Meal
3 Starters, Soup, Main Course, Dessert & Tea/Coffee
US $32.00
9 Course Nepali Meal
5 Starters, Soup, Savory, Main Course, Dessert & Tea/Coffee
US $38.00
12 Course Nepali Meal
7 Starters, Soup, Fish, Savory, Main Course, Dessert & Tea/Coffee
US $42.00
16 Course Nepali Meal
8 Starters, Soup, Fish, Farmer’s Meal (Polenta), Savory, Main Course, Flavored Yoghurt, Fruit, Dessert & Tea/Coffee
US $48.00
22 Course Nepali Meal
14 Starters, Soup, Fish, Farmer’s Meal (Polenta), Savory, Main Course, Flavored Yoghurt, Fruit, Dessert & Tea/Coffee
US $55.00
We just tried the 6 course meal as it was our first ever Nepali meal and weren’t sure yet about it yet, so we wanted to start off easy. I’m honestly not sure what is in the 22 course meal, nor if anyone can really finish that, but it’s definitely something we want to try next time.
In the end, the assortment of exquisite spices blended together perfectly throughout the night. The service was impeccable and the food was treated perfectly from their appearance to their taste. My favorite part was the Second Course with the Oyster Mushrooms and Beans in the Roti, but the dinner as a whole was absolutely superb.
For bookings, I recommend going to Agoda.com and for your itinerary or adventures, contact Himalayan Encounters Tour Group.
Hotel Booking through Agoda.com
Tour Guides: Himalayan Encounters
PO Box 21218(Courtyard Kathmandu Guest House), Thamel, Kathmandu, NEPAL
Tel: +977-1-4700426, 4700335
Fax: +977-1-4700354
info@himalayanencounters.com
https://himalayanencounters.com/
When In Nepal, be sure to make reservations to the Krishnarpan Restaurant to try the 6 course (or more) authentic Nepalese food. If you can, spend a night at the Dwarika’s Hotel as well (post out soon.)
The DWARIKA’S HOTEL
P.O.Box-459, Battisputali
Kathmandu, Nepal
Phone: (977-1) 4479488/ 4470770
Fax: (977-1) 4471379/4478378
E-mail: info@dwarikas.com
Krishnarpan Restaurant in Kathmandu Nepal for Authentic Nepalese Food: Six Course Krishnarpan Dinner
