My cousin once told me that he has a rich friend who would travel all the way to Pokhara from Kathmandu just for a plate of “Thakali Khana Set”. Well, that’s a crazy idea to travel 200 meters for just a plate of rice I thought but as I traveled to Pokhara and stayed in the tourist capital for a couple of years, I can now say the idea of traveling from Kathmandu till Pokhara is not that crazy as it sounds, unless you are rich.
Why Thakali Khana Set tastes better in Pokhara ?
Situated 200 km south-west of Kathmandu, this beautiful valley has its culinary roots from Mustang. Thakali in fact refers to the indigenous tribe from Mustang, who have settled in Pokhara and are credited for preparing the typical way of rice so glamorous. As I research further, ‘the typical taste’ lies in the source ingredients they use. Spinach from Marpha, Sichuan pepper from Kagbeni, Ghee from Upper Mustang, and potatoes from Ghorapjang. (Marpha, Kagbeni, and Ghorpjang are places in Mustang). The trans-Himalayan district sits on to best alluvial soil. Along with the cold weather adds in more flavor in their produce. As farm-to-plate is now available with access to road transport, we can get the latest and fresh produce from the “Himal Pari ko Desh”(land beyond the Himalayas) on our tables.
Top 5 Picks on the best Thakali Restaurant in Pokhara
Each restaurant is uniquely tasty on its own. I do not endorse any restaurant, Consider this is for pure personal information sharing. My picks for the top 5 Thakali Restaurants are as follows:
This restaurant started as a small eatery serving the locals and taxi drivers in the 90’s. From rugged झोपरट्टी this has become a name amongst tourists. Situated in a silent corner of Lakeside, this restaurant boasts a unique taste. The non-veg options are fixed to ‘mutton’ or ‘chicken’, while Chicken in Maili Thakali means the local chicken.
- Mantra Thakali and Restaurant
Mantra Thakali in Pokhara operates from two locations, one in Lakeside and another in core city New Road, right after the Bhatbhateni Supermarket. While both are equally good, I always prefer the one located on New Road. Mantra Thakali offers a distinctive khana menu that sets it apart from other Thakali eateries. Their hospitality is exceptional, and they also provide a variety of options, serving traditional Thakali dishes to cater to all tastes. At the New road branch of Pokhara, while ordering chicken, they ask for options like gravy or Jhol.
This restaurant is named after the GI Tagged produce of Pokhara “Jetho Budho”. This tasty rice is locally produced only in Pokhara. This newly opened restaurant sits on a beautiful location at Lakeside street, overseeing the tourist street. When it comes to food it’s uniquely for it’s tasty rice. I totally love the ambience here with old wooden structure as I am in Kathmandu
It is a homely restaurant located away from the tourist zone. Damside, or Pardi, which was once the most vibrant area in Pokhara, still boasts some of the best restaurants and offers stunning sightseeing spots. This restaurant along with their ‘khana set’ also offers other traditional Thakali foods as well and if you ask any locals from Pokhara they might endorse this restaurant for their old name. While only a few restaurants offer Fish Thali, the fish dishes at this restaurant are exceptionally good.
Not known to many, Airport Thakali is among the oldest Thakali restaurants in Pokhara. As its name, the restaurant resides in front of the old domestic airport. I noticed that this restaurant is wholly operated by women, only at the counter was a male. It’s a regular go-to highway-side eatery. Being near to Prithvi Chowk, the end of Prithvi Highway, you might see busy bus travelers here. However, this restaurant has made a good impression on its taste competing with other fancy restaurants.