Tucked away down a narrow side alley off of a slightly less narrow alley, this hole-in-the-wall 4-table restaurant is only ever discovered by guests at the few hotels which also reside in this hidden block of Thamel. Luwangsha is by far the friendliest restaurant I found in all of Thamel.

It is owned and operated by a local husband and wife with the help of various other family members. The husband was a chef at a resort before quitting to start his own place. All they serve is traditional Thakali food at the lowest prices in Thamel. A plate of 10 buffalo or chicken momos will set you back only 70 or 90 Nepalese Rupees, respectively. All the cooking is done by the husband or wife, while the other family members help out with serving/ordering. The entire family is very friendly and on numerous occasions I and other guests would find us staying inside past closing hours to join the family in cards games and/or drinks.

Best Bet? Undoubtedly, thukpa. It comes in vegetarian, egg, chicken, and buffalo varieties, all priced between Rs 60-90. This thick noodle, veg and meat soup is surprisingly filling.