Kathmandu Cooking Class: Learn Momo-Making & Nepali Dishes

Master authentic Nepali dishes from market to table with local chefs’ stories and skills

A hands-on cooking class in Kathmandu where you shop for ingredients at a local market, then spend three and a half hours learning to prepare three traditional Nepali dishes—including momo dumplings—from a local chef at Kathmandu Cooking Academy. The class includes a tasting session of the food you've cooked, a cup of Nepali masala tea, and hotel pickup and drop-off if you book the option that includes transport.

The Experience

The class starts with a warm welcome and traditional Nepali masala tea, then moves straight into a short market or shop visit where you pick out the fresh ingredients you'll need. This isn't a lecture about where to find things—you're actually selecting what goes into your dishes, learning what the local chefs look for and why certain ingredients matter to the flavor. Back at Kathmandu Cooking Academy, you work through three dishes step-by-step: one appetizer, one main course, and one dessert, all chosen from the academy's traditional menu. Momo-making is a highlight—you'll shape the dumplings by hand, either vegetarian or chicken, and learn the technique that makes them hold together when steamed.

Throughout the three and a half hours, you use traditional utensils and the chef walks you through not just the how but the why—the cultural background and cooking techniques behind each dish. Dal bhat, yomari, chatamari, thukpa: the menu rotates, so what you learn depends on the day and the season. After everything is cooked, you sit down to taste what you've made, which is when the class stops being instruction and becomes a meal. Whether you're a beginner picking up a knife for the first time or someone who cooks at home, the pace is built for hands-on learning, not watching from the side.

Hotel pickup and drop-off is included if you book the "Cooking Class - Pickup & Drop" option; if you choose the Thamel location or the momo-only class, you'll arrange your own transport, though public transportation options are available nearby. The academy provides all cooking equipment and accessories, so you arrive with nothing but your appetite to learn.

What’s included

• Use of all cooking equipment and traditional utensils.
• a market or shop visit to select fresh ingredients.
• step-by-step instruction from an experienced local chef in English or Hindi.
• hands-on preparation of three authentic Nepali dishes.
• momo-making experience with your choice of vegetarian or chicken filling.
• Nepali masala tea during the lesson.
• a tasting session of the food you've cooked.

Good to know

Infant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Kathmandu Cooking Academy

Is this one for you?Book the full cooking class if you want to learn multiple dishes and understand the ingredients behind them; choose the momo-only option if you have less time and want to focus on one skill. The pickup option removes the need to navigate to the academy yourself, which matters if you're unfamiliar with Kathmandu's layout or traveling without a guide.

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Top questions

What's the difference between the momo-only class and the full cooking class?

The momo-only class focuses on dumplings alone, while the full cooking class covers three dishes—an appetizer, a main course, and a dessert—plus the market trip and tasting session. The full class runs three and a half hours; the momo option is shorter and more focused.

Do I need to know how to cook to join this class?

No. The class is designed for beginners and experienced cooks alike. The chef gives step-by-step instruction, and you work hands-on with traditional utensils and techniques, so there's no prior skill required.

What dishes might I learn to make?

The menu includes dal bhat (Nepal's national dish with rice, lentil soup, and curry), momo dumplings with achar, yomari (sweet rice dumplings with jaggery), chatamari (rice pancakes), thukpa (noodle soup), and several others. The specific dishes rotate based on the day and season.

Is the market trip included, or do I buy ingredients myself?

The market or shop visit is included in the class. You go with the chef to select fresh ingredients for the dishes you'll cook that day—it's part of learning what to look for and why certain items matter to Nepali cooking.

Does the class include a meal at the end?

Yes. After cooking, you have a tasting session where you sit down and eat the food you've prepared. Nepali masala tea is also served during the class.

Which option includes hotel pickup?

The "Cooking Class - Pickup & Drop" option includes hotel pickup and drop-off. The other options—momo-only and the Thamel location class—do not include transport, though public transportation is available nearby.