Two dollar steaks from Nepal
by Dave from The Longest Way Home ~ November 1st, 2012. Published in: Travel blog » Food around the world » Nepalese food.
Two dollar steak from Kathmandu Nepal
Are two dollar steaks still possible in Nepal?
No. Well yes, in the off-season if you really know where to go. And I’ve stopped asking now. In 2007 when I first arrived in Nepal I was blown away with the ease I could get a beef steak in Nepal. Considering the Hindu population and how the “holy cow” is revered I always found it a little intriguing.
Best of all the streaks in Nepal were delicious.
Today streaks in Nepal are still easily available in all the big cities. Even up a mountain on a trek! The prices vary wildly and are increasing steadily. So today, I’m saying goodbye to my old two dollar steak meal.
Everest Base Camp Steak
Where does the steak come from in Nepal?
Bangladesh via the Terrai region in southern Nepal. Bangladesh is mainly a Muslim country so there are no qualms in farming beef cattle and producing consumption beef for its own market. And, the international market. With exports silently flowing into India and not so silently into Nepal. Both mainly for the tourist industry.
The Terrai region in Nepal is a huge flatland area that’s one if not the largest trading routes flowing in and out of Nepal. During strikes in this region it’s not unusual for beef steak to be dropped from menus in Nepal along with many other foodstuffs.
What does a steak taste like in Nepal?
Excellent on all accounts. Yes there is some confusion over the cuts of beef. But generally speaking it’s of high quality. The cooking of steak is done in many variations from frying to grilling and even roasting.
Steak by candlelight in Nepal
Ask for a filet mignon and you will probably get the same as a regular steak in mushroom sauce. That said in many dedicated steak houses you will have an entire menu with different sauces and cuts to choose from.
Where can you buy a two dollar steak in Nepal?
There was only one place that was serving a $2 steal in Kathmandu up until recently. It wasn’t a dedicated steak house but a fast food outlet in Thamel. It’s not a particularly great place, but popular with people coming back from bars at night.
Inside there was a Mexican steak and a regular cheese steak. One was the equivalent to two dollars the other two dollars fifty.
The cheese steak is the one you see in the top photo. It’s was actually a huge portion and very filling. Today though I’m sad to say that after the tourist season ended the price stayed elevated. It’s more like $4.00 now.
I made a fuss that it was no longer tourist season and the prices should come back, but it was a no go. The staff here change rapidly and so no one knew me. The head waiter guy did seem to remember the old prices though so I did get my last $2 steak there.
Steak house menu from Nepal – no two dollar steaks here (click to enlarge)
I’ve since discovered a far out cafe in Pokhara serving cheap steaks, but it’s nothing as good. So while you can still get a $2 steak in Nepal the old saying of “tough as a two dollar steak” now holds true.
Other places to get steaks in Nepal?
Just about everywhere. I’m including some of the steaks I’ve had after a trek. It’s a treat then. While the prices are high in standard. It’s still only 5+ dollars.
Don’t fret though. A little later I’ll introduce you to the mother of all steaks – the Chateaubriand Steak.
You won’t believe this one!
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This is an additional article featuring Nepalese food
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I think you’ve just about covered everything now!
Steaks need to be there!
Who wouldn’t mind a two dollar steak? It’s more like 25 dollar steaks here.
$25??? Ouch!
$2 wow!!!!!
$2?? Incredible! I think the cheapest steak I’ve had so far (home cooked) still cost $5 for the raw meat!
I’m sure your home cooking is much better
I’ve had steak for around the same price in Thailand, but there they kind of play it fast and loose with the term “steak”. These ones actually look pretty decent!
There’s something similar in The Philippines called “Beef Steak” but like you say, it’s not what I’d call beef steak either!
I was wondering about the whole Hindu thing myself! Does anyone eat beef in Nepal aside from tourists?
Aside from the non-hindu population I don’t see many eating it. The cow is revered here but there is a section of the population who “wouldn’t say no”.
I never saw any $2 steaks while I was in Nepal recently (at least not any that deserve the name “steak”), but I ate at the Everest Steak House a bunch of times and was paying about $4 for an excellent steak.
Niceee! Thanks for sharing! I’m particularly amused how you insisted on your previous $2 steak haha. Hopefully it works on others
Considering it is a Hindu country that is o probably the largest steak menu I have seen! You’ve got me hungry now
I’m currently in Thamel and am looking for the famous steak. Where is it? Btw, are you still here in Nepal?
Which famous steak? For good steaks it’s Everest Steak House. Bottom of Thamel near/just before Parknajol road. For the cheap steaks go to Crazy Burger in Thamel. Both are marked out in my Guide to Thamel or for try this larger map of Thamel to see them more clearly. Resting up in Pokhara. As mentioned above, you won’t get $2 dollar steaks anymore though!