There’s a new restaurant in Lalitpur: Tengoku — Feel The Difference. Restaurants and Cafes inside Kathmandu valley are overabundant and the fact that every boulevard of the city has a plethora of such fancy restaurants often makes us perplexed to make a smart choice.
While nightclubs and bars are taking over the market, the culture of going to a fine dining restaurant and other eateries with your friends and families has transformed and now the young generation is in search of a great blend: a place where you can enjoy live music, dine like in a fine diner, enjoy serene ambiance for quality time and a crowd-friendly restaurant, all served up in one plate!
Tengoku: Feel The Difference/Facebook
If you’re in quest of such place, Tengoku Lounge and Bar, situated in the heart of Kathmandu valley, is a perhaps a smart choice. I wandered into the restaurant one evening with a friend on a Friday night and was immediately impressed by the friendly nature and hospitality of staffs and of course the cozy yet lively ambiance of the place!
Opening Hours: 11:00 AM- 10:00 PM
Location:
Easily accessible from any part of the town, the restaurant is located in Kumaripati, Lalitpur, on 5th and 6th floor of a building with a big Yahama showroom. The official opening of the restaurant took place on New Year 2075 and it is already becoming a favorite hang out place for the most youngsters.
Atmosphere/Decor:
“Tengoku”, the name derived from Japanese phrase that means paradise or a kingdom of heaven definitely gives one a feeling of ultimate happiness and euphoria as you enter the place. The place has three different settings:
- A sitting area with bar on the 5th floor that resembles a cottage decor fused with the luxury of modernity. Sitting at any table you can watch the big screen tv on the wall where you can enjoy movies and live matches.
- A lounge area with attached bar on the 6th floor, perfectly arranged with leather couches, a comfortable setting to enjoy the booze and live music. A live band plays songs every weekend and you can enjoy the special events of the place like ladies night, game nights with amazing discounts.
- A Terrace with beautiful garden from where you can see the breathtaking view of Kathmandu valley. The system of the open kitchen will definitely impress you and the sight of professional chefs working together to prepare masterpiece of a dish is satisfactory.
Food:
Tengoku serves an array of exquisite cuisine; Indian, Nepali, Continental, and Japanese, hence the place is convenient for different people with different taste and palate. The restaurant is, however, focusing on Japanese cuisine, bringing the traditional cuisine of Japan on our table using seasonal ingredients. Some of the dishes that you must try when you visit include Karaage( floured and deep fried battered chicken) and Tempura(fish, prawns or vegetables deep fried in a non-greasy batter).
With the outstanding teamwork and cooking expertise from three professional chefs, Mr. Lok Bahadur Maharjan( Former Chef Of Everest Hotel), Dinesh Maharjan( Japanese cuisine expert) and Shankhar Man Maharjan(a well-experienced chef who’s worked in Mauritius), the food in Tengoku won’t disappoint you and is worth every penny!
Special Events:
Aside from good food and comfy ambiance, the restaurant also offers special events and other entertaining activities throughout the week. The lounge organizes Ladies Night every Wednesdays and Fridays with Free cocktails and complimentary drinks for the ladies. Every weekend, they invite local bands for the live music session and it’s certainly a refreshment to watch and listen to new and young artists.
A Karaoke session, movie and game night is already on the soon-to-be list of the restaurant. Swarna Shrestha, the Marketing Manager of the restaurant explains “the main motto of Tengoku is to provide quality food, tons of entertainment and best service for the customer at a reasonable cost.”
To sum up, it’s a once-a-visit place to enjoy the best food and a fun night with your friends and families at a comfortable price.
