Most vegetarian and vegan diners in the South Bay have a mental shortlist of “safe” cuisines — Indian, Mediterranean, maybe Thai. Nepali food rarely makes that list, mostly because people haven’t looked closely at what a Nepali kitchen with real vegetarian range can build. Kathmandu Los Altos is worth adding to that list: its vegetarian sections aren’t an afterthought bolted onto a meat-forward menu, they run parallel to it, category for category.
Note: this guide covers vegetarian and vegan dining broadly. Diners following stricter Jain dietary principles (no onion, garlic, or root vegetables) should see the restaurant’s separate, dedicated Jain Specials guide — that is a distinct framework from general vegetarian or vegan eating and gets its own full treatment.
Vegetarian Range, Category by Category
Start with soups: Tomato Soup ($12.60), Lentil Soup ($12.60), Veg Manchow Soup ($12.60), Veg Sweet Corn Soup ($12.60), and Veg Thukpa ($14.70) cover the full range from light broth to a complete noodle-soup meal. Appetizers go deep too — Veg Pakora ($12.60), Paneer Pakora ($12.60), Paneer 65 ($12.60), Cauliflower Gobi Manchurian ($15.75), and the potato-forward trio of Mustang Fries ($10.50), Honey Chilli Potato ($14.70), and Hot and Numb Potato ($14.70) mean a vegetarian table can build an entire shared-plate appetizer round without repeating a single dish.
The Veg Curries section is where the depth really shows: eighteen distinct curries, including Palak Paneer ($16.80), Butter Paneer ($16.80), Paneer Tikka Masala ($16.80), Chana Masala ($14.70), Mixed Veg Korma ($15.75), Aalu Bhanta (Baingan) Curry ($14.70), and Tofu Saag ($14.70) for diners who want the paneer flavor profile without dairy-forward richness. Chili specials add Paneer Chilli ($16.80), Baby Corn Chilli ($15.75), Tofu Chilli ($14.00), and Mushroom Chilli ($15.75) for a wok-fired, Indo-Chinese angle.
Even the Sekuwa (BBQ) section, usually the most meat-dominant part of a Nepali menu, has real vegetarian representation: Veg Sekuwa ($22.05), Paneer Tikka BBQ Set ($18.00), and Mushroom Tandoori Set ($14.00) bring the same Himalayan grilling tradition to plant-based plates.
The Vegan Line-Up, Specifically
Vegan dining requires more than removing meat — dairy (paneer, ghee, butter, yogurt) has to go too, and that’s where many “vegetarian-friendly” restaurants quietly fall short. Kathmandu Los Altos addresses this directly with dishes built vegan from the ground up.
Katahar (Jackfruit) Curry (Vegan) ($14.70) is the standout: young jackfruit’s shreddable, fibrous texture gives the curry a substantial, almost pulled-meat quality while staying entirely plant-based — no dairy, no ghee finish. On the momo side, the Impossible Momo line (Steamed $16, Fried $16.80, Chilli $17.85, Jhol $17.85, Kothey $17.85) uses plant-based Impossible filling across every cooking style the restaurant offers. The Jackfruit Momo Dumplings (8), Vegan ($14) is a newer addition using the same jackfruit approach as the curry, in dumpling form. For guests managing both a vegan and gluten-free diet at once — a combination that eliminates most menus entirely — the Gluten Free Vegan Momo (8) ($20) is a dedicated answer. Mixed tables can order the Half and Half Momo (Veg+Impossible Steamed) ($15) to split a plate between a vegetarian and a vegan diner without ordering two full portions.
Building a Vegetarian or Vegan Table
Solo vegetarian lunch: Veg Thukpa ($14.70) or a Veg Thakali Thali ($21) for a complete, balanced plate in one order.
Vegan dinner for two: Start with Veg Pakora ($12.60), move to Katahar (Jackfruit) Curry ($14.70) and an Impossible Momo Chilli ($17.85), with Plain Naan ($5.25) or rice on the side — check that any naan ordered is vegan-appropriate, since Butter and Cheese Naan are not.
Mixed table (vegetarian, vegan, and meat-eaters together): Order a Momo Platter alongside a Half and Half Momo (Veg+Impossible), a Paneer curry for the vegetarians, and a Sekuwa protein for the meat-eaters — one table, one order, no separate menus needed.
Why This Menu Depth Matters
A vegetarian or vegan diner eating out regularly gets used to having two or three “safe” items on any given menu and building a meal around them by default. Kathmandu Los Altos flips that dynamic — the vegetarian and vegan sections are large enough that the limiting factor is appetite, not menu availability. That is a genuinely different dining experience, and it’s worth the trip to 376 1st St, Los Altos, CA 94022 to experience it. Hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 11 AM–3 PM and 5–9 PM, and Friday through Sunday 11 AM–3 PM and 5–10 PM (closed Tuesday).
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Kathmandu Los Altos a good option for vegans, not just vegetarians? A: Yes. Beyond standard vegetarian dishes (which may include dairy like paneer or ghee), the restaurant has vegan-specific items: Katahar (Jackfruit) Curry, the full Impossible Momo line, Jackfruit Momo Dumplings, and Gluten Free Vegan Momo.
Q: What’s the difference between this vegetarian/vegan guide and the Jain dining guide? A: This guide covers general vegetarian and vegan eating (no meat, and for vegan, no dairy). Jain dining follows a stricter framework that also excludes onion, garlic, and root vegetables. See the restaurant’s dedicated Jain Specials guide for that framework specifically.
Q: Are naan and rice dishes vegan? A: Plain Naan is vegan-appropriate; Butter Naan and Cheese Naan are not, since they contain dairy. Rice sides (plain or brown) are vegan by default.
Q: What’s the best vegan momo option? A: The Impossible Momo line (steamed, fried, chilli, jhol, kothey, $16–$17.85) and the Jackfruit Momo Dumplings ($14) are both fully vegan and cover different textures — Impossible mimics ground meat, jackfruit mimics pulled meat.
Q: Can a table with vegetarians, vegans, and meat-eaters order together easily? A: Yes — the Half and Half Momo (Veg+Impossible Steamed, $15) and a shared Momo Platter alongside individual curries or Sekuwa proteins make this straightforward in one order.
Q: Do you have gluten-free vegan options? A: Yes, the Gluten Free Vegan Momo (8) at $20 is built specifically for guests avoiding both meat/dairy and gluten.
