Eating out in Barcelona – Kathmandu

The Spanish have never been renowned for their taste in spicy food – in fact, apart from the occasional spicy chorizo and the infamous pimientos de padron, spicy does not really register anywhere in their cooking repertoire. I remember one occasion when I had some friends over for dinner, including a Spanish girl I had invited, I prepared some Mexican food, which of course features chillies but I didn’t go over the top or so I thought until I saw the poor girl crying because of the spiciness of the chicken… That’s not to say that there are no Spanish people that like spicy food, quite the contrary, once you introduce them to it (poco a poco) they’re hooked!Unlike Chinese restaurants of which all (that I know of) are bad, Indian and Pakistani restaurants can be very good in Barcelona, the food enjoyable but it never reaches the spiciness level to which the “Vindaloo” Brits have become accustomed. The waiters do ask whether you would like to have your dish spicy but even after specifying “British spicy not Spanish spicy” it never quite gets there which is why I was very happy when I found Kathmandu in Gracia.

Kathmandu is actually a Nepalese restaurant although looking at the menu there it was hardly any different to the Indian and Pakistani menus around Barcelona, the Spanish do tend to lump all of these cuisines under the title “Comida Hindu” so I guess that would explain it.

 We started with the typical poppadoms with a selection of chutneys and yogurt dip followed by some samosas. Between three of us we then shared a Chicken Saag, a Chicken Tikka Masala and a Jheenga Machha Masala which are Prawns in a Nepalese Curry Sauce plus rice and naan. We were asked if we wanted it spicy to which we replied that we did and low and behold – it actually was spicy!! Not blow your head off spicy but just the ticket.

The food we ordered was plenty to fill us all up and there was even some left over, the best thing about it, the whole meal plus beers came to 15€ per head. Bargain!

 So if you’re looking for a real spicy curry in Barcelona, now you know.

 Kathmandú

C/Corsega 421

Barcelona

Tel: 934593769