With the rise of digital platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram, content creators are thriving. From school kids to retirees, everyone seems eager to share their next post. Among these creators is Sapana Thapa, a food blogger from Pokhara who focuses exclusively on eateries and cafes in her hometown.
A student of Population and Gender Development at Pokhara University, Sapana began her content creation journey in 2021. “My first post was about Thakali Bhancha Ghar at Mustang Chowk,” she recalls. Being a food enthusiast who frequently dined out, starting a food blog felt natural to her. According to Sapana, people in Pokhara’s food industry are warm and genuinely committed to customer satisfaction. “If I have to pick a favorite, it would be Sun Welcome Restaurant,” she shares. Her fondness for the place began with her first visit when she was touched by the story of the owners—an elderly couple known for their delicious apple pie and banana cake. Despite the woman being paralyzed for years, she continued to serve customers with dedication, inspiring the community with her resilience.
Eating junk food is bad for health!
Sapana’s TikTok account, “Mitho.moments,” boasts over 3,000 followers, but her influence goes beyond numbers. Her honest reviews have shaped the dining choices of Pokhara's locals. From promoting small tea and samosa outlets to reviewing upscale cafes in Lakeside, her work in showcasing Pokhara’s food scene is remarkable. She credits the positive feedback from her followers as her main motivation. To maintain unbiased reviews, Sapana mostly chooses the restaurants herself, although she does receive invitations from local eateries. Some offer her free food, but she doesn’t mind paying for her meals. Recently, her work has started generating income, although monetization isn’t her primary focus. For Sapana, interacting with chefs and restaurant owners is the most rewarding part of her journey. The kindness and hospitality she encounters expose her to new recipes and cooking techniques that she believes will be useful in the future.
While highlighting the vibrant food scene in Pokhara, Sapana points out that some eateries are overpriced. “There needs to be a balance between upscale cafes with grand ambiances and smaller outlets catering to locals,” she says. As Pokhara is a tourist hotspot, restaurants offering a variety of international cuisines—Chinese, Japanese, and Bhutanese—are abundant, especially in Lakeside. However, Sapana stresses the importance of preserving traditional Nepali dishes like Daal and Bhaat amidst the international influences.
Reflecting on her blogging journey, Sapana feels proud but acknowledges that there is still much to achieve. Creating a single video involves significant effort, from recording to voiceovers and editing. Yet, she enjoys the process and is committed to producing more reviews. Her top three favorite places to eat in Pokhara are Rato Mato Restaurant, Sun Welcome Restaurant, and Coffee Break. As she continues her journey with Mitho Moments, Sapana Thapa is not only influencing the food choices of locals but also promoting the rich culinary culture of Pokhara.
