First things first—to the marketing genius who named a restaurant Sekuwa by Kilo: take a bow. It’s brilliant. It’s direct. It’s pure Gorkhali logic. If these guys ever open a jewelry store, we already know it’ll be called "Gold by Tola." If they open a pharmacy? "Paracetamol by the Dozen." It’s the kind of branding that makes you feel like you’re getting a bulk deal on life itself.

But we aren't here to admire the signage. We’re here because Sekuwa by Kilo went viral on TikTok with a lunch menu starting at Rs 99. In this economy? That’s not just a deal; that’s a miracle. So, I grabbed a colleague (because you never face a Rs 99 mystery meal alone) and headed over to one of their joints to see if the reality matched the 15-second hype.

The Feast (Or: How Much Can You Eat for the Price of almost a half a liter of Petrol?)

The menu is a pricing rollercoaster. Momos and chowmein are the legendary Rs 99 stars. Pizza steps up to Rs 199, and other items hover around Rs 149. We decided to order the entire kitchen.

  • The Momos: You get 10 pieces. They were actually solid. At this price, I expected them to be filled with "hope and prayers," but they were decent.

  • The Chowmein: This is where the "Gorkhali Grit" kicked in. The noodles were moto (thick), looking like they’d been hitting the gym. Unfortunately, they also looked like they’d been hitting the fire too long—slightly burnt.

  • The Keema Noodles: Same story. It felt like the chef was cooking in massive batches and forgot the bottom layer was turning into charcoal.

  • The Biryani: The rice was great, but the "Chicken" Biryani was more like "A Piece of Chicken Who Once Knew a Biryani." Just one tiny piece.

  • The Pizza: Surprisingly, this was the MVP. Great taste, no complaints.

The "Gorkhali" Gripe

The ambience? Top-notch. The staff? Polite enough to make you feel like you aren't just paying 99 bucks. Parking? You could fit a dozen SUVs and half of Kathmandu’s bikes there.

But then came the heartbreak. I ordered a Chicken Burger. The waiter came back, looked me in the eye, and apologized because they were out of buns.

Ayo Gorkhali! You’re a massive chain! You have enough parking for a small army, but you can’t keep a 20-rupee bun in stock? Did the TikTok influencers eat them all? It’s like going to a wedding and finding out they ran out of rice.

The Verdict

Look, for Rs 99, you can’t expect a Michelin star. You’re getting a full belly for less than the price of a liter of petrol. Sekuwa by Kilo's lunch menu deal is perfect for the student, the hustler, or the person who spent all their money on mobile data for TikTok.

Just a word of advice to the management: check the bottom of the wok, put a second piece of chicken in the Biryani, and for the love of all that is holy—buy some burger buns.

I’ll be back for the actual sekuwa some evening. Hopefully, by then, the "Kilo" will include the bread.

Final Score: 7/10 (Would have been an 8 if I got my burger).

What’s your limit for a 'budget' lunch—is Rs 99 too cheap to trust, or just the right amount of risky?