From Mr Foodie in Nepal to starting again in London.

At a London bus stop in the middle of the night, Upesh Mahato cried. His shift washing dishes had ended, but he still had hours of night buses ahead before he could sleep. In Nepal, people had known him for reviewing food. In London, he was cleaning plates and working with chemicals that made his hands swell.

It is a sharp image from his conversation with UKMandu, but Upesh does not tell it to dismiss honest work. He tells it to show what a move abroad can demand of a person—and why the glossy version of student life leaves so much out.

The UK was never the original plan

Upesh had hoped to go to the United States, where his sister lived. The UK became an alternative when the US route felt uncertain. He had already spent three years working in business development in Nepal and had built a following through his Mr Foodie content. He did not leave because he had run out of ideas at home.

The decision came during a painful period for his family. His elder brother died suddenly in Japan, leaving emotional and financial pressures that Upesh felt a responsibility to help carry. With costs connected to bringing his brother home and existing family loans, he decided to study for an MBA at Middlesex University London and seek a more stable financial path.

A different London from the one he pictured

Upesh says he arrived without money in his pocket because he did not want to ask more of his mother. A roommate gave him time to find his feet by allowing him to pay his rent later. He took what work he could, including preparing momos for Nepali restaurants, before an agency found him night shifts as a kitchen porter.

The work itself was demanding. The journey home after a late finish could take most of the night, and the cleaning chemicals affected his hands. After about a month, he left that job. He remembers the bus stop not as a moment of defeat, but as part of the reality that many newcomers quietly endure.

Work, dignity and knowing your worth

Upesh also speaks about a period when he had to keep asking an employer for wages he says were delayed for more than two months. It shaped his view of how vulnerable newcomers can be when they need work urgently. He encourages students to understand their rights, keep their work within the conditions that apply to them and avoid accepting unfair treatment simply because they feel they have no choice.

His next opportunity came through a formal vacancy. He put both his hospitality and marketing experience on his CV, completed a trial shift and was hired. For him, that change showed the value of presenting the skills he already had, even after a difficult start.

How Mr Foodie found his voice

Long before London, Mr Foodie began with curiosity about restaurants and encouragement from a college friend, who designed the first logo. Upesh admits his early reviews were too generous when meals were free. A mentor challenged him to think about the people who would spend their own money after seeing a recommendation.

He began learning more about food and giving more thoughtful feedback. The aim, as he describes it, is to be fair to the people who watch his content and constructive with the businesses he visits. The audience’s trust matters more than a free meal.

Would he recommend the same journey?

Upesh is candid about the costs of studying abroad. He is particularly concerned about teenagers taking on large loans for a three year undergraduate course while trying to manage work, tuition and loneliness. He sees more value in a master’s degree when a student genuinely wants education and wider life experience, but warns against expecting a quick financial return.

He also encourages newcomers to meet people beyond familiar circles, learn from classmates with different backgrounds and explore the city without spending heavily. Small experiences can build confidence, perspective and a sense of belonging.

The dream is still alive

Upesh hopes to develop a food and hospitality idea in Nepal one day, built around something distinctive rather than another copy of a crowded concept. His route has not been straight: a family tragedy, a difficult arrival, delayed wages and a new start all sit alongside the creativity that made him Mr Foodie.

So, was leaving Nepal for the UK the right decision? His story resists a simple answer. The hardships were real, and so were the skills, relationships and resilience he gained. What remains clear is his respect for honest work and his determination not to let a difficult chapter decide the rest of his life.