Not only is Nepali cuisine seriously underrated, but the food in Kathmandu and beyond is so good that it almost justifies a trip to Nepal in itself.
What though makes Nepalese cuisine so good, what are the must try foods and drinks and what is this crazy honey everyone talks about?
What the Nepali Cuisine?
If you’ve been to Bhutan or Tibet you might be of the opinion that Himalayan and mountain Buddhist cuisine is a bit shit. And to an extent you would be right. Thankfully though, Nepal is very much the outlier here, helped in large part by influences from both the north and the south.
Nepali cuisine is basically the lovechild of India and Tibet, raised by the Newars and occasionally babysat by the Chinese. From the deep valleys of Mustang to the bustling backstreets of Thamel, the cuisine reflects a ridiculous amount of diversity. While Dal Bhat is the nation’s heartbeat, it’s the layers that surround it that keep things interesting. Think fermented greens, dried meats, spicy pickles, buckwheat pancakes, yak cheese, and heavily spiced curries, often all on the same plate. And despite being largely a Hindu Buddhist country, there’s no shortage of meat on offer, which is frankly a relief when compared to the culinary sadness of some neighbouring mountain nations.
The Newari people in particular deserve credit for making Kathmandu into a culinary capital. Their love of buff, spice, and alcohol means their contribution to Nepali cuisine is both bold and booze friendly. Throw in roadside chowmein, Indian style thalis, and the odd Chinese joint, and you have a food scene that’s chaotic, brilliant, and surprisingly affordable.
10 Must Try Foods in Nepal
While some foods fairly easily make a best of Nepal food list, such as momo and the honey, creating a list of just 10 great Nepalese dishes was no easy task. Being the quintessential professional that I am though, I made the effort to get it done.
As always our 10 must try foods in Nepal count from 10 to 1, with it counting down to the best Nepalese food.
10. Ghongi
Snail curry from the Tharu people. Chewy and weird, but surprisingly moreish.
9. Chatamari
Newari style rice pancake often referred to as Nepali pizza. Comes with minced meat, egg, and spice.
8. Yomari
Sweet steamed dumplings filled with molasses and sesame paste. A dessert with some cultural clout.
7. Mustang Aloo
A dry spiced potato dish from the Mustang region. Made with local herbs, timur pepper, and wild garlic. Perfect snack food or side dish when trekking and has a smoky earthiness that sticks with you.
6. Sekuwa
Grilled meat skewers of buffalo, goat or chicken marinated in garlic, chili, and other glorious things.
5. Psychedelic Honey
Yes it’s a food. No you shouldn’t take it before hiking. Yes it might make you see gods.
4. Bara
Savoury lentil patties from the Newari kitchen. Sometimes plain, sometimes with egg or meat. Always good.
3. Sel Roti
Deep fried rice flour donuts, typically eaten during festivals. Sweet, crispy and very filling.
2. Dal Bhat
The national dish. Lentils and rice with a supporting cast of pickles, veg, and curries. Every plate is different. Every plate is home.
1. Momo
The king of Nepali cuisine. Steamed, fried, chili slathered, soupified. There is no wrong way to momo.
Street Food Nepal
The street food in Nepal in general is pretty damned epic, particularly in Kathmandu where you can get everything from Indian style snacks to spicy burgers at 3 am. Thanel alone is a rabbit warren of stalls and hole in the wall joints where you can smash pani puri, chowmein, or a buff sekuwa before stumbling back to your guesthouse.
In other cities things are a bit more simple and traditional, but again very good. Pokhara has its lakeside food trucks and Butwal does a great line in spicy aloo chat. Even dusty highway towns will throw you a surprise samosa or chow chow noodle stand when you least expect it. Quality can vary, but that’s part of the adventure. Just follow the locals and pray to whichever god you fancy.
I will be giving Nepalese street food its own article at some point, but for now that’s your lot.
10 Best Drinks to Try in Nepal
Nepal and the Nepalese are proper drinkers, with a night out in Thamel in Kathmandu justifying the flight price itself. This also means that there are some great drinks to try in Nepal, with me once again taking the time to make a top ten.
Honestly, you could easily do a 10 best beers of Nepal article by itself, but for now I’ll bunch all Nepalese drink genres in together.
10. Nepal Ice
A local lager that’s everywhere. Cold, basic, but gets the job done.
9. Mustang Coffee
Coffee with raksi, sugar, and butter. Strong, sweet, and lethal. Basically a Nepali Irish coffee.
8. Tuborg Strong
Technically Danish but brewed locally and beloved by all. Stronger than most and easy to find.
7. Gorkha Beer
Slightly malty and with more character than your average lager. Named after the famed Gurkhas.
6. Chaang
Fermented millet or rice beer. Cloudy, funky and traditionally served warm. Acquired taste but a good one.
5. Raksi
The infamous homemade rice wine. Drunk in plastic cups, tin mugs or straight from the bottle. Potent, cheap, and cultural as anything.
4. Khukri Rum
Nepal’s national rum. Dark, smooth, and works just as well in a coke as on the rocks.
3. Masala Coke
Coca Cola mixed with salt, lemon, pepper, and cumin. Sounds odd, tastes epic. Basically coke with balls. Click to learn more about #ColaQuest.
2. Tongba
Hot millet beer from eastern Nepal. You sip it through a bamboo straw and refill with hot water as you go. Great for winter nights.
1. Everest Beer
The beer you drink after a trek or even just a walk around the block. Light, drinkable, and a perfect pairing with momo.
And bonus round – there is also psychedelic honey!
Conclusion on Nepali Cuisine
Nepal is a funny place that I did not really get when I first visited, but over time the place has really grown on me. And this is in no small part related to Nepali cuisine. Yes of course it is fairly similar to Indian food, but there are enough variations, as well as influences from China, Tibet and Southeast Asia to make the food of Nepal very much its own genre.
Nepal, like Sri Lanka, is also much cleaner and safer than India, which massively adds another attraction to Nepalese cuisine. Essentially you get all the benefits of India, plus some decent momo, with far less chance of getting the resounding shits.
Click to see my tours to Nepal with YPT