Local food and restaurant in Nepal

Quick Insights into Local Food and Restaurant in Nepal

Dal Bhat

Dal Bhat (दाल भात) is considered Nepal's national meal: it's steamed rice (bhat) served with a seasoned lentil soup (dal), veggie curry (tarkari), pickles (achar), curd, or papad. It is the staple food for over 70% of Nepalese people, consumed at lunch or dinner by nearly all people throughout the country.

There are some variations of Dal Bhat depending on the region, such as kalo dal in the hills, or dhindo/grain substitute over 6,500 ft. Still, Dal Bhat is a hearty meal, nutritious, and will generally come with refills (unlimited), which can make it very economical. 

How Much Does it Cost?

The cost will vary depending on your style and where you eat. Generally speaking, at a simple eatery, a veg Dal Bhat (rice, lentil, veg curry), will usually run you NPR 100-300 and the meat versions with chicken or goat could be NPR 300-600+ (USD 2.50-5).

If you're enjoying Dal Bhat while trekking in a tea house or something high in the mountains, then you might have to pay somewhere in the range of NPR 900-1400 just because of the transportation/altitude.

Restaurants in Nepal to Try Dal Bhat

• Jimbu Thakali
• Tukche (Thakali cuisine)
• Thakali Ghar Aangan
• Thasang Authentic Thakali Kitchen
• Bhanchha Ghar
• Nepali Chulo
• Dalbhat Nepali Kitchen
• Mitho Daal Bhat House
• Mustang Thakali Chulo
• Asian Tea House (Pokhara)
• Nepali Thali with French Twist (dal bhat with gourmet presentation)
• Chez Caroline (Babar Mahal, Kathmandu

Momo

Momos is one of the most well-known dumpling snacks unique to Nepal and is also influenced by the cuisines of the Tibetan people and the Newari people. Momos a small dumplings made with thin flour dough and stuffed full of ground vegetables, chicken, buffalo meat, or paneer.

Momos are typically steamed, but can also be (deep fried), (pan fried)/ (kothey), (jhol), or served with spicy dipping sauces like tomato-sesame chutney. Momos are typically seen as a snack on a menu, as well as a light lunch or dinner item. Yet, they are also regarded as an undeniable street food or restaurant experience in Nepal. 

How Much Does It Cost?

The price of momo in Nepal changes according to the location as well as the type of momo you wish to eat. A plate of veg momo from street vendors or small local restaurants will cost about NPR 80-150. Chicken or buff momo will change from NPR 150-250.

In mid-range restaurants as well as mostly tourist areas, a plate of momo with items like fried, kothey, or jhol momo will likely be in the NPR 200-400 price range.

Famous Restaurants in Nepal to Try Momo

• Yangling Tibetan Restaurant (Kathmandu)
• OR2K (Kathmandu & Pokhara)
• Momo Star (Kathmandu)
• Momo Mania (Kathmandu)
• Ghangri Café (Lalitpur)
• Thamel Momo Hut (Kathmandu)
• New Everest Momo Center (Pokhara)
• Momo Cave (Pokhara Lakeside)
• Bota Simply Momo (multiple cities)
• Momo King (Kathmandu)

Sel Roti

Sel Roti is a round fried rice bread that is traditional to Nepal. It is often regarded as the best fried bread by Nepalis (and it may well be!). It is made from a combination of grounded rice, milk, sugar, and ghee, and has a delicious, crispy golden crust with a soft, slightly sweet inside that is an amazing way to start any day.

Generally, it is served with curd (dahi) or milk tea, and sometimes vegetable curry. It is additionally a central food to festivals like Tihar and Dashain, weddings, and sometimes even every big family occasion.

Sel Roti is often classified as homemade traditional food; however, occasionally, there may be locations that have fresh Sel Roti available for customers from a few tea shops or marketplaces, often in the mornings or evenings.

How Much Does It Cost?

Sel Roti is one of the traditional Nepalese foods, which is a low-cost food. By itself, Sel Roti would be about NPR 20-40 on its own at a local tea stall, or if you were having Sel Roti with tea or curd, then a small plate/set means about NPR 50-120. 

Usually, for festivals and locally happening events, people often buy in bulk, and would reasonably commonly expect amounts to be around NPR 200-400 for about a dozen pieces. In trekkers' tea houses, we see sel roti for amounts about NPR 150-250 (for sel roti & tea). 

Places in Nepal to Try Sel Roti

• Indra Chowk Street Vendors – Kathmandu
• Asan Bazaar Local Stalls – Kathmandu
• Bhaktapur Durbar Square Tea Shops
• Patan Durbar Square Morning Vendors
• Pokhara Lakeside Street Stalls
• Highway Tea Shops – Mugling, Dhulikhel, and Trishuli Routes
• Trekking Tea Houses in Langtang and Annapurna Regions

Gundruk

Gundruk is a traditional Nepali fermented condiment side dish made from fermented leafy green vegetables (usually mustard, in some cases radish, cauliflower, or spinach) that is chopped, pressed into an earthen vessel or pot with warm water, fermented for a week, sun-dried, and finally eaten. 

Most families will make their gundruk at home, and the national total gundruk production is around 2000 tons every year. Gundruk gives nutrition long after the dried greens have been harvested, and it is an important part of a meal, especially in the winter, where it at least provides flavour, and perhaps nutrition too.

Gundruk is often used in soup, curries (with potatoes), achar (pickles), or eaten raw, kept intact by the sun. It is classified nutritionally as a good source of protein, calcium, potassium, and antioxidants. Gundruk is valued for its taste and nutrition.

How Much Does It Cost?

Gundruk is inexpensive in Nepal. Locally packaged gundruk costs an average of NPR 200 per kilogram or per standard household package, depending on quality and seller. Differences in price between markets and brands are slight.

Where to Try Gundruk?

• Utse Restaurant: Authentic Nepalese and Tibetan food with authentic decor.
• Krishnarpan (at Dwarika's Hotel): Extravagant slow dining with traditional Nepalese food and from 6-22 courses.
• Bhojan Griha - Historic Newari Mansion with traditional food with local cultural performances.
• Le Sherpa: European food, using local ingredients in a garden courtyard with Sherpa hospitality.
• Saigon Pho: Only Vietnamese Restaurant in Kathmandu, serving Pho and Vietnamese chef salad.
• Nepali Chulo: Authentic classic Nepali food, with and using traditional Newari decor and atmosphere with performances uniquely using local decor.

Chatamari

Chatamari is a traditional Newari food sometimes referred to as "Nepali pizza." It is a thin pancake made from rice flour that is topped with a mixture of minced meat (buffalo or chicken), egg, chopped onions, spices, and then pan-fried till crisp.

Chatamari is eaten most often during festivals and gatherings, and is typically eaten by many Newari People (often in Newari restaurants). However, local street food vendors will sell it at any time of day, and you can always find it at more casual local Newari restaurants.

Chatamari is traditionally served with spicy chutneys or pickles as a condiment or accompaniment. The crispness is along the edges and the middle is a soft, lovely texture that makes it suitable for a snack or a light meal.

How much does it cost?

From a street vendor, you can purchase a plain vegetarian Chatamari for around NPR 50-$100, or a Chatamari with meat or an egg on top for around NPR 120-$250.

At a sit-down Newari restaurant, Chatamari prices were generally in the range of NPR 150 - 350, depending on type, toppings, and which restaurant you decided to eat at. 

Please note, if you are interested in the price difference to tourist areas like Thamel or Patan, it is generally more than a local vendor but it would not be unreasonable to enjoy Chatamari as a filling snack or meal.

Where to Try Chatamari?

• Newa Momo Restaurant (Kathmandu)
• Bhugol Restaurant (Thamel, Kathmandu)
• Thakali Kitchen (Kathmandu)
• Keshari Thakali (Patan)
• Local Newari Street Vendors at Asan and Indra Chowk

Samay Baji (Newari Khaja Set)'

Samay Baji is a traditional platter of Newari food, found exclusively and specifically eaten during a festival and ritual to offer for occasions. 

A platter of Samay Baji consists of multiple little individual serving dishes, for example: a mound of rice flour and cooked rice, a mound of buffalo meat (chhwela), sopping marinade, black soy beans (bhuteko), smoked fish, a couple of dishes of spicy potato salad, fermented greens, and so on. 

The individual dishes, and therefore it matters to be together as a platter, represent the whole Newari dietary culture. 

Samay Baji has a cumulative experience pressing multiple flavors and nuances, including spicy, sour, smoky, savory, sometimes an experience that celebrates, but also flexes dietary and cultural values. 

How Much Does it Cost? 

A platter of Samay Baji will cost approximately NPR 400-900 in Newari restaurants and shops in Kathmandu, depending on portions and types of meat.

Even though most authentic places will charge over NPR 800 (USD 6.00), if they offer premium platters, then expect to start at NPR 1,000 (USD 8.00) or even NPR 1,200 (USD 9.00).

Where to Try Samay Baji?

• Bhanchha Ghar (Kathmandu)
• Newa Momo Restaurant (Kathmandu)
• Yangling Tibetan Restaurant (Kathmandu)
• Newari Kitchen (Patan)
• Thakali Kitchen (Thamel, Kathmandu)

Juju Dhau (King of Yogurt)

​Juju Dhau is a delectable traditional yogurt that is well known internationally; however, in Bhaktapur, it is typically referred to by its congruous name, and, in Nepal, it is sometimes referred to as "The King of Yogurts." Juju Dhau is appreciated for its rich, creamy texture with a slightly sweetened yogurt that resulted from an ancient fermentation process that has been passed down over centuries.

Juju Dhau is always produced with buffalo milk, which has a nice, rich texture that feels and tastes completely different than regular yogurt with the thick, tangy flavor.

It is most often served in a clay bowl, which adds extra flavor to the product, and the clay bowl and climate have much to do with the end temperature of the product.

Juju Dhau is a truly unique specialty food that is usually served as a dessert or snack, but also enjoyed during special celebrations and family gatherings.

How Much Does Juju Dhau Cost?

A small serving of Juju Dhau generally costs about NPR 80–150 from local shops or stalls and street stalls in Bhaktapur or Kathmandu.

At a restaurant, especially in the tourist area, you can expect Juju Dhau to cost about NPR 150–300, depending on size and presentation.

Regardless, it is cheap, delicious, and a local must-try for anyone visiting Nepal, no matter what kind of desserts or dairy food you are used to.

Where to Try Juju Dhau?

• Bhaktapur Durbar Square Shops
• Ganesh Juju Dhau (Bhaktapur)
• Peacock’s Eye Juju Dhau (Bhaktapur)
• Local Sweet Shops in Patan and Kathmandu
• Traditional Newari Restaurants in Kathmandu Valley

Yomari

Yomari is a Newari traditional sweet dumpling with religious/ceremony significance, and is specific to Kathmandu, associated with the festival Yomari Punhi, which happens in December annually.

Yomari is a sweet dumpling that has rice-flour dough that is either steamed or shaped into some kind of fish shape or figure; Yomari can be filled with anything; however, it is customary to fill it with chaku (a jaggery/molasses and sesame or coconut), or khuwa (a milk solid).

Steamed Yomari's are delicious with their chewy outer dough containers, along with the amazing sweet interior filling of chaku or khuwa inside.

How much does it cost?

• In the Kathmandu Valley, and to some extent in the suburbs, one yomari price is typically in the range of ₨ 35 - ₨ 90, which tends to vary based on place and fillings. 

Restaurants in Nepal to try Yomari (high‑rated/famous)

• The Village Café, Pulchowk (Patan)- The café is open year-round for yomari and different types like chaku, khuwa, and chocolate. It is a traditional Newari café with local women running it. 
• Nandini Food Court, Swotha Square (Patan)- A small eatery, probably serving hot yomari on leaf plates. They are probably known for their authenticity. 
• Bara Pasal (Chokachhen Galli, Indrachowk)- A family-operated Newari khaja ghar, which is known for khuwa and chaku yomari. They also do food, if you do a bara snack. 
• Yomari Ghar Restro & Café (Gatthaghar Bhaktapur)- Their only focus is yomari (khuwa/chaku, chocolate); they take advance for the Festival season, price is ₨ 70 - ₨ 100. 
• Pasa Newari Kitchen (Thamel, Kathmandu)- Highly liked Newari food and yomari on the menu, other Newari food like chatamari and chhoyla, good ambience, it seems good quality has been consistent.

Bara (Wo)

Bara (Wo) is a Newari fried lentil pancake that derives from a practice with ancient history from the Kathmandu Valley. It is prepared through soaking the lentils (often the black lentils), grinding them with spices such as garlic, ginger, cumin, and turmeric, mixing them to make a batter, then shallow-pan frying them to make a crispy yet fluffy pancake.

The classic option would be a vegetarian one, or richer as in having a cracked egg inside, or bits of mutton. In typical Bara consumption, you would have some achaar with a tangy vegetable of potato sides, seasoned with chilies, turmeric, and garlic. 

How much is it? 

A typical plain Bara may cost ~₨ 30–₨ 40 around Kathmandu Valley. For an Egg Bara, the price could be matched around ₨ 45–₨ 60, depending on the location. A Meat Bara (Maas Bara) will cost a bit more.

From small vendors or Newari khaja ghars, these are pretty cheap options, and filling, appropriate for a snack, light breakfast, or something similar.

Places in Nepal to try Bara (high‑rated/famous)

• Amako Bara Pasal (Bhaktapur) - Amako Bara Pasal is quite well known for good, crunchy, authentic Bara and you can find it right in a small square of a historic city.
• Newa Lahana (Bhaktapur/Kirtipur chapters) - This mid-range Newari is only reasonable for Bara and mixed Newari plates in a proper eatery.
• Nandini Newari Food Court (Patan) - Nandini is basically an outdoor stadium of food court close to Patan Durbar Square and it is a food court locals go to for its Bara and generally Newari food.
• Fast Food Newari Khaja Ghar (Dillibazar, Kathmandu) - This small busy place goes for a good egg Bara with traditional Newari khaja and sekawa.

Thakali Khana Set

Thakali Khana Set, or Thakali thali, is a traditional Nepalese meal that includes steamed rice, lentil soup (dal), a variety of mixed vegetable curries (tarkari), and different sides such as pickles (achar), greens (saag), and optional yogurt, curd or protein (chicken or mutton, for example).

Over the past ten years, it has become a popular, warm at heart, and filling "thali" meal in the urban places of Kathmandu and Pokhara. The meal is part of the food practices of the Thakali people of Mustang.

Still, many would argue that the vast majority of what is marketed as Thakali Khana for the urban restaurant industry is simply just a dal bhat, basmati rice, with some ghee, and some variables that have lost many of the distinctive characteristics of its heritage origin. 

How much does it cost? 

Based on the place and protein, vegetarian Thakali Set at a local restaurant or food menu list online in Kathmandu costs approximately ₨ 290–₨ 375, while the chicken or mutton Thakali Set plates cost ₨ 425 -₨ 650, depending on the area and its ingredients.

Places in Nepal to try Thakali Khana Set 

• Jimbu Thakali (Baneshwor, Kathmandu) is considered one of the best, as it is sometimes referenced based on portion sizes and customer service associated with the environment.
• Cafe de Tukche (Lazimpat, Kathmandu) - where locals would reference to the restaurant as authentic, as was the host cooking and serving Thakali, I learned some way with those visits meant some variation of quality, or could be some degree to overpriced, consequently there was hesitation for regular visits.
• Nepali Thakali Banchha Ghar (Sinamangal, Kathmandu) - has been the best since 2012, as would be the reason is the repeat flavour of consistent quality. New Road or Lakeside branches in Pokhara: Thakali Bhancha would want to be recognized in the travel people community, and to those who would refer others, for as many people who appreciate or have had quality Thakali Khaana.

Thukpa

Thukpa is a noodle soup from Bhutan as well as Tibetan and Nepalese culinary traditions. It is widely served all over Nepal, particularly in the hilly terrains and valleys of Nepal. 

Thukpa noodle soup relies on flavorful noodles, wheat or rice noodles, and includes good plant-based vegetables (cabbage, carrots, spinach, onions) and usually contains a type of meat, chicken, buffalo, or mutton. Thukpa's additional flavor builds, typically, garlic, ginger, turmeric, cumin, and chilies. Thukpa is commonly finished with a garnish of fresh cilantro, scallions, lime, or chili sauce. 

Thukpa from Nepal is typically spicy, aromatic, flavor-packed, and more comforting than Tibetan thukpa. Thukpa is enchanting for the person to enjoy on cold winter days or at festival celebrations because it warms and invigorates the body and spirit.

How much does it cost?

Thukpa will probably cost you ₨ 150 - ₨ 310 (depending on type & place) in Kathmandu. For example,  Sulu Sherpa Khaja Ghar in Patan - vegetarian thukpa at ₨ 120, chicken ₨ 130, buffalo ₨ 150. When we were at Little Tibetan Restaurant in Thamel, their veg or meat selections were ₨ 250 - ₨ 310. 

Even at ₨ 310, that is a great deal for good wholesome food that is cheap and a nice meal for lunch or a cool evening to have something warm.

Places in Nepal to try Thukpa (high‑rated/famous)

• Little Tibetan Restaurant (Thamel, Kathmandu) is known for its buffalo, chicken, and vegetarian thukpa, which has handmade noodles and spicy broth. 
• Solu Sherpa Khaja Ghar (Patan) - must try for its spicy bone soup, and homemade noodles; serves veg, egg, chicken, and buffalo. 
• The Best Kathmandu Kitchen (Thamel) - handmade noodles and Tibetan soup; serves veg and chicken, buffalo, mixed. 
• Yangling Tibetan Restaurant (Thamel) - menu offers many options, includes pork, egg, and mixed thukpa, premade noodles.

Sekuwa

Sekuwa is a grilled meat dish from Nepal made from marinated morsels of goat, chicken, buffalo, lamb, or a few occasions, pork - marinated in spices, yogurt, ginger‑garlic paste, mustard oil, lemon juice, and salt - and then slow-cooked over charcoal or wood fire until tender and smoky in flavor. 

Sekuwa can be served with beaten rice (chiura), achar, and salad. Sekuwa is everywhere: celebrations, roadside grills, casual dining, and is often thought of as one of the most popular snacks or appetizers in Nepal.

How much does it cost?

At chain-type well-known places such as Prem Sekuwa or Bajeko Sekuwa in Kathmandu, they offer a mutton sekuwa (kebab) platter for ₨ 500 - ₨ 600 (while chicken or pork platters will either be ₨ 300 - ₨ 450, depending on the specific sides and service level).

Many smaller local sekuwa restaurants may just have use grams to show the price to by bulk, buy by the plate. There you can expect to pay about ₨ 100 - ₨ 200 per plate at sekuwa places and ₨ 800 / kg, or chicken/pork, and ₨ 1,600 / kg for mutton from kilo restaurants.

Top Places in Kathmandu to Try Sekuwa

• Bajeko Sekuwa (Sinamangal / Anamnagar) - Mr. Bajeko is a well-known name for great smoky, tasty mutton or buff sekuwa, with more than a few locations.
• Prem Sekuwa & Bhojanalaya (Putalisadak) - this run as a family operation has stabilized since the 1980s and is incredibly popular for what it has offered year after year, along with their blended spices.
• Yangtaru Sekuwa Corner (Chabahil) - consistently rated the best by local and repeat consumers, inexpensive, and never lacking heat.
• Michael Baje Ko Sekuwa (Sankhamul) - known for buff, chicken, and mutton sekuwa, good price point, and nice flavors.
• Dharane Sekuwa Corner (Nakhipot, Lalitpur) - slightly less prominent, yet a family-run establishment, established for great tasting pork sekuwa.
• Jheer Sekuwa - recent franchised with locations all over the valley, good for electronic-ordering convenience, liquor served at MRP, and good value irrespective of the meat considered.

Gwaramari

Gwaramari means "round bread" in Newari, and is a tasty breakfast dish that is very popular among the Newar community living in the Kathmandu valley. 

Gwaramari is a deep-fried sphere of dough that puffs up until it is crispy and a little hot on the outside, and soft and airy on the inside. Gwaramari can be eaten with hot milk tea, or spicy achar (chutney). 

Typically Gwaramari batters can either be made of just flour, baking powder, cumin, turmeric or ajwain (or carom seeds), salt (usually rock salt), sugar, and water. 

The dough for Gwaramari is left out to ferment for a few hours or overnight. The fermentation time is critical to allowing the dough to develop the desired texture.

How much does it cost?

Getting a serving (8–10 pieces) of Gwaramari from roadside tea shops or small businesses throughout Kathmandu costs ₨ 20–₨ 50, making it an inexpensive way to start the day. Gwaramari is most often consumed with tea or sambar (a type of chutney), which elevates it as a true bargain breakfast item. 

Locations around Nepal to try Gwaramari (high-rated/famous)

• Asan and Patan Durbar Square - well-known, established early morning locations, locals keep lining up for hot batches of freshly fried gwaramari. 
• Small Newari tea shops in Patan's alleyways - narrow streets like Kwalkhu and Dhaugal have places serving freshly fried gwaramari daily. 
• Some vendors in Bhaktapur and Lalitpur - and some add rice flour or different spices for taste. 

They all share the feeling and cooking similarities of the local distinctness and long-established cooking traditions recognized by long-time locals. 

Dhido

Dhido (or Dhindo) is a traditional food staple found in Nepal, similar to thick porridge made from a few additions of buckwheat, millet, corn, or wheat flour in boiling water and stirred until a spoonful reaches a dense, dough-like condition.

After stirring it for two to three minutes, the dough can be removed from the pot and cut into small squares and eaten mainly by people living in the rural and mountainous parts of Nepal with a gundruk soup, lentil curry or dal, vegetable pickle or achar, and meat curry.

It is eaten with the fingers as small squares, and it signifies rural life and reflects Nepal's challenging terrain and agrarian culture that bring forth simple but nutrient-dense consumables available in the high-altitude areas of Nepal. It evokes resilience, regionality, and sustenance.

How much does it cost?

You will rarely find dhido listed as a stand-alone item on menus at mid to higher-end restaurants in Kathmandu; you are much more likely to find dhido at lower-end restaurants or Thakali restaurants.

If and when dhido is served at a small restaurant on the street or in the mountains, the price of dhido alongside vegetables falls in the range of ₨ 200 to ₨ 350, depending on what they are serving you with (vegetable jhol, achar, om, small curry). The price of a set that's Thakali style that includes dhido and either gundruk or meat curries is usually around ₨ 300 to ₨ 450 at restaurants in the city. 

Places in Nepal to try Dhido

• Thakali Kitchen (Thamel, Kathmandu) – great Thakali food, focuses on Dhido and main sides of Nepali food. 
• Everest Himalaya Chulo (Kathmandu) – a restaurant known for Nepali food, had Dhido, my comfort food. 
• Bagaan Thakali Kitchen (Kathmandu) - Casual restaurant, super good Dhido, and super brilliant presentation.
•  
• Dhido Bhat Byanjan Griha (Kathmandu) – more like an eat-at-home dinner atmosphere, tons of Dhido and other typical Nepali foods. 
• Daura Thakali (multiple locations in Kathmandu) - known for delicious Mustang flavor sets with Dhido.

Insider Tip: If you think eating Dhido is a great experience, you're gonna love it so much more when it's colder outside. In reality, eating Dhido in the colder months does feel more authentic, and so generally speaking, people eat Dhido in cooler months. In addition, you might also want to eat a Gundruk soup and spicy achar with your Dhido, as the Dhido will be hot (not spicy like an achar, but hot). If it'll be your first Dhido, I would suggest vegetarian for your first Dhido, as you want to really enjoy the texture of the Dhido.

Lalmohan (Nepali Gulab Jamun)

Lalmohan (लालमोहन), also known as Nepali Gulab Jamun, is a dessert that people across Nepal love.

Initially, a dessert was made by preparing fried dough balls with milk solids, frying them until brown, and then soaking them in a sugar syrup, which was flavoured with rose water, saffron, and cardamom. It becomes like bread soaked with juice.

As we think of it, it has become quite synonymous with major festivities in Nepal, such as Dashain and Tihar, weddings, family gatherings, or simply as a good and enticing snack.

How much does it cost?

The going rate for a single piece is usually about NPR 35–45, with a few times when the price is as low as NPR 35 if purchasing it from locally operating shops.

Restaurants in Nepal

Top-rated and famous places to try Lalmohan in Nepal are:

• Gulab Sweets (multiple outlets in Kathmandu, including New Road, Jhamshikhel)—known for quality-controlled, fresh sweets; Lalmohan priced ~NPR 45/piece.
• Sangam Sweets (since 1938, outlets in Naya Baneshwar, Kalimati, Kamalpokhari)—noted for fresh Lalmohan ~NPR 45/piece.
• Rameshwaram Sweets and Siddhilaxmi Mithai & Dahi Bhandar (Bhaktapur)—Locally, they are well known in Bhaktapur.

Khasiko Masu (Goat Curry)

Khasiko Masu, which literally means "goat meat curry," is one of the major non-vegetarian dishes of Nepali cuisine.

A goat with bone (khasi or boka) is the main ingredient in the gravy of fried spices of whole composition (such as cardamom, bay leaf) with the addition of sautéed onions, ginger–garlic, tomato-chilli masala, and blended spice powders of cumin, coriander, turmeric, pepper and cinnamon.

Ghee is usually the medium used for cooking to add the flavour of the butter, and it also gives the aroma. It is also a common accompaniment with rice (bhat), roti or sel roti and is a major dish during festivals such as Dashain, family feasts or Thakali sets.

How much does it cost?

The average price of goat meat per kilogram in Kathmandu valley is between NPR 1,200 to NPR 1,400. The price changes depending on quality and location.

The cost of a plate of goat curry in local restaurants of middle-range or Thakali sets will be around NPR 300-500, generally.

Restaurants in Nepal

• Mantra Thakali (Kathmandu: Jhamsikhel & Maharajgunj) – Authentic Thakali sets very delicious goat curry and the hospitality is praised
• Daura Thakali (Kathmandu: Nayabazar, Pepsicola, Gairidhara, Pulchowk) – Running traditional Thakali khana sets that include the goat curry in a cultural ambience.
• T3 Thakali & Multi-Food Gallery (various Kathmandu, including the airport) – At reasonable prices, it provides the goat curry/mutton dishes and Thakali set meals.

Sandeko / Sadeko Salad

“Sadeko” in Nepali is a word which literally means “marinated,” but is also used to describe vibrant, spicy salads.

A Salada Sandeko or Sadeko is a salad that marries ingredients like roasted peanuts (badam), soybeans (bhatmas), crushed Wai Wai noodles, or diced potatoes, and that salad is further enhanced by the addition of finely chopped tomatoes, green chilies, onion, garlic, coriander, and a tangy dressing made of lemon juice and mustard oil.

Seasonings like red chilli powder, turmeric, cumin, and optional timmur (Nepali Sichuan pepper) give the dish a spicy and fragrant touch.

The crunchy, tangy, and spicy flavour of these salads goes well with meals or parties as appetisers or side dishes.

These very versatile salads from Peanuts Sadeko and Bhatmas Sadeko to Wai Wai Sadeko and Aloo Sadeko are the reason why Nepal is famous for its love of different textures and flavours.

Non-cooked ingredients, which are stewed, make them quick to prepare, but at the same time very tasty and flavorful.

How much does it cost?

Most probably, such a small plate of Sadeko at a street-side stand in Kathmandu will cost around NPR 100–150, depending on whether it is made from peanuts or soybeans.

Restaurants in Nepal

• In mid-level restaurants, serving sizes or various Sadeko mixed platters may be between NPR 150 and 250.
• Sadeko is usually a part of a Newari platter (samay baji), or it can be prepared at home, but you can taste top-rated versions at:
• Mustang Thakali Kitchen in Patan highlights the Badam Sadeko side dish that can be enjoyed with drinks or food.
• Local Newari eateries and bhatti pasals across Kathmandu Valley often serve authentic Bhatmas or Aloo Sadeko as starters.

Pro Tip: Request a fresh mixed Sakedo just before you are served. This way you will guarantee that it is crispy. You can dial down the heat by asking for less green chili, or add more lemon juice. If you want to take a bit of Nepal's signature citrusy heat, then add a bit of timur. Be sure to serve it cool, it is great with your raksi or tea, or you can also have it as a side to rice and curries for an uplifting crispiness.

Sukuti

Sukuti is a traditional Himalayan dried meat snack and is of Nepali origin. This snack is especially loved in the Limbu, Gurung, and Rai communities.

To make sukuti, the process of removing fat from the meat of buffalo, goat, or lamb is performed, and after that, the meat is cut into thin strips, spiced and marinated with, for example, cumin, turmeric, chilli, and garlic/ginger paste, then smoked over the firewood or sun-dried.

The drying not only gives the effect of preserving meat but also creates an aroma and the chewy texture of the meat.

Besides that, sukuti can be consumed in various ways: as jerky, flash-fried with onions, chilli, and garlic, or with chopped tomato and coriander garnish if it is still dried, which will be a crunchy and flavorful snack or side dish.

How much does it cost?

Normally, sukuti is sold at Nepali stores for around NPR 1,500 per kg to allow for smaller portions to be purchased as snacks or gifts.

Restaurants or Shops in Nepal

• San Dai ko Pasal, Basantapur, Kathmandu — a place where locals repeatedly go to get some sukuti snacks.
• Atithi Sukuti House, Pokhara (Puranodhara area) — the place that locals choose as the freshest.
• Pokhara Meat Mart, Bagbazar road stalls, and The Meat Shop in Pokhara — well-known places where buff sukuti is sold by the kilo.
• Dwarika’s Hotel- Newari Feast (6–22 course meal with dal bhat, momos, spiced wild boar)

Pro Tip: The buffalo sukuti that has been smoked will be the best if it is warmed up with a bit of ginger, chilli, and mustard oil just before serving. Along with it, serve chopped onions, lime, chiura, and a local raksi or beer. It would be perfect as a snack for travelling or as an appetiser.