Best Local Foods to Try in Nepal

List of Best Food to Try in Nepal

Popular Local Foods of Nepal 

Newari Khaja Set – A traditional Newar platter with beaten rice, barbecued meat, pickles, and more

Yomari – Steamed sweet dumpling filled with molasses or coconut

Chatamari – Rice flour crepe topped with meat, egg, or vegetables

Choila – Spiced grilled meat, a Newari specialty

Juju Dhau – “King of Yogurt” from Bhaktapur

Dhido with Sisnu – Buckwheat or millet porridge served with nettle soup,

Gundruk Soup & Gundruk Achar – Fermented leafy greens made into soup or tangy pickle

Momo – Popular Nepali dumplings filled with meat or vegetables

Sel Roti – Sweet, ring-shaped rice bread traditionally made during festivals

Aalu Achar – Spicy potato salad with mustard oil and fenugreek

Sukuti – Spicy dried meat salad

Laping – Cold spicy noodle dish originally from Tibetan cuisine

Thukpa – Warm noodle soup with meat and vegetables

Sherpa Stew (Shyakpa) – Hearty stew with handmade noodles, vegetables, and meat

Aalu Tama – Potato and bamboo shoot curry

Yak Cheese – Locally made cheese from yak milk, popular in Himalayan regions

Aalu Chap – Mashed spiced potato balls deep-fried in gram flour batter

Samosa – Deep-fried savory pastry with spiced potato filling

Pani Puri – Crispy hollow puris filled with spicy water and mashed potatoes

Chatpate – Spicy, crunchy street food made with puffed rice and vegetables, Sadeko

Best Nepali Food with Details

Newari Khaja

Newari Khaja is an ethnic food of the Newari Community of Kathmandu. It is also known as Samai Baji or Newari Bhoye in the Newari Language. In the early times, this food was just limited to the Newari people and was consumed on some special occasions.

Khaja Set – A Flavorful Traditional Nepali Midday Feast

Now, it is one of the popular Newari food items in Kathmandu as well as most of the city in Nepal. You can try it in many places in Nepal, but the most popular place to experience Newari food Culture is inside of Kathmandu Valley. You can see many items in this Newari Khaja, such as Bajee(beaten rice), achar, Chhoyela, egg, soybeans, bara, peanuts, gram, aalu Tama, etc. You can also get a delicious taste of Newari Khaja at various Newari food restaurants in Kathmandu. It is mostly taken as a snake in the afternoon.

Yomari

Yomari is also one of the Newari foods of Nepal. It is a sweet dish prepared in a triangular (or teardrop) shape from rice dough and stuffed with a sweet paste that is filled with Chaaku or made of coconut, sesame seeds, and molasses. It is cooked, steamed, and served hot. The name of the dish is derived from the words ya, meaning to like, and Mari, meaning delicacy.

Yomari, a steamed dumpling made from rice flour and filled with molasses or coconut, is a sacred Newari delicacy enjoyed during the Yomari Punhi festival.

Yomari is specially prepared for the festival of Yomari Punhi, or you can also say that Yomari is a festival food in Nepal. But you can try it whenever you want at the Newari food restaurant.

Chatamari

Another Newari item on the list is Chaatamari. Chatamari is a Nepalese rice crepe, which is also a Newa cuisine. It is generally eaten during festivals and other special occasions. But you can have it in Newari food restaurants, but not in all the Newari restaurants. Chatamari is now widely eaten as a snack and has become popular among other cultures, too.

Chatamari – Traditional Newari Rice Flour Crepe from Nepal

It is prepared as a rice flour crepe cooked with a thick batter. Various ingredients are used on top, like coriander, minced meat, eggs, chopped onions, chilies, and a lot of spices. It is a round shape, and because of the topping, it looks like a pizza. It is considered a light snack. Cholla is a Newari meat item, usually served with the side dish of Newari Khaja. It is the meat of buffalo or chicken, or mutton.

This dish has a unique taste with the hardness of chili. It is very spicy. You can get Choila in the Newari home restaurants of Nepal. It is prepared by half-boiling meat and again putting that meat on the fire and cutting it into small cubes. After that, add salt, garlic and ginger paste, black pepper, hot chili powder, turmeric, and a little bit of mustard oil, and top with coriander.

Juju Dhau

Juju is cured but has a different taste than normal cured. It is the most delicious, creamy, thick, and sweet curd you can find in Nepal. It is also a Newari cultural food, mostly prepared in Bhaktapur.

Juju Dhau – The Royal Curd of Bhaktapur, Nepal

Rich in flavor, juju is prepared by pounding some sweetener. It is made up of buffalo milk, first boiling the milk at a high temperature and pouring it into the traditional clay pot, which is known as Kataura or Masato ko Kataura. The Kataura is kept in a warm place until it’s ready. When you visit Bhaktapur/ Bhaktapur Durbar Square (one of the cultural places of Nepal), make sure to taste Juju Dhau over there.

Dal Bhat

Dal Baht is one of the heaviest dishes you can try in Nepal. It is a regular food of every Nepali, or you can call it the national dish of Nepal. Dal Bhat is mainly rice served along with soup and side dishes such as meat, vegetables, curd, and pickles.

Dal Bhat Thakali Set – Traditional Nepali Meal Loved by Trekkers

Dal Bhat can be both veg and non-veg. For veg items, it includes vegetable curry called Tarkari, spicy chutneys, a crisp flatbread called papadams, South Asian Achar pickles, stir-fried greens, and slices of tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions. And for non-veg items, it is served with vegetables, dal, chicken or buff or pork, or fish according to your wants. There are many types of Dal Bhat you can find in Nepal with different items and tastes. Some of them are: Thakali Khana, Maili Bhanchha Ghar Khana, etc.

Dhido with Sisnu

Dhido and sisnu are other heavy meals you can try in Nepal. It is a traditional food, prepared traditionally by boiling stone-ground cornmeal, buckwheat flour, and millet flour with salt in water. Sisnu is a soup item for Dhido.

Dhindo with Sisnu – Nepal’s Traditional Himalayan Superfood

It is very helpful for our health. Dhido and sisnu are also considered healthy dishes in Nepal. With Dhido and Sisnu, you get vegetable curries, butter, Achar, pickles, buttermilk, and yogurt in the Nepalese restaurant.

Gundruk soup and Gundruk Achar

Gundruk is a popular Nepali dish that is loved to eat. It is made by fermenting and drying several leafy vegetables such as radish plant leaves, cauliflower leaves, Rayo saag, and mustard leaves to produce a sour product characterized by its dark brown color. Gundruk, there are many recipes like Gundruk soup and Gundruk achar.

Gundruk Soup or Achar – Nepal’s Flavorful Fermented Delight

Gundruk is a side dish that can be taken with heavy meals, just like Dal Bhat and Dodo. It will make a great combination with a heavy meal. Gundruk soup can be prepared by putting water and boiling it, placing onion, tomato, and different kinds of items. Gundruk ko achar is prepared by mixing different types of things like hot chilies, tomato, lemon, soaked Gundruk, onion, salt, lemon, mustard oil, etc.

Mo Mo

Momo is an all-time favorite food for all Nepalese people. It is a dumpling that was traditionally only filled with minced meat, but nowadays, the fillings have diversified to include vegetables, dairy, or a combination of both.

Momo – Traditional Nepali Dumplings Loved by Everyone

Many hotels and restaurants serve momo in Kathmandu. It comes in different flavors and different sizes. Momo served with its achar(sauce) is the interesting part. The Achar is as delicious as the dumplings (momo). While having momo, you can ask for it as much as you want. You can find different flavors of momo like Veg momo, chicken momo, buff momo, Khasi momos, lamb or mutton filling, C-momo, fry momo, etc.

Samosa

Samosa is a portion of Indian food, popular in Nepal. Samosa is usually taken as breakfast and snacks. It is made up of a mixture of white wheat flour and adding potato and beans, some vegetables, spices, and deep-fried in oil/ ghee.

Samosa – Crispy and Spiced Nepali Snack

You can easily get a Samosa in Nepalese hotels and restaurants. You can see it being sold on the streets of Nepal. Samosa is served with achar on the side. You can choose the Achar sweet one or the spicy one. Most Nepalese people choose sweet Achar with Samosa.

Sel Roti

Selroti is one of the favorite items of all Nepalese. It usually took place with morning tea like snakes. It looks like a doughnut, round in shape, with another circular hole in the middle. It is a festival item prepared on the day of Dashain and Tihar.

Sel Roti – Delicious Traditional Nepali Sweet fried Rice Bread

Nepalese people make Sel Roti in their houses and enjoy the festival with their friends and family. Nowadays, the popularity of Sel Roti is so huge that many people prefer Sel Roti in their daily lives. It is made up of rice flour and cooked like a regular donut, deep-fried in oil or ghee. It has a great combination of tea.

Aalu Chana

Aalu chana is a traditional potato curry and spicy chickpeas. It is usually preferred with Dal Bhat, or you can also have it with morning tea. It is prepared with boiled potatoes and boiled chickpeas, and cooked mixed with different spices, salt, chili powder, etc.

Aalu Chana – Flavorful Nepali Spiced Potato and Chickpea Curry

You can get Aalu Chana in hotels and restaurants in Nepal, but the best combo is with morning milk tea, Sel roti, and Aalochana.

Aalu Chap

Aalu Chap is a different recipe for aalu (Potato). It is common to local people, and you can see this food being sold on the street. It is preferred in restaurants also for the best taste over the street.

Aloo Chap – Delicious Nepali Spiced Potato Fritters

It is prepared by boiling the potato and removing the outer skin on the potato and then mixing it with different types of spices like salt, turmeric, red chili powder, onion, lemongrass, etc. After all, it is prepared in a medium round shape and deep-fried in boiling oil.

Pani Puri

Pani puri is Indian street food, equally popular in Nepal also. The popularity of Pani Puri is so high that you can get it in a restaurant. There are huge differences in tastes in street items and fine restaurants.

Pani Puri – Popular Tangy and Spicy Nepali Street Food

If you are looking for something with spices, a hard and tangy taste, then you can try Pani Puri. It is prepared by boiling potatoes and mashing them, chili, and onions. Spices are put into small puris and served with water, which includes spices, lemon, and mint.

Chatpate

If you are looking for something spicy, then you should try Chatpate. It is also a popular street food like Pani Puri in Nepal. Chatpate also has to gain popularity so high that you can get chatpate in fine restaurants.

Chat Pate – Flavorful Spicy Nepali Street Food

You can try it in the accommodation of your choice. Chatpate is a mixture of various spices to have a fine flavor of spiciness, tanginess, and sweetness.

Saadeko Sukuti

If you want to have a unique meat item, then this dish will be the best item for you. It is a unique Nepalese dish that insists on dried meat. It is a dry meat item of lamb or buffalo, and it adds cumin, turmeric, black pepper, coriander, chili, ginger, garlic, and onion paste while frying it.

Sukuti – Authentic Nepali Dried Meat Snack

It has a different taste from regular meat items. You can try it in hotels and restaurants in Nepal. It serves as a side dish in restaurants. You can try this dish with hard drinks; it will make a perfect combination.

Laping

It is the home food of the Sherpa, lama, and Tamang communities. Slowly getting popular in the market. It is also a Tibetan street food, it is a spicy cold mung bean noodle dish in their cuisine.

Laping – Refreshing Spicy Nepali Cold Noodles

Originally, it was called ‘Liangfen’, and it turned into laughter. It is gaining popularity among food lovers in Nepal. You can have the best spicy taste of Laping in the Boudhanath area (one of the heritage sites of Nepal), or you can get in the street of Sigal, Thamel. You can have the best taste of spice in your mouth.

Thukpa

Thukpa has been influenced by Tibetan and Chinese cuisines. It is a breakfast meal, usually like noodles. It is mostly preferred in the winter season and rainy seasons. In Nepal, it is most popular in the mountain region.

Thukpa – Traditional Nepali and Tibetan Noodle Soup

Thukpa can be a veg and non-veg food item. It is a healthy noodle food with green vegetables like cauliflower, beans, and many other vegetables. Non-veg, it can be prepared with meat and eggs.

Sherpa Stew

Sherpa stew is the traditional food of the Sherpa community. It is a popular dish in the mountain regions, mostly in the Everest region. It is also preferred in the winter and rainy seasons.

Sherpa Stew – Authentic Hearty Himalayan Cuisine

It is a food that has thick soup containing dough, veg, and a bowl of rice to keep you full all day. It is also considered a heavy meal in the mountain regions. In Kathmandu, only a few restaurants have this meal item.

Aalu Tama

Aalu Tama is one of the best sour soups you can find in Nepal. It is very popular in the Local Community of Kathmandu. You can get it in the Newari Khaja set. It also makes a great combination with puri and roti.

Alu Tama – Classic Nepali Bamboo Shoot and Potato Curry

It is also called roti tarkari. It is prepared with a mix of potato, bamboo shoots, and beans, and adds taste: salt, black powder, garlic, and ginger paste. You can try Aalu Tama at the accommodation of your choice, with a Newari Khaja set or rice, Sel roti, and roti.

Yak Cheese

If you are trekking in the Himalayas, then don’t forget to try yak cheese. It is creamy and has a soft, treat-like taste. It is very healthy and has various health benefits for our health. It is prepared with the pure milk of the Yak.

Yak Cheese – Authentic Himalayan Cheese from Nepal