ExploFood · Asia
What to eat in Nepal
Five dishes to try in Nepal, the most typical first. Three are vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Nepal
Dal bhat दाल भात
Rice with lentil soup, vegetable curry, pickles and greens.
How to have it: Eaten twice a day; refills are usually free, and teahouses on trekking routes serve it.
Momo मोमो
Steamed or fried dumplings filled with buffalo, chicken or vegetables.
How to have it: Sold everywhere in Kathmandu; order jhol momo, served in a spicy sesame-tomato broth.
Thukpa थुक्पा
Tibetan-style noodle soup with vegetables and meat.
How to have it: Warming food in the mountains and in Tibetan areas like Boudha; good on trekking routes.
Sel roti सेल रोटी
Ring-shaped, slightly sweet fried rice-flour bread.
How to have it: Made in huge batches for Tihar and Dashain; also sold with tea at morning stalls.
Yomari योमरी
Newari rice-flour dumpling filled with molasses and sesame.
How to have it: Find it in Newari eateries in Kathmandu Valley, especially at the Yomari Punhi festival in December.
What to eat next door
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Questions
What food is Nepal famous for?
Dal bhat (rice with lentil soup, vegetable curry, pickles and greens) comes first on our list, followed by Momo, Thukpa, Sel roti and Yomari.
What is the national dish of Nepal?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Nepal is Dal bhat: rice with lentil soup, vegetable curry, pickles and greens. Eaten twice a day; refills are usually free, and teahouses on trekking routes serve it.
Which dishes in Nepal are vegetarian?
Three of the five on this page are vegetarian as usually made: Dal bhat, Sel roti and Yomari. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What street food should I try in Nepal?
Momo (steamed or fried dumplings filled with buffalo, chicken or vegetables).
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.