Food & dishes · Nepal
Nepali Dishes to Try
From momo and dal bhat to Newari feasts, sweet yomari and milky chiya, here are the twelve Nepali dishes and drinks worth travelling for.
Nepali food is one of the great surprises of travelling in Nepal. Shaped by Himalayan, Indian and Tibetan influences, it ranges from the everyday balance of dal bhat to the elaborate ritual feasts of the Newars, from warming mountain noodle soups to sweets made only at harvest time. This collection gathers the twelve dishes and drinks worth seeking out, each with its own deep-dive guide.
The short answer
If you eat just a few things in Nepal, make them momo and dal bhat, the country's favourite snack and its national meal. Then explore the rich world of Newari cuisine — especially the ceremonial samay baji platter and the crepe-like chatamari — warm up with thukpa, and finish with sweets like sel roti, yomari and Bhaktapur's juju dhau, all washed down with milky chiya.
How to eat your way through Nepal
Think in layers. The everyday staples are dal bhat and momo, which you will eat constantly and never tire of. Out in the hills, swap rice for dhindo, the millet or buckwheat porridge, served with tangy gundruk and sinki, Nepal's clever fermented greens and radish. In the cold high country, thukpa noodle soup is the comfort food of choice.
The Kathmandu Valley is where the cuisine reaches its peak of refinement. Newari food is a world of its own, from grilled choila and lentil bara to chatamari and the auspicious samay baji platter. Save room for the sweets and drinks: festive sel roti, harvest-time yomari, the caramel-rich juju dhau of Bhaktapur, and the endless glasses of chiya that hold it all together.
Where to start
City visitors should anchor a food tour in the capital; see the best restaurants in Kathmandu for sit-down meals across every style. For the deepest Newari experience, head to Bhaktapur for Newari food, the home of juju dhau and superb feast platters. For the bigger picture of what to expect at the table, our overview of Nepal food and drink covers veg-friendliness, water safety and drinks, and a quick read of Nepal culture and etiquette will help you eat the way locals do.
Browse the twelve guides below and build your own Nepal food bucket list, one dish at a time.
Our top picks
Momo: Nepal's Favourite Dumplings
Dal Bhat: Nepal's National Dish
Newari Cuisine of the Kathmandu Valley
Thukpa: Himalayan Noodle Soup
Sel Roti: Nepal's Festive Rice Bread
Juju Dhau: Bhaktapur's King of Yoghurt
Gundruk and Sinki: Fermented Nepali Staples
Chatamari: The Newari Rice Crepe
Yomari: A Sweet Newari Dumpling
Dhindo: Nepal's Rustic Hill Staple
Samay Baji: A Newari Ritual Platter
Nepali Chiya: Nepal's Everyday Tea
Frequently asked questions
What food is Nepal famous for?+
Nepal is famous for momo (dumplings) and dal bhat (its national rice-and-lentil meal), along with elaborate Newari feasts, Himalayan thukpa noodle soup, sweet sel roti and yomari, fermented gundruk, and milky chiya tea.
What should I eat first in Nepal?+
Start with momo and dal bhat, the two dishes you will see everywhere. Then branch into a Newari platter like samay baji, a warming bowl of thukpa, and sweets such as juju dhau and yomari to taste the full range.
Is Nepali food good for vegetarians?+
Very. Dal bhat, vegetable momo, chatamari, dhindo with gundruk and many Newari sides are vegetarian, and a large share of Nepalis eat vegetarian for religious reasons, so meat-free options are everywhere.
Which Nepali dishes are best for festivals?+
Sel roti at Tihar and Dashain, yomari at Yomari Punhi, and samay baji platters at Newari rituals are the classic festival foods, each tied to a specific celebration in the Nepali calendar.