Nepal
Nepali Food & Drink
Plan what to eat in Nepal — the national dishes from dal bhat to momo, the best street-food snacks, and the traditional drinks, all in one place.
Nepali food is layered like the country itself — the rice-and-lentil dal bhat of the lowlands, the dumplings and noodle soups carried down from Tibet, and the elaborate feast spreads of the Newar people of the Kathmandu Valley. Add a street scene of crisp snacks and tangy chatpate, and a drinks tradition that runs from spiced tea to warm millet beer, and a few days of eating becomes a journey in itself. This guide gathers the collections to browse and the iconic dishes worth seeking out, all in one place.
How to eat your way around Nepal
Start with the staples: a dal bhat to understand the everyday plate, then momo and thukpa for the Himalayan side of the kitchen. Set aside one meal for a full Newari spread — chatamari, juju dhau and the festival sweet yomari — which is the country's great food experience. Graze the street food between sights, and match it all with a drink, from everyday chiya to raksi and tongba. Browse the collections below, then open any dish guide for what's in it, how it's eaten and where to try the best version.
Explore Nepali food
Iconic dishes to try
Dal Bhat: Nepal's National Dish
Momo: Nepal's Favourite Dumplings
Newari Cuisine of the Kathmandu Valley
Sel Roti: Nepal's Festive Rice Bread
Thukpa: Himalayan Noodle Soup
Juju Dhau: Bhaktapur's King of Yoghurt
Gundruk and Sinki: Fermented Nepali Staples
Chatamari: The Newari Rice Crepe
Yomari: A Sweet Newari Dumpling
Frequently asked questions
What is the national dish of Nepal?+
Dal bhat — steamed rice with lentil soup, a vegetable curry and pickle (achar) — is Nepal's national dish and the meal most people eat twice a day. It's endlessly refillable, balanced and the reliable fuel of trekkers everywhere, which is where the saying 'dal bhat power, 24 hour' comes from. The dal bhat guide below breaks down what's on the plate.
What food is Nepal famous for?+
Beyond dal bhat, Nepal is best known for momo (steamed dumplings), the Newari feast spreads of the Kathmandu Valley, Himalayan thukpa noodle soup, and festive treats like sel roti and yomari. Street stalls add chatpate, pani puri and laphing. The dishes-to-try and iconic-dish guides below cover each one and where to find it.
Is Nepali food vegetarian-friendly?+
Very — dal bhat, most curries, momo and many Newari and street dishes come in vegetarian forms, and meat-free eating is normal across the country for religious reasons. Trekking lodges and city restaurants almost always have veg and often vegan options. See the vegetarian and vegan guide below for what to order and how to ask.
What do people drink in Nepal?+
Milky spiced chiya (tea) is the everyday drink, alongside strong local coffee in the cities. Traditional alcoholic drinks include raksi (distilled spirit), chhyang (rice or millet beer) and tongba (warm millet beer sipped through a straw), plus juju dhau, Bhaktapur's sweet 'king of yoghurt'. The drinks guide below has the full list.
