The short answer
The national plate is dal bhat: rice with lentil soup, seasonal vegetables, pickle and often a meat or paneer curry. Beyond it, famous dishes include momo dumplings, thukpa noodle soup, dhido (a thick flour porridge) with gundruk (fermented greens), sel roti (a ring-shaped rice bread), chatamari (a rice crepe often called Newari pizza), bara (lentil patty), choila (spiced grilled buffalo), sukuti (dried meat), sekuwa (grilled meat), aloo tama (potato and bamboo shoot curry) and yomari (a sweet steamed dumpling).
Many dishes belong to a community: Newar food from the Kathmandu Valley, Thakali food from Mustang, Tibetan dishes from the high Himalaya and Tharu dishes from the Terai. Try one from each on a trip and you will taste Nepal's variety. Note that in Nepal "buff" means water buffalo, and beef from cows is not served.
Key facts
- Everyday
- Dal bhat, dhido, gundruk
- Snacks
- Momo, sel roti, chatamari, sukuti
- Newar
- Bara, choila, yomari
- Sweet
- Yomari, juju dhau, lal mohan
How it works
- Start with dal bhatThe safest, most filling meal.
- Add a snackMomo or sel roti.
- Taste a community dishNewar, Thakali or Tharu.
- Try a sweetYomari or curd.
- Ask what is freshCooked to order is best.
Insider tip
Order one new dish a day instead of the same safe plate.
Avoid this
Do not eat uncooked salad or reheated meat in remote places.
Related questions
What is the national dish?
Dal bhat is the everyday national meal.
Is there beef?
Cow is not served; buff is water buffalo.
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