Nepal isn’t just a land of many languages or many natural wonders, it is also an adventure for your tongue. The local cuisine of Nepal is unmatched to any other, varying from location to location and house to house even the same dish can have a completely unique flavour.
There are two ways of experiencing Nepali food; order-in or go to the food yourself. Ordering-in is still not as big of a culture in Nepal as it is everywhere else but apps such as Foodmandu, Bhoj, Pokhara food delivery and many more help bring the taste of Nepal to you.
Now, the type of food you can experience is vast.
The mascot of Nepali food, however, is momo. Momos are more than just food to Nepalis, it is a way to bring people together; even Nepalis who work abroad remember the taste of home when there is a plate of momo and a bottle of coke in front of them. Momos made all over Nepal will taste just a bit better than the last plate you had but some of the best momos in town are in the Kathmandu Valley, more so if it is home made with a dash of pickle and a cool glass of coke.
However, if you want to taste Nepal at its finest, a full Thakali set is a must try. This set is a plate of rice, lentil soup, curry, vegetables, pickles and meat or other side of your choice. The set also comes with papad and yogurt to finish off your meal as a desert. The best way to enjoy a Thakali set is to put Ghee on top of the rice and lentil soup, the ghee automatically comes with the set but you can opt out of it too. One of the best places to taste authentic Thakali food is Pokhara. The lakeside traditional styled restaurants are equipped to give a Nepali feel and a Nepali taste.
Aside from the popular choices Nepal serves a variety of culture specific dishes like Newari food which can be found within the streets of the three Durbar Squares of Patan, Kathmandu and Bhaktapur within the valley. Newari food includes an assortment of meats and vegetables with ‘chiura’ (beaten rice). And for adults, the Newari alcohol, ‘Aila’, is unlike any other rivaling Japan’s ‘Sake’ the rice wine.
But if the Nepali food does get overwhelming and you miss the taste of a plain cheese burger and fries, Nepal has it too. Most restaurants along with their own special kick usually serve the normal pizza, burger, and pasta. It isn’t difficult to find Indian or Korean or Chinese and even Japanese cuisine in Nepal. Although it may not be as good as the dishes in their origin Nepal still serves a variety of international food so you name it some corner of Nepal probably has it.
Written by
Kritisha Amatya
