I would like to start a thread where we list some notable Nepali restaurants around the world, and maybe a little personal review from the submitters. I like to make it a point to search out Nepali restaurants when I am traveling, and this could be a good guide for everyone to look thru. Perhaps we can come up with some sort of grading scale, 1-10. People can suggest a better grading system if they can think of one.

I will start by mentioning The Nepal-Tibet House in Pasadena, CA (outside Los Angeles). The place is a little gourmet...not the typical hole-in-the wall ethnic stuff, but still great momos! Not the most inexpensive either, but I guess they have to pay rent for being next to Colorado Avenue (old town Pasadena). They have lunch specials. I would rate it an 8 out of 10.

Himalayen Sherpa Restura in Seattle, WA

new 1 on venice - kathmandu kitchen - between midvales and westwoods...not 2 much distant from u BP. i hears they have the good momos.

PLM

In the US, it's not a big deal and you can find one or more in most big cities. But what about some of the weirdest places? There's one in Hilsinki (???), Finland and also one in Jamaica. My father in law once brought me a picture of Kathmandu Bar and Grill frm Florida, I think in Panama Beach...may be. Thought it was cool.

Bhunte...
Are you from Seattle?

no, that restura once belonged to my fren...

BP,
Are you thowing your wedding party at that restaurant as well? or Would You?

Nepalis living around the locality may be able to tell me the name of the nepali resturant in Madison. It was very close of the Univeristy. It was back in 98-99, and I was very disappointed with my visit there. A very small resturant, poor service, and the first thing I noticed when I entered was they had spanish music playing. The decor was terrible, and the food portion was pretty small for the price I was paying. Rating- 2 out of 10.

Mount Everest- Evanston (suburb of Chicago). You can request the waiter for chwela (btw, it's not in the menu). They have an excellent bhatmas ko sauce for momo. You can also get alu ra tama in the dinner menu.

I have been to Kathmandu Kitchen on Venice Blvd in Los Angeles. I really liked their momos and food in general. They also serve Chhwela, which is great.

Of note, I remember going to a Nepali Restaurant in Colorado Springs, CO as well.

I also went to the Himalayan restaurant in Denver CO. I thought their momos were actually the best that I have tasted in the US. Just like in the alleys of KTM.

Madison's resturants are the best. There are two restaurants in Madison. One is called Himalchuli - probably the first Nepali restaurant in the United States. It doesn't have the glamours decor but has authenticity - Nepalipan to it. I like to think as a traditional nepali place. It is quite popular in Madison.

There is another one called Chautara, which has more sophisticated decors.

These restaurants serve to almost different class of customers.

Himalayan Kitchen on Khao San Road in Bangkok.
(in Bangkok's "Thamel" district)

13 Nepali restaurants in Kuala Lumpur. At least two around Jalan Pataling.
(seem to mainly cater to Nepali working in KL)

Gurkha Grill on Smith Street in Singapore.
(on a market street in Chinatown that attracts lots of tourists)

And for a brief time there was Hiunchuli on Loi Kroh Road in Chiangmai, but it did not last.

Any others in Southeast Asia?

In San Francisco goto Little Nepal at 925 Cortland Street At Bernal Heights.
In Berkeley,there is one Kathmandu Kitchen.

Little Nepal is staffs are friendly.
kathmandu Kitchen in berkeley owner refuses to speak Nepali. what an ass....

gaaule. I agree that Himalchuli in Madison is great. Daal bhat cooked and ready to eat. Though the decor is nicer and the food cleaner, it reminded me a lot of Malekhu road-side eateries (and I mean that in a positive way... the food there tastes great!).


Meanwhile, in Colorado... don't forget Kathmandu Kitchen (or something like that) in Nederland. and there is at least one place in Boulder. forgot its name.

Nepalese Gurkha kitchen, plumstead London is an excellent place to try out Authentic Nepali food especially when you are in London. The food is very very cheap compared to other Nepali restaurants around London. The Ambience is terrible but we go there for the taste and certainly not for the cosy environment and soothing music. One will always get dismayed by the toilet, noise and dirt there. Nepalese Gurkha Kitchen is better known as ''Bhatti'' among Nepalese community in London esp because it's food taste like the ''Bhatti'' food that one could get in Ktm and the layout of the restaurant resembles the ''Bhati'' kind of environment.
Menu ranges from Nepali Beer ''Chyag'' to Choyela and Pangra. Mo:Mo is good however not as best as one could find in Nepalese Tandoori Restaurant, Shepherds Bush, London.

Another excellent & expensive one is the ''Nepalese Tandoori Restaurant '' in Shepherds Bush London owned by Mr. Rameshwor Dongol. Apparently Rameshwor dai has this magic touch that whatever he cooks tastes really really good. If you fancy trying out AUTHENTIC NEWARI DISHES... then Neapalese Tandoori Restaurant is the place to be in. Good Ambience, soothing nepali music, excellent customer service & for that great Newari food this is the place.

There are literally hundreds of Nepali restaurants all over the U.K. mainly serving Indian dishes and one cannot get that authentic food that one might be expecting out of Nepali restaurants in the U.K.

You are right bhole babaji about the nepali restaurant in Berkley. I did not get good service there as well. The food was not that great either; theri momos sucked. Talking about tyhe owner refusing to talk in nepal;I guess the he forgot where he is from. But anyway, I agree with others about the Himalayn sherpa restaurant in seattle. The staff were freindly and food was delicious.. specially their thalis...
I recommend it to everyone !

Arnico, good to see you back in Sajha after a long time. One Nepali restaurant I happen to know of in SE Asia is Nepal's in Hong Kong. It seems to be a pretty popular place as it has been recommended by both Lonely Planet and Moon Publication guidebooks to HK. The menu sounds quite authentic as described by those guidebooks.

Most of the Nepali restaurants that I have heard of (have not visited any) seem to be pretty much Indian with the exception of a few items such as momo and chowela. The owner of one of the restaurants mentioned on this thread once admitted to me (shortly before its' opening) that his restaurant was going to be pretty much "Indian" with only a few Nepali items. The sole reason behind gving it a Nepali name and calling it a Nepali restaurant was due to the fact of him being a Nepali. It would be impossible to stay in business without offering the items that are already popular among the local clientele.

There used to be another Nepali restaurant in Cupertino, CA (Bay Area) called Kathmandu West. According to a close relative of mine who used to live in that area, most of the items offered there did have Nepali sounding names unlike most other Nepali restaurants. However, most of them tasted Indian and indeed the chef was a Siradarji.

I once happened to bump into the websites of a couple of UK based Nepali restaurants. When I looked at their menu, all the items were Indian (with names sounding obviously Indian) except for a few items such as momo, choela, alutama and gundruk.

I did go to the Nepali restaurant in Washinton DC once and their menu said "Chhara Ko Masu". I was not that pleased to see Chicken meat insted. could have just said "Chicken Ko Masu". I understand that having only nepali food on the menu will be a disaster to the business. Mixed with Indian entrees will be fine, but there has to be honesty atleast in the name. So that we out of town will not be fooled.

You guys forgot about Prem Sekuwa Corner in Putali Sadak...hahahahah

There are few in Kuala Lumpur by name of "Kantipur Restaurant", 'HAMRO RESTAURANT", etc

Kumari, in downtown Baltimore is pretty decent. With its elegant decor and walls draped with eclectic paintings mostly of rural Nepal, it does strike quite an impression. They serve a wide variety of Nepalese dishes which I must admit, is prepared quite tastefully.

Recommendations: Their khasi ko momo though a lil pricey, is fingerlicious(don't know if there is a word like that, but you get the idea, right). Aloo Tama takes you right back to your own kitchen back in nepal.

Now for the bottom line: how much money are we talking of?? If you are looking for a quick and cheap bite around town, then their buffet is probably what will run up your alley. But if you got a lil extra change, stick to the traditional dishes and expect to pay slightly above normal than what you would pay at an Indian restaurant. But if you are willing to splurge a lil, would you rather give it to a "dhoti" or your fellow country cousin---thats for you to decide.

All in all, I would give it a 3 and half star rating(out of five). Its worth a shot and for all you single guys, who knows "Your" Kumari might just be waiting for you at the bar out there.

Their Address: 911 N. Charles St
Baltimore, MD
Tel: (410) 547-1600
Also check them out at: www.kumari-restaurant.com