Flavours Of Nepal: Six Iconic Dishes You Must Know

By Akshara

September 9, 2025

Nepal’s cuisine reflects its geography, culture, and diverse communities. Everyday meals, festive foods, and street snacks together create a food tradition that is both simple and deeply rooted in local identity. From comforting staples like dal bhat to festive sweets such as yomari, each dish carries its own story of place and people.

Dal Bhat

The national staple, consisting of lentil soup served with steamed rice, seasonal vegetables, pickles, and sometimes meat. It is eaten daily across the country.

Momo

Steamed or fried dumplings filled with vegetables, chicken, or buffalo meat, served with spicy dipping sauces. A popular street and restaurant snack.

Sel Roti

A traditional ring-shaped rice flour bread, deep-fried and often prepared during festivals and family gatherings.

Gundruk

 Fermented leafy greens cooked into soups, pickles, or curries, valued for its tangy flavour and nutritional importance.

Yomari

 A sweet made from rice flour dough filled with jaggery and sesame, traditionally eaten during winter festivals in the Kathmandu Valley.

Thukpa

 A noodle soup with Tibetan influence, cooked with vegetables, meat, and warming spices, especially popular in colder regions.