The Newars, the historic people of the Kathmandu Valley, have one of the richest food traditions in Nepal, with dozens of dishes tied to festivals and family rituals.
Quick answer: must-try Newari dishes include samay baji (a ritual platter with beaten rice), bara (lentil pancakes), chatamari (rice-flour "pizza"), choila (spiced grilled meat), kwati (mixed bean soup), yomari (sweet dumplings) and Bhaktapur's juju dhau (king curd).
Dishes to try
- Samay baji: beaten rice served with spiced meat, black soybeans, egg, ginger and pickles, traditionally offered at festivals.
- Bara (wo): savoury pancakes of ground lentils, plain or with egg or meat.
- Chatamari: a thin rice-flour crêpe with toppings.
- Choila: grilled, spiced buffalo or other meat.
- Kwati: a soup of sprouted beans, eaten at the Janai Purnima festival.
- Yomari: steamed dumplings filled with molasses and sesame, made for the Yomari Punhi festival in winter.
- Juju dhau: rich, sweet curd from Bhaktapur.
Where to eat
Look for Newari restaurants and khaja ghar (snack houses) in Patan, Bhaktapur, Kirtipur and Kathmandu's old town. Our food tour and cooking class and Patan heritage walk include Newari snacks.
Vegetarian?
Newari food uses a lot of meat, but bara, chatamari and many side dishes have vegetarian versions. See our vegetarian guide.