# Newari Food: A Guide to the Kathmandu Valley's Cuisine _Published 5 September 2026_ 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](/kathmandu-food-tour-cooking-class) and [Patan heritage walk](/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](/blog/nepal-for-vegetarians-and-vegans). ## Newari dishes at a glance DishWhat it isVegetarian version?Samay bajiRitual platter: beaten rice, meat, black soybeans, egg, ginger, picklesPartlyBara (wo)Lentil pancakeYes, plainChatamariRice-flour crêpe with toppingsYesChoilaSpiced grilled meat, usually buffaloNoKachilaSpiced raw minced buffaloNoAalu tamaPotato and bamboo-shoot curryYesKwatiSoup of nine sprouted beansYesAalu acharSpiced potato salad with sesameYesSapu mhichaBuffalo leaf tripe stuffed with bone marrowNoYomariSteamed rice-flour dumpling with molasses and sesameYesJuju dhauSweet, thick curd from BhaktapurYes## The Newar feast (bhoj) Newar feasts are central to community life. At weddings, festivals and family rituals, guests sit in long rows on mats on the floor and are served on leaf plates, with many dishes brought around by the hosts in a fixed order. A full feast (bhoj) might include beaten rice, several meat dishes, vegetables, pickles, soybean, bara, sweets and curd, with aaila and thwon poured freely. Seating order and serving order follow tradition, with the eldest served first. If you are lucky enough to be invited to a Newar feast, follow your hosts' lead, eat with your right hand, and try a little of everything. ## Beaten rice (baji) Many Newar meals are eaten with **baji**, beaten or flattened rice, rather than boiled rice. It is light, crunchy and easy to store, which made it useful for festivals and journeys. In samay baji, the beaten rice is served with a combination of dishes that have ritual meaning, and the platter is offered to the gods before being shared. ## Festival foods - **Yomari Punhi** (December): families make yomari, sweet dumplings shaped by hand, at the end of the rice harvest. - **Janai Purnima** (August): kwati, the sprouted bean soup, is eaten for health during the monsoon. - **Mha Puja** (during Tihar): elaborate meals and offerings for the self, with samay baji. - **Indra Jatra** (September): rice beer and feasts in the old city. See [festival foods](/blog/nepali-festival-foods). ## Where to eat Newari food in more detail - **Kathmandu old town:** small khaja ghar around Asan, Indra Chowk and Kilagal serve bara, choila and samay baji to local customers. - **[Patan](/places/patan):** Newari restaurants around Patan Durbar Square, some in restored traditional houses. - **[Bhaktapur](/places/bhaktapur):** try juju dhau, bara and Newari sets in cafés around the squares. - **[Kirtipur](/places/kirtipur):** a Newar hill town with well-known Newari restaurants and fewer tourists. - **[Bungamati and Khokana](/places/bungamati-and-khokana):** village eateries, and Khokana's famous mustard oil. ## Spices and flavours Newari cooking uses mustard oil, garlic, ginger, cumin, fenugreek, turmeric, chilli and **timur** (Sichuan pepper), as well as the smoky flavour of grilled meats. Pickles (achar) are central, made from radish, potato, tomato, cucumber and more. Many dishes are spicy, so ask for "piro kam" (less spicy) if you prefer milder food. ## A note on buffalo meat Water buffalo ("buff") is the most commonly eaten meat in Newari cuisine and in Kathmandu generally, as cows are sacred and protected. Buff appears in momos, choila, sukuti (dried meat) and sausages. If you don't eat red meat, ask for chicken or vegetarian versions. ## Learning to cook Newari food Cooking classes in Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur often include Newari dishes such as bara, chatamari and aalu achar, sometimes with a visit to a local market first. See [cooking classes](/blog/cooking-classes-in-kathmandu). ## Who are the Newars? The Newars are the historic inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley, and the builders of its great cities, temples and palaces. They speak Nepal Bhasa (Newari) and follow both Hindu and Buddhist traditions, often intertwined. Over centuries, Newar merchants traded across the Himalaya, as far as Lhasa, and Newar artists and architects worked in Tibet and China. Their food culture reflects this rich history, with dishes tied to the agricultural year, religious festivals and family rituals. See [Newar culture](/blog/newar-culture-guide). ## Newari snacks for every time of day TimeWhat to tryMorningBara with a cup of tea from a local stallMiddaySamay baji or a Newari set with beaten riceAfternoonChatamari, aalu achar and lassiEveningChoila, sukuti and fried snacks with a drinkDessertJuju dhau or yomari in season## Newari food tour One of the best ways to explore Newari food is on a walking food tour through Kathmandu's old town, Patan or Bhaktapur. A local guide takes you to small eateries known only to locals, explains the dishes and their cultural meaning, and helps with ordering. You'll taste bara cooked on a griddle, juju dhau served in a clay pot, freshly fried sel roti and spiced choila, while learning about the festivals and courtyards of the old city. See [Kathmandu street food](/blog/kathmandu-street-food-guide). ## Newari food etiquette - Wash your hands before eating; Newar meals are traditionally eaten with the right hand. - Don't touch shared dishes with your eating hand once you've started; use a spoon to serve. - At feasts, wait for elders to begin. - Food that has touched your plate or mouth is considered jutho (ritually impure) and shouldn't be shared. - When offered more food, a polite "pugyo" (enough) and a hand over the plate is the way to decline. ## Newari food at home Many Newari dishes are easy to make at home. Bara needs only black lentils soaked overnight, ground into a batter with ginger, cumin and salt, and fried in small rounds. Aalu achar combines boiled potatoes with toasted sesame, chilli, turmeric, lemon and fenugreek-tempered oil. Chatamari is a thin batter of rice flour and water cooked like a crêpe and topped with egg, minced meat or vegetables. Bring back some timur and Nepali spice mixes to recreate the flavours. ## Vegetarian Newari food in more detail Although meat is central to many Newari feasts, there is plenty for vegetarians. Plain bara made from black lentils, chatamari with vegetable toppings, aalu achar, aalu tama, kwati, beaten rice with pickles, wo with egg (for those who eat eggs), and sweets such as yomari and juju dhau are all good choices. Tell the restaurant you are vegetarian ("ma shakahari hun"), as some side dishes may contain meat or be cooked in meat stock. See [vegetarians and vegans](/blog/nepal-for-vegetarians-and-vegans). ## Newari sweets Newari sweets go beyond yomari and juju dhau. Look for **lakhamari**, a large, crunchy sweet bread often given at weddings and festivals; **gwaramari**, small fried dough balls eaten for breakfast with tea; and **marchar**, delicate fried sweets made for festivals. Many sweet shops in Bhaktapur and Patan's old towns sell them fresh. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is Newari food? The cuisine of the Newar people of the Kathmandu Valley. ### What is samay baji? A ritual platter of beaten rice with meat, beans and pickles. ### What is yomari? A sweet steamed dumpling with molasses and sesame. ### Where can I try Newari food? In Patan, Bhaktapur, Kirtipur and old Kathmandu. ### What is kachila? A Newar dish of spiced raw minced buffalo meat. ### What is baji? Beaten or flattened rice, served with many Newari meals instead of boiled rice. ### What is Yomari Punhi? A December festival when families make yomari dumplings at the end of the rice harvest. ### What does "piro kam" mean? "Less spicy", useful when ordering Newari food. ### What meat is used in Newari food? Mostly water buffalo ("buff"), as cows are sacred and protected. ### Who are the Newars? The historic people of the Kathmandu Valley, builders of its cities and temples. ### Is there a Newari food tour? Yes. Walking food tours run in Kathmandu's old town, Patan and Bhaktapur. ### How do I make bara at home? Soak black lentils overnight, grind with ginger, cumin and salt, and fry small rounds of the batter. ### What is chatamari? A thin rice-flour crêpe topped with egg, meat or vegetables, sometimes called Newari pizza. ### Is juju dhau vegetarian? Yes. It is a sweet, thick curd from Bhaktapur. ### What is sukuti? Dried, spiced meat, usually buffalo, often served as a snack with drinks. ### What is lakhamari? A large, crunchy Newari sweet bread often given at weddings and festivals. ### Where can I buy Newari sweets? In sweet shops in the old towns of Bhaktapur and Patan. Web page: https://himalayanhiking.com/blog/newari-food-guide