For a proper Newari meal in Kathmandu, go where the Newars eat: Kirtipur, Patan and the old lanes of the valley. SaSa in Kirtipur and Harisiddhi Newa Suhlee, a family place on the southern edge of Lalitpur that has been cooking since 1982, both serve full khaja sets of beaten rice with choila, bara, black soybeans and aila. Paalcha in Jawalakhel is the easy, sit-down choice. Bhojan Griha in Dillibazar serves a Nepali set dinner with Newari dishes and a folk dance show. Order samay baji first, then bara, chatamari and choila, and finish with yomari or juju dhau. Most meat is buffalo, and every place will make a vegetarian plate if you ask.
- Dish to order firstSamay baji (khaja set on one plate)
- Best areasKirtipur, Patan, old Kathmandu, Bhaktapur
- Oldest place in this listHarisiddhi Newa Suhlee, since 1982
- Dinner with a dance showBhojan Griha, Dillibazar
- Main meatBuffalo ("buff"), as cow slaughter is illegal
- Local drinkAila (rice spirit) and thwon (rice beer)
- Yomari Punhi 202624 December
Traveling to Nepal is one of a kind to cherish its natural beauty and cultural experiences. When discussing cultural things, cities like Kathmandu and Pokhara are best regarded as culturally rich, featuring people from several ethnic backgrounds. The Kathmandu Valley is the homeland of the Newar people, who built its temples and towns and are culturally very rich. Today they are one community among many in the city, but their food is still the valley's own. From the dress to cuisine, the Newar community offers many tourism prospects in Nepal. Many international travelers and vloggers have featured the Newari culture in their content.
So are you looking for the best Newari dishes in Kathmandu? If you love trying out new foods and exploring new cultures, this is the perfect guide! The Nepalese city of Kathmandu is well known for its outstanding Newari cuisine. The city is home to various restaurants serving up some of the most delicious and traditional Newari dishes.
From savory curries to momos, Kathmandu's Newari restaurants have everything. We've compiled a list of the city's best restaurants and Newari cuisines, so you can explore all that Kathmandu has to offer. Whether looking for a cozy atmosphere or quick takeout, this guide will help you find what you want.
Introduction to Newari Cuisine
Newari cuisine is the fantastic food of the indigenous Newar people from Kathmandu. This traditional cuisine has distinct flavors and preparations, making it one of Nepal's most popular cuisines.
From hearty dumpling-filled soups to fragrant curries, there's something for everyone on a Newari menu. Daily Newar meals are rice and lentils like anywhere in Nepal. Feasts and snack sets are built on baji (beaten rice) instead, with spiced potatoes, pickles and several meat dishes around it. The signature Newari dishes are bara, chatamari, choila, kachila and yomari. Sel roti, the ring-shaped fried rice bread, belongs to Nepali cooking as a whole and is a Tihar favourite, though many Newari restaurants serve it too.
Whether you're looking for a cozy spot or a fine dining experience, Kathmandu has plenty of great restaurants serving authentic Newari dishes.
The Best Restaurants for Authentic Newari Dishes in Kathmandu
Kathmandu's Newari cuisine is truly one of a kind. From the classic favorites, such as chatamari, bara, and aloo tama, to the gems only Kathmandu knows, such as ta:kha (meat jelly) and gundruk ko jhol, trying some of these dishes should be high on your list of things to do in this beautiful city.
So where should you go to get the best Newari food? Here are some of the best Newari restaurants in Kathmandu:
Bhojan Griha In Dillibazar
Bhojan Griha in Dillibazar is the one that comes into your mind when looking forward to trying out some of the dashing Newari food in Kathmandu. This eatery is focused on providing its customers with Newari cuisines with different eating experiences and dishes.
Photo Credit: Bhojan Griha
The restaurant opened in 1998 inside a house built for royal priests in the early 1900s, and each floor is decorated in a different period style. Dinner is a set Nepali meal of several courses with Newari dishes such as samay baji, yomari and chatamari, served with aila, the rice spirit from nearby Thimi. A folk music and dance show runs in the evening, so book ahead. For more places like this, see our guide to dinner with traditional dances in Kathmandu.
Paalcha Newari Restaurant
Located at Uttar Bagaicha in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, Paalcha Newari Kitchen offers much. With the name itself, you may be familiar with the available cuisine, which is Newari. Besides that, it also serves several forms of cuisine, like Continental dishes.
Paalcha Newari Restaurant has a contemporary interior with semi-indoor space that offers a vast area with hassle-free serving. Moreover, the services are excellent, and the staff is hospitable. They serve everything regarding Newari cuisine, from Chatamari to Samay Baji. It is a good first stop if you want Newari food without the noise of a bhatti, the old-style local tavern.
Paleti Bhanchha Ghar
Paleti Bhanchha Ghar is another excellent destination to visit if you are a food lover. This family-run kitchen serves classic Nepali and Newari food, so it suits a group that wants both. Some of the attractive services of Paleti Bhanchha Ghar are Nepali Thali Set, Newari Khaja Set, and Nepali Faper/Kodo set, including the benefit of sel roti.
Paleti Bhanchha Ghar is on J.P. Road, Thamel, which makes it the handiest choice on this list if you are staying in the tourist area. Check its current hours before you walk over.
SaSa: The Newa Restaurant
SaSa: The Newa Restaurant is in Sagal Tole, Kirtipur, near the Ring Road, about 30 minutes from Thamel. By its name, it's already evident what kind of cuisine and services it serves. This restaurant has become one of the famous eating destinations for people since it offers different types of Newari food featuring varied spices.
From Chatamari to Yomari and Samay Baji Khaja Set to the fried Hyakula, choila, and sekuwa, SaSa has been the primary point of having a soothing Newari snack. Weekends get busy, so expect a short wait for a table.
Photo Credit: SaSa-The Newa Restaurant
Harisiddhi Newa Suhlee
Harisiddhi Newa Suhlee was established in 1982 A.D. and has been serving classic Newari cuisine ever since. You can try several dishes there and experience a warm and hospitable atmosphere. Harisiddhi Special Newari Khaja Set is the most special dish they serve in this eatery, with twelve items arranged around a pile of beaten rice. It is a collection of Duck Choila, Ja-la Dyakula, Pickles, Sukuti, Buff Chilli, Aalu Tama, Haku Choila, Kachila, and many more.
Harisiddhi Newa Suhlee is in Harisiddhi, the old Newar village on the road from Satdobato towards Godavari in Lalitpur, about 4 km south of Satdobato Chowk. It takes 40 minutes or more from Thamel, so pair it with a trip to Godavari or Bungamati.
Must-Try Dishes: Specialties of the Best Newari Restaurants in Kathmandu
Kathmandu is known for its selection of delicious Newari dishes, so if you're looking for a taste of this traditional cuisine, you'll have plenty of options. Here are some of the must-try dishes you can find at the best Newari restaurants in Kathmandu:
Yogurt
Juju dhau, the famous "king yogurt", is the pride of Newari dairy craft. Traditionally made in Bhaktapur by setting rich buffalo milk in clay pots, it is thick enough to hold a spoon upright and tastes gently sweet and smoky. Don't miss it during your visit to Kathmandu!
Choila
Choila (chhwela) is a classic Newari dish of buffalo meat grilled over a flame, then mixed with garlic, ginger, chilli, mustard oil and spices. It makes a great appetizer to kick off your meal and pairs perfectly with beaten rice (chiura).
Samay Baji
Samay Baji is one of the most popular Newari dishes. It's made from beaten rice and other ingredients like a fried boiled egg, spicy potatoes, roasted black soybeans, choila, bara, ginger and a small cup of aila. Each item has its place around the rice, and the set is offered to the gods before it is eaten. If you want to dig into an authentic local dish in Kathmandu, then try Samay Baji!
Photo: Samay Baji Set
Yomari
Yomari is a steamed rice-flour dumpling with a distinctive fig-like shape. It is one of the most unique cuisines you will ever find anywhere. Yomari is made from rice flour with Chaaku inside it. Chaaku is cane molasses boiled down to a thick brown paste, often mixed with sesame seeds.
Besides Chaaku, people also use Khuwa, made from milk inside Yomari. It is steamed for around 10 minutes like momo before serving. There is even a festival called Yomari Punhi, held on the December full moon (24 December in 2026), when Newar families gather to steam fresh yomari together.
Bara
Bara is also a famous Newari cuisine that has prevailed for centuries. Bara, called wo in Nepal Bhasa, is a lentil pancake made with a soft fry in oil. People soak black lentils (maas) overnight and rub off their skins before grinding them to a thick paste.
Then they fry the paste on a flat griddle, often with an egg or minced buffalo on top, and Bara is ready to serve.
Chatamari
Chatamari is a Newari Pizza - it looks like a pizza with fewer ingredients. It is made from a thin rice-flour batter spread on the pan like a crepe and lightly salted.
Like Pizza toppings, you can add several forms of toppings before serving. The traditional ones are egg and minced buffalo, and many places now offer vegetable and mushroom versions too.
What to Expect From the Most Popular Newari Restaurants in Kathmandu?
Undoubtedly, you can find the best Newari dishes in Kathmandu, and it all starts with finding the right restaurant. In Kathmandu, plenty of Newari restaurants serve authentic and traditional dishes, so it's worth exploring what each one can offer.
When you're searching for the best Newari restaurants in Kathmandu, here are some of the things that you can expect:
Photo Credit: SaSa-The Newa Restaurant
Delicious Authentic Dishes
The most popular Newari restaurants in Kathmandu will be serving up traditional Newari dishes like aloo tama (potato and bamboo shoot curry), bara (black lentil pancakes), samay baji (beaten rice with several other items), and other delicious items.
Unique Setting
Most of these restaurants will also have their unique atmosphere. Many feature a courtyard setting or rooftop seating for a truly authentic experience. Some places also seat you on low cushions, Newar style, and Nepali and Newari music often plays in the background.
Great Service
Finally, when you visit one of Kathmandu's most popular Newari restaurants, you can expect excellent customer service. The staff is usually friendly/hospitable and knowledgeable about the menu items, so they can help you find dishes that best suit your tastes.
Newari Restaurants in Kathmandu at a Glance
| Restaurant | Area | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bhojan Griha | Dillibazar, Kathmandu | Set dinner with a folk dance show | Nepali set menu with Newari dishes, book ahead |
| Paalcha Newari Kitchen | Jawalakhel, Lalitpur | An easy first Newari meal | Modern room, also serves continental food |
| Paleti Bhanchha Ghar | J.P. Road, Thamel | Nepali thali and khaja set near Thamel | Family-run, Nepali and Newari menu |
| SaSa: The Newa Restaurant | Sagal Tole, Kirtipur | Choila, bara, sapu mhicha in a Newar house setting | Busy at weekends, about 30 minutes from Thamel |
| Harisiddhi Newa Suhlee | Harisiddhi, Lalitpur | The full khaja set, cooked since 1982 | On the road to Godavari, 40+ minutes from Thamel |
Restaurants open, move and close often in Kathmandu, so check a current listing before you make a special trip.
How to Order at a Newari Restaurant
Start with a samay baji or khaja set to share. It gives you six or seven dishes on one plate, and you can order more of the one you liked. Add a bara or chatamari while it is hot. Brave? Try kachila, spiced raw minced buffalo, or sapu mhicha, leaf tripe filled with bone marrow.
Almost all Newari meat is buffalo, sold as "buff", because cow slaughter is illegal in Nepal. Chicken, duck and pork appear on many menus as well. Vegetarians can ask for a set without choila, egg and aila, and bara, plain chatamari and yomari are meat-free anyway. Aila is a strong distilled rice spirit, so go slowly, and drink bottled or filtered water, never tap water. Bills at most sit-down restaurants add a 10% service charge and 13% VAT on top of menu prices.
Want to know what each item on the plate means? Our guides to samay baji and 11 traditional Newari dishes explain them one by one. Heading west? Here are the best Newari restaurants in Pokhara.
Eat Your Way Through Nepal with Swotah
Swotah's 11-day Himalayan Food Exploration Tour starts with cooking classes in Kathmandu and Kirtipur and a Newari homestay, then moves on to Gurung villages, Marpha and the Khumbu. It runs from USD 2,999 per person as a group departure. For a shorter trip, the 12-day Best of Nepal Tour, from USD 1,010 per person (group departure), covers Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur, the towns with the oldest Newari kitchens. If you want your own dates, or a day set aside for eating in Kirtipur, Swotah can arrange it as a private trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Newari restaurant in Kathmandu?
For the full traditional spread, SaSa in Kirtipur and Harisiddhi Newa Suhlee in Lalitpur are hard to beat. If you are staying in Thamel and want something close, try Paleti Bhanchha Ghar. For dinner with music and dance, book Bhojan Griha in Dillibazar.
What should I order at a Newari restaurant?
Order a samay baji or khaja set first. Then add bara, chatamari and choila, and finish with yomari or a bowl of juju dhau, the thick sweet yoghurt from Bhaktapur.
Is Newari food spicy?
Some of it is. Choila, aloo achar and the pickles carry a lot of chilli and Sichuan-style timur pepper. Bara, chatamari, yomari and beaten rice are mild, so mix them on the plate.
Can vegetarians eat Newari food?
Yes. Ask for a vegetarian khaja set without choila, egg and aila. Bara, plain chatamari, yomari, aloo tama and juju dhau are all meat-free.
Is Newari food made with beef?
No. Cow slaughter is illegal in Nepal, so the red meat on a Newari menu is buffalo, written as "buff". Chicken, duck and pork are also common.
Final Thoughts on Newari Restaurants in Kathmandu
If you're looking for a truly unique dining experience, Newari restaurants in Kathmandu offer you a chance to explore the city's best-kept secrets. From steaming momo dumplings to wo lentil patties and smoky buff choila, Newari restaurants promise an unforgettable culinary experience.
The next time you're in Kathmandu, looking to take a break from the city's hustle and bustle and have an authentic Newari meal, you know where to go. Be sure to save up your appetite, as you'll be sure to enjoy every bite.
