What dietary or local culinary experiences should I expect during my trip to Nepal?

People from around the world visit Nepal, leading to many restaurants and hotels, especially in tourist hubs like Kathmandu and Pokhara. These cities offer a wide range of international cuisines, including, Continental, Italian, Chinese, Thai, Mexican, and Indian. However, outside these areas, food options become more limited. It is highly recommended to try local dishes, particularly Newari cuisine, which reflects the rich culinary traditions of the indigenous Newar people of Kathmandu.

The staple food of Nepal is daal, bhaat, and tarkari (lentil soup, rice, and curried vegetables). While daal and bhaat are usually mild, tarkari can be spicy and oily for those unaccustomed to such flavors, so it is best to try small amounts gradually. To avoid stomach problems, visitors should drink only bottled, boiled, or properly filtered water.

Because Nepal is predominantly Hindu, beef is rarely available in restaurants. Nepal also produces several local beers, spirits such as rum, whiskey, gin, and vodka, and traditional homemade drinks like raksi and ayla. Bottled water and international soft drinks like Coke and Pepsi are widely available and recommended for visitors.