Never Ordered Nepalese Before? Start With These 5 Crowd-Pleasing Dishes

We get it. You've decided to try something new tonight, you've opened the Everest Dinner menu, and suddenly you're face to face with words like 'thukpa' and 'sekuwa' and you're not quite sure what you've let yourself in for.

Good news: Nepalese food is one of the most beginner-friendly cuisines out there. It's comforting, rarely punishingly spicy, and built on flavours you already love — garlic, ginger, tomato, gentle spices. Here are five dishes that make a perfect first order, plus a ready-made combo at the end if you'd rather we just decide for you.

1. Chicken Momos — The Gateway Dish

If you take one piece of advice from this article, make it this: order the momos. These are Nepalese dumplings — delicate parcels of minced chicken (or veg) wrapped in soft dough and steamed. Think of them as the lovechild of a Chinese dumpling and a Nepalese spice rack.

They arrive with a fiery-sweet tomato chutney for dipping, and the spice level is entirely up to you — the chutney is on the side. Mild by default, addictive by design. Our delivery regulars order double portions. We're not judging.

2. Chilli Chicken — Familiar, But Better

You've probably had chilli chicken at a Chinese takeaway. This is its bolder cousin. Crispy chicken tossed with peppers, onions and a glossy, tangy sauce with a proper kick of ginger and green chilli.

Spice level: medium. It's got heat, but it's the kind that warms rather than scorches. If you can handle a korma-with-attitude, you'll be fine.

3. Dal Bhat — The Comfort Plate

Nepal's national dish, and the ultimate comfort food. A generous plate of rice with slow-cooked lentil dal, lightly spiced and deeply soothing. It's mild, it's nourishing, and it's the dish Nepalese people eat every single day — which tells you everything.

Perfect if you want something gentle, or if you're feeding kids or anyone spice-shy.

4. Chicken Sekuwa — For the Grill Lovers

Love a skewer? Sekuwa is chicken marinated in garlic, ginger and Himalayan spices, then flame-grilled until smoky at the edges. It's Nepal's answer to a kebab, served with salad and a zingy dip.

Spice level: mild to medium, with bags of flavour rather than fire. Great for sharing — or not. Your call.

5. Thukpa — The Hug in a Bowl

A hearty noodle soup from the Himalayan hills, packed with vegetables, chicken and warming broth. Imagine chicken noodle soup that went to finishing school in Kathmandu.

It's mild, it's restorative, and it's unbeatable on a rainy British evening — which, let's be honest, gives you plenty of opportunities.

Your First Everest Dinner: The Combo

Short on time? Here's the order we'd recommend for two hungry beginners:

• 6 pieces chicken momos (starter, and the star of the show)
• Chicken sekuwa (for the smoky, grilled fix)
• One dal bhat (the comforting centrepiece)
• Pilau rice and a naan (non-negotiable for mopping)
• A mango lassi (cool, sweet insurance against any chilli surprises)

That's a spread with variety, balance, and not a single scary chilli in sight. Add a little extra tomato chutney on the side if you're feeling brave.

Ready when you are — order online and we'll handle the rest. Your first taste of the Himalayas is about 45 minutes away.