Where to eat Nepalese and Himalayan food in Manchester

The Original Third Eye has been a mainstay of Didsbury Village since 2000 and has a link to Indian cooking royalty. Chef Arun Kumar was trained by his father from India, who worked at the legendary Moti Mahal in Delhi. For those less familiar with restaurant lore, this spot lays claim to being the birthplace of the iconic butter chicken. So obviously trying that is a must, but their Nepalese-leaning dishes are exceptional, like the Makhan tandoori chops, the sweet-but-sour Kantipur chicken and their show-stopping whole fish dishes. Don’t just take our word for it, the team at Original Third Eye have one of the most heaving culinary trophy cabinets in South Manchester.

Also located in leafy Didsbury, clustered among a handful of other favourite Nepalese spots, is Durbar Square. It’s a modern but cosy spot, specialising in informal Indian and Nepalese food, operated by Chef Binod who has heaps of experience in the industry over several decades. The menu is a blend of street food dishes, Indo-Nepali curries, street food favourites like vada pav and samosa chaat. Those in the know head straight to the momo portion of the menu, where you can enjoy these firey parcels of flavour steamed or fried, and drenched in chilli or a special jhol chutney. You can be sure your crispy dosas, light-as-air pani puri and flaky paratha are as authentic as they come.

Winner of 2023’s National Curry Award, among countless other wins over the years, The Great Kathmandu’s are familiar with an accolade or two Opened by Gopal and Jhunu Dangol in 1986 with the mission of bringing the flavours and culture of Nepal to England, its longevity speaks volumes. They serve up ever-popular Indian tandoori dishes alongside distinct Nepalese ones in the form of dishes like Sunakothi seafood cooked with ginger and garlic, and Makhan fish cooked with butter, cream and tomatoes. Casual and welcoming, this spot is always top of our list for a big get together.

An evolution of the much loved Little Yeti on Barlow Moor Road in Chorlton, Momo Shop have perfected the art of the savoury, spicy Napalese parcel. With a small menu of vegan and veggie-friendly starters like onion bhajis and masala-sprinkled chips up front, they swiftly get down to business with the momo menu, where you can create near-endless combinations of fillings, cooking styles and dipping sauces, like a spicy tomato achar or chilli oil. We’d highly recommend trying your momos cooked sadeko style, dry fried with spices and vegetables. Think salt and pepper style from your favourite takeaway, but kicked up a notch. If that doesn’t take your fancy for whatever reason, there are plenty of noodle dishes, wraps and sizzling mains to enjoy. It all adds up to a properly enjoyable celebration of spicy carbs.

Another South Manchester gem, Namaste Nepal is a family-run spot which has been serving Indian and Nepalese food to the diners of West Didsbury for over twenty years. Serving favourite Nepalese dishes like momos, Makhan fish and sadekho kebabs, alongside your kormas and massalas, it’s an ideal curry spot if you’re wanting to mix things up a bit, while still wanting to enjoy some more familiar options too. Seafood lovers are especially well catered for too; there’s spicy barbecued mackerel and aromatic king prawns aplenty. And if we’re being strictly on-theme about things, it should all be enjoyed with a bottle of Ghurka beer.

Not Nepalese, but very much just a hop over the Himalayas, Tibetan Kitchen have a cafe in Chorlton, outposts in Chorlton Park and Chorlton Waterpark, as well as a distinctive bus which does the festival circuit. Their menu is tight: just three veggie dishes and a couple of meat ones, of course featuring the all-important momos. For meat-lovers the pak tsel stir fry with pork and pak choi is a must, and the paneer and butternut squash curry is a crowd-pleaser, veggie or not. Their signature chilli sauce, traditionally served with those momos, has taken on such a life of its own that they sell it by the jar-load. Seek them out their fresh-but-comforting offerings next time you’re in Firswood, or revelling in a field somewhere.

Serving North Indian food with a Nepalese touch, Rajdoot Tandoori has been feeding Manchester for nearly 60 years and is perhaps its most esteemed curry house. With a prime city centre location on Albert Square, visiting Rajdoot is legitimately a trip back in time. While their menu is varied, people flock here for the tandoori dishes. They proudly announce that meat and vegetables are marinated for over 12 hours then cooked to perfection in a clay oven charcoal pit. The Nepalese influence comes in the form of spicy steamed momos and chicken johl. If you want tasty, classic curries, perfected over decades, Rajdoot consistently delivers the goods.

Located in Cheetham Hill – arguably one of the most densely packed areas in the city for exciting food – is Everest Momo Station, and their menu is worthy of that gargantuan moniker. Before we even get down to business (the momo themselves), the abundant menu is full of amazing soups, chow meins, dosas, and curries. Dumpling-wise, theres an almost infinite combination of options, from steamed to fired, via tandoori’d, doused in chilli sauce, and topped with crunchy Indian chaat. ‘Feast for the senses’ doesn’t even begin to cover it.