The capital offers just about every type of cuisine imaginable, including an abundance of fantastic Asian dining options. Nepalese food is enduringly popular in the city, with a choice of longstanding and brand new authentic restaurants. Here’s our round-up of the finest places to enjoy it.
Solti
This brand newcomer to the Edinburgh dining scene is the sister restaurant to the family-run Gautam’s. Found in the vibrant Southside, it’s bright, welcoming and fashionable with a great cocktail menu to boot (try the South Asian take on a whisky sour). Dine a la carte in the evening from their menu that includes classics like Kormas, Baltis and Masala dishes, or opt for one of their many fusion dishes using Nepalese flavours with Scottish ingredients like their Haggis Pakora, Salmon Tikka or Lamb Kathmandu. For lunch go authentic tapas style and try a few sharing dishes – all artistically presented.
Gautam’s
The chefs here began their careers working from restaurants in Katmandhu, before moving to top restaurants in India and Dubai. As a result, the menu at Gautam’s is varied, providing a genuine taste of Asia and the East. House favourites include Chicken Momo (a kind of dumpling) hearty Himalayan Hot Pot and King Prawn Timurali Taal. There’s also a couple of options for kids. Find Gautam’s at the far end of Meadowbank just beyond the retail park.
Namaste Kathmandu Restaurant
Designed to suit all tastes and palates, diners can order everything from scampi and chips to Rogan Josh to Sherpa’s Checha (Chicken cheese) at this cosy, traditional eatery. The menus are grouped into European, Indian and Nepalese delicacies with exotic seafood specialities being a real highlight. Wash it all down with a bottle of wine – or Moet and Chandon if it’s a special occasion. Visit at lunchtime for a thali (a selection of different dishes) served Himalayan style with small bowls fixed on a metal tray.
Gurkha Cafe & Restaurant
Awarded a Certificate of Excellence by Trip Advisor, the Gurka Cafe & Restaurant provides the latest trends in Nepalese cooking. It’s located on the edge of the Old Town, with a dark wooden pitched ceiling and artworks depicting the Himalayan region. If you don’t spot your favourite dishes on the menu, the chef will make them for you. But with a large range of meals to suit carnivores and vegetarians, spice lovers and blander palates, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding something to suit. This restaurant is open every evening from 4 pm.
The Khukuri Nepalese Restaurant
A veteran on the Nepalese food scene, The Khukuri first opened its doors in 1997, from its home in the West End. Grab an express lunch deal with colleagues, or as a pitstop during a shopping trip. By night, you can tuck into favourites like momo dumplings, tandooris, biryanis or classic regional meals from across Nepal – and pair your meal with a Khukuri beer. The service is attentive and the decor is airy and modern with traditional artworks on the walls.
The Everest
Found on the artery road of Home Street, this highly-rated bijou restaurant is hard to miss when passing through the south of the city. Named after the highest peak in the world, it has a traditional ambience. Scottish produce features heavily on the home-cooked style menu, while Nepalese herbs and spices provide a range of aromatic flavours (curries vary from super hot to mild, so it doesn’t matter if you don’t do spicy). If you prefer a smorgasbord experience, order epic eight-course meat or vegetarian grazing menu.
