5 OF THE BEST NEPALESE RESTAURANTS IN HONG KONG FOR MOMO DUMPLINGS, PANI PURI, CURRY, THALI AND OTHER DISHES

Although Indian food often gets the spotlight the cuisine of next-door Nepal is unique and diverse, and there are some great restaurants in Hong Kong serving it
From a Temple Street joint known for thali, to a Wan Chai restaurant that makes momo with a twist, to a pani puri specialist, we look at some of the best

Although Nepalis began settling in Hong Kong in the 1960s, they account for only five per cent of the city's ethnic-minority population, according to the 2021 census.

Many Nepalis were brought to Hong Kong as part of the British Army's Brigade of Gurkhas, made up of Nepalese and Nepali-speaking Indian soldiers.

Nepal was never colonised by Britain, but for almost two centuries it had an alliance with the British and served as a buffer state between Imperial China and British India.

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When the British government withdrew from Hong Kong in 1997, the Gurkha units disbanded and some of the higher-ranking officers moved to the UK. But some Gurkhas and their children, many of whom were born in Hong Kong, chose to stay and have continued to live in the city.

According to the 2021 census, nearly 80 per cent of Hong Kong Nepali students did not receive postsecondary education; the educational system does not favour ethnic minorities. This gives Nepalis limited economic mobility.

Most Nepalis find themselves working in relatively low-paid jobs in which they endure long hours. Research has found that around 30 per cent work in construction.

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Many others work in hospitality, and the Nepali community has made its own contribution to Hong Kong's food scene too. This is particularly evident in Jordan on the Kowloon peninsula, where many Nepalis live. Some have opened restaurants serving authentic Nepalese food.

Indian food gets more of the spotlight, but Nepal's position between India and China, and its geography - featuring valleys, plains and a large chunk of the Himalayas - has made the county's cuisine unique and diverse.

Nepal's multi-ethnic and multicultural make-up have shaped its food. People in northern Nepal have ties to Tibetan culture, while those in southern Nepal are closer to Indian culture. The Kathmandu Valley, in the middle of the country, is where Buddhism and Hinduism meet.

In Hong Kong, some Nepalese restaurants have become popular beyond the Nepali community. Some of this can be put down to the Covid-19 pandemic, when international travel was limited and some residents turned to the city to get their fill of foreign food.

Here are some of the most popular Nepalese restaurants in Hong Kong and the different regional dishes they specialise in.

1. Nepal Restaurant

Nepal Restaurant, in SoHo, opened in 1997 and focuses on royal Nepalese cuisine. According to the operations manager Ranju Kafle, the restaurant's bestselling dishes are its momo - steamed dumplings with a mildly spicy sauce - its bhenta tareko (fried aubergine with fresh herbs), and its curries served with saffron rice.

"Centuries ago, Nepal was divided into numerous small states and each state had its own tradition of offering deluxe meals to royal guests. Today, this culinary heritage has blossomed into a wide array of tastes, ranging from mild to medium hot and even very hot," Kafle says.

Nepal Restaurant offers halal options as well as gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian dishes.

G/F, 14 Staunton Street, SoHo

2. Manakamana Nepali Restaurant

Manakamana Nepali Restaurant has been in Temple Street, Jordan, since 2000, and recently opened a food stall at the newly revamped Temple Street Night Market.

Manager Rai Sunita says the restaurant takes its name from the Manakamana Temple, 1,300 metres (4,300 feet) above sea level in Nepal's Gorkha district.

The Hindu temple is dedicated to the goddess Bhagavati, and its name means "temple that grants wishes of its devotees".

The cosy restaurant's highlight is the thali ("plate" or "tray"), a typical Nepali meal consisting of curry, dal, vegetables and rice served on a round metal platter to offer various flavours on a single plate. Thalis are common in South Asian cuisines.

G/F, 107 Temple Street, Jordan

3. Ex-Gorkha Restaurant & Bar

Ex-Gorkha Restaurant & Bar was opened in 2016 by a group of retired Gurkhas who served in the Indian army with the ethos of "getting together as a community and letting others try Nepali cuisine", its manager, Harka Bahadur Limbu, says.

The restaurant has an unpretentious vibe and focuses on dishes from eastern Nepal, where Limbu was born.

These include Dharan-style aloo nimki, a deep-fried snack mixed with potatoes and gravy and topped with fresh onions, coriander and spices; tongba, a fermented millet alcoholic drink usually served warm; and chatpate, a street food popular in both Nepal and India featuring puffed rice mixed with dry noodles, diced tomatoes, cucumbers, onion and spices.

Shop 5, 65-75 Wai Ching Street, Jordan

4. Himalaya Restaurant

At the time of Himalaya Restaurant's opening in 2007, there were no other Nepalese restaurants in Hong Kong's Wan Chai neighbourhood, according to the restaurant's director, Keshab Karki.

Karki says that the restaurant's bestselling dish is the Nepali lamb sekuwa, marinated barbecue lamb served on a sizzling hot iron plate.

Most notable, however, are the restaurant's uniquely shaped momo, which act almost as a vessel for the sauce served on top of them.

1/F A, 22-30 Tai Wong Street East, Wan Chai

5. Grill House

Grill House is a small establishment that has been serving the Jordan neighbourhood since 2016.

The restaurant serves beer on tap and dishes such as pani puri - deep-fried, bite-sized balls that usually have a filling of potato, onion, chickpeas and liquid mint and coriander.

Shop 7, 46 Shanghai Street, Jordan