How to Order Food in Nepali

Restaurant phrases and food vocabulary for Nepal

Nepali cuisine is delicious and diverse. From the famous dal bhat to momos, knowing how to order food will enhance your culinary experience in Nepal.

Cultural Tip

In Nepal, it's polite to eat with your right hand. The left hand is considered unclean. When eating dal bhat, mixing the rice, dal, and vegetables with your fingers is traditional.

Phrases

Choose a writing mode for the Nepali column.

Food and restaurants: Nepali, English meaning, and when to use each phrase, with a recording of each phrase to listen to
Nepali	Romanization	English	When to use it
मेनु दिनुहोस्	Menu dinuhos	Please give me the menu
मलाई... चाहिन्छ	Malai... chahinchha	I want...
दाल भात	Daal bhaat	Lentils and rice	National dish
मोमो	Momo	Dumplings	Popular snack
चिया	Chiya	Tea
पानी	Paani	Water
गरम पानी	Garam paani	Hot water
चिसो पानी	Chiso paani	Cold water
मिठो छ	Mitho chha	It's delicious
पुग्यो	Pugyo	That's enough	When being served
बिल दिनुहोस्	Bill dinuhos	Please give me the bill
पिरो	Piro	Spicy
पिरो नचाहिने	Piro nachaahine	Not spicy please

Frequently asked questions about food and restaurants

How do you order food in Nepali?: Start with मेनु दिनुहोस् (Menu dinuhos), meaning please give me the menu, then मलाई... चाहिन्छ (Malai... chahinchha) with the dish name. Ask for the bill with बिल दिनुहोस् (Bill dinuhos).
What is Nepal's national dish called in Nepali?: दाल भात (Daal bhaat), lentils and rice, is the national dish. मोमो (Momo), dumplings, is the most popular snack.
How do you ask for food that is not spicy in Nepali?: पिरो (Piro) means spicy, so पिरो नचाहिने (Piro nachaahine) asks for it not spicy. To say the food is delicious, use मिठो छ (Mitho chha).
How do you ask for water in Nepali?: पानी (Paani) is water, गरम पानी (Garam paani) is hot water, and चिसो पानी (Chiso paani) is cold water.

Ready to Practice?

Practice related vocabulary with an interactive quiz.

Start Food Quiz

Related phrasebooks

Numbers 1 to 100

Learn to count from 1 to 100 in Nepali with pronunciation

Thanks and politeness

Express gratitude in Nepali with these essential phrases

Loading Nepali phrases…

मेनु दिनुहोस्

Menu dinuhos

Please give me the menu

मलाई... चाहिन्छ

Malai... chahinchha

I want...

दाल भात

Daal bhaat

Lentils and rice

National dish

मोमो

Momo

Dumplings

Popular snack

चिया

Chiya

Tea

पानी

Paani

Water

गरम पानी

Garam paani

Hot water

चिसो पानी

Chiso paani

Cold water

मिठो छ

Mitho chha

It's delicious

पुग्यो

Pugyo

That's enough

When being served

बिल दिनुहोस्

Bill dinuhos

Please give me the bill

पिरो

Piro

Spicy

पिरो नचाहिने

Piro nachaahine

Not spicy please

Frequently asked questions about food and restaurants

How do you order food in Nepali?

Start with मेनु दिनुहोस् (Menu dinuhos), meaning please give me the menu, then मलाई... चाहिन्छ (Malai... chahinchha) with the dish name. Ask for the bill with बिल दिनुहोस् (Bill dinuhos).

What is Nepal's national dish called in Nepali?

दाल भात (Daal bhaat), lentils and rice, is the national dish. मोमो (Momo), dumplings, is the most popular snack.

How do you ask for food that is not spicy in Nepali?

पिरो (Piro) means spicy, so पिरो नचाहिने (Piro nachaahine) asks for it not spicy. To say the food is delicious, use मिठो छ (Mitho chha).

How do you ask for water in Nepali?

पानी (Paani) is water, गरम पानी (Garam paani) is hot water, and चिसो पानी (Chiso paani) is cold water.