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.
What to do in Kathmandu – a short break in Nepal’s capital
What to do in Kathmandu – a short break in Nepal’s capital
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.
Here are some of the most popular Nepalese restaurants in Hong Kong and the different regional dishes they specialise in.
1. Nepal Restaurant
“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
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