In its 17-year history, Taste of Nepal has become an iconic eastern suburbs restaurant and an institution for Nepalese cuisine. The founder’s son, Kamal Poudel, guides us through the establishment’s most-loved menu items.

In 2021, the family-owned and -operated restaurant Taste of Nepal was awarded Best Restaurant in the East at the Eastside Business Awards.

The news came as no surprise to CityMag, but to chef Kashi Ram Poudel it was humbling recognition.

Growing up in Nepal as the eldest son in a big family, Kashi needed to find a job, and dishwashing was the easiest job he could get. He worked his way up to train as a professional chef in India and his career eventually led him across the Indian Ocean to Adelaide, where he launched Taste of Nepal.

Kashi’s son Kamal tells CityMag his dad is deeply attached to the family restaurant and there isn’t anything else he could see his father doing.

“My dad tells us stories of when he first came to Australia from Nepal in the ‘80s. People in Adelaide didn’t even know what coriander was,” Kamal says.

“He helped to shape Nepalese cuisine here in South Australia, from cooking at fundraisers and events, to opening the restaurant.

“My dad introduced Nepalese food to people here in SA.”

Adelaide’s palate quickly adopted a taste for Nepalese food, with Chef Kashi’s subtle flavours delicately blended from the freshest ingredients.

If you haven’t yet visited or don’t know what’s on a traditional Nepalese menu – relax. Kamal has offered us a guide to Taste Of Nepal’s five must-have dishes.

1. Nepalese Momo
   Hand-made from scratch at the restaurant, these chicken or vegetable Nepalese-style dumplings are served with a tomato based achar.
2. Goat Curry
   This exquisite village-style goat on the bone, sourced from Unley Meat Wholesalers, is slow cooked with home-ground fresh spices selected by Kashi.
3. Chef Kashi’s Signature Eggplant
   Gently oven roasted and slow cooked in a light tomato-based sauce.
4. Poleko Khasi
   These signature lamb cutlets are cooked in the clay charcoal oven and marinated in home-ground fresh spices.
5. Clay-Oven Roasted Vegetables
   Served with halloumi, broccoli, beetroot and portobello mushrooms, all cooked in Kashi’s clay oven.

The list is mouth-watering, but what makes it stand apart is the passion served up by Kashi every day.

“All of our produce is sourced locally,” says Kamal.

“Our vegetables and herbs come from the Gepps Cross market. My dad goes there every Sunday morning at 4am. He knows everyone there, he wants everything to be fresh, so rain, hail or shine he will be there.

“Our spices are hand ground and toasted here at the restaurant. Our food is handmade. It’s quite a process but it all adds to depth of the dish. It feels wholesome when you eat it.

“It’s like making it yourself at home – you know what’s in it.”

Given Kamal’s own passion for the restaurant, we’re surprised he didn’t end up donning a chef’s apron, but the appeal of Chef Kashi’s Nepalese cuisine is easy to understand.

Taste of Nepal is located at 300 The Parade, Norwood, and opens from 5pm Tuesday to Sunday.