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Had a lovely meal here last night. Staff and owner were very friendly and welcoming. Restaurant small but not too busy, decor traditional Nepalese pictures, ornaments and incense smells. Set meal was delicious and very filling! 5pm deal included free glass of house wine which was great and the generous owner gave us a complimentary bowl a Nepalese rice pudding to finish - very special! If you want to try tasty authentic Nepalese in a friendly setting try this place.
Claire Durham - dined in restaurant 21/10/2016
Opened in 1997, The Khukuri on West Maitland Street lays claim to being Edinburgh’s oldest Nepalese restaurant. The cosy West End space certainly looks the part thanks to walls decorated with Nepalese art, masks and pictures of Himalayan scenes. That authentic Nepalese ambience carries on with occasional live Nepalese folk music and regional cuisine dinners. The staff are exceptionally welcoming and happy to explain the intricacies of Nepalese cuisine.
The Khukuri prides itself on using herbs and spices which are unique to the Himalayas in order to create authentic Nepalese dishes. A typical example might be the piroo piroo, a medium curry which features chicken tikka flavoured with, among other herbs, Nepalese imbu, jimbu and timbur. Other signature Nepalese options include the steamed dumplings, or momo, and lamb raksi, a dish which is flavoured with a hint of rum and is said to be a favourite of the Gurkhas.
There is plenty of crossover with Indian dishes so diners won’t be disappointed if they fancy a bhuna, king prawn biryani or a sizzling mixed grill from the tandoor oven. There is an appetising selection of vegetable dishes and, for those who remain unconvinced by the cooking of the subcontinent, there is a compact range of European dishes.
The Khukuri is on West Maitland Street, a short walk from the transport hub of Haymarket train station. Several major bus routes and the tram line run nearby and the restaurant is well placed for those on their way to Tynecastle or Murrayfield stadiums.