I've been writing reviews on this restaurant now for some years. Every time I eat here I find a new reason. I've been eating here since Royal Nepal opened and was under different management. I've even dined at both the original (Brambleton, VA) and Arlington locations of Himalayan Wild Yak, a spin-off of sorts by two of the original owners. Both of these restaurants deserve your patronage as well when you're in either Arlington or out by Dulles. They are all great. The difference that Royal Nepal brings to the "table" is simple. They never lost that neighborhood feel and they don't take their patrons for granted. With a location down the block from the Birchmere and nestled in the up and coming Arlandria neighborhood of Alexandria, they project both a hometown restaurant feel as well as an adventurous vibe - have you ever eaten yak? The staff are real gems and the ambiance is a real treat from the "pickled veggies" on the window shelves down to the handmade Nepali napkins, this place is a virtual travelog. I can only say explore their menu and you're sure to find a treasure right here in the neighborhood. read more

Went here for a birthday celebration: Owner was super kind and attentive. Gave us great recommendations for our first time trying Nepalese food. The roti was delicious, the duck fried rice was my favorite dish of the night, and the variety of momo with everyone having their own personal favorites (yak, buffalo, wild boar, and lamb) made for an intriguing night. Plenty of other dishes I want to come back and try read more

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First time trying Nepalese cuisine and our party had a great time! Great portions and flavor, reasonable pricing, attentive service from staff. I liked how the pricing was reasonable even for dishes with lamb (the exact price of the dish is shown instead of charging extra for a better protein option). We also had momos as an appetizer. read more

Royal Nepal - Mutton curry, bryani - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

The food and the service were superb! we've been coming to this restaurant for a few years and are always happy to introduce it to our friends who live in Maryland or DC who do not have a great Nepalese restaurant. Our friends who dined with us tonight traveled to Nepal three times - and tonights meal was spectacular. The chef sent out a course of sel roti with mooli ko achar and trust me -- the deep fried sel roti with the tanginess of the radish pickle in mustard sauce was a great start. Our dinner order was enough for 4 - with a few boxes of leftovers for tomorrow. First course/appetizers we had the crispy kale and the momo (chickened and vegetarian- both were equally delicious). For our main courses, we had the lamb chops( 3 generous and succulent chops) , the tandoori combination ( both lamb and chicken) along with the Aloo cauliflower/potatoes in curry. We also had an order of garlic naan and regular naan. Two of us had a spectacular cocktail that was rimmed with cayenne! The cocktail was great, but we were both caught a little off guard by the heat of the cayenne. For dessert we had the Rasmali - a cheese based dessert that was a lovely ending . Service was attentive , the music lively but set at a perfect volume for ambiance and conversation and timing between courses perfect. We were never hurried or left without attention. They have this perfectly orchestrated. Our Bethesda friends? They'll drive to Arlandria again thats for certain! Great meal, authentic food, fantastic service and a good value. read more

Royal Nepal - The marinated lamb chops... - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Traditional family-owned Nepalese cuisine with a nice atmosphere and friendly staff. The buffalo dumplings and mutton curry were top notch. Thanks to Susol who made the dining experience very pleasant. read more

Fantastic service, absolutely delicious food! Such a hidden gem. Looking for a tasty meal, give this restaurant a try, you will NOT be disappointed! read more

Close friends love this place. Been our 5th time eating here. Food taste has been great and consistent. The owner definitely has done an awesome job. My favorite dish is Tandoori Duo, the chicken and lamb are grilled. The sauce on top is just the right amount of heat. The salad is tasty with their special dressing. I finished the entire dish but it was really good. Atmosphere is great and it is very clean. They made a birthday cake we had today and it was so yummy. You must try this restaurant. Thanks. read more

Royal Nepal - Tandoori Duo chicken and lamb - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

We stopped into Royal Nepal on a whim, having never tried Nepalese food before. What an amazing surprise. The moment you step inside, it feels like you have been transported to another country. The atmosphere is warm, inviting, and full of character. The food was absolutely incredible. Every dish was flavorful and fresh, and the portions were huge. The prices were very reasonable, especially considering the quality and serving size. The service was excellent as well; friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. If you like spicy food, be sure to let them know. They will bring out the most wonderful Nepalese hot sauce, full of heat and flavor, not just spice for the sake of spice. We cannot wait to go back. A true gem! read more

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Hidden gem serving up amazing Nepalese food. The dumplings with sauce make an awesome starter, and the wild boar curry is a must-try for dinner. Both dishes were full of flavor. My only feedback is that I wish the food had a bit more heat, since the spice level was pretty mild. read more

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My partner and I have been wanting to try Nepalese momos (dumplings) for a very long time. We were also craving Asian curry; the closest restaurant to National Landing that was able to accommodate both was Royal Nepal. The moment you walk in, you feel like you've entered a portal into a restaurant in Nepal with the traditional decor and the aroma of the spices coming from the kitchen. The servers were all so kind. They started us off first with Nepalese bread and pickled radish. The Nepalese bread is made out of rice flour, ghee, and honey - it tasted like a better version of an Auntie Anne's almond pretzel. The pickled radishes were very spiced - if you've ever eaten both home-cooked Indian food and Korean daikon radish, it's like if you mixed the two together (yum!) We ordered a mix of buffalo and wild boar steamed momos and fried yak momos. If you've never tried buffalo, wild boar, or yak, think of buffalo as beef, wild boar as a gamier pork, and yak as grass-fed beef. The momos were seasoned nicely on the inside, and the tomato sauce that went with them complemented the momos nicely. It's definitely all about your own preference, but I loved my steamed I ordered a Chef Special: Yak Curry. It was the most divinely spiced Asian curry I've ever had. On top of that, the presentation was a 10/10 with the garnishes on the serving dish. The yak was so tender, and one of the workers told us how they source their yak meat from grass fed yaks from Colorado. Made me want to support their business even more! Prices are decent, as this is a novelty in the area. We were so full after this hearty lunch, we didn't need to eat dinner. If you're looking for a different style of curry and dumplings, I highly recommend stopping by Royal Nepal - your taste buds will be bursting with excitement! read more

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This has been a long time favorite. The restaurant itself is rather unsuspecting, but it's immediately cosy inside. The menu is huge - maybe too big because everything I've ever tried there is delicious and there are too many options to choose from. It's great to go as a family so everyone can share dishes and try something different. The only complaint is that service can be slow, but with food that good, you want to hang around. read more

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Amazing authentic Nepalese cuisine in a friendly atmosphere at affordable prices! Great service!

Our party of 5 had a fantastic dinner this past Sunday evening at Royal Nepal. Everything we got was so delicious and filling, the entire table was satisfied with what we tried. Our server was very nice and there was complementary sel roti (Nepali fried bread) for the table. We ordered a good amount of food and family-styled. It was definitely enough for a group of 5 and we had some leftovers, too. BREAD BASKET - 10 This comes with a basket of three different naan: plain, garlic and cheese. Each piece of naan was nice and fluffy. I wasn't able to try the garlic since it quickly got snatched, but the plain met my expectations and the cheese was definitely something new with slight savoriness. I would recommend eating the curries and thali with the naan DUCK FRIED RICE - 9 This had cilantro in it, so I stayed away. But our group really liked it and it's one of the most popular dishes on Yelp from this restaurant. CHICKEN SIZZLER - 18 This also had cilantro, so I didn't try too much of it. The chow mein and bits of chicken I had with it was definitely very flavorful. Our group enjoyed this dish. YAK CURRY - 20 The yak curry was so tender and flavorful. I've never had yak before so this was a great experience. Our entire table enjoyed the rich and hearty flavors of the curry and would definitely recommend this entree. ROYAL THALI - 25 This comes with a plate of rice (and a fried egg on top) and a variety of smaller sides such as duck curry, sauteed spinach, black lentils, something else (I forgot) and Royal Nepal Sikarni (whipped Greek Yogurt with lots of spices and nuts, more like a dessert). The duck curry was great and I love duck in general. Even though it was so simple, I kept getting seconds and thirds of the spinach and black lentils -- very hearty and satisfying. ROYAL NEPAL MOMO PLATTER (20 PCS.) - 32 Each platter comes with 4 different momos: buffalo, yak, wild boar and lamb. This was perfect because there was 5 of each momo and there were 5 of us! I don't know which momo contained what meat. All I know is that I thoroughly enjoyed all of them. The meats were well seasoned and the dumpling wrappers had a nice chew. I am so glad we chose Royal Nepal for dinner. Everyone was happy and had a fantastic time. We did not talk much in the beginning because we focused more on eating than socializing. read more

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Excellent momo here and staff was very friendly! Vegetarian and meat options available. The mango lassi is also quite good read more

Royal Nepal - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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came here as a group and tried multiple curries. I personally didn't enjoy most of the flavors and spices, but that could just be my palette and personal preference not enjoying Nepalese food. I haven't had it before so that could be the case. I prefer Indian or middle eastern cuisine. I would still recommend you give this place a shot if you like Nepalese food or want to try something new. They had excellent service and always kept our water full. I didn't love the wild boar curry, royal chicken curry, aloo cauliflower curry, or garlic naan (too much minced garlic in it). My girlfriend enjoyed the aloo cauliflower curry though and we all liked the sel roti (complimentary bread) and pickled veggies for the table. The sel roti had a unique dense texture but could have been warmer when it was serve to us. I will say this place had excellent Brussel sprouts though. One of the best brussel sprout side dishes I've ever had. read more

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This was my first time trying Nepalese food and it was a great first experience! Everything tasted awesome and service was really great. I highly recommend checking out Royal Nepal read more

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I absolutely love this place! It's the best Nepalese food in the area. I used to go to Himalayan Heritage in Adams Morgan which is great, but somehow Royal Nepal is even 10x better. The staff go out of their way to make sure each visit is perfect. It doesn't matter if it's a quiet evening with just a couple of tables or a super busy dinner rush; the service is consistently impeccable. I highly recommend the chicken momos, lamb momos, any of the lamb dishes, and any of the appetizers. There's really nothing I don't like on the menu. The masala chai is also pretty legit, and even better than the Indian place down street. read more

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Worth a visit! Unique spot with attention to detail and something for everyone on the menu. My friends and I came recently around 7:30 pm, rainy day during Memorial Day weekend. Restaurant was about half-full, but it seemed understaffed this particular night. This was my first time visiting. We ordered a mix of yak, buffalo, and goat momos to share. The momo wrappers taste homemade, and the filling is packed with meat and unique herbs, with an incredibly flavorful dipping sauce. Flavors are a cross between the warm, homey feel of Indian food with the fresh and flavorful taste of Thai. The duck rolls had a crunchy outside and a tender meat filling. The lentils in the Royal Thali sampler were soft, and the spinach was a lovely stewed dish similar to its Ethiopian counterpart. The owner came by near the end to make sure that we were comfortable and taken care of. They even brought us another table to spread out all of our food. This has become my friends' favorite hidden gem in Old Town. Good spot for dates and for people visiting out-of-town. read more

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This restaurant will knock you off your feet!! We have been to hundreds of restaurant in DMV tasted best curry yet their meticulous chef can knock your socks off. The service is exceptional. Our server Safal was super attentive and explain the Nepali ways of eating and how local culture in Nepal is like. We had the Royal Thali or Ghor Ko Thali , garlic naan, Yak momo. The seasoning and the quality of the meat surpass our expectations. read more

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This place is tucked away - if you are driving (because it's not metro accessible), you have to park in a parking lot that doesn't have good drainage after it rains. There is other parking around that I would recommend using instead of the lot right next to the restaurant. But don't let the outside fool you - the interior is modern, as very cool decor (I love the pattern on the napkins!) and has a good ambiance to enjoy a delicious meal. The sel roti that they give you before the meal (for free) is incredibly delicious - a perfect 10/10. It's served so warm and the perfect texture. File this under foods that I still think about. We ordered some different varieties of momos (not pictured) that were very good - I especially liked the wild boar one. I ordered the yak curry and I was less impressed with this though it was still very good. I thought it was just too salty such that I couldn't finish eating the dish and needed a lot of water. I would definitely try this place again and order something else - I'm glad I tried the yak but ultimately did not like the dish. read more

Royal Nepal - Yak curry - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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We had a very nice dinner at Royal Nepal. Before a recent Wednesday night show at the Birchmere around the block, we chose Royal Nepal for a lovely, interesting dinner. We arrived very early (4:30) on a chilly day, and the place was empty. Raju escorted us to an elevated booth by a window. We took in the menu eagerly, having had some good experiences with local Himalayan food in the past. I had a Taj Mahal beer, she had a tasty mango lassi, and we started with a chattamari and a duck roll appetizer, already quite a bit of food. The chattamari is a kind of Nepali pizza, flatbread loaded up with a delicious combination of chicken, veggies, and fragrant spices. The duck roll was also quite good. We then moved on to a highly anticipated order of momo, and the spicy lamb curry, along with some garlic naan. We were not disappointed. The momo dumplings were light and full of flavor (love that yellow chutney), and the curry was rich and aromatic. The service was efficient and quiet. There was soccer on the TV over the bar, and the place didn't get much busier. Dinner was a reasonable $74 for the two of us before tip, and we walked out with plenty of leftovers. When we're in the area, or just need another momo fix, we'll be back. read more

Royal Nepal is hands down my favorite spot in Alexandria. The staff are some of the friendliest you will ever meet and they always make me feel welcome. The food is consistently excellent and every dish I have tried has been full of flavor. I always order the lamb chops, which are perfectly seasoned. I suggest pairing them with one of their Asian beers, which complement the food really well. Then I like to add another interesting dish on the side, because this is the kind of place where you can be adventurous and discover new flavors without going wrong. Even though it was quiet last time I visited, this restaurant deserves a full dining room. Royal Nepal is a true gem and I hope more people discover it soon. read more

Absolutely AMAZING. Genuinely such a wonderful hidden gem. We stop here every time we're in DC for a concert because it's right next to the Birchmere! The servers are always so attentive and the food is fresh and delicious. Last night we had the veggie chow mein, lamb and curry. The garlic naan is incredible too. Definitely a must try! :) read more

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Love this place. The menu is well-rounded and food quality is great. We usually get takeout but have also enjoyed dining in a couple times. Service is great and it's a nice environment inside. read more

The food was excellent. I would definitely go back! It was usual and delicious. The service was friendly and helpful

Awesome spot. Super tasty and enjoyed! Great value- reasonable prices for good portions. Will 100% be coming again and would recommend checking this place out. Service was great- super nice and friendly. read more

We found this cozy spot after visiting the DC cherry blossoms. The restaurant gave us some Nepali fried bread with pickled sides and sauce at the beginning which was a delightful treat. We then started with yak momos that were very beautifully presented and tasted great. The meat was juicy and just the right amount of salt. We then ordered a variety of curries ranging from the spicy lamb one to the mutton one to the chicken and yak ones. I really liked how each of the gravies had its own different flavor, and it was nice to try all the different kinds of meats. Service was quite friendly and the price for the quantity food we had was also very good. read more

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This place is fantastic! The servers were very attentive and also made sure I enjoyed everything. They answered every question I had about the food. The Yak chili was my favorite but I loved everything I've ever eaten there. read more

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Absolutely amazing restaurant. Highly recommend to anyone looking to step outside their comfort zone! Ambiance: causal hole in the wall vibe. Not somewhere I'd come for a first date. Restaurant is always clean and food presentation is always on point Food: everything you eat here is simply amazing. Every dish is so full of flavor and spice. I always get their combo platter ($22), great deal to try their main dishes Price: entrees are around $20-$30 but their portion size is huge, usually always leave with left overs Service: very attentive servers, seems like it is family run and that the servers truly care about their food read more

Royal Nepal - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

This restaurant has really good customer service and amazing food. It's a cute and small place so it's got the authentic family vibe. The food was very well seasoned and delicious. read more

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A wonderful find in Del Ray neighborhood in Alexandria VA. I heard there's another location near Vienna. I love the ambiance, you're transported into a serene, very traditional setting where you have Nepalese village figurines on the window sill, jars of pickled radish soaked in spices which they serve with their complimentary warm fresh sweet dough. The place setting was eclectic, with patterned cloth napkin on stoneware plate. I know Nepalese cuisine specializes in momos but I want to try other menu items since Yelp reviews indicated this is very authentic food. I ordered duck rolls and grilled wild boar. Both were delicious. The duck rolls came with 3 dipping sauces: hot, cilantro and some beautifully blended tomato based sauce. Both dishes came out very artfully garnished. It's in the details. Service was wonderful. The waiter was polite and made sure he checked in to see if you enjoyed the food. He also asked if I wanted tea while pointing to different teas available. I would definitely come back to try their curry dishes. read more

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Friendly welcoming and good momo. We didn't care for the crispy kale app it had some strange very sour flavors in the sauce but the momo were terrific and the sauce for them very good as well. Pro tip ask for the spicy sauce it's even better but be careful it's a little dab will do kind of heat! read more

Excellent! Placed an order online, which was quick and simple. Street parking is available. Our takeout order was ready when we arrived. Employees are welcoming, friendly, and helpful. Plenty of indoor seating is available and the restaurant is neat and organized. Everything was neatly wrapped and labeled. I appreciate the double bagging and each dish was secure. Very grateful, since we don't live close by. It was all delicious from start to finish. The kiddos loved the Chicken Momo's and kept asking for more. The dumpling skin was delicate yet held the flavorful and juicy filling all together. The roasted tomato sauce on the side was a perfect match. Their meats had a lovely marinade, were well cooked, and incredibly flavorful. Quality ingredients are used and you can taste the difference. I'm so glad we got a chance to try Royal Nepal out and can't wait to come back! read more

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Very kind people who will serve you great food, would recommend if you're looking for fulfilling and delicious food! read more

Royal Nepal - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I am Nepalese and this is my favorite Nepalese restaurant in the country and I've tried a few. Most Nepalese restaurants have a big Indian menu with a little bit of Nepalese food thrown in there, I truly appreciate that Royal Nepal doesn't do that. The service is always great. It's no frills but food is great. The Kale salad is really good. I love the duck fried rice. Momos are great BUT my favorite dish is the Jhol momo, the sauce is fantastic and the flavor is incredible. I also love the sel roti and aachar they bring you prior to the meal. Thank you for representing our food so well. Will always return when I can read more

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Amazing authentic Nepali food. I'm Nepali and give this place a 10/10. Daal bhat power 24 hour

I've lived nearby for years and had no idea this restaurant was here until a friend suggested we go there tonight. What a wonderful experience - I'll have to come back often to make up for lost time! We asked for recommendations from our wonderful server. He suggested the Buffalo momo (perfect seasoning mix) and a small plate with spiced jerky that was such a great surprise. For dinner, we got the mutton curry, wild boar curry and tandoori plate - all delicious. The garlic naan was also wonderful. Can't wait to come back! read more

If I could give this place 6 stars, I would. Other reviews talk about the hospitality and service. Well it's better than that. The food? Delicious. Unique. For appetizer, we ordered the crispy eggplant (chickpeas flour battered eggplant,goat cheese, pumpkin seed, tamarind sauce, whipped yogurt). Added a little extra tamarind sauce for sweetness. For entrée, we ordered the Ghee Chicken, Royal Nepal's version of butter chicken (Creamy Cashew, Tomato Gravy Dry Fenugreek, Clarified butter). It was delightful and aroma filled, fenugreek forward with a hint of spiciness. This place was so good, we ordered another dish to go. Ask for Bansal. Phenomenal, kind, attentive waiter. read more

Royal Nepal - Crispy Eggplant - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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This place is always very welcoming with great food. It's in an out-of-the-way location but worth visiting. There's plenty of parking and you're made to feel at home as soon as you go in. It's a comfortable setting and very relaxing inside. There's a variety of dishes you don't see in other restaurants and expands your tastes. This time I ate appetizers while my wife and son had main dishes. The watermelon salad was delicious, with a hint of spicy to it. My aloo sedehka was good, just different from what I expected. My wife had the Royal Chicken Curry (very good) and my son had the Bhutan (not for me but he liked it) and duck fried rice (delicious). read more

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Delicious, quality food and wonderful service. I got the Ghi'u Chicken which was fantastic!!