The Khukuri Nepalese Restaurant

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• What are these?

• Average price 2 courses:
   £6.95 (set lunch)
   £20 (evening meal)
• House wine: £11.45 per bottle

• High point: Imbu, timbu and jimbu: tasty Nepalese spices
• Low point: Pretty cramped surroundings
• Food served: Mon-Fri noon-2pm, 5.30-11.30pm; Fri/Sat noon-2pm, 5.30pm-midnight; Sun 5-11pm
• Delivery: Free for orders over £15, £1 otherwise
• Open since: 1997
• Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least 25% of menu), Childrens portions, Childrens high chairs, Take away

The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 is now in the shops.

This review is from the 2007 edition.

The unprepossessing exterior of this place makes it easy to overlook in the bustling West End and, inside, the narrow and somewhat cramped surroundings do little to raise expectations. There may be an idiosyncratic approach to the interior décor, but the menu demonstrates an array of recognisably Indian dishes, served with a distinctly Nepalese twist. The opening Khukuri pakora is a little on the dry side, but an ostensibly straightforward chicken tikka starter turns out to be anything but simple, instead supplying a fabulously aromatic introduction to the cuisine. The Sultan chicken is a house speciality, promising the intriguing imbu, timbu and jimbu - a trio of spicy delights straight out of Kathmandu. A lean, aromatic dish, it is a saucy, slurpy combination of fresh herbs and spices. The vegetable tikka massala also defies expectations, proving that Nepalese cuisine is markedly different from standard Indian fare. The force behind this is owner and chef Dharma Maharjan, who only became a chef when he moved to Scotland. Back in Nepal he was a herbalist, serving a seven-year apprenticeship in herbal medicine which he now puts to holistic use in his kitchen - so this curry really is good for you!