Dashain Food in Sydney: Traditional Nepali Dishes to Try in 2026

Dashain is as much about food as it is about family, tika and celebrations. From goat meat and choila to sel roti, momo, chiura and achar, traditional Nepali foods bring familiar flavours to the festival table.

For Nepali families celebrating Dashain in Sydney, these dishes can bring a little taste of home. So, what should you eat during Dashain? Here are some traditional Nepali dishes worth trying in 2026.

What Do Nepali People Eat During Dashain?

There is no single Dashain menu followed by every Nepali family. Food traditions vary by region, community and family.

However, meat dishes are a major part of many festive meals. Khasi ko masu, or goat meat, is especially popular. It is often cooked with onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic and spices before being served with rice, chiura or other sides.

Traditional Dashain Foods to Try

1. Khasi Ko Masu

For many Nepali families, Dashain does not feel complete without goat meat.

Khasi ko masu is generally cooked with ginger, garlic, onions, tomatoes and warming spices. Recipes differ between households, but slow cooking helps create tender meat and a rich, flavourful gravy.

It is commonly enjoyed with rice or chiura.

If you want to try one dish strongly associated with the hearty side of Dashain food, start here.

2. Choila

Choila is a smoky and spicy meat dish associated with Newari cuisine.

The meat is grilled or roasted before being mixed with ingredients such as garlic, ginger, chilli, coriander and mustard oil. The result is smoky, spicy and full of flavour.

Choila is often served with chiura and achar, making it a great addition to a festive Nepali spread.

Different versions can use buffalo, chicken or other meats.

3. Sekuwa

If grilled meat is your thing, sekuwa deserves a place on the table.

Pieces of meat are marinated with spices, ginger, garlic and other seasonings before being roasted or grilled. The cooking gives the meat a smoky flavour while keeping it tender.

Chicken, goat, lamb and buffalo are commonly used.

It is also an easy dish to share during family gatherings.

4. Sukuti

Sukuti is dried and seasoned meat with a distinctive savoury flavour.

The meat is traditionally dried before being cooked with spices and other ingredients. Depending on the preparation, it can be chewy, smoky, spicy or slightly crisp.

Sukuti is often eaten with chiura, achar and other sides.

For anyone new to Nepali cuisine, it is a good way to experience a flavour that is quite different from a typical curry.

5. Taas

Taas is another popular Nepali meat dish, particularly associated with western Nepal.

It usually consists of marinated meat cooked or roasted with spices and served with puffed rice, salad and chutney.

The combination is simple but works well. Tender meat, crunchy rice and a spicy or tangy chutney bring different textures and flavours together.

7. Sel Roti

Sel roti is one of Nepal's best-known traditional foods and is strongly associated with festivals and celebrations.

Made mainly from rice flour, sel roti is shaped into a ring and deep-fried. It develops a crisp outside with a soft, slightly chewy centre and mild sweetness.

It can be enjoyed with achar, yoghurt, vegetables or other dishes.

During Dashain, sel roti is commonly prepared and shared with family and guests. Its distinctive shape makes it one of the easiest Nepali festive foods to recognise.

8. Momo

Momo may not be exclusive to Dashain, but it is one of Nepal's most loved foods.

These dumplings are usually filled with seasoned meat or vegetables and served with a spicy chutney. Chicken, buff and vegetarian versions are common.

Momo is particularly suitable for gatherings because it is easy to share.

It may not be the first dish associated with traditional Dashain, but it has become a familiar part of modern Nepali food culture.

What Makes Dashain Food Special?

Dashain food is not only about the recipes.

It is about sharing food with family and guests.

During the festival, families often have more time to prepare larger meals and bring out foods that may not appear on the table every day.

There is also plenty of regional variation. A Dashain meal in Kathmandu may look different from one in western Nepal or the Terai.

That variety is part of what makes Nepali cuisine interesting.

Traditional Nepali Food to Try in Sydney

For Nepali families in Sydney, preparing a full Dashain feast at home is not always practical. Work and family commitments can make cooking a large spread difficult.

At Chulho, we provide an option for people who want to enjoy Nepali flavours in Sydney. Its menu includes dishes such as choila, sekuwa, taas, sukuti, momo and Nepali Bhat Thali.

With locations in Harris Park and Sydney CBD, it can be a convenient option during the Dashain season.

Celebrate Dashain With a Taste of Nepal

Dashain food is about more than a list of dishes.

It is about smoky meat, spicy achar, crunchy chiura, crispy sel roti, juicy momo and warm rice shared around a table.

If you are celebrating Dashain in Sydney this year, explore the flavours of Nepal. Try a plate of choila and chiura, a hearty goat curry, sel roti and achar, momo or a traditional thali.

For many Nepali people living away from home, familiar food can bring back memories of family, festivals and home.

And during Dashain, that may be the best part of all.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most popular food eaten during Dashain?

Goat meat, or khasi ko masu, is one of the foods most commonly associated with Dashain. Other popular choices include choila, sekuwa, sukuti, sel roti, chiura and achar.

What meat is traditionally eaten during Dashain?

Goat meat is particularly popular. Depending on the family and region, buffalo, chicken, lamb and other meats may also be served.

What vegetarian foods are eaten during Dashain?

Vegetarian options can include dal, rice, vegetables, saag, achar, sel roti and vegetarian momo. Traditions vary between families.

What is a traditional Nepali Dashain meal?

A traditional Dashain meal may include rice or chiura, dal, vegetables, achar and a meat dish such as goat curry. Sel roti and other festive foods may also be prepared.

What Nepali food should I try in Sydney for Dashain?

If you are new to Nepali cuisine, try choila, sekuwa, taas, momo or Nepali thali. Sel roti, sukuti and chiura with achar are also worth exploring.

‍

Chulho, as an authentic Nepalese and Indian Cuisine, serves typical Nepali and Indian Dishes in the original taste as its form. Chulho has main focused on the originality of the taste of foods that it offers to all the stepped in personels.
‍

ESTABLISHED
2015
ABN NUMBER
90 687 558 685

Copyright © 2026 - Chulho Authentic Nepalese and Indian Cuisine. All rights reserved.