There are 28 Nepalese restaurants in Helsinki. Yes, 28 which is amazing amount! (source: Fonecta). Means that Nepalese cuisine is the second most popular ethnic kitchen after Chinese.
Lumbini is one of these restaurants serving traditional food in their dining room but also with take away opportunity. Nepalese food is affordable as well as few wines they have in their list.
Dinner at Lumbini starts always with Nepalese crackers. Crispy, well seasoned thin crackers increase the feeling of hunger appropriately.
As portions are quite big we ordered for starter only one Deep Fried Chicken to be shared. Crispy pieces of chicken breast, not swings, were appetizing and with mint sauce the end result was perfect.
Main courses always include Naan bread baked in Tandor oven, Basmati rice, Mint sauce, Raita and Green salad as side dishes. Portions at Lumbini are generous because the actual main courses are in separate bowls. Most restaurants serve them in the same metal plate as all side dishes.
Naan bread is really delicious, better than Indian version.
Ordered for main courses our favourites Butter Chicken Chicken cooked in coconut-cream butter & tomato sauce and Spinach Chicken Chicken with spinach sauce.
Tender pieces of chicken in well-seasoned sauces are palatable. Thick sauces actually make the dishes what they are. If you do not like this type of sauces, you do not like Nepalese cuisine.
Wines are not so typical drinks for Nepalese food but this one pairs extremely well. Basic, affordable Gato Negro from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes makes the dinner complete.
Nepalese or Indian desserts are not our favourites, therefore we were satisfied for starters and main courses.
Actually it does not make sense to compare Continental, Scandinavian or Finnish cuisines with ethnic ones because they are totally different. However, you can always judge food, you like it or not. We like Nepalese food, therefore score is high. Service is always polite, thoughtful and humble. Sometimes you are not so happy about too familiarity and effusive freshness which new fine dining bistros present.
REVIEW: FOOD 4-/5 – SERVICE 3+/5 – OVERALL GRADE 3,5/5
Reijosfood 
Thank you so much for reviewing about Nepalese cuisine. As I am myself Nepali, I can say that there is huge difference between Nepalese and Indian cuisine. People are in confusion as the basic ingredients such as cumins, coriander, ginger, garlic, chilli etc. are similar. The important thing is the way of using those ingredients is totally different in both cuisines which make them unique to each others. Indian dishes are more oily, spicy compared to Nepalese. As far as I know, Finns love less spicy and less oily foods which could be the reason that Nepalese cuisines are very much popular in Finland.
Thanks for readint the post! I like a lot Nepalese cuisine.
Currently we are in India and now you have given us more incentive for the cuisine of Nepal!
Please let me know how Nepalese cuisine differs from Indian in India if you have chance to visit Nepalese restaurarant. And thanks for reading my post!
Thank you so much for reviewing about Nepalese cuisine. As I am myself Nepali, I can say that there is huge difference between Nepalese and Indian cuisine. People are in confusion as the basic ingredients such as cumins, coriander, ginger, garlic, chilli etc. are similar. The important thing is the way of using those ingredients is totally different in both cuisines which make them unique to each others. Indian dishes are more oily, spicy compared to Nepalese. As far as I know, Finns love less spicy and less oily foods which could be the reason that Nepalese cuisines are very much popular in Finland.
Yummy!! But I have a dilemma. Eating Nepalese food in Helsinki always puzzles me, because to me it feels and tastes Indian! All those pappadum and naan, they are Indian. And so is butter chicken etc. Well, I guess Northern Indian and Nepalese food are very similar, but still, I am curious about this… What do you think?
Nepalese cuisine at Lumbini is not like Indian. Spices are not so “soft” as in Indian kitchen and Butter Chicken is good example of the differences. When I first ate Nepalese I did not like it so much as today. Of course in 28 restaurants there must be Indian-Nepalese cross-kitchens. Funny thing is that genuine Indian restaurants have almost dissappeared, which is a pity.
Thanks for the comment!
In your opinion, what is the best Nepalese restaurant in Helsinki? Or top three? I would like to try a good one next time.
I like Samrat near Vespa and the last time I asked the chef was Indian. Have you been?
Himalaya, the oldest one, might still be worth to try. Have not been there for few years.
Used to visit Indian restaurants but not since was disappointed in Namaskaar when there used to be one in Bulevardi.
Oh I agree! The last time I was in Namaskaar (also in Bulevardi) it was rather bad. Very bland. We complained and they explained that they need to limit the spices bc otherwise they lose lunch-hour customers….
Try Samrat!
Must try. But usually visit this type of restaurants only few times per year.