Asoj 2083 BSअसोज २०८३· Nepal runs on its own calendar

Food · Bhedetar

Sekuwa evening on the ridge

Dinner at a roadside grill on the Bhedetar ridge: skewers of pork, chicken or goat marinated in spices and cooked over charcoal, eaten with beaten rice and pickle, with the plains glowing below.

Takes2 hours
Best timeEvening, any dry month
Height1,420 m
Sekuwa evening on the ridge
Photo: Mithunkunwar9 · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Sekuwa is the dish people drive up to Bhedetar for. Meat is cut into chunks, marinated with garlic, ginger, chilli, cumin and other spices, and grilled on skewers over charcoal until smoky and slightly charred. Every restaurant has its own marinade, and regulars argue about which is best. The smell of the grills drifts along the ridge from late afternoon, and tables fill as the sun goes down.

We choose a busy, clean place with tables facing the view. Our guide helps you order: pork is the local favourite, but chicken and goat are always available, and vegetarian dishes such as grilled paneer or potatoes can usually be found. It comes with beaten rice (chiura), raw onion, pickle and lemon. Order a little at a time; plates arrive hot from the grill, and it is easy to over-order.

Dharan, below, is famous across Nepal for its sekuwa, and the ridge restaurants share the tradition. It is a simple, sociable evening, with families at long tables, music from somewhere along the road, and the lights of the plains below. Our guide shares stories of Dharan and the hills while you eat. Afterwards we drive back to Dharan or walk to your lodge if you are staying on the ridge.

Good for

CouplesFamiliesSoloFirst-timers

Questions

What is sekuwa?

Sekuwa is spiced meat grilled on skewers over charcoal, a favourite across Nepal and especially in Dharan and the eastern hills. Pork, chicken and goat are common. It is eaten with beaten rice, pickle and onion.

Is there vegetarian food at Bhedetar?

Yes. Most restaurants serve dal bhat, vegetable dishes, momo with vegetable filling and sometimes grilled paneer or potatoes. Tell us in advance and we will choose a place with good vegetarian options and separate grills where possible.

Is the food at Bhedetar safe to eat?

Freshly grilled meat at busy restaurants is usually fine. We avoid places with low turnover and suggest you skip raw salads, choose meat that is cooked through and drink bottled or filtered water rather than tap water.

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