Raagya Arora

Amazing food. Must visit. Try the steamed momos and chhoila paneer. The service was exceptional.

+2

Amir Hermelin

We loved the food and the service was great! Tbh we dined at 3pm when the restaurant wasn't busy, but still the waiter was patient and very attentive. We didn't try too many dishes but tried the more traditional dishes like Thenduk and the meat Khana Set and both were really really good! The crispy cauliflower was absolutely spectacular! Once you get past the atmosphere - place looks average, seats aren't the most comfortable - you'll really enjoy dining here.

Dipul Luitel

Just visited California, USA, and finally tried Rara Restaurant in Palo Alto—a place I’d been hearing about for the past two years. The Chicken Momo was fantastic: soft, juicy, and full of authentic flavor with a perfect spicy achar. The customer service was warm and welcoming, making the experience even better. Definitely worth the hype and a must-visit for momo lovers.

Kara and Kathy Fitzpatrick

I’ve been here several times and the service is always wonderful, though very prepared for them to make your meal and it’s not “fast” food. The cauliflower 8848 (or chicken) is incredible, nuanced and layered spice atop crispy pieces of cauliflower/chicken. The mustang aloo is great, potato wedges with aromatic spices that add taste and texture. The gorkhali lamb shank is flavorful, truly falling off the bone in a rich sauce - I wanted to lick the bowl. The chicken momos were soft and fresh with pillowy doughy covering and warm spiced chicken meat inside. The mom sauce is light and delicious. We had dessert - juju dhau - a tangy delicious yogurt served in a sweet little clay pot topped with pistachio. I am so happy to be so close to this restaurant and plan on working my way through the menu. Great for vegetarian and vegan folks, great for sharing, and so many options. When I’ve been previously w friends we’ve ordered tons of appetizers and shared.

Felicia S

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Exceptional Dining Experience at RARA – The Rice Special! I had a fantastic meal at RARA – The Rice Special! As an appetizer, the chicken momo was amazing — perfectly steamed, flavorful, and tender. The Chicken Nepali Jeera Pulao and rice were wonderfully aromatic and delicious. The sizzling plate with noodles was outstanding, full of rich flavors and great texture. The chicken curry was pure perfection — comforting, flavorful, and beautifully spiced. I finished with a soothing cup of chai tea and two delightful desserts: the warm, sweet Lalmohan and the creamy, traditional Juju Dhau. Every dish was crafted with care and full of authentic Nepali flavor. I can’t wait to return!

+8

Anahita Khalilzadeh

The place has an interesting old school vibe to it. We saw the great google reviews and decided to try the Nepali food for the first time. We got seated quickly but I would say the service seemed a bit slow. Took them ~20 minutes to get our order even though the place was practically empty. The food was brought out as it was prepared. I would say the momo was pretty good. The Bhat Khana set was also a good experience. However, we did not quite love the Buffalo Sukuti set (I would say it was a matter of personal preference as it did have a jerky like texture which was not for us).

Sadi and Shashank

Our dinner was amazing from start to finish! Came with friends and tried a few different dishes, including two different styles of momo (kothe and choila), akbare wings, cauli 8848, and chicken chow mein. The juju dhau was also a great way to end the night. Everything was so great! If you’re on the fence, don't hesitate! You have to go here :)

+1

Cal C

Awesome experience at this Nepalese restaurant. I found most dishes to be very flavorful and a bit salty without rice or bread.

+2

vincent espinoza

First time here love the atmosphere love the warm and loving service met the owner of the restaurant binod really nice very welcoming gave me advice on what to order explained to me about Nepal and how authentic his food so the momos and the sauces all so good can’t stop eating them I got lamb platter with basmati rice so authentic so many good flavors the food is out of this world good the portions are very decent sizes and lastly the desserts so good hit the spot love the yogurt the rice pudding everything delicious I will definitely be back love the vibes here.

Sake Sour

The food was so delicious! We had the Buff Sukuti, which was so crispy and a very satisfying amount of spice. The lamb shank was FALL OFF THE BONE and perfectly done. And of course both the 8848s were delicious, almost can't tell between the chicken and cauli, they both are so well done!

Yunbucha Bayung

I can easily say this is one of the best authentic Nepali food experiences I’ve had in the US. On our way back from Napa Valley, we decided to stop here because I had heard so many good things about this place—and it turns out they’re all true! The food was absolutely delicious. My favorite was the buff momo—juicy, flavorful, and just perfect. We tried a variety of dishes and honestly, everything we had was so good. The staff was super friendly, the place was clean, and they even had parking in the front, which made things easy. The only regret I have is not taking food pictures—when we got there, we were so hungry that we just attacked the food right away. By the time we remembered, everything was gone! So the only picture I managed to take was of the front desk. I really wish they had a location in LA because I would be there every week. Highly recommended!

Bebika Subedi

Rara is a hidden gem in Palo Alto for anyone seeking the authentic flavors of Nepal. As a Nepali who has had the privilege of tasting authentic Nepali cuisine in over 100 restaurants across Nepal and around the world, I can confidently say that Rara restaurant brings the true essence of Nepal to it’s table. From the perfectly spiced momo (dumplings) to the rich and fragrant dal bhat, to perfectly seasoned Mustang aaloo, the balance of spices, the freshness of the ingredients, and the attention to detail in preparation were evident in every bite. To top it all off, the creamy Nepali jujudhau-inspired yogurt served as dessert was truly the cherry on the cake, each spoon reminding of the authentic jujudhau from Bhaktapur. If you're craving a true Nepali experience, this is the place to be. The restaurant's ambience also adds to the overall experience with a soft background music featuring Nepali tunes further enhancing the warm atmosphere. Whether you're familiar with Nepali food or trying it for the first time, Rara will not disappoint. Highly recommend!

+1

Hritam Basak

Had a fantastic experience at Rara Restaurant in Mountain View. The food was flavorful and authentic—highly recommend the chicken momos and Chicken 8848, both were rich, well-spiced, and cooked to perfection. You can really taste the care in each dish. The ambience is cozy and beautifully decorated with Nepali artwork and touches that make the place feel special and inviting. It’s a peaceful spot, great for both casual dinners and special nights out. The service was also excellent—staff were friendly, attentive, and happy to explain the dishes and spice levels. Everything came out fresh and well-presented. Overall, a must-visit if you’re looking to explore Nepalese cuisine or just want a flavorful meal in a relaxed setting!

+1

Malavika Kale

Rara was a great restaurant for a casual sit down dinner with friends. We did wait over 30 minutes for dinner on a Sunday evening, but we were quite a large group so it was understandable. The restaurant’s vibe is sort of upscale casual dining. Service was polite, friendly and attentive from the get go. In fact our server was great taking our order from two ends of a large group and even came back to clarify a couple of items to get everything right. The menu was expansive yet authentic - it wasn’t at all the same curries you’d find in a typical Indian/Indo-Nepali restaurant, which made it a joy to choose items from. Must try items were the Asan Indrachowk ko Lassi (an absolute must try - it was like drinking a shrikhand mixed lassi, with cardamom, kesar and crushed pistachios and cashews), the Mustang Aloo (potato wedges spiced with sichuan pepper - will cause a little, temporary tingling/numbing), and the Grilled Paneer Sizzler Platter (fresh paneer cubes grilled, with veggies and noodles that had a delicious charred flavor). We got several more items which were decent (see images). TLDR: if there’s one thing you get from this review, it’s the lassi! Get it!

+10

George Z

Total Score: 4.11 Bathroom: N/A Didn’t use the bathroom Customer Service: 1.5/5 The orders took a very very long time to come it seemed like they forgot our orders lmao. And also took asking twice to get the checks. But they refilled waters tho Ambiance: 3.5/5 Moody lighting with some nice decor Food: 2.5/5 Food was alright. In the gorkhali pulao there was so much rice was given and so much bone. Not much meat. The soup was okay but not much flavor/depth. The chicken 8848 was highkey p good though. Nice sauce and good chicken. Wow: -0.5/1 Took so long to get our food 😭 Total Score = (CS + 2*AM + 5*FOOD + WOW)/0.9

Linda Danialy

The appetizers were ok except the papery rice that went with them but the main dishes were average at best. There was not much flavor and the meats were overpowered by spices. We all asked food to be “spicy” which was not at all. Even the “hot sauce” we asked for was not hot and had no taste. Service was slow and we had to ask for place settings, water, etc. I’m not sure where the 4.8 rating came from, we were definitely not impressed with the food or service

+4