Nepalese cuisine is a fusion of Indian, Tibetan and Pakistani food, with an emphasis on fresh ingredients and strong spices. The special Thali selection at Namaste Kathmandu – served on a traditional metal serving tray – is filled with a selection of curries and sundries to excite the tastebuds. When one enters the eatery on Forrest Road in Edinburgh Old Town, one is faced with a riot of smells and flavours that are a set apart from the usual curry house fare of Scotland’s capital. While Nepalese food may be overshadowed by their big brother to the south, there is plenty that makes their cuisine stand out to that of their Indian cousins. The starter selections at Namaste Kathmandu include familiar favourites – pakoras, samosas, sheekh kebabs – but they set themselves apart with their repertoire of classics straight from Nepal. Mo Mo dumplings, influenced by Chinese tastes, are present, as are Himalayan-style barbequed chicken. Mains at this Forrest Road restaurant include Indian thali trays and Nepali sherpa cheese and chicken, as well as vegetarian delicacies such as marinated mushroom and potato curry and daal with jimbu, a spice native to Nepal. This unique style of cooking is rarely seen in Scotland, and the restaurant in Edinburgh’s Old Town can get busy, but if you book a table in advance, you can be sure of getting yourself a place.