Tama Eatery — EAT IT AUCKLAND

I could probably count the number of times I’ve visited Tama Eatery in the last year on one hand. And the number is less than five, but greater than three. For someone who gets off on trying the new and exciting, it’s a testament of a good restaurant when I choose to visit the same one time and time again.

Tama Eatery is a wee place just off the intersection of K’Rd and Upper Queen Street. Attempts have been made to make it a warm and welcoming space, with Nepalese flag bunting hanging from the ceiling, and fairy lights up all months of the year, but the set up is still basic at best. But I’m not drawn here for the atmosphere specifically; I keep coming back for their fantastic and unique offerings of Nepalese and Newari cuisine.

I know what most of you are thinking, ‘What even is Nepalese food?’ Just imagine if Indian and Chinese food had a baby. A spicy and flavoursome little baby. Ordering the momo (Nepalese dumplings) are a safe, first step towards full Nepalese immersion, because everyone loves dumplings. Theirs in particular are wonderful toothsome bundles of spiced mince and herbs (I pick lamb, every time), served with a lightly spiced sesame-tomato sauce. I recommend you order yours either steamed or, even better, fried. I can only describe Tama’s momos as dumplings on steroids. Take everything you love about dumplings, then step it up with aromatic spices and a sesame-laden sauce. The table will end up fighting over who gets the last skerrick off sesame-tomato sauce, and you there you have it, momos.

Tama Eatery can cater for the individualist (hint hint: it does do BYOs, so please can everyone stop organising ones at Pok Pok, because that place sucks) but the menu is best experienced shared. The bara is a pan-fried ground lentil pancake that you can order to come filled with minced lamb and egg (and you should), and resembles a much-more scaled down version of enjera but with a little less funk. It is served with their ubiquitous spiced tomato sauce, which you’ll be happy to see again I’m sure. Grilled meat is something they excel at here, so I urge you to try both the lamb chowella, and the sekuwa. The lamb chowella is a personal favourite of mine; spicy lamb that’s been marinated in burnt tomatoes is then grilled and served alongside rice flakes and crunchy fried soy beans. This dish ticks all the boxes: the lamb is so rich and flavoursome and the rice flakes and soybeans add an interesting crunch and texture to each mouthful. The sekuwa (I ordered pork, just to mix it up a bit) is marinated in mustard and spices and grilled over coconut shell charcoals and served with lemon and pickles; the unctuous pork is well foiled by its tangy partners and, a nod to the Indian neighbours of Nepal, is bold in flavour. To round out the meal, a bowl of their specialty curry or Nepalese style potato salad goes down well. If you miraculously have room left after this (or possess the mythological dessert stomach) their rice pudding is creamy and delicious, topped with a dukkah of sorts of crushed coconut, nuts and seeds.

Whether you’re ready to dive into Nepalese cuisine head first or need to take a few baby steps first (they do a good happy hour that many of the small dishes would go well with) Tama Eatery is your go to for this hard-to-find cuisine.

Tama Eatery
4 Upper Queen Street
Auckland 1010

Ph. (09) 963 8456

@tamaeatery