Putting the 'Great' into The Great Kathmandu - the Nepalese restaurant that has been offering authentic dishes for over 35 years

On the ever-changing landscape of the restaurant scene, with new bars and eateries seemingly opening every week, the longevity of a restaurant is a testament to its quality and reputation - and this is something that The Great Kathmandu understands all too well. Founded by Gopal Dangol more than three decades ago, one of the reasons that the restaurant has remained so enduringly popular is that it is very much a family affair.

Prior to moving to the UK in the 70s, Gopal was making a name for himself as a chef in Kathmandu, before being head-hunted by a restaurateur and persuaded to make the move to the North-West of England. The Great Kathmandu officially opened its doors in West Didsbury in 1986, and although Gopal has now left the day-to-day running of the restaurant to his children and grandchildren after 50 years in the food industry, his legacy still remains.

The extensive menu created by Gopal has remained largely unchanged since its inception, and is one such example of a continued commitment to serving authentic and delicious Nepalese dishes. After being recognised with such accolades as The Observer’s Best Indian Restaurant in the UK in 2008 and being nominated by the House of Commons for the prestigious Tiffin Awards in 2011, Gopal’s son Buda took the restaurant over the same year, and vowed to continue the family tradition of award-winning cuisine.

Alongside his extended family, the next generation ensured that a change in hands did not mark a change in quality. Being awarded the Best Nepalese Restaurant in the UK at the 2019 Curry Awards was the culmination of all the hard work and dedication of over the years, and truly cemented The Great Kathmandu’s reputation as one of Manchester’s most beloved