JUDITH AISTHORPE Yogi’s Way

ADDRESS: Shop 2 9 Westralia St, Stuart Park OPEN: Daily 7am to 3pm and 5.30pm to 9pm CONTACT: 8900 0695 Dine-in and takeaway available

TRADITIONAL

Nepalese cuisine has been given an Australian twist at Yogi’s Way — Stuart Park’s newest restaurant.

The all-day dining restaurant opened six months ago at the Westralia St shops.

Owner Bhairab Yogi said he wanted to open a venue that was well priced and catered to people of all dietary requirements.

The menu includes vegan, vegetarian and meat dishes.

Breakfast includes typical dishes such as eggs benedict, pancakes and corn fritters.

Lunch and dinner are a variety of Australian and Nepalese dishes.

They include samosa chaat, sukuti which is buffalo jerky, puri tarkari — a traditional curry served with Nepalese bread. Burgers, schnitzels and salads. Nepal’s version of a dumpling known as a momo feature on the menu in both meat and vegan options.

Mr Yogi said the succulent morsels were based off the typical street food recipe travellers and locals alike would tuck into.

“We haven’t changed anything with that because it’s beautiful as it is,” he said.

He said other Nepalese dishes had been modified to suit the palate of Australians — with the amount of chilli reduced.

“What I was trying to do create a menu that people can come through the door and be happy it’s for everybody’s palate,” he said.

Mr Yogi arrived in Darwin in 2013 and has worked in various restaurants around town.

He decided to open Yogi’s Way as he felt the Stuart Park area was lacking in dining venues.

He hopes by incorporating the best of Nepalese cuisine he can introduce people to where he grew up.

“I was born in Nepal and an Australian citizen now and I wanted to put that influence in the food,” he said.

“It’s about educating people about the food of that part of the world.

“I’m really privileged to be able to share it and educate people about what we do.”

With a focus on healthy dishes Mr Yogi has taken the unusual step of milling his own flour. The flour is used in all the breads and rotis. “This is purely Australian grown and organic, it’s tasty and full of nutrition,” he said.

“It is a lot of work but at the end of the day it’s worth it, it’s not only about taste but about what you should be eating.”

Most meals are under $20 and takeaway is available.