Rara

About Rara

Rara is a Nepalese restaurant at 201 California Avenue. It takes its name from Rara Lake in Nepal, which the restaurant describes as pristine and serene and calls the inspiration for its cooking. Rara describes its food as authentic Nepalese cuisine with a modern touch, made with locally sourced ingredients. It pairs the food with wine and draft beer.

Rara opened in fall 2023. A report from WhatNow Silicon Valley that August named co-owner Sabin Basyal and billed it as Palo Alto's first Nepalese restaurant, with a soft opening planned for late October and an official opening in November. The same report described a casual dining room with a wet bar, indoor and outdoor seating and a Nepalese feel.

What is on the menu

The menu is long, with vegetarian and meat appetizers, soups, salads, mains, sides, desserts and a kids menu. The website marks dishes as vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free.

• Momo: Nepali dumplings filled with vegetables, minced chicken or minced buffalo and seasoned with Himalayan spices and momo masala, served 10 to a plate with a tomato and sesame sauce. A momo sizzler adds noodles and vegetables.
• Chhoila: a traditional dish of spiced meat or paneer with Himalayan Sichuan pepper, garlic, ginger and green chili. Rara makes it with chicken, buffalo, fish, mushroom or paneer.
• Dal bhat khana sets: a full Nepali meal of lentil soup, rice, cooked greens, fried potatoes, radish pickle, tomato chutney and ghee, served with papad, dessert and buttermilk. Choose paneer curry for the vegetarian set, or goat, chicken or fish.
• Snacks: goat taas with puffed rice, buff sukuti, Mustang aalu, a spicy Himalayan potato dish and Chicken 8848, named after the height of Mount Everest.

There is also a section of chilli dishes made with chicken, shrimp, buffalo, fish, tofu or paneer. Drinks include Himalayan masala tea and single-origin pour-over coffee. The wine list leans on California bottles. Draft beer, including a Kölsch, is poured at the bar. Menus and prices change, so check Rara's website before you go.

Vegetarian and vegan choices

Rara is a good fit for mixed groups. Vegan dishes on the menu include mushroom chhoila, tofu chilli, roasted Himalayan soybeans, peanuts sadheko, crispy cauliflower called cauli 8848 and kwati soup, made with nine kinds of sprouted beans. Vegetarians can add paneer dishes, veg momo and the vegetarian dal bhat set. Many dishes are marked gluten-free.

Reservations, catering and private dining

Rara takes reservations by phone at 650-485-1055 and through OpenTable, which showed open booking slots on October 29, 2026. For events, it offers a private party space for up to 20 guests, aimed at birthdays, corporate events and family gatherings. Its catering service lets you order from the regular menu or ask for a custom menu, sized by tray or by number of guests. E-gift cards can be bought online and emailed to the recipient.

Who it suits

Rara works well as an introduction to Nepali food. The dal bhat sets give one person a complete traditional meal, while momo and chhoila are easy to share across a table. Lunch service makes it an option for a midday meal on California Avenue. The kids menu helps families. The private room suits a birthday or team dinner of up to 20. Spice levels vary across the menu, from mild dishes to the chilli section, so ask your server to point you to milder plates if needed.

Tips for visiting

Rara's website lists lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. from Tuesday to Sunday. It says the restaurant is closed on Monday. Its OpenTable listing shows different hours, so call before a Monday or mid-afternoon visit. Order momo and a few chhoila dishes to share, then add a dal bhat set if anyone wants a full meal. Our California Avenue guide covers the rest of the street. For more South Asian and other Asian restaurants, see our Asian food guide. Our vegetarian and vegan guide lists more meat-free options.

Location and getting there

Rara is at 201 California Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94306, in the California Avenue area of Palo Alto. Our California Avenue guide covers what else is around.

The California Avenue Caltrain station is less than a quarter mile away, a walk of a few minutes.

Parking: street spaces and city garages with posted limits (see parking in Palo Alto).

Hours

Hours from OpenStreetMap contributors, checked October 29, 2026.

What is nearby

• Vitality Bowls, quick-service spot, under 0.1 mi
• Jonathan David Salon, salon or spa, under 0.1 mi
• FedEx Office Print and Ship Center, California Avenue, service business, under 0.1 mi
• Palo Alto Vision, practice, under 0.1 mi
• Palo Alto Mind Body, practice, under 0.1 mi
• Bowden Park, 0.2 mi
• Peers Park, 0.3 mi
• College Terrace Library, 0.5 mi

Other restaurants nearby: The Farm (under 0.1 mi); Imperial Treasure (under 0.1 mi); Protégé (under 0.1 mi); Cafe Pro Bono (under 0.1 mi). Browse the full restaurants list.

Before you go

• Popular dinner spots in Palo Alto fill up on Friday and Saturday nights, so book ahead where the restaurant takes reservations.
• Many kitchens close earlier than in big cities. Plan to order by about 9 p.m. on weeknights unless the posted hours say otherwise.
• If you have allergies or dietary needs, call ahead or check the current menu on the restaurant's website.

About this listing

Checked October 29, 2026 against Rara official website; About Rara; Contact and hours; Catering and private dining; OpenTable listing; WhatNow Silicon Valley opening report. How our listings work. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Frequently asked questions