Want authentic Nepali-Indian food in Fort Worth? This new restaurant is worth the trip
When Dipak Sah moved to Saginaw two years ago, he couldn’t find a restaurant that truly tasted like his home of Nepal.
So, he teamed up with his friends and partners, Ashwin Shrestha and Kshitiz Shrestha, to start one.
Palate Garden is a Nepali-Indian restaurant just off U.S. 287 in Saginaw– about 10 miles from downtown Fort Worth. The Star-Telegram went to take a taste for ourselves, and our palates were quite pleased.
What is Nepali-Indian cuisine?
Palate Garden head chef Harman Singh says that Indian and Nepali cuisine is a mix of influences from cultures who have conquered Nepal and India, ruled over or traveled to the entire world.
He went to culinary school in India before working as a sous-chef for Taaj Hotels and Palaces in India. Singh also learned under Italian Michelin Star chef Louis Belvedere before moving to America to work for Hilton Banquet hotels. He has prior experience in North Texas as a private chef in Southlake, cooking up any cuisine you could imagine.
Sah has observed that Chicken Tikka Masala is the most popular Indian-inspired dish across the D-FW metroplex. Tikka Masala is marinated chicken and spices, added to a creamy tomato based sauce with pepper, onions and other veggies.
However, authentic Indian cuisine features Butter Chicken because Tikka Masala actually originated from the U.K., while Butter Chicken originated from Delhi, India’s capital. Butter Chicken is chicken marinated in yogurt that is added to a creamy tomato-butter based sauce.
Nepalese cuisine is also heavily influenced by Indian culture.
A popular Nepalese dish that is widely popular in the U.S. is Momo, which means dumplings in English. These are steamed wheat dough dumplings stuffed with minced meat or vegetables with spices and herbs. These originated in the Himalayan Mountains of Nepal.
One standout addition to the menu is Chitwan ko Taas— a beloved, authentic dish from Chitwan, Nepal. This spicy, pan-fried goat delicacy is traditionally served with crispy Nepali pickles and beaten rice (chiura), offering a true taste of Nepali street food culture.
Sah and Singh are not fusing Indian and Nepalese cuisines together, but rather, offering separate dishes from various South Asian countries.
“Guests from India, Nepal and all over Asia want something authentic,” Singh said. “Having the same dish in Nepal is totally different. Is it gonna taste the same – yeah. But the feeling will be different. I can’t bring the feel, but I can bring the taste.”
What does Palate Garden serve?
Palate Garden has a hefty 12-page menu. If you don’t know where to start, here are some staples.
Drinks:
Everest Tequila Sunrise: Spicy chili, sweet mango paired with any tequila, rimmed with chili.
Malibu Paloma: Malibu rum, grapefruit juice, club soda and lime with hibiscus sugar around the rim.
Mango Lassi: Non-alcoholic frozen mango and yogurt shake.
Appetizers:
Veg Samosas: crispy, fried dough stuffed with potatoes and peas made to dip with mint chutney and tamarind sauce (a sweet and tangy sauce made from tamarind).
Goat Sekuwa: Sekuwa is a traditional Nepalese dish made with chicken, pork or goat, which is roasted overnight in a tandoor (clay) oven. The goat is served with puffed rice, tomato chutney and pickled radish.
Paani Puri shots: puris is a fried dough puff which holds spicy potatoes in it. The liquid is a cilantro-lime water that you pour into the pastry and eat all at once.
Entrees:
Butter Chicken: yogurt-marinated chicken in a tomato-butter sauce.
Spicy Coconut Scallop Curry: curry sauce with scallops, coconut milk, curry leaves and charred tomatoes.
Makhmali Kofta: soft paneer (soft South Asian cheese) and potato dumplings cooked in a creamy and spicy gravy.
Dumplings and Kebabs:
Chicken Momo: steamed chicken dumplings with spicy chili sauce topped with onions and peppers.
Murg Malai Kebab: chicken kebab with a creamy yogurt sauce flavored with aromatic spices.
Sides:
Garlic Naan: flat bread made from garlic infused naan dough, cooked in a tandoor oven. A must-get.
Basmati Rice
Dessert:
Gulab Jamun: fried milk dumplings soaked in cardamom-infused sugar syrup atop ice cream.
About Palate Garden
A meal at Palate Garden costs $10 to $20 per guest.
The restaurant is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch and 5 to 11 p.m. for dinner. They are closed Mondays.
Palate Garden is located at 1029 N. Saginaw Blvd. D1 in Saginaw.
This story was originally published April 8, 2025 at 2:14 PM.