Sekuwa is a traditional dish of Nepali cooking, and Kathmandu Cuisine in Los Altos lists it eight ways: chicken, lamb, water buffalo, duck, pork, salmon, paneer and mixed vegetables, plus two lamb plates, Lamb Taas and Lamb Chops. That range is useful once you know what sekuwa is and which listing is closest to what you want. This guide explains the dish, walks through each listing as the menu describes it, and points out which sides fit.
What sekuwa is
Sekuwa is a traditional Nepali kebab. According to Wikipedia, the meat is marinated in a blend of spices with ginger-garlic paste, yogurt, lemon juice, mustard oil and salt, then threaded on skewers and grilled over an open flame or charcoal. Goat, chicken, buffalo and lamb are the most common meats. It can be a starter, a snack or a main, and it is often served at festivals and gatherings.
The same source says sekuwa is traditionally eaten with chiura (beaten rice), achar (a spicy pickle) and a salad of onion, tomato and cucumber. Kathmandu Cuisine’s menu does it a little differently, with rice and a salad or potato side, as the sections below show. The ordering page does not describe the marinade, so ask the kitchen if you want to know what is in it.
The sekuwa list on the menu
The sekuwa listings, with the menu’s own descriptions where it gives them:
- Chicken Sekuwa: juicy chicken cuts on skewers, served with a side of rice.
- Lamb Sekuwa: tender lamb cuts on skewers, served with a side of rice and house potato salad.
- Buffalo Sekuwa BBQ: water buffalo chunks on skewers, served with a side of rice and house potato salad.
- Pork Sekuwa, Hans (Duck) Sekuwa BBQ and Salmon Sekuwa.
- Paneer Sekuwa (Cottage Cheese BBQ) and Vegetarian Sekuwa: a seasonal vegetable blend on skewers, served with a side of rice.
- Lamb Taas (Skillet BBQ) and Lamb Chops, which are plates rather than skewers.
The menu does not say how many skewers come with an order or how many people one serves. Ask when you order if you are feeding a group.
Chicken, lamb or buffalo: the first order
If this is your first sekuwa, begin with one of the three that Wikipedia names as common: chicken, lamb or buffalo.
Chicken Sekuwa is the plainest. The menu describes juicy chicken cuts on skewers with a side of rice. It is the one to pick if you want to understand the style before trying anything else.
Lamb Sekuwa adds house potato salad to the rice. The menu calls the cuts tender. It is the choice for lamb lovers who want a skewer rather than a plate.
Buffalo Sekuwa BBQ is the one to pick for a meat that sekuwa is often made with in Nepal. The menu lists it as water buffalo chunks, with rice and house potato salad.
Order Chicken Sekuwa if: you want the simplest, most familiar order.
Order Lamb Sekuwa if: you want lamb with the potato salad on the side.
Order Buffalo Sekuwa BBQ if: you want to try water buffalo.
Menu card — Chicken Sekuwa
Listed on the Kathmandu Cuisine ordering page as juicy chicken cuts on skewers, served with a side of rice.
Order on the Kathmandu Cuisine menu
Menu card — Buffalo Sekuwa BBQ
Listed on the Kathmandu Cuisine ordering page as water buffalo chunks on skewers, served with a side of rice and house potato salad.
Order on the Kathmandu Cuisine menu
Duck, pork and salmon: the less common skewers
Three more skewers go beyond the usual list: Hans (Duck) Sekuwa BBQ, Pork Sekuwa and Salmon Sekuwa. Wikipedia notes that pork versions of sekuwa exist, and the menu confirms it. The listings are brief, so ask what each comes with.
A note for guests who avoid certain meats: the menu includes pork and buffalo, and the website does not say that the restaurant is halal. If that matters to you, ask the staff before ordering.
Paneer and Vegetarian Sekuwa
Two skewers are meat-free. Vegetarian Sekuwa is described as a seasonal vegetable blend on skewers, served with a side of rice. Paneer Sekuwa (Cottage Cheese BBQ) is listed with paneer, a fresh cheese, as the main ingredient.
A vegetarian table can share both, or choose one and add a side. The restaurant’s blog has a separate guide to its vegetarian and vegan dishes.
Menu card — Vegetarian Sekuwa
Listed on the Kathmandu Cuisine ordering page as a seasonal vegetable blend on skewers, served with a side of rice.
Order on the Kathmandu Cuisine menu
Lamb Taas, Lamb Chops and the sides
Two lamb listings come as plates rather than skewers:
- Lamb Taas (Skillet BBQ): bite-sized lamb cooked in a skillet, served with rice, salad, potato and tomato pickle.
- Lamb Chops: two well-done lamb chops, served with long grain rice, salad, potato and tomato pickle.
To round out any order, the menu lists these sides: Chokhaa (House Potato Salad), Chukauni, Papad, Plain Naan, Garlic Naan, Jeera Rice and Kathmandu Summer Salad. The Jeera Rice listing notes that it contains dairy. Because the skewers already come with rice, naan or a salad is the more useful addition.
Hours, location and how to order
Kathmandu Cuisine Los Altos is at 376 1st St, Los Altos, CA 94022, phone (650) 383-5477. The website lists Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5 PM to 9 PM, Friday to Sunday from 12 PM to 3 PM and 5 PM to 10 PM, and Tuesday closed. For a table, the website links to OpenTable. Check the ordering page for current ordering hours.
Order through the restaurant’s own page rather than a third-party app. The restaurant receives the full order with no app commission.
FAQ
What is sekuwa?
Sekuwa is a traditional Nepali kebab. Marinated meat is put on skewers and grilled over an open flame or charcoal. It is served as a starter, a snack or a main dish.
What sekuwa dishes does Kathmandu Cuisine Los Altos serve?
The ordering page lists Chicken Sekuwa, Lamb Sekuwa, Buffalo Sekuwa BBQ, Pork Sekuwa, Hans (Duck) Sekuwa BBQ, Salmon Sekuwa, Paneer Sekuwa (Cottage Cheese BBQ) and Vegetarian Sekuwa. It also lists Lamb Taas (Skillet BBQ) and Lamb Chops.
Is there a vegetarian sekuwa?
Yes. Vegetarian Sekuwa is described as a seasonal vegetable blend on skewers with a side of rice, and Paneer Sekuwa (Cottage Cheese BBQ) is a second meat-free option.
What does sekuwa come with?
The listings name sides. Chicken Sekuwa comes with rice; Lamb Sekuwa and Buffalo Sekuwa BBQ come with rice and house potato salad. Check each listing before you order.
Where is Kathmandu Cuisine Los Altos and when is it open?
It is at 376 1st St, Los Altos, CA 94022, phone (650) 383-5477. The website lists Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5 PM to 9 PM, Friday to Sunday from 12 PM to 3 PM and 5 PM to 10 PM, and Tuesday closed.
Order sekuwa at Kathmandu Cuisine
Pick a meat, check what comes with it, add a side, and order straight from the restaurant. Ordering direct means Kathmandu Cuisine gets the full order with no third-party commission.
