Potatoes arrived in the Khumbu in the 19th century and transformed Sherpa farming, and Khumjung's fields are among the most productive in the region. Lodges here cook with them in ways you rarely find on menus lower down. Shakpa is a thick stew of potato, radish, greens and hand-pulled dough pieces, sometimes with dried yak meat, simmered on the stove. Rikikur are pancakes of grated potato fried on a griddle and served with yak butter, chilli paste or local cheese.
Ask your lodge whether they can make Sherpa dishes rather than the standard trekking menu of fried rice and pasta. Many families are happy to, especially outside the busiest weeks, and your guide can order in Sherpa. Butter tea, salty and rich, is served from a wooden churn or thermos; try a cup even if you prefer sweet milk tea afterwards. Tsampa, roasted barley flour mixed with tea, is a traditional breakfast and travel food.
Lunch in Khumjung fits naturally into the Namche rest-day loop, between the yeti scalp and the walk back over the ridge. Hot food at 3,790 m helps you warm up and keeps your energy steady for acclimatisation. Lodge kitchens use yak-dung or wood stoves and solar-heated water, so meals take time: order soon after arrival and use the wait to wander the lanes.
Good for
- Couples
- Families
- Solo
- Groups
Questions travellers ask
What is Sherpa stew?
Sherpa stew, or shakpa, is a thick soup of potatoes, radish, greens and hand-made dough pieces, sometimes with dried meat. It is filling, warm and easy to digest at altitude, and lodges in Khumjung and Namche often cook it well.
Is it safe to eat meat on the Everest trek?
Animals are not slaughtered inside Sagarmatha National Park for religious reasons, so meat is carried up from below and may be days old. Many guides suggest eating vegetarian above Namche. Dried yak meat in stew is generally fine.
What is rikikur?
Rikikur is a Sherpa potato pancake made from grated raw potato fried on a griddle, eaten with yak butter, chilli paste or cheese. It is a Khumbu farmhouse dish and tastes best freshly cooked in a village lodge.
