A few weeks ago, Bernalwood received an adorable email from Prem Tamang, the chef at the much-loved Little Nepal restaurant on Cortland:
I have been running Little Nepal restaurant since 2003. The time make me to move to mission and cortland 3486 B mission.
It will be Cuisine of Nepal. I can’t take name of little Nepal because I was leasing this business. When I moved to mission street with new name cuisine of Nepal I would love to put in Bernalwood post so that all bernal Nighbor will know that I moved.
Best regard, prem
“Of course!”we replied. So here’s the news: Chef Prem is relocating to Mission Street where he will operate under a new name as Cuisine of Nepal.
Last week we received more detail on the move. Cuisine of Nepal will open at 3486 Mission, right across from the intersection with Cortland. The soft opening may happen as soon this Saturday, April 30 (fingers crossed), with the proper grand re-opening festivities scheduled for Saturday, May 14.
Chef Prem’s press release says:
Owner/Chef Prem Tamang announces the Grand Opening of his new restaurant, Cuisine of Nepal, located in the heart of Bernal Heights’ South Asian Restaurant Row at 3486-B Mission Street at Cortland Ave. The 30-seat restaurant reflects Nepal’s warm hospitality, where the cozy setting and market-fresh fare are as welcoming as a traditional Nepali home.
Chef Prem Tamang leads the kitchen with a menu that features local seasonal ingredients including neighborhood favorites such as Kukhurako Ledo (Chicken Cashew Curry), Saag Tarkari (Mustard Leaf Curry), and Poleko Khasi (Sizzling Lamb), as well as new specialties specific to Tamang’s home village in Nepal.
Since 2003, Chef Tamang has honed his skills as owner/chef at Little Nepal restaurant, a Bernal Heights gem where the San Francisco Chronicle has urged diners to “discover intriguing twists and variations on traditional South Asian dishes.” Tamang’s warmhearted approach and love of preparing fresh meals can be traced back to his nascent work as a high altitude cooking expert on Himalayan treks in his native country, where he prepared delicious meals at 14,000 feet above sea level for hardy mountain-climbers from around the world. […]
Open six days a week (closed Mondays), Cuisine of Nepal is located in the heart of Bernal Heights’ South Asian Restaurant Row at 3486-B Mission Street (at Cortland), San Francisco, CA 94110. The restaurant is open for Lunch Tuesday through Sunday from 11:00 am to 2:30 pm, and for Dinner Tuesday through Sunday from 4:30 – 10:30 pm. Major credit cards are accepted. Catering, Takeout, and Free Delivery are also available.
***OPENING DAY PARTY: The public is invited to join Chef Tamang & staff on Saturday, May 14th, from Noon – 8 pm, as Cuisine of Nepal offers a one-time only $5 Sampling Menu, with a choice of tasting one Appetizer and two Entrees from the day’s special menu plus Rice, Naan,and Lal Mohan dessert. A $2 glass of Wine or Beer will also be available to those 21 and over.***
Did you catch that bit about the Bernal Heights “South Asian Restaurant Row”?
It’s true! The corner of Mission and Cortland will now be home to restaurants representing India (Zante’s and Spicy Bite), Cambodia (Ankor Borei), and Nepal (Cuisine of Nepal). This is great news, because, our South Asian Restaurant Row is a terrific compliment to our NanoTokyo District, clustered just up the street around Mission and 29th Street.
So let us now join together to say: YUM!
Best wishes with the move, Chef Prem, and so glad you’re still a part of our community.
PHOTO: Work-in-progress facade of Cuisine of Nepal, as seen on April 23, 2016. Photo by Telstar Logistics
Bernalwood 
This post almost gave me a heart attack. Thank dog he’s just moving down the street.
I think he’ll get a lot more business down on Mission. Happy to try it.
Something left vague in this post:
Will Little Nepal on Cortland stay open, but with a new chef? Or do we have another vacant restaurant space to speculate about?
The people need answers!
That’s a great question. If I hear anything, I will report back.
Here’s what Chef Prem’s people told me:
“Little Nepal will remain Little Nepal … at least through July … but maybe past July. Decisions are a few months away, but Chef Prem was excited about the opportunity to have a restaurant that was 100% his own so… voila! Cuisine of Nepal :)”
Thanks for the update, Todd! More Nepalese food is never, ever a problem.
Went in last night, wanted to make sure we didn’t miss the last few nights.. What they told me (I didn’t see Prem, don’t know if he was in the kitchen), is that the whole staff is moving to new place, but the old place would be open for “a month or two..” Sounds like maybe there’s still some negotiating going on with landlord and/or restaurant owner. They also have posters and fliers with nice discount coupons for the new place, so stop in!
But either way, the staff and Prem and everything will be the same down the street, and it wouldn’t hurt for me to walk up the hill after I roll out of there, so maybe this is a good thing.
Agree! I am sad that this spot that is so close to me is relocating
Best of Luck! See you there!!
You should go to this! May 14 $5 sampling.
>
I may have missed it, but is there a phone number for the new restaurant?
Look at the photo: 415-647-2222.
sad to see them leave the current spot, but glad to see that they’re staying nearby! any idea what will happen to their old space? another posh new resto?
See the previous comment on this topic up above.
Just one point of clarification: South Asia is not the region where either Cambodia or Nepal are located. As much as I find the real estate rename game bemusing, it’s got to be factual. In today’s Chron, a descriptor of Bernal: “discover why we love the City’s westside” also made me wonder if the Pacific had moved last night.
Nepal is South Asia… Cambodia is South East Asia.
Little Nepal didn’t close and has not moved. Thankfully, it is still open on Cortland :). The new restaurant on Mission Street is a competitor.