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Rara, Palo Alto, CA

Rara

4.7
4.7
32 Reviews
$30 and under
Nepalese

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2 people
19:00
Booked 19 times today

About this restaurant

  • Vegetarian-friendly
  • Great for brunch
  • Good for business meals
Rara, a charming Nepalese restaurant located in Palo Alto, California, derives its name from the breathtaking Rara Lake in Nepal. This enchanting lake, known for its pristine beauty and serene surroundings, serves as an inspiration for our culinary journey.

Just as Rara Lake captivates all who visit with its natural allure, our restaurant aims to captivate your senses with the irresistible flavors of Nepal. Our commitment to providing authentic Nepalese food with a modern touch is a tribute to the authenticity and beauty of Rara Lake, and we invite you to experience the harmony of tradition and innovation in every dish we serve. Come dine at Rara and embark on a culinary adventure that carries the spirit and name of Nepal’s stunning Rara Lake.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Nepalese
  • Hours of Operation
    Daily 11:00–22:00
  • Phone number
    (650) 485-1055
  • Dress code
    Business Casual

What 32 people are saying

Rara reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.2Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Diners' Choice Awards

  • Peninsula

    Great for brunch

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Rara delights with its "authentic Nepali food" and "great service". Standout dishes include Momos, lamb, and curry. Guests enjoy the cozy ambiance, making it perfect for casual outings or special occasions. While service can be slow at times, the "flavors are rich and deep", promising a flavorful dining experience.

32 Reviews
  1. Susan VIP

    San Francisco145 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 5 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was excellent. It was really busy on a Tuesday night but the food came quickly & was hot & tasty. We liked everything we ordered. Food is spicy except the momos.

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  2. Karen VIP

    San Francisco214 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on 26 February 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    We enjoyed our lunch here. Nice ambiance, albeit a little dark. But quiet. We both had curry dishes. I had the mixed vegetable curry, and my friend had the lentil curry. The lentil curry was more like a soup. I liked the mixed vegetable curry. I would have tried something else, but the rice and breads start at $5, a little steep, unless it’s enough for two. The service was OK, but the waiters didn’t speak English very well. I may come back and try something else.

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  3. Amy

    San Francisco1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 22 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent food. Great value. Will definitely recommend Rara to others and go back myself. It was pretty noisy in there but maybe that was due to the large party. And the service was off - not so helpful from time to time. Had to remind them a couple of times to give us serving utensils and clear plates from appetizers. But overall it was excellent. They have a large menu with a lot of interesting dishes. Great Nepalese dishes. Loved it!!!

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  4. Decker

    San Francisco3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 15 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I consider Rara quite a find. The food was delicious, mildly spiced as we asked, and authentic - we'd never had dishes like these before. The Momo dumplings were special. The goat was deliciously prepared as were all the side dishes. The service was cheerful and prompt and unobtrusive. We enjoyed the paintings and lighting fixtures. A most enjoyable experience.

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  5. Carrie

    San Francisco10 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 31 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Great food and outstanding food. We will return with family and friends!

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  6. Ryan

    San Francisco4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 20 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Tried Rara for the first time with my family. I’ve had Nepali food before, they have not. All of us enjoyed Rara. Service is casual, so it can take a bit of time to flag down a waiter, but it’s on par with other similar restaurants. Cozy ambience. Some of the food is very spicy, and not always clearly marked as such, so definitely ask before you commit. Standouts for us were the gorkhali lamb shank (fell off the bone and the rice was great too), the momos (we didn’t think there was a need to get the sizzler, so we just got the regular momos), and the very spicy mushroom chhoila. We also enjoyed the goat taas (also pretty spicy) and the paratha. The lassi was also good (and helpful with the spicier food). We didn’t try the curries but they also looked very good; it seems like they do a really good job with slow cooked meats or really anything that has to braise/simmer. Definitely a good place to order family style so that you can try everything (they don’t make it obvious that you can do it that way). Flavors were rich and deep, but the food wasn’t overly heavy either - really well-cooked. Will definitely go back!

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  7. Alison

    San Francisco20 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on 11 November 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Interesting and delicious Nepali-spice flavor profiles, well-cooked tasty food, with a range of vegetable dishes also (harder to find). Will definitely go back. Service was good, friendly and with that family run feeling.

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  8. Brian

    Washington DC2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 27 October 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Very promising beginning for this new restaurant. We sampled the chickin momo, himalayan salad, lamb shank, and cauliflower. Table favorite was the cauliflower, but everything we tasty. Everyone was nice, but service and ordering were a work in progress. We look forward to returning.

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  9. Sush VIP

    San Francisco35 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on 26 October 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    It was just Ok for us. We wanted to love it! One dish was Amazing and completely baffled our tastebuds in a good way, but others that followed it were very Meh :/ service was spotty, there were only 2 servers helping the wholedining room, so I’m sure they were doing the best that they could. We wouldn’t go back in a hurry.

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  10. Kellie

    San Francisco1 review

    3.0

    Dined on 11 October 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    We had a big party (20ppl) so I’m understand that the service would be slower. However it took over an hour and a half for our entrees to come out and one person’s entree didn’t even make it out. We also found some of the chicken undercooked. Other than this, everything else was great.

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FAQs

Rara is rated 4.7 stars by 32 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 19 times today
Google Map for Rara

201 California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Additional information

  • Area
    Palo Alto
  • Hours of Operation
    Daily 11:00–22:00
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Nepalese
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    None
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