From a remote village in the hills of Nepal to the kitchens of Kathmandu, Ramesh Dahal's journey began a world away from Carrboro. Growing up in the mountains, he learned early that food is how you care for people — a belief that would carry him across continents.

That path led him through culinary school and, for years, into some of the most demanding kitchens on earth: cooking for U.S. Army personnel stationed across several countries, including Iraq and Somalia. Feeding troops far from home — at scale, under pressure, with no room for error — shaped the discipline behind every dish he plates today.

From fast food to fine dining, Ramesh mastered his craft at every level. When he settled in North Carolina, he honed it further in acclaimed kitchens — La Farm Bakery in Cary and the legendary Angus Barn in Raleigh — before stepping out on his own.

In 2021 he opened Momo's Masterin Chapel Hill, a Himalayan bistro that earned him recognition as a BEA New Business of the Year Finalist. Today, at Himalayan Fried Chicken & Bar, he brings the whole journey to the table — the flavors of the mountains, the discipline of the world's toughest kitchens, and a lifelong belief that great food is meant to be shared.