- Bridges Nepali, founded by Ash Chipalu and his family, opens its first Northern Kentucky location at 11 W. 7th Street in Covington.
- The restaurant serves authentic, mild, and healthy Nepalese dishes, including momos, rice bowls, and traditional lentil-based meals.
- Covington was chosen for its vibrant downtown and growing Asian food scene, offering foot traffic and community appeal.
Ash Chipalu aims to introduce people in Northern Kentucky to Nepali cuisine, which he believes can help bridge the cultural gap between his home country and American communities.
Chipalu hails from Nepal, a landlocked, mountainous country in south Asia, nestled between India and China. In 2015, the country was devastated by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that forced his parents, Rose and Manoj, to relocate to the United States.
That same year, alongside his parents, the Chipalu family started Bridges Nepali, operating out of Findlay Market. Chipalu’s goal was straightforward: share his mother’s food with the community that welcomed them. “Bridges’ is intended to evoke a connection between cultures.
“We want to serve top-quality food, very different food, but still very delicious food in a very approachable way,” Chipalu told LINK nky. “But you know, when people taste it, people come and try it, they absolutely love it.”
After two years in Findlay Market, Bridges opened its first restaurant in Cincinnati’s Northside neighborhood. The restaurant achieved success, enabling the brand to expand into two more locations in Cincinnati. It was around this time that Chipalu started searching south of the Ohio River for possible locations for a new site.
Covington, a city Chipalu had become familiar with after visiting several of its restaurants, felt like an ideal place to introduce Nepali cuisine to Northern Kentucky. Covington boasts a vibrant local Asian food scene, featuring well-known spots like Riverside Korean, KungFood Chu’s AmerAsia, Taj Mahal and Wabi Sabi, among others.
“I go to (Kung Food) AmerAsia, I go to Riverside Korean restaurant, and I always see a really nice buzz with people, and I walk around, and I love this area downtown,” he said. “Covington has always been a really attractive place for me. Even before I started Bridges, I used to come here and enjoy with my family and friends, and after I started my business, I was constantly looking for a place to open.”
Eventually, Chipalu found a vacant storefront at 11 W. 7th Street. The space was previously home to McK’s BBQ, which closed in 2023.
Located in a prime spot for foot traffic, the space is close to one of the city’s most bustling districts, just a short walk from Braxton Brewing, Hotel Covington, Agave & Rye and Noche. Chipalu, who opened the Covington location in June 2024, said Bridges had built up a roster of regulars who come in almost every week.
One of these customers is Greg Eiting, a Covington resident who shared with LINK nky that he’s been a regular at Bridges Nepali since its first Cincinnati location opened. Eiting is a fan of Bridges’ Momos, a popular Nepali take on steamed dumplings.
“I couldn’t believe it when I read that Bridges was moving to my neighborhood of Covington,” he said. “I was thrilled to have this delight so close to home.”
Chipalu noted that Nepali food traditions are heavily influenced by the country’s geography. Many of its dishes feature prominent ingredients like grains, lentils, vegetables, meat and spices such as cumin, coriander and turmeric. Some of Bridges’ most popular dishes include momos and rice bowls, both of which are popular takeout options.
“I would say it’s like a mix between a little bit of like Indian and Chinese (food),” Chipalu said. “It’s like a combo, because we’re right in the middle, and we also have our own unique flavors.”
Even with its popularity among his regulars, Chipalu is still looking to grow his business within Covington. Currently, Bridges is in the process of obtaining its liquor license, something Chipalu hopes will draw more customers.
Ultimately, Chipalu aims to introduce more Northern Kentuckians to Nepali food. He mentioned that many people are unfamiliar with the country’s cuisine and hopes his restaurant can serve as a positive introduction to Nepali culture.
“I would say, be adventurous,” he said. “You know, come in and try it. It sounds very different. The food that sounds very good also looks very different compared to burgers and fries. People are very used to burgers and fries and pizza, but I just want to invite people to come in and see what we have.”
