ROCKINGHAM — While Kamal Pokhrel renovates his restaurant in Moore County, he’ll be busy the next two months establishing his new one in Richmond County.
Pokhrel opened Celebrity Indian Nepali Cuisine on Wednesday at the old bank building at the intersection of U.S. 1 and Mill Road.
While running Henning’s Taste of India in Southern Pines, Pokrhel, originally from Nepal, said the owner of the property “tried my food and he gave me the offer.”
“I said, ‘Why not,’” Pokrhel recalled, saying the plan was set into motion in August of 2024.
His restaurant gives Richmond County residents a chance to stay local.
“If you want Indian food, either you go to Southern Pines or you guys drive all the way to Charlotte,” he said. “If you are the Indian food lover, try our food … Nepalese food, Indian food is similar.”
Pokrhel admitted it's a small place, but he and his family plan to give it 100%.
There are six tables inside the restaurant and two umbrella-covered tables on the outside patio. The building also includes a drive-thru window and Pokrhel said the restaurant will soon be available on Door Dash.
“I’m getting a good response from here,” Pokrhel said, adding that he expects some of his Southern Pines customers to make the trip south to visit the new restaurant.
Once Taste of India reopens — with a new, organic menu — in November, Pokrhel said he plans to alternate his time between the two. He is also planning to open an Indian grocery in Southern Pines.
Celebrity Indian Nepali Cuisine is open for lunch from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and for dinner from 4- 9 p.m. Wednesday-Monday, and is closed Tuesdays.
This is the third restaurant to open in the city over the summer — and the second to serve Asian food.
Thai Kitchen Asian Cuisine opened July 14 in Richmond Plaza, filling the space formerly occupied by the Japanese restaurant Fuji Grill.
Ansonia Soup Company opened in downtown Rockingham at Hitchcock Place — the third restaurant to occupy that space within the past decade. Coincidentally, Ansonia offers a Thai soup — Hollie's Tom Kha Gai — everyday and Indian Mulligatawany Soup on Fridays.
Ansonia recently started opening with a dinner menu on Thursday evenings and is planning to change its lunchtime menu next week.
NOTE: This story has been updated to correct a typo in the headline. 7:49 p.m. 8-28-25
