Himalayan Restaurant

Have you ever had Himalayan food? It is very similar to Indian food. Himalayan food is influenced by Nepali, Bhutanese, Tibetan and Indian food and showcases foods from the “highest point on Earth.” It ranges from soothing to spicy, from vegetarian curries to meaty momos, and much more. The menu here is as lengthy as one would find in a conventional Indian restaurant, which is to say that it’s pretty overwhelming. But I love being adventurous, so I stuck with Nepali and chose the food that was unfamiliar to me.

Himalayan is located on Lorain Road in the former Cuisine Du Cambodge building. There is a small, but nice dining room and you can order from the menu as well as enjoy a range of dishes on the buffet. There is a small kitchen, so if you order off the menu you might have a small wait.

The lunch buffet is set up in the front area to your right as you come in the front door. The buffet runs 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is $12 per person. It usually features two meat or chicken dishes, two vegetarian dishes plus rice, veggie chow mein, pakora, soup, salad, fruit and dessert. It is primarily Indian dishes that most people are familiar with. The food was tasty with a hint of spicy. We all enjoyed the variety from the buffet. I particularly loved the tikka masala.

I also ordered momos for the table, because I had never tried them. They are like a pierogi or thicker soup dumpling on steroids. Momos, often called Tibetan dumplings, are perhaps the most familiar Nepalese food. These housemade dumplings fill the flour-based dough wrapper with finely chopped meat and/or vegetables and steamed. Though goat, lamb, beef, chicken, and yak are still the most widely found fillings, vegetarian momos have also flourished in recent times. The wrappers are thin, soft and delicate, and the filling is juicy and brightly flavored with heaps of garlic and ginger. They are served with a spicy tomato-based chutney on the side. I haven’t seen yak on the menu at Himalayan Restaurant here in Cleveland, but there is plenty of goat, lamb and the like. I chose the chicken momos and was not disappointed. Jhol momo are served floating in the sauce. If you like spice you might want to try the Chili momo.

The chai here is probably one of the best I’ve had in Cleveland. It was not too watery and had a nice spice profile. Himalayan chai combines milk, black tea, cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves that are simmered together for a hot and spicy chai tea. It was so good that I ordered a second one!

The menu ranges from tandoori (grilled) dishes to curries, kormas, tikka masalas and vindaloos to rice dishes like biryani and basmati-based dishes. There are a wide range of vegetarian and non-vegetarian entrees to choose from. If you are feeling adventurous order one of the choices off the Nepali section. The Himalayan platter serves 2 and features seekh kabob, tandoori chicken, sekuwa (grilled and skewered meat) and shrimp, so it is a good choice to try several things at once.

Contact info:

Himalayan Restaurant
13124 Lorain Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44111
(216) 716-4500