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Cafe Himalaya
Categories: Restaurants Asian Fusion Restaurants Himalayan/Nepalese Restaurants Vegetarian Asian Fusion, Himalayan/Nepalese, Vegetarian [Edit]
78 E 1st StNew York, NY 10009
Neighborhood: East Village
(212) 358-0160
- Nearest Transit:
-
2 Av (F)
Delancey St (F)
Essex St (J, M, Z)
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
146 reviews for Cafe Himalaya
Review Highlights
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"The chili dofu is tasty and it is BYOB." In 13 reviews -
"Tibetan food is quite distinct and may not appeal to..." In 10 reviews -
"The staff is very is nice and BYOB is a plus too." In 32 reviews
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- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
146 reviews in English
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Review from Shane C.
New York, NY
4/26/2012
I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place yet. It's been almost five years since I first discovered it. The momos are as delicious as ever, and I still feel instantly calmer every time I come in. The only thing that's changed is that you no longer have to walk through the kitchen to get to the bathroom... which I kind of miss, but overall it's probalby a good thing.
5 stars for being cheap, delicious, and relaxed. BYOB is also a plus! -
Review from Elizabeth J.
Manhattan, NY
4/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
When you go to a BYOB restaurant I think the key is to BYOB and get a little tipsy so that you can ignore the shitty slow service and the lack of customer service. Get drunk enough and the food will taste fantastic, especially when you have to wait so long for it.
With that said, the food itself should get a 3.5 Stars. The spicy tofu dish was tasty ($7.50), I had the noodle soup with beef (similar to ramen) $7-8 --with hot sauce and soy it was very tasty, filled with onions, scallions, pees. The Himalaya tea with butter, milk and salt was just weird. Make sure you can handle salt, b/c every dish was very salty. It was very filling and the portions were big. Just make sure to bring drinks b/c you will wait a decent amount of time.
Very reasonably priced. Cheap lunch specials ($5.99)
Service: Sucks, wayyyyyyyyyy to slow and took forever to get refills.
Cash Only. -
Review from Mischa A.
4/19/2012 5 Check-ins Here
I am not an expert on Himalayan food, in fact I honestly don't have a clue. So, I cant speak for the authenticity of the dishes but what I can talk about is wow...
I ended up here for the lunch time special the other day, and I am assuming for the savings on the electricity bill the lights inside where turned off, maybe it was the environment... who knows for what reason but it was really weird walking into a daytime dark restaurant, it gave this honest feel of some Himalayan roadside diner that you are expecting an Ox to walk in the door... Don't get me wrong, I liked it. It was really homelike... wait.. No not homelike cause an Ox is walking in the door, but it was really comfortable..
to the food.. First thing that I loved was, when the guy dropped the menu off he didn't disappear, and not that I am a service whore, it is just that at lunch time sometimes it has to be quick...
But, I ended up getting No. 3. Gyathuk Ngopa sauteed noodles with fresh green veg and veg... So I assumed it was just with veg, not with veg veg, and even though I would have liked tofu, what ever, it wasn't on the menu... When the food came out, it looked like a typical run of the mill plate of noodles, but I thought for less that $6, what was I expecting... Then came the taste, and it is cause of the taste that I will be going back. There was something really honest in the flavor, cant exactly put my finger on it aside to say it wasn't bland. When I finished the plate and really wanted more... not that it wasn't enough food, just I wanted more...
Would I go back?
yes, without a doubt..Listed in: Lunch Time Specials
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Review from Rachel T.
4/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came here with a few friends on a Saturday night and absolutely loved it! We started with the momos which I am still thinking about. they were perfectly fried and filled with delicious meat that oozed with flavor. I should also mention the place is BYOB which was a great addition to the night!
I had the chili tofu which was absolutely fantastic. Spicy and exciting flavors I would highly recommend. My boyfriend ordered a chicken curry dish which he also loved. The portions are huge and the prices are amazing- this is a must try place if you like tibetan food and are looking for a fun BYOB place downtown. -
Review from miz m.
New York, NY
4/8/2012
This place remains a solid, delicious cheap eat year after year. I always order number 29 (Gyathuk Ngopa sauteed noodles with fresh green veg) with chicken. It is SO tasty, I cannot emphasize that enough.
Anyone I've ever taken here agrees, himalayan food is wonderful. I describe it as being somewhere between Chinese and Indian food -- but it taste like neither. Most dishes have a little spice, but it's a deep, flavorful spice.
The noodles are never greasy, lightly crisped, just perfect.
This place is BYOB, so hit up the bodega up the street before heading in, or have one of their fruity shakes. -
Review from Ayush N.
Jersey City, NJ
5/11/2012
First of all, you need to know that I am a Nepali, which means that I will probably have a biased opinion towards food. Second, I like spicy food, I mean spicy in Nepali (or Indian) kind of way.
The place is cheap for Manhattan, but maybe not as cheap as other Nepali restaurants in Queens. My favorite place for momos (easily the most popular dish for non-resident Nepalis) is Bhim's in Queens, which is very cheap too. I liked the momo, especially the sauce. I loved the chicken chilly! The food was very spicy and very tasty. However, after recommending the place to my (Nepali) friends, they were not as impressed as I was. The owner was friendly as we had a nice chat for a while.
Why go there: If you want great tasting (spicy) food, which is cheap, and is BYOB, going there with close friends can be a great experience! -
Review from Xiao Y.
Manhattan, NY
2/12/2012
I went with a friend to Cafe Himalaya on a Saturday night around 7pm. When I got there, 5-6 tables were still open so I quickly claimed a spot as the other reviewers have said that it could get quite crowded.
The restaurant seats about 25-26 and was dimly lit with a little candle on the table. Ambiance isn't bad for being a "hole in the wall" - trust me, I've seen a lot worse.
We ordered the steamed chicken momo's (dumplings), Tofu w/ chicken dish, and a chicken stir-fry dish. I know they look more exotic on the menu, but that's exactly what we got - nothing more, nothing less.
The dumplings were ok, skin was a bit dried & thick and there was no juice inside. The entrees didn't have a unique taste at all - much to my disappointment. I was ready for this new culinary experience and realized that it was things that I could easily make myself.
On a good note, the food was somewhat healthy (at least much better than most chinese restaurants) as they don't use as much oil and probably don't add too much MSG and/or chicken bullion either.
All in all: cheap but healthy food, below average service. Decent place to try for novelty sake, but I wouldn't go back myself. Although, I think the novelty lies more in their teas and/or dessert more than their entrees. -
Review from Taiyo O.
1/30/2012
We got in early Sunday night around 6PM with my friends. The foods we ordered were light, fresh and very unique and different despite of looking very Chinese.
10 out of 128 reviews liked sliced tofu with vegetable sautéed with tangy and sweet sauce with a hint of heat, #19 Chili Dofu ($7.50) came with a small bowl of not only flaky but very fluffy Basmati rice that was so different from typical BR at Indian restaurants in the city. The tangy and sweet sauce definitely reminiscent of sweet & sour pork, a classic Cantonese dish "" or "goo lou yok" without pineapple pieces. Mixing few fresh spinach, I thought, was a nice touch to make dish to feel lighter. We enjoyed this dish very much. We thank to 10 Yelpers that suggested this dish!
Next dish disappeared fast was pan fried noodles topped with sauteed fresh green vegetables & tofu, #30 Gyathuk Takpa ($7.25). We chose shrimps with dish. I liked the burn taste of dried noodles from pan frying and it was very different than Chili Dofu. It was savory, light and crunchy.
Our least favorites and more likely I won't order next times were:
Lamb and potato with dark curry, #33 Luksha Shamdey ($8.50), had not much flavor. Few pieces of cut Lamb were lost its flavor and the sauce was nor hot or salty without curry flavor.
#38 Sha Shesha ($8.50), sir fried vegetables, half cooked fresh broccoli, well cooked zucchini with soaked all the flavor mushroom were finished up with fresh leaves of spinach again. It sounded good but it was okay.
Above two dishes came with a homemade Spicy Coriander Chutney. This chutney was not sweet and less flavor of coriander. It might be old or coriander that was used wasn't fresh leaves but seeds or powder....but adding this sauce didn't change the flavor of those dishes for me.
#6 Corn soup, Ashom Thang ($3.50). It was just salty and not much flavor of corn and its sweetness.
We liked 2 out of 5 dishes but the experiences we had from each dishes were so unique and different left me wanting to come back for more and was very reasonable. Three of us each paid only $14 with a tax and tip!
Their lunch special also offers none of our faves but with Chinatwon lunch price. It's only $5.99! -
Review from Claudio C.
West Farms, Bronx, NY
3/3/2012
Arrived at the place at around 7 pm. All the tables were occupied, but in less than ten minutes a table was promptly set for me and my partner. The ambiance is semi-romantic, in the sense that BYOB can make the drinking experience very enjoying and convenient, and although some tables had candles while others didn't the kitchen (and it's very bright light) was highly visible do to the small space and layout of the place.
Costumers were mostly young people (20s and early 30s) which I found appealing. You can ask them to open the bottles for you but due to the heavy flow of costumers after 7 pm or so they seemed reluctant to spend time in such things and just left wine bottle openers on the table. As the waiting line increased in size they did get pushy, and soon after we finished our dinner (but not our wine) they told us to move to another table and then showed the check. Staff was for the most part friendly, but it can be a cumbersome experience when it gets busy at night.
The food was actually pretty tasty. I was worried about other reviews which stated the food was simple and not very tasty but the fried beef dumplings are delicious along with their Dofu dishes, which is their version of Tofu (mind you, I'm not a Tofu fanatic).
Overall, good place. And the BYOB policy will keep me returning. -
Review from Kitana Q.
Manhattan, NY
2/29/2012
Food straddling healthy and bland, but cheap and different menu.
1. Food: portions deceptively small and quite filling. Food taste was healthy, light, and bland. Ordered the avocado salad, chicken dumplings, chili chicken, chili dofu, chicken curry and lamb curry. Avocado salad: unexpectedly sour, not well capitalized upon. Dumplings: fresh and light, subtly tasty. Chili chicken: the best dish in the lot with lightly fried chicken in a mild piquant sauce! Curries: light, not creamy, and meat kind of tough. Entrees less than $11!!!
2. Service: unassuming, efficient, and unobtrusive. Cash only. BYOB.
3. Atmosphere: no music playing in the restaurant = prime eavesdropping opportunities. Vibe very much Williamsburg and LES. The night I went we were graced with some easily excitable hipster chicks who would sporadically yell and squeal during their meal. -
Review from Larry Y.
New Providence, NJ
1/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
Liked the momos (dumplings). Also liked the Tibetan tea (great for a cold day).
Rest of the menu was decent, but meh. Stir fries are done well but didn't knock my socks off. An option if you're in the neighborhood and want something slightly different and not so pricy. -
Review from Elaine T.
1/14/2012
Wow, I was surprised at how good this place was. It's BYOB (they don't charge for using their wine opener). I came with a girl friend and we brought our own wine and ordered 2 dishes: the chili dofu and the steamed dumplings. That was probably just enough for the 2 of us without feeling stuffed or overwhelmingly full- mind you, if I came with my boyfriend we would probably have ordered 1 or 2 other things!
The chili dofu was sooo delicious- cooked with tomatoes, onions, (and basil?) all on a bed of spinach. The tofu was medium firm and was just delicious! The table next to us and behind us also ordered this dish- I'd definitely recommend it! The steamed dumplings were great too. But my next visit, I would get something other than the dumpllings just to try what other great dishes they have to offer. But the chili dofu dish is a must!
All in all, my dinner bill came out to $16! You can't beat that. Coming back for sure.
TIP: we came around 7pm on a Wednesday night and got seated right away. Immediately after that, people were waiting around for tables. Come early! -
Review from Ryan L.
Manhattan, NY
2/22/2012
Love this place. The prices are super reasonable, the food is amazing and it's BYOB! This includes vodka I've learned, though I'm not proud of it...
Must try items: Avocado Salad, Shogok Momo Takpa (pan-fried potato dumplings), Chasha Shamdey (chicken curry w basmati rice), and several side orders of Parath (Indian bread).
The lunch special prices are excellent and the portion is the same as the dinner menu.
Only downside is limited seating, so during peak hours/days there can be a wait. -
Review from Rebecca S.
Brooklyn, NY
1/10/2012
Hands down favorite BYOB spot (so far). Great food, great atmosphere, friendly and accomodating staff. This is my and my friends' go-to spot for birthdays, special occasions and budget nights out, where we end up stupidly full and more than a little tipsy. I always get Tsel Gyathuk Takpa (17) for the delightfully crunchy pan fried noodles, the super tofu and for the interesting vegetables they showcase (except for the peas. NO PEAS!! EVER) and we split some Avocado Salad (9) and some Sha or Tsel Momo (12/26). Always fried; I don't believe in steamed dumplings.
Only problem is that when we were here last week for a birthday dinner it was really crowded (to be expected) but also unorganized and some harpies stole the table that had been cleared off for us, and the staff was unwilling to help us resolve it. I know, they were super overwhelmed and they are generally really awesome, but it was kind of shitty that a friend in my party had to tell another party that they needed to hurry up and finish.
But this is as good as it gets for cheap and delicious places to get wicked drunk, and maybe a little rowdy (in a contained way). Also good for dates. And vegetarians. And vegetarians on dates. NEVER CHANGE, HIMALAYA. -
Review from Mr F G and Ms M S.
Flushing, NY
1/3/2012 5 photos
The food here is really good & cheap. The portion is pretty decent, not that small. As for the place, it's small, dark, & cozy. The place looks pretty clean.
We ordered the chili chicken & shapta. Both came with basmati rice. Shapta is a spicy beef dish sauteed with ginger, bell peppers, garlic & onion. The food here is delicious, tasty, packed full of flavor but not spicy enough. Great for someone who can't handle spicy food but spicy food lovers will definitely be disappointed. Overall, they're still delicious regardless if it's spicy or not.
The service was pretty good. Friendly staff.
We spent about $24 for our meal.
Definitely worth stopping by! -
Review from K L.
Flushing, NY
12/8/2011
A little tight with the seating capacity, but I'm a native New Yorker, so I guess I'm used to it.
This spot has become part of a ritual that I have with a friend. The server, though always busy, is never overly friendly or cold. This leaves us with just the food and alcohol to consider.
Alcohol is BYOB. That is always great news.
Food is excellent. It's on the cheaper side and it's super filling, especially when you get a plate of momo and a main dish. My friend and I are both big eaters, but we can barely finish those two dishes.
Love it. It's a great mellow place. -
Review from Jenna M.
10/24/2011
I love, love, LOVED my recent dinner at Cafe Himalaya. My worldly girlfriend had been raving about this place pretty much from the day I met her, so we finally made our way over here for a meal, and I am kicking myself for not getting here sooner. The restaurant is a little hole in the wall on E. 1st St. and it seems to always be quite busy; on the night we came in, there was a little bit of a wait, and every table was full of people chatting and chewing. We were seated as soon as a table was ready, and the staff were attentive and helpful throughout.
I didn't even look at the menu, because my gal had her dream meal already picked out, so I let her take the reins. She made some excellent choices: the avocado-chickpea salad was a rich and salty blend of some of my favorite vegetables, and the potato-filled dumplings were so familiar and comforting that I could have eaten a whole meal of just those. And for the main attraction: chili dofu. This sweet and spicy dish of perfectly-textured tofu is paired with cabbage and other assorted vegetables, and it was just delicious. I had to work to keep myself from commandeering the plate and scarfing it all, lest she never take me here again.
I look forward to coming back here again soon and actually picking some menu items for myself, although I may very well just get the dumplings and chili dofu again. And again. And again. -
Review from Sascha S.
Somerville, MA
1/16/2012
PROS: Food was Awesome!!! With a capital "A." Spicy chili tofu and bean noodles were ordered (two different dishes) and both were great. The food is definitely 5+ starts. Also, the chai is outstanding!! GET IT!
CONS: It was a little small and had a health rating of B. I am a vegetarian so this did not concern me as much...but it is a bit of a con. To be fair, many chains get a B like subway, but still. Also, the service was only three stars.
When thinking about this food, imagine Chinese mixed with Indian. If you like this concept, go for it! -
Review from Samantha C.
Manhattan, NY
2/5/2012
Shogok Momo Takpa (or fried potato dumplings) is my go to comfort food. The dumplings with either the homemade darjeeling or ginger tea makes any bad day better. If you want more then dumplings, the chili chicken should do the trick.
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Review from Meow D.
Mt Arlington, NJ
3/13/2012
Awesome Nepalese food, have been there twice for lunch and ordered the Chili Dofu and I think the #18 noodle dish and mango lassis. Extremely well priced and delicious food, good portions. Writing this is making me hungry.
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Review from yuna l.
KNICKERBOCKER, NY
12/17/2011
We love this place! Everything we've ordered so far is delicious: from the lentil soup, to the Luksha Shamdey, to the Chasha Shamdey, and our very favorite pan-fried Sha Momo....
We usually order home as the place is always PACKED! -
Review from Amy P.
Brooklyn, NY
1/31/2012 3 Check-ins Here
The cheapest place I've found for Tibetan food in NYC. No frills, and totally awesome and authentic. Tons of vegetarian options, delicious Darjeeling tea and juices/smoothies. Nice staff, fast service. A very frequent stop whenever in the EV/LES. Cafe Himalaya, I love you.
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Review from Jyoti H.
1/30/2012
Apparently this place is a hidden gem. It is a small restaurant front on 1st and Houston. I went here for lunch on a Saturday. A pretty extensive menu, I ordered #28, some kind of noodle, and my friend ordered some dumplings. My noodle soup was just okay - just a 3 star. The noodle soup lacked flavor. My friend's dumplings were tasty though. We also ordered a 16oz of freshly squeezed OJ for $3.50, which, by NYC standards, is a good deal.
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Review from Jon C.
8/22/2011
Cafe Himalaya might not be on the top of your Friday "short list" for dinner, but it should be. The food here is absolutely delicious, and the prices - well they are extremely affordable.
I first came across this gem while preparing for a trip to Bhutan. I figured if I was going to fly half way around the world, I better get up to speed on the cuisine. Dumplings - so good. Chicken - amazing. Noodle dish - wonderful.
The portions are also very generous, and a dinner here run about $10-$15 a person. Note, however, the restaurant is very small, so seating is at a premium. It's also cash only and BYOB. -
Review from Yuko A.
Manhattan, NY
11/16/2011
This is my first review. I was drawn to reviewing this bc im not sure why this restaurant has such good reviews!
I can't decide between 2 or 3 stars. But the staff weren't rude and it was a clean place, so I rounded up.
My meal was tasty (chilli shrimp) but it wasn't AMAZING. I would not trek to 1st and 1st to get this meal. Yes I was satisfied but you could get similar elsewhere. We also has beef soup dumplings. Nothing special. I also tried some of my partners #32 chicken curry. NOT GOOD! Super dry. Nice idea, but the potatoes were so dry they were inedible. But I also have noticed that NYers aren't so sure what good curry/indian is, so maybe this is the standard??
And definitely not 'generous' sized meals by new york standards. They are better described as a normal sized meal by rest of the world standards.
The only thing that is worth 4 stars is the mango lassi. -
Review from Anne H.
Updated - 1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
I came back a 2nd time and the food was bland. I still think the pricing is fantastic. The wait staff was also courteous. Maybe I just didn't order the right dish last time.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/27/2011
Affordable! Delicious! I had no problems with the service. The food came within reasonable time.
… Read more »
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Review from Jessica W.
Manhattan, NY
2/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Probably not a place you visit for its ambiance but it's nice if you're seeking a laid-back restaurant with cheap, delicious eats. I went there for the first time with a girlfriend yesterday evening and between us, we ordered the Tibetan tea, the beef momo (mini dumpling) soup, the chili dofu, and the vegetable curry.
The Tibetan tea surprised me the most; it just tasted like hot soup. Perhaps I should have read the menu more closely, after all, it listed salt and butter as ingredients. I'd suggest giving it a try, if only for the novelty of it.
Their beef momo soup made for a decent appetizer. The momos (dumplings) themselves were a lot smaller than I imagined but as tasty as I hoped. I really enjoyed the chili dofu as well, a little on the oily side but the flavor was on point. I was the least impressed with the vegetable curry (mostly glass noodles, very little veggies), wasn't a terrible dish by any means, just a little on the bland side.
Overall, this is a place worth visiting. Given that the food is good, healthy options are plentiful, and the prices are dirt cheap, I can easily imagine myself becoming a regular. Thumbs up. -
Review from Katera M.
Philadelphia, PA
2/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
I read the reviews so i gave it a try. I wasnt sure what to expect but for some reason i was thinking a cross between indian and thai.
We got there around 8 and it quickly got crowded and noisy. The light was so dim I had to use my phone to illuminate the menu.
I had a cup of ginger tea and my husband ordered a yoga smoothie. We had the avacado salad...it was very cold and was essentially avacado and potatoes with a curry style dressing...the cabbage on the side was tasty and was more like a slaw with a sesame vinaigrette.
We ordered steamed tsel mom...the hot pepper condiment was deceptively spicy.
We also had shapta, although the meat was a little tough, it was very tasty. We also had sha khowa, this was a little bland for my taste.
We skipped desert because the consistency of the rice pudding didn't look like it would suit me and I can make my own green tea ice cream.
I would definitely return but would probably stick to the recommendations on their menu board. -
Review from Vivian H.
6/16/2011
Is it time to do some world traveling? I think so. Trouble is, I am still stuck here for another year. Bloody hell.
But luckily, I live in New York City. NYC is a microcosm of the world. You can pretty much find anything you want here in NYC. Even Tibetan/Himalyan. Although at times, things are just A-OK.
And although I was really excited about this place (I have passed by so many times), it was a bit of a letdown. I have been to 2 Tibetan restaurants, and both were just so-so. Perhaps I just don't really dig the cuisine.
We started off with momos, which are Tibetan dumplings. They were fresh and tasty. But they don't really compare to Chinese dumplings. Yea, I am snobby about my dumplings.
For the entree, I got the chilli vegetables. Nice, large chunks of tofu with fresh broccoli, carrots, red bell peppers. A great vegetarian dish with a kick. But nothing special. Nothing memorable.
This place was just run of the mill. And as much as I really wanted to make it a regular outpost, it goes in the pile with all the other dud places.
Sigh. I guess I have to go to Queens to be dazzled.
And, its BYOB. Damn you for not providing alcohol. -
Review from Sue N.
San Francisco, CA
1/7/2012
I ate here a while ago, and all I remember are the beef dumplings. That's okay because all you need to remember are the beef dumplings -- they are juicy and meaty, with a thin skin. The flavors of the dumpling are complex, yet subtle.
The dumpling is nice because most dumplings are made with pork. I think this is one of the few in NYC who make beef dumplings. It's a nice change, -
Review from Jen O.
Chicago, IL
12/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place deserves 5 stars. I really don't know what else you could want in a restaurant. It's cheap, delicious, authentic and BYOB with no corkage fee. We went with a group of 5 people and ordered up a storm and the bill was about $20 each including tip. The avacado salad was delicious and fresh as were the noodles and pork dumplings, but my favorite thing by far was the chicken dish, unfortunately after 3 bottles of wine I can't remember the exact name. You must go here!!! It's small I think it seats about 30 people only so you might have a wait.
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Review from Dan K.
Mt Laurel, NJ
12/28/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I would walk a few miles for the Cafe Himalaya . We searched out food from Nepal( don't ask me why) but the Cafe Himalaya came up. We took a cab from Times Square and enjoyed a great meal. The vegetable dumplings are awesome along with the Chili Chicken. My bride enjoyed the vegetarian noodles with Tofu. All for just 25 bucks. We did not know it is a bring your own. The place does get crowded with the locals after around 7.
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Review from Cindy T.
New York, NY
3/29/2011 21 Check-ins Here
Cafe Himalaya is hands-down my favorite place to eat in all of the five boroughs of New York City. I love this place so much that I have selfishly denied writing a review because I wanted it all to myself. I have to right my wrong to this place, which has never failed to provide delicious food to me.
Everything that I've tried off the menu at Cafe Himalaya has been superior. The food has a down-home quality that I adore. It's like the food that your favorite Tibetan grandma would make...if you had a Tibetan grandma. I sense the recipes were proven long ago and have been handed down from generation to generation.
The restaurant's decor is not fancy, although recently they replaced their tables and chairs so that they all match. In the past, it used to be a mix and match set of furniture, which I always found charming.
Cafe Himalaya has a recommendation chalkboard, and those recommendations are spot-on. Among my favorite items on the menu is #16, Tsel Gyathuk Ngopa, which is sauteed noodles mixed with vegetables and tofu. A side of chili sauce accompanies it. You should bathe the noodles in the chili sauce. I also love #19, Chili Dofu, which is spicy tofu sauteed with onions, ginger, garlic, bell peppers, tomato, scallion, and cilantro. It is served with basmati rice.
I also recommend #13, Shogok Momo Takpa, which are pan-fried dumplings with potatoes and herbs. It comes with a small side of cabbage salad. Yummy! The veggie dumplings are good too, but I prefer the potato dumplings.
Cafe Himalaya also offers a variety of smoothies and fruit drinks. I love the banana-Lassi yogurt shake.
The food at Cafe Himalaya is delicious, inexpensive, and authentic. I've enjoyed every meal.
Credit cards accepted. -
Review from Guillermo K.
Brooklyn, NY
1/14/2012
Great vegeterian noodle soup. Bring your own drinks, they don't serve alcohol.
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Review from Rich A.
Washington, DC
1/6/2012
I was just here for lunch and might be in love. Exactly what I expect from a hole in the wall ethnic restaurant in NYC. We had the avocado salad, chili dofu, and a vegetarian momo. The only mild complaint is when asked for the chili dofu to be very spicy it came out merely medium spicy. Still, I will jump at any opportunity to return and try more dishes. The food comes out quickly and fresh.
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Review from kellie D.
Brooklyn, NY
6/12/2011
Very small cozy place. Upon eating there I almost always mention to my boyfriend " I feel like i"m eating in someone's kitchen (in a good way). You can clearly see the kitchen from the dining area and notice that everything is made to order.
I recommend:
steamed chicken dumplings (a large order, can easily be a meal in itself)
Spicy chili shrimp special
Rice pudding for dessert.
Also, try the bread option with the main entree/ soooo tasty:-) -
Review from Vivian C.
Brooklyn, NY
2/22/2012
After a long, impatient and tiring day at school, I decided to bag some Chipotle and call it a day. Supposedly, my friend was supposed to meet up with me in the school library but he over slept; when he woke up, he called me over and when he called me over, I just so happened to have my chipotle in hand ready to take the train back to brooklyn. So let's just say he got lucky for two things: 1. He caught me before I had no service and 2. On my way to his apartment, I spied Cafe Himalaya. After I became such a huge foodie, I started searching yelp for good eats and woop dee doo, hellllllllo Cafe Himalaya. Based on the good reviews, I was expecting this place to be packed but to my surprise, I was the only customer. I ordered the "momo" chicken pan fried dumplings with the salad and 2 smoothies, the tropical sun and the peach lover. The peach lover was a delight! Better than the tropical sun in my opinion. It took them around 20 minutes thank god talking to the guy who took my order wasted some time or else my impatience would've gotten the better of me. The dumplings definitely had a unique taste to me although they can be evidently similar in taste and looks when compared to typical dumpling shops (besides its shape). I still wonder why the meat is a bit yellow but nonetheless, besides a little twang in its taste, nothing else was that special about them. I definitely wouldn't mind stopping by here again on a beautiful sunny day, maybe then there'll be more customers so I can spy on the popular dishes every one is ordering. :-)
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Review from Hibah H.
Updated - 3/27/2011
Went here again with a couple of friends, and it was even better than I remembered. Deliciously plump and spicy pan fried dumplings, paratha that's as good as my mom's, crisp Indian-influenced salads, and a truly spectacular range of curries (we got the spicy chicken and the beef special).
When combined with the gracious service, cozy atmosphere, and BYO policy, this place is an absolute gem.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/17/2011
One of my fave places to line my stomach before a big night out in the East Viillage. BYOB (no… Read more »
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Review from Akshay K.
New York, NY
4/21/2011
Don't let the simple setup fool you. The food here is GREAT. The menu is exotic. The spices are unique. They take commonly found vegetables and meats and put them together wonderfully. Don't miss it if you're looking for something new, but homey in the East Village.
Initial Reaction: They have cafes in the Himalayas?
Food: I went with one mainstay, Dal and it was light and delicious. Their tofu has a texture I've never tasted before; smooth, but not flaky.
Service: Most likely family-run and they treat you like you're home :)
Value: Two appetizers + One entree + tip = $20. It's worth it.
Left Thinking: I want more! -
Review from Tyler L.
12/27/2010 1 photo
Tibetan is one of those cuisines that I have only tried a couple times in Queens, so it's still an undiscovered cuisine for me.
I decided to give this place a try with a friend of mine who had never had Tibetan food before. It's right near Houston Street and First Avenue. We had the Sha Thukpa, which is supposed to be a popular soup, and also these pan-fried noodles called Gyathuk Takpa. Both were very good, and I recommend those. Most of the dishes are only around $7.
Tibetan food is quite distinct and may not appeal to everyone. Some of it tastes like some Indian and Chinese foods, but not exactly. But if you are in the mood for authentic and affordable Tibetan food, this is the place to go.
