Himalaya Kitchen is technically not a Nepalese restaurant – as some claim it to be – but a North Indian restaurant with a Nepalese chef and merely one classic Nepalese speciality – momo (potsticker) – on the menu.
As for the latter, it’s a catchy moniker, but as Himalaya Kitchen you will soon discover, the momo is Nepal’s take on the Chinese xiao long bao (meat dumpling), minus the soup stock and served with a fragrant curried dip. Taste-wise, it’s a few notches below the piping hot and juicy ones on offer at Crystal Jade.
Elsewhere on the menu, the tandoor-grilled lamb sheikh kebab – a sausage-like mash of minced lamb with spices – was overly salty, while the palak paneer, cubed cottage cheese in a dense jungle of puréed spinach greens, was diluted and lacklustre despite its subtly spiced gravy.
But the butter chicken – roasted chicken with a lovely smoky tang in a rich butter, yoghurt, spice and tomato sauce – was a standout, as were the fluffy coriander and garlic-streaked naans. As for sweets, pass on the desserts and make room for the addictively creamy mango lassi. Eve C
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