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Cafe Himalaya

4.2 (716 reviews)
Closed 12:00 pm - 10:00 PM
Updated 3 months ago

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Business Info

CAFE HIMALAYA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Cafe Himalaya

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Reviews With Photos

#28 Sha Thukpa with Shrimp
Allison W.

Had to return to this place from when I visited my last trip because it's just that good. It's small but well-attended restaurant with patrons coming in and out and having lively conversation or getting food to-go. There was plenty of seating at 1:00 PM but quickly filled up. I got their Sha Thukpa with shrimp, and it was just so comforting without being too heavy. I didn't get them this time but I highly recommend getting the Momos -- they are so delicious and crispy! This place always gives large portions of food with cheap prices and has super friendly staff. I think they prefer if you pay with cash but they will take card. I will always recommend this place to people!

Sandra L.

3.5 stars. Unfortunately I thought the food was on the bland side, but I also did order vegetarian food. The place is very cute and the staff is very nice. Not my most favorite food but glad I checked it out

The chicken momos are worth the hype (really!)
Emily ..

Cafe Himalaya is my hidden gem and the first recommendation I provide people come to the city. Everything I've tried here is fantastic -- fresh, hearty without being too heavy, warming, and satiating. Everyone talks about the momos and they are fantastic and very much worth the hype. Give it a try! And don't be dissuaded by a wait; I usually get a table within 30 minutes.

Dolonchapa C.

Small place but very fast turnover. Give it 15ish mins and you'll likely get a table Service is no fluff and to the point Definitely try the momos with the hot sauce. Felt more like dumplings though. Not a bad thing. We tried the crispy noodles with veggies and chicken - was very flavorful and yummy We tried the lamb curry - it tastes 99% like the home made Sunday stew we make in Calcutta. Amazing subtle flavors - squeeze some lemon juice in, mash the potatoes with a fork and then eat this flavor bomb. AMAZING!! Chili chicken was a little too sweet for na although the idea was there - crispy tangy some veggies Darjeeling tea comes with milk and sugar so you don't really get a lot of Darjeeling tea flavor But that's said on the menu so you can decide accordingly Overall, no frills places for good food. Everything is about 16$ ish. There's a 4% cash discount

Sonia K.

All of the dishes were good overall! I really enjoyed the dumplings and how flavorful it was. The avocado salad was also a good appetizer. The coldness of the potatos kind of took me by surprised. The beef supta was just ok although it was one of the most popular items. It was a bit too sweet and the sauce had a taste similar to a combination of ketchup and siracha. I loved the texture of the noodles but the spices and flavors were not mixed in very well so sometimes it tasted too bland while flavorful in others. The mango lassi was a great addition to the meal and I would highly recommend. For the price, coziness, and the food, Cafe Himalaya is a solid restaurant.

a fan hanging from the ceiling
Johnny N.

In a world where we are now wearing ski goggles that operate as a computer-iphone hybrid to stack on to our reality, it's always refreshing to go to a restaurant where the host is frantically writing down names with a bic pen into a small notepad. The current tech boom kind of lost me at the apple watch, as I found it way too overwhelming to get texts to my wrist ahahaha. I pulled up to Cafe Himalaya fresh out of the steam room hungrier than a 2008 Kobe Bryant, willing to do anything to prove he doesn't need Shaq to win a ring. On a Friday night at primetime, I was told by a short Tibetan looking host/waiter/food runner/busboy hybrid it was a 15-20 minute wait. He was doing it ALL in there shoutout to my boy. I couldn't help but smile when we sat down, as time seemingly hasn't changed this place. I've never been to the Tibetan region of the world, but I can only imagine this is what it would feel like. The dining area of Cafe Himalaya is one 700 sf room (ballpark) that consists of about 20 war torn two tops, a handwritten chalkboard of popular menu items, old pictures of the region littering the walls, and a smell that just feels like you have teleported out of nyc and straight to the Himalayas... not that I've been to the Himalayas but.... a man could dream can't he? We put in Ruthang Momo soup, Chasha Momo, Sha Momo, Chicken Curry, and the Shapta. Everyone kept saying momo this momo that, but momo is just a Tibetan dumpling so don't be intimidated. People just love to sound sophisticated and cultured like that smh... BUT THE MOMO WAS ABSOLUTE HEAT OH MY GOODNESS. I'm still dreaming about the momo soup, which at $5.99 is a mf STEAL! Inflation buster territory. It was 4 traditional Tibetan beef momo in a light broth with some veggies that packed a flavor that warmed my soul. I can't stop thinking about it. Wherever I go I've been seeing that bowl of Ruthang momo soup..... The other 16 Momo (8 beef, 8 chicken) we ordered and demolished were also delicious, but the beef was dubbing the chicken. I feel like everyone likes beef better than chicken though haha. But what do I know? Don't let me tell you how to live your life. My Shapta, which was traditional Tibetan spicy beef w/ veggies and a side of rice, hit the spot as well. Just quality food packed with flavor but not in an overwhelming way... and was a beast portion size for $15.99, albeit not inflation buster territory. The interior here was one of the coziest environments I've been in in the city. Although it was packed, I felt like I could take a breath. Places with character like this calm me down a bit and take me out of the hustle bustle of nyc that can chew you up and spit you out if you're not careful. Alright, I'm doing the most now but I really do love this place. One of my favorite things about nyc is that you can live here for years and never go to a place like this. They are just sitting there, waiting to be found. Hell, I never even thought about Tibetan cuisine until this place haha. But I learned, and I will now proceed to tell everyone with two ears about Momo until they ask "Wait, what's Momo?" just so I can feel superior and say "WAIT.......YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT MOMO!?!?!" Thank you, Cafe Himalaya. Thank you, Momo. IG @jnov_ Tiktok @jnov__

#39 Chili Chicken
Whitney L.

Love going to Cafe Himalaya for a no frills, casual, and affordable meal! With nothing over $16 on the menu, you can be sure that you'll end up with a full belly and a happy wallet. Last time we went to Cafe Himalaya, we ordered their pan fried Sha Momo (traditional Tibetan beef dumplings), Sha Thukpa (noodle soup with vegetables and shrimp), and their Chili Chicken. My favorite was 100% the Sha Momo. It was pan fried to a crisp and the filling was seasoned perfectly. The dish came with a chili sauce and some pickled cabbage, which balanced out the dish well. Their noodle soup tasted very homey and I can see it being a great dish if you're ever in the mood for a warm bowl of noodle soup that reminds you of something your mom would make for you. The Chili Chicken was just ok. It's sweet and sour, a flavor combination that I'm a fan of, but the breading was a little too thick for me. Overall, it's a great place for a cheap and yummy meal. Would highly recommend coming for the momos!

#2 Thang Soup Hot Chai Spice
Sarah C.

This is my favorite place in NYC these days. As a vegetarian, the flavors and textures are incredible. I always order the same thing: spicy tofu sautéed with onions, ginger, garlic, bell peppers, tomato, scallion, and cilantro--so good. I pair it with momos, a soup, and tea. And since I get so much I always have left over. Any time I'm in the neighborhood, this is the spot I want to go. Though prepared to wait a little since it is small and many people love it!

White rice
Trevor B.

I had a great time at Cafe Himalaya. A couple of friends and I met up to hang out because we haven't in a while. The food is great, flavorful, and tasty. Definitely will come back and try some other entrees. Even the wine was good and overall not very expensive, which is always a good thing. The place is small, and outside seating consists of a table of four. However, they can fit another table outside if needed. So enjoy, and you can actually have and hear your conversation .

#26 Sha Momo 8 Pieces and #26 Sha Momo 8 Pieces
Jenny C.

Absolutely amazing. I came here two times and never regretted it. All their food is so good and homey and definitely so authentic. The price here is actually a lot compared to the ones I tried in Queens but they probably have a high rent to pay compared to over there, hence why it's easier to get here when I live a train stop away versus riding 1 hour on the subway. My top dishes are the chili dofu and the gyathuk takpa! The chili dofu is so addicting and has a really amazing flavor that makes you want more and more. The gyathuk takpa is interesting because the noodles are crispy and it tastes really good with the veggies on top! The other ones I got was the tsel khowa and the other lamb curry and those are not as memorable. I also always get the momo which is a staple. I would say that the price is kind of a lot for these dishes and it's over 50 dollars whenever I eat here since appetizer and mains both cost a bit over 10 dollars- we end up getting more than what we expect since the portions are reasonable but not huge to really share with two. There was also cockroaches here the last time I came so that's something to note as well but this area is usually filled with them and it's not too alarming for me but I would bump 1 star down from the 5 for that - overall cleanliness, high pricing and service is slow.

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5 months ago

A noticeable decline in quality. Meats are thinly sliced to disguise small portions. Seasoning is withheld.

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2 years ago

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6 months ago

Love it! One of the best restaurants in the city for vegetarians. Veggie momos are my favorite here.

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5 months ago

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1 year ago

No frills but the food is fire. They have a butternut curry that is to die for. I can't stop thinking about it. Spicy

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

Amazing food, and prepare quickly. The chili dofu dish is my favorite. Lots of flavor

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Ask the Community - Cafe Himalaya

Is it handicapped accessisible?

Depending on the handicap, unfortunately, probably not. The restroom is down a flight of stairs and there is a step up to get in. The inside is also a little cramped.

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In short, amazing…read more Service was great, friendly, and very cognizant of allergies. - Ghee Whiz - smoked cocktail, really good, flavorful, smooth, unique - Paneer - on the one hand, $20+ for two pieces of paneer seems crazy but on the other hand that paneer was so melt-in-your-mouth texture maybe it's worth getting again, but probably not - Beef pepper fry - amazing, my favorite dish we got. Definitely a bit on the spicier side but incredible flavor, beef all cooked well, great presentation on the skillet, so worth it. - Makai Lamb - the lamb itself was incredible; imagine a giant lamb bone with meat falling off into a thin soup-like sauce. The sauce was delicate in flavor, allowing the lamb to really shine and it was delicious. So filling too, a ton of food. Only weird thing, the two chunks of corn cobs felt out of place. Will definitely return, delicious and best done with more people to try more dishes.

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Came here before seeing a show at the Beacon Theatre. Made a reservation beforehand and thankfully…read moreI did as the place got pretty packed. My husband ordered this amazing eggplant dish which tasted really nice and Smokey. Also ordered the butter chicken which was also very tasty. Highly recommend the smoky eggplant dish. Can't stop thinking about it now. Also I let them know it was my wedding anniversary - they gave us complimentary wine and dessert.

I would say this is in the top 3 of indian restaurants in NYC that actually taste authentic and…read morevery flavorful! We had a reservation and were immediately seated and our server was really fun and helpful the whole time we were there. We started with one paan cocktail and the mango chutney mocktail - both of which were delicious but I would definitely reccommend the paan drink over the others! For food, we got the aslam butter chicken tikka and I need to say "WOW!!" - everything about this dish was delicious & will be getting this dish again when I come back. For the main, we were really looking forward to having the rose petals and paneer kofta which was spoken so highly about but unfortunately was taken off the menu. Instead we got the lasooni palak paneer which was so yummy and the flavors were just right. Additionally, we got the daal which was great, but not at all spicy so I do wish it had a bit more of a "kick" to it but that's my personal preference. Everything was delicious and will definitely be back, hopefully they bring back the rose petals and paneer kofta dish!! There's a good amount of seating inside and the decorations are great, but I would definitely reccomend a reservation as they get very busy quickly (especially on the weekend)

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Cafe Himalaya - himalayan - Updated May 2026

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