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We came upon this place while we were in the area and decided to be a bit adventurous. Although the restaurant seemed a bit empty when we walked in and the server was originally nowhere to be found, he appeared after a bit. The interior of the restaurant was very unique and different than any other restaurant we've been to. The server gave us a few minutes to look over the menu and came back and recommended many different dishes to us. He also asked us what our spice tolerance was and used that to give more specialized recommendations. We ordered a chicken curry dish that he said was the chef's specialty, a chicken dish that came on a hot plate, and garlic naan. The flavors were very great and we were happy with the portion size. We thought they could have given a bit more sauce with the curry since the dish they used to serve it seemed a little small but the amount of chicken in there was great. The dishes also came with rice which was nice. We'll definitely be back in the future to try out more of their menu. At the end of our meal, the chef even came out and asked us if we liked the food. The garlic naan was also very yummy. We enjoyed our time there!
I absolutely love Indian food and am always in search of good Indian food. I have also passed this place a thousand times and never stopped until a coworker recommended it. Boy, is it a hidden gem! The food is amazing!!! I wish they still had their buffet but sadly it went away at the end of February 2024. This is definitely a place to try!
I was craving Indian food this past week and so I decided to give this place a try since it had relatively high Yelp ratings. Some of the other Indian restaurants I was looking at close early on a weekday evening but Himalayan stayed open until 9pm. My partner and I arrived at 7pm. We were seated promptly. There were about 3-4 other tables being served besides us. About 15 minutes later, we placed our orders; we ordered the butter chicken (3 star), chicken vindaloo (4 star), and garlic & basil naan. Not kidding, 1 hour later, we were still sitting there hungry, waiting for our food to come. The other tables had been served, but no waiter came by to inform us of the status of our food or anything. In fact, we hadn't seen a waiter for the past 20 minutes. We thought they forgot our order and were about to walk out when a waiter finally popped out and gave us our food. He apologized for the delay, but at the rate they served us, our meal or at least the naan should have been on the house. The food was decent, but the curries were about $20 each and the naan $5-6, and so it was not a cheap dinner for the amount of food you get. Then again, Indian food tends to be around the price range. I personally preferred the vindaloo over the butter chicken, but both were decent. The naan wasn't anything special and could've been bigger. By the time the food came around though , I couldn't eat much because my stomach was hurting from my prior hunger state. In terms of atmosphere, the restaurant was very dark. The music was also overly loud as I had to speak extra loudly across the table for my partner to hear me. The music also wasn't very tasteful and kind of annoying; it had storybook or kid TV show instrumental vibes. In addition, one of the TVs was broken and so I was just staring at a picture of corn in a skillet for the entire visit. As we were finishing our meal, the waiter came by to give us our check on a portable device. I honestly wouldn't have tipped them because of the poor service we received, but the waiter was staring at my partner and the screen as my partner got to the tip screen. My partner thus felt pressured to tip which I never think should be the case at any establishment; tip should be made willingly and reflective of the type and amount of service received. In sum, while the food was okay, a one hour wait without any service is unacceptable and needs to be improved. I would understand if they were extremely busy, but 3/4 of the restaurant was empty. Maybe they were short-handed, but sticking a piece of naan in the oven shouldn't take an hour. One other thing to note is that they add a 4% CARD SERVICE CHARGE if you don't pay with cash. Overall: 3/5 for food, 1/5 for service, 2/5 for atmosphere
For years, I drove past Himalayan Cafe as I got on or off 167 and thought "I should stop there sometime." But I was always on my way somewhere and the timing was never right. Last year, our dog was very sick at the nearby Blue Pearl vet hospital, and we had to wait around for a few hours. We were hungry and decided to check out Himalayan Cafe. We walked over there, only to find they closed from 3-4pm. (The hours on Yelp say 11 am to 9:30 pm, but they close for an hour at 3 pm.) The employee saw us looking at the hours on the door, and came out and offered to take our order. That was really nice, and we asked if we could sit at the outdoor table to eat. I felt like the server really went above-and-beyond, coming out and serving us, even refilling our water, while we sat outside. Since then, we've been back for takeout a few times, and all of our meals have been fabulous. Some of my favorite menu items are the chicken pokora appetizer and chicken coconut. They also have many vegetarian options for your Meatless Monday enjoyment, and when I order ahead, the bag is carefully packed and there waiting when we arrive. Highly recommend!
This is one of our favorite Indian restaurants. We went yesterday on a Friday evening for dinner. It was not busy at all and we were seated right away. Vaccination cards are currently required for dine-in and staff wear masks which we really appreciate. We ordered the vegetable samosas, vegetable pakora, butter chicken, fish tikki masala, and garlic naan. Rice also comes with the main dishes. Everything was delicious, portions are generous and we had plenty of leftovers to take home to eat for another meal! Staff is also very kind, attentive and friendly! The vibe of the restaurant is quiet and relaxed. Highly recommend this restaurant!
Ok, I showed up with the girlfriend. We ordered and now have waited 25 minutes, still no food. The food showed up; my GF had the lemon rice, and I had the lamb Bintyri. Not bad overall food was good with fair portions. We were the only customers in the building. It took 35 minutes to get our food. They also played the same song the entire time we were in the restaurant. I would recommend this establishment. The visit was bizarre.
Unfortunately the food is below average or average at best. I was especially disappointed based on other positive reviews. Dahi bhalla was hard and not at all fresh. Gobi Manchurian tasted decent but not authentic how its supposed to taste like. Thupka soup and fried rice are just ok not really good enough. Service was fine. Ambience and prices are reasonable.
I was initially a little uncertain about this place after a recent 1 star review about service, but I'm glad they seem to have read and taken feedback seriously. We were all Asian customers and the waiter was super friendly and quick to respond. Ambience wise looks quite upscale / romantic, even though the food is quite well priced. We ordered vegetable samosas, chicken tikka masala, garlic and basil naan, and saag curry. The dishes were quite heavy and filling, which is excellent after a casual hike at Twin Falls earlier. Just like the typical samosas, they were packed with calories and one is already sufficient for a light half meal. The chicken tikka masala is quite rich, and the chicken biryani is jam packed with spices. The yogurt didn't give much additional flavor because the biryani itself is very flavorful. A friend ordered the saag and he liked it a lot, but I wasn't much of a fan of that. The garlic and basil Naan smells a little bit weird, but once you dig in and get a bite, it is super flavorful and aromatic. Food arrived very quickly, which might be because they prepared food in batches as if they had the lunch buffet (they discontinued that), but the food quality is up there. Value-wise is still good, without overstuffing ourselves, and we ended up having leftovers which were still fresh the next day. I haven't tried much Indian places within the city of Seattle, and this place is a bit far (normally no car), but this is one of the better Indian food out here so far
We went on Sunday afternoon. It was very quiet, only about 3-4 other parties. It's a little dark, but they do have a spotlight lamp above each table. There was only one waitress. Too a while for them to take our order, but the food came out very fast. Food was tasty. My husband and I shared an appetizer and entree. Entrees run between 15-30 dollars. Lots of stuff on the menu. Heads up- at this time they are not currently doing a lunch buffet. They are also closed from 3pm - 4:30pm and completely closed on Tuesdays
Came here today after work because my daughter was craving for Indian food. As always, Himalayan Cafe have provided quality food and excellent service. The food is consistently delicious! Our favorite go to Indian restaurant in the area. Must try: Curried Mussel with garlic naan, Lamb Biryani, Butter Chicken, Palak Lamb, Mint Goat, Chicken Rohan Josh, yummy!
We came in as a party of two on Saturday a little before noon. The first thing we noticed is how good the restaurant smelled-it was incensy and soothing (we aren't sure if it was incense but whatever it was, it was amazing). We ordered these dishes to split: (3 star spice on both Aloo Tikki and Chana Masala). Aloo Tikki - these potatoes were indulgent. We couldn't get enough of the sauce, which was a yogurt and tamarind chutney. We could have put this sauce on everything. We think it may have had jaggery which gave this a pleasant sweetness. The spice was perfectly balanced in these. Chana Masala - this flavorful masala came with a side of jasmine rice. This was fantastic-I would highly recommend this to anyone. I am not a vegetarian myself, but this on par with their excellent chicken tikki masala. Punjabi Salad-fresh tomato, onion, cucumber. Simple and refreshing-this balanced our meal. The service, ambiance and food were absolutely outstanding. This was my first experience dining in Himalayan cafe, and it won't be my last. I love how many options were on the menu for meat eaters, vegetarians, and vegans. There were options for everyone of every dietary preference, so I would recommend them to absolutely everyone.
As soon as I got seated (which was super quick), I was served papad & chutney. The chutneys were really good. Got the vegetarian momos. The quality and quantity were good. The chutney it came with wasn't spicy but tangy. Asked for some hot sauce to add on, and that combination made it tasty!! The momo filing had veggies as expected, but no paneer, and the wrapped layer wasn't too thick (which I've found a lot other momos places around have). Would have given one star less due to the time it took for my order to arrive. I hadn't anticipated a 20 mins wait for 1 dish, but momos are required to be steamed for 15 mins. I'm not sure what they could have done to make it quick, hence the 5 stars. I've just had one dish here because I wanted to try only that. However, they seemed to have a lot more options for vegetarian/vegan. The cleanliness wasn't up to a standard (the water pitcher had stains on & I spotted a thread or dust on my plate & glass).
Yes this is the one for me! I go through seasons of being obsessed with certain type of food, and currently Indian food "hits the spot". Loved this place! 1. Lovely ambiance. Plenty of privacy for a date or a great set up for a group. 2. Excellent service. I even think the manager checked in on us. 3. Oh the food!!!!!! Fluffy naan that was just as fresh and delicious next day when heated up. Chicken tikka masala to die for. Creamy, with spices dancing on your tongue... That's it. My new favorite Indian place in the neighborhood. read more
8 years ago
My friend and I visited Himalayan Cafe for lunch where they offer a buffet. We were one of the first parties to arrive at a little after 11:30 on a weekday; yet shortly after, the place got busy. Himalayan Cafe is where it's at for lunch! The buffet, especially compared to others, is small. Although options seem limited, the food had a lot of flavor! I can see why Himalayan Cafe was so popular for lunch. I took a little bit of most items, and really liked the goat curry and korma. They were both fantastic curries and had a lot of different spices. Also, naan was freshly made for each table, so eating it right outta the oven was killer! I like my naan on the softer/doughier side, which was the case here. Buffet has a decent mix of meat and vegetarian items, as well as some dessert items and a salad and chutney bar. While I am hardly ever in Renton (and only visited since I had a meeting nearby), I would recommend for those fortunate enough to be in this part of town to check out Himalayan Cafe for a solid lunch at less than 13 bucks. Friendly service with yummy curries to be had here! read more
2 years ago
Picked up takeout from Himalayan Cafe the other night for dinner. I ordered Chicken Momos, Garlic and Basil Naan, Chicken Tikka Masala & Butter Chicken - amounts to a little over $62. My favorite were the Garlic and Basil Naan and Chicken Momos. I only wished the Naan was more garlicky. I love garlic The dipping sauce that came with the Momos was tangy and went so well! Momos are like dumplings but with a slightly thicker dough - the chicken filling was super flavorful. Lots of chicken! They did not skimp on the fillings. On the other hand, The Chicken Tikka Masala & Butter Chicken was good but not what I expected. A little bit disappointing. The flavor profile is a different spectrum than your typical Indian styled curries. Just looking at the picture, you can tell even the colors are different. Both curries were very sweet - wished I was able to adjust the spice level but I ordered via Yelp and there were no options to adjust the spice level sadly. Overall, it was nice trying out a new restaurant. But I don't think I like the flavor profile enough to want to order from here again. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
3 years ago
Good food at good price 9 for two dishes Chicken and paneer are both good Mushroom mutur also juicy and sour read more
Had a super filling lunch here on Saturday afternoon! Their lunch buffet is open and I was so excited; especially as buffets have been closed for so long. They do take precautions (gloves each time and a new plate) and had a really nice selection of food! I was super happy that as part of the buffet they had naan and pakora along with the standards (tandoori chicken, butter chicken, chili fish, paneer) and they also had a mango mousse that was really good! I was only able to get 2 plates of food and was stuffed! Our waiter was very nice and I liked that we had a pitcher of water waiting for us (though the refill took a bit of time). Overall, I had some high standards coming from the Bay Area but for $14 for an Indian lunch buffet? Hard to beat that; I'll be coming back! read more
We like many others have passed by for months and have seen the sign but never have attempted to try until recently and we were pleasantly surprised. It was around 5pm on a weekday evening. Upon entering we were one of 3 parties dining in but were greeted immediately and sat at a booth. The lighting inside is dim and it is a bit ran down but aren't all of the good places? The music wasn't on a continuous loop as others have previously mentioned so we missed out, We were given ample time to order and ended up selecting the chicken 65, garlic naan, green chile naan, rice, and Janeko Daal, and two chai. For the chicken - spice level as one because we are weak and didn't know if we were going to regret a higher level or not. I think we opted for a spice level of 3 on the daal. The chai came out immediately and was warm and creamy. You can add your own sugar and for my husband it was reminiscent of when he had taken a trip to India. The chicken 65 came out shortly after and we were starving. Don't let the color alarm you - it looks like spice city but because we opted for a 1 it was not spicy at all - juicy and flavorful. Now we did experience. Long wait time in-between the chicken and receiving our entree which I think was due to all of the takeout orders they were receiving. I saw at least 4-5 people come grab takeout while we were waiting for our main course and by this time much of the restaurant was filling up as well. Our server was the nicest man and apologized for the wait but it was well worth it. The naan was thin and slightly crispy but topped with deliciousness. The perfect accompaniment to our meal and I'm glad we opted for two. Paired with the daal and it was exactly the level of comfort we were looking for that evening. We left full and satisfied with our selection. It was plenty of food for the two of us to share. Would highly recommend if you have time to dine in or I could see myself opting for takeout in the near future. read more
5 years ago
We ordered takeout from here. Got 2 curries, naan, and the Momos. The 2 curries we got (Macha Ko Tarkari and Kukhara Ko Masu) were both great. Good flavor and both the fish and chicken were tender. However I couldn't really tell the difference between the two flavor wise. The naan had lots of garlic on it which was great and there was a generous serving of rice. (wish there was an option to do either rice OR naan) What prevents this review from a 4/5 was the Momos which were greatly disappointing. For $11 it seems like we got premade frozen ones and the sauce that was thrown in was also like that of a frozen meal. The shape of the dumplings were also too perfect and further cements my suspicions. We were really hoping for the ones that we saw in the pictures. I'm not sure what happened on this day but this was a huge let down and honestly little upset we were charged $11 for it. The pictures will explain read more
4 years ago
Updating my review. I thought this place would be my go to, but sadly I just got switched up on. My bf and I came back for dine in. The service was completely different. No one checked up on us, even when it was time to pay. The pricing also changed. They raised prices about $2 dollars. Super understandable since we are in a pandemic, but the quality of the meal did bit match. We had about 4 small chucks of chicken in our mango curry, less than last time. I'm really bummed that the consistency was not on point. read more
The food here is still delicious and some of the highest quality in the area. However, please be aware that they have a recent change to their policy of charging 4% additional if you pay by credit card. There is no mention of this additional 4% charge on the online menu or bill, but they do have a sign at the front counter. I am a little disappointed as credit card companies typically charge between 2-3% while this restaurant adds on 4%. They should adjust their prices accordingly on the menu instead of this layer of abstraction which is misleading. $17+ per meat curry is already pretty expensive for a 16oz plastic container. read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
This place definitely deserves an updated review. Since my first visit here, Himalayan Cafe has been my partner and I's go to spot for Indian/Himalayan cuisine. We seriously can't get enough of it. Since I moved to the Bay Area, I dream of coming back to Himalayan Cafe and we make sure that we go here every time I'm back home. We always order the same sorts of things every time we come now. Typically we start with the samosas. The first time I came here I complained that they were a little lukewarm inside, but since then they've been piping hot and fresh inside. So delicious and definitely a must! They're still perfectly crisp on the outside and filled with a well-spiced filling. We've also tried every kind of pakora they have to offer here and all of them have been so great. I like how all the appetizers here come with a little side salad. It's the perfect flavor to help cut back some of the exquisite spices and richness. We never stopped ordering briyani, both vegetable and chicken (which we change up depending on our mood). The briyani is definitely enough to fill two people because they give A LOT. And it comes with this massive bowl of raita (the sauce) so you won't be needing to ask for more sauce. So delicious. If you get this with chicken, the chicken comes tender and moist. Here and there we will get chicken tikka masala. It's pretty rich, but so freaking good. Whenever we get it, it never fails to please. It truly is a dreamy, rich goodness of a curry. You can get this with naan or rice, your choice! I've tried the mango lassi drink here which is thick and yogurty. I liked it, especially because it helped with the heat of some of the dishes (we like things spicy!). Service is always phenomenal here. I don't know if they recognize us after the several times we've been here or not, but they're always so welcoming and thoughtful. They are very friendly, well-mannered, and make sure that your experience here is great. They also box the leftovers for you as well. I'll never stop coming back here. read more
7 years ago
Perhaps the positive reviews are for buffet , but we opted to order from the menu . We ordered from their Napalese specialty section . Chicken chowmein and chicken momos . On a buffet afternoon , waited for about 35 min before noodles came out . Now what baffles me is that noodles had cumin and mad spices . It tastes more curry based noodles than authentic chowmein . Chef may have doubled up on salt but it was waaay too salty and oily . Cabbage was cut too thick to a point where it still had raw taste . Chicken was super undercook because it was cut into thick cubes ! Photo shows we left the chicken as is . Then came momos . Chutney was the only thing that brought taste to the tasteless momos . I felt noodles had too much spice and masala and momos stuffing lacked flavor. But chutney will bring the flavor to them , so I wouldn't say much about the momoms. Overall this is a 2/5 place . Our server was WONDERFUL and very polite . I just don't think I'll be ordering napalese dishes from this Napalese place read more
3 years ago
5 years ago
Tucked in a weird little corporate plaza near IKEA, this place is a hidden gem. super friendly service, gorgeous dishes, and some of the most flavorful Indian food I've ever had. The momos were fresh and tender, the sauce bright and tangy, and the palak was one of the best I've ever had. Try the Keema - a Nepalese dish - for a pleasant surprise! We'll be coming back regularly. read more
3 years ago
7 years ago
5 years ago
It is a great Nepalese/Indian restaurant serving high quality food at a reasonable price. We have tried a wide range of things there and everything is good. Some dishes take longer to prepare, so it is good to ask your server if you are in a rush. They also have increase their alcohol selection over the years. The really deal is the lunch buffet of course. It usually includes quite a few veg options, plus fish, chicken, goat, paneer cheese, to get everyone covered. It comes with some fresh made naan served to your table as well. And the desserts often includes the incredibly delicious mango pudding! When we moved to the Seattle area a few years ago, we were diligently looking for some good Nepalese/Indian restaurants. (There were like a dozen really good ones in metro Atlanta.) Himalayan Cafe came out as the top, way better than any peer in Seattle, and most on the eastside. It is our go to restaurant whenever we are in Renton. Once in a while, the dishes appear to be inconsistent to what we used to have, and we suspect their regular chef went on vacation or something. However, it was never bad. read more
7 years ago
The service here was great as well as the portions of food. We ordered two curries and momo (dumplings). The lamb here is very tough and may have been overcooked. The butter chicken was our favorite because it was so rich in flavor. The dumplings tasted like Chinese dumplings with a kick of curry. The Naan bread tasted just like the standard bread. Overall, this place was just great to grab a quick bite. read more
Where have I been? This meal was Devine!!! The garlic Naan was so soft, buttery and tasted amazing. I ordered chicken vindolo this is a tomato base and not cream in it was fabulous. I have plenty left for lunch and to share. They have excellent customer service. The restaurant and service is excellent. The joke is no boxes you have to finish here but wow no way!!! I love the personalities of servers I feel all around happy with this experience. The greatest gift is to have a smile and a kind spirit while eating and Himalayan Cafe' creates this for guests. Okay I asked for a sample of the rice pudding (they happily gave it to me) and now I am eating this delicious desert. It has the best flavor and texture. read more
6 years ago
3 years ago
8 years ago
(TL;DR) If you are hanging out by Westfield Mall and you crave for some Indian buffet, the short drive to come here instead of going to the closer by Indian restaurant is worth every penny (as well as your food safety). (Full story) So we were at Westfield Mall during the day and decided to end with some delicious Indian buffet. We looked up on Yelp and found this one Indian restaurant with "paradise" in its name that's close by with very decent review. Got there, saw that the restaurants food safety rating is Okay. (It means the restaurant has had MANY red critical violation.) We then read some more recent reviews and did a 180 right in front of its door. Did another Yelp search and discovered this gem. Right off the bat, their Yelp rating was good, buffet is slightly cheaper, most importantly, it has an Excellent food safety rating. As soon as we walk in, we were impressed with the ambiance As well as the friendly staff. Then we were REALLY impressed with the food. Fresh and just delicious. I'm mostly impressed about their tandoori chicken. Having had lived in NYC and dined at numerous Indian buffers in Jackson Heights, I gotta say their Tandoori chicken was the most tender I've ever tasted. I'm not sure how but they managed to keep the chicken soft, juicy and tender even after it's been in the buffet bar. Most buffets I've been to, you can bet the Tandoori chicken to be dry. But they proved me wrong. 10/12 will be returning when we crave Indian buffet. read more
11 years ago
Well, I've never had Indian buffet before, but have dined in at many Indian restaurants. Today was the very first time I've tried it and I want more! They have about ten different dishes, small salad bar and a small dessert bar. However, enough to fill me up. I love love love the egg curry, goat curry was yummy, fried fish curry was also great, tandoori chicken was so tender, it made my heart sing! Prior to dining at the restaurant, I called ahead to see if they charge my 2-year old, they said no if the kid is eating off of my plate. I do this because my baby doesn't eat a lot and I really dislike buffet restaurant that charges kids! Cuz really, my baby only had a bite of my veggie pakora and a piece of naan. Upon entering, I was greeted by three female hostesses, a male owner, very easy going, comforting environment. Fresh naan was brought out to my table. I made two rounds then my tummy tells me to stop eating. Got mango pudding was yummy and so was the rice pudding. I'm not feeling the sweet rice ball, too sweet to my liking. But overall this restaurant nailed it! Great jobs guys, I will be returning! read more
If it's your first time coming here, I'd recommend going with a semi-large group so you can try a number of dishes. With six adults and three kiddos in our party, we ordered six dishes, a side of momos (like potstickers - just so-so in my opinion), and four orders of naan (the server recommended one order for two people). The dishes look small, but when you start scooping them out, they magically stay full. We even ended the meal with more leftovers than we expected. Of the ones we ordered, my favorites were the Murgh Bahar (chicken with mushroom, spinach and paneer), and the butter chicken. Being spice wimps, everything came mild, but even with a spice rating of 2, the Murgh Bahar didn't even have the slightest hint of heat. So if you like heat, increase your rating! Loved all the flavors and textures. This place is amazing, and I can't wait to bring more people to try it! read more
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More info about Himalayan Cafe
202 SW 43rd St
Ste 202
Renton, WA 98057
Directions
(425) 251-6111
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http://himalayancaferenton.com
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Ask the Community - Himalayan Cafe
Is the naan vegan??? What vegan dishes do they have?
Pull up their menu & look for vegan choices.
What dishes are offered at the buffet?
Is this place halal? If so, where does it say or how do you know?
Owner said everything is certified Halal when I called. He even confirmed the Chicken Momos as well. Hope that helps!
Do you offer gluten free naan?
I am sorry but No. Naan is made of all purpose flour. We serve complimentary basmati rice with all your orders.
Is this a buffet? Thanks a lot!!! I Will go this saturday or sunday to trie The buffeet!!! So 11-3…
Lunch buffet and a dinner menu.
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