Masala Kitchen opens in Tommy's Asian Bistro & Grill's space. menu is mostly Indian with a few Himalayan dishes. both inside and outside dining available. eats: Lamb curry combo (16.00) lunch -yummy organic mixed greens, hot butter naan, hot yellow lentil, hot lamb curry with a spicy kick, white basmatic rice. -food was said to be made to order. only saw 2 people in kitchen, food was very "hot" literally. not sure food was made to order. food came out in 5-10 minutes. most items very "hot"-seem to be reheated food at high temps.. -lamb was semi-tender otherwise no other taste beyond a spicy kick. -food tasted fresh. read more

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First time here. Have passed it by and finally came in. Clean and tidy. Open ambiance, friendly and welcoming. Basically Indian food, but with a Himalayan twist. Tikka Masalas can be made with coconut milk, but is an option because some people are dairy intolerant. I had the lamb tikka masala with the coconut milk and it was way too sweet for me. The waiter did mention that it is "better" when done their regular way. I will say that the chunks of lamb were very manageable and easily cut with my spoon. And it was very tender. Wife had a chicken curry, done the Himalayan way, with pumpkin. Not good for either of us. Mango Lassi was very fine. Service excellent. Personal taste, but we saw no reason for a repeat visit. read more

This is a medium casual restaurant in a plaza with lots of parking. It is now my new favorite Indian restaurant. Barely do I find a place that makes the korma with the right amount of creaminess and sweetness. The lamb korma was perfect. Looking forward to trying their other dishes. read more

I have had several 5 star experiences at this restaurant but my last lunch experience was quite disappointing. I got Chilli Paneer Rice plate and there was a ton of onions and very little Paneer in it and most disappointing was the rice which felt like it was more than a day old and barely warmed out of the refrigerator. I was happy with the other lunch options I have had here so this was a surprise. Anyway generally this restaurant is excellent so I feel bad writing this as it was not terrible but it was definitely disappointing read more

I had the chicken biryani and it was the best I've ever had! Absolutely delicious! I can't wait to go back. It smells amazing when you walk through the door. read more

The food was delicious. The staff was courteous and friendly. The food came fast. A very large menu.

I have only 2 pluses for this place. The amount of food with the lunch special and the accompanying soup. We felt the rest of the food was bland with the samosas being particularly unenjoyable to eat. We had 2 completely different dishes and the sauces were basically the same tomatoey sauce with no hint of Tikka Masala in mine. Oh and a note for your to-go orders : Don't put the papadum in the container with the rest of the food - the condensation just makes it a wet, limp inedible waste. read more

A place tucked in the corner of the Montecito Plaza here in Central San Rafael. More spacious inside than I would have guessed from the outside look. I'm glad I can come here whenever I have a craving for Indian/Nepalese/Himalayan food! I had their daal soup (similar to lentil soup but with added ginger and more herbs) and kukhura pharsi (described on the menu as chicken and butter squash cooked in homemade curry sauce). I'll admit I was a little skeptical by the rather small size but I was feeling really full by the time I was done, and I started out hungry haha. I had their garlic cilantro naan, which was pretty good and you can really taste the garlic and cilantro in it. The staff I saw was attentive and personable. I'll be back! read more

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OMG, this is lick the plate good. On multiple occasions, I have not been disappointed. Right now, I am eating carrots for dessert. Seriously, carrots, cooked in milk, cinnamon and honey. When I am sick, this is what I will request first. Who knew, carrots, could be so memorable. Children, will start to eat vegetables again. But, let's get down to the bass tacks. I had Lamb Shank . So, succulent, the fat melts in your mouth. I had it with brown rice and a complementary, cup of yellow lentil soup. My friend had the Nepalese style chowmein, It's flavor is addictive. Always, too much food for one sitting, and the staff! Wow, they are kind, helpful and well educated. Both Bonita and Wangchhe, are the best. They make our dining experience, rewarding. The music, flowers and decor, transports you , far out of Marin. It is so sad, to go home. This is lick the plate good read more

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We've eaten at Himalayan Kitchen twice and have had two events catered by them. The food is delicious, fresh, and we love Nepali food as it's lighter and has more of a 'homemade' flavor than heavier Indian food. The atmosphere at the restaurant is warm and the service top notch. The owner Wangchhe is so personable and kind. We can't wait to be back! read more

I just wanted to add a follow up review for Masala Kitchen. We only started dining here this year but we went from loving the place initially to being obsessed with it. I don't think I've ever frequented a restaurant as much as I have Masala Kitchen. Their food is excellent! Their food is consistently outstanding whether we order takeout or dine in the restaurant. I absolutely love that they offer so many vegan options and all of it so perfectly seasoned and full of complexity. Obsessed! We've had the pleasure of bring several friend (non-vegan) into their restaurant that have now themselves become regulars. It's that great. Beyond flavor, their prices are reasonable and everyone working here is so nice and welcoming. We've finally got local status (which I love) as they know what we're going to order. I could go on and on but the bottom line is, Marsala Kitchen is the best Indian in the bay area in my opinion. Give them a try, I absolutely recommend this wonderful, soulful restaurant. read more

Great food nice restaurant lovely naan Had the lamb sag was delicious very fresh . Great service

My Special Angel Katrina and I had another awesome dining experience. I had the Napalese style chicken Chowmein . Pan fried noodles with onion, cabbage carrots, green beans, soy sauce and the chefs' special spices. My Special Angel had the Kukhura Bhanti (Napalese Dish) slow cooked chicken and egg plant in a delicious homemade sauce. Whatever you choose you won't be disappointed. We highly encourage this awesome family friendly restaurant. read more

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Classic Himalayan flavors. We had the Tikka Masala and a the Kukhura Bhanta. The Naan was freshly made, and nice & warm. Service was friendly, and unhurried (something to note if you're on a limited lunch period). They have a lunch menu and they have a "student" menu. Brilliant, considering that they are just across the road from two schools. I love the idea of them offering affordable, horizon opening foods for young people. The atmosphere is clean, well lit, and simple. Comfort food in a comfortable setting. While we were there, there was a group of suburban "ladies who lunch". Staff made up a nice long table and the women seemed to enjoy it all. So.... good for a group, too read more

Amazing ambience! Feels really authentic, clean and hygienic! The food was very good. We ordered paneer tikka masala 2 times! Noodles was my fav! Roti was like papad. But other than that it was amazing! read more

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I ordered 7 naans best butter naans and fresh Yum yum The service is fast We go there all the time when we have time to dine in Good food Grat ambiance Great service Uzooooooooo read more

Food is excellent. Very well spiced and generous portions. Be careful of the heat. Their medium is a bit more hot than medium. service and ambience are very good. read more

very nice impression. clean, and quiet. smells like good food is served here. good lighting, and spacious, well-decorated. simple lunch menu with specials, and good full menu. server and wait staff are attentive and listen well. read more

Great food and friendly service with a nice atmosphere. Himalayan Kitchen is our local favorite.

Amazing food and short wait time. Butter chicken is delicious and the mango lassi is silky smooth. Prices are very reasonable for such good food. Comfortable chairs and has a few tv's. Definitely coming back soon! read more

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This place is amazing!! Our server Abina was very attentive, knowledgeable, & kind. The food was delicious. We ordered the Tikka Masala, Mixed Chow Mein, and Chicken Dumplings. We will definitely be returning! read more

My entire family thoroughly enjoyed our experience at Himalayan Kitchen today for lunch. From the initial call to make our reservation until we departed the restaurant, the restaurant staff was so friendly and accommodating, and the food was exceptional! The space is open and airy, with understated decorative touches highlighting the beautiful Himalayan countryside. We were immediately greeted by cheerful waitstaff, who led our party of five to a quiet table at the rear corner of the dining area. The table was spotless and nicely set, including a small vase with fresh carnations. We were offered both lunch and dinner menus to order from, with a nice selection of dishes to suit everyone's taste and appetite. We were grateful for acoustics that allowed for pleasant conversation throughout our meal, which is often a challenge when dining out for those in our party with hearing loss. Our order included a MoMo platter for our appetizer, main courses including chicken Korma, butter chicken, lamb Pharsi, shrimp saag, and fried rice with chicken, along with basmati rice and plain and garlic Naan. Each dish was cooked to perfection and in accordance with the requested level of spiciness, and each was absolutely delicious. We were making plans for our next visit before we left the table. Without hesitation, Himalayan Kitchen gets five stars. We'll be back soon... read more

There are quite a few East Asian eateries in San Rafael. However, Masala Kitchen being new in town I thought it would be nice to support a new local business. Ordered very basic for my first visit. Very pleased with the flavors. Chicken Tikki Masala, Beet Salad, veggie Samosa, and three naans; butter, garlic-basil and fig-coconut. Flavors were delightful and so fresh. I arrived at opening to dine-in. From the moment the restaurant opened very busy take out and delivery orders being managed. Fantastic sign that it is becoming a very favored flavor of locals. Even with the management of the pick-up and delivery orders. I was quite impressed that I still received a very well attended expectation of food delivery and service for my dine-in experience. The staff were so kind and friendly and attentive. Definitely will be a new local goto for me. Friendly, fresh and flavorable. read more

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So we have been ordering food from Himalayan Kitchen for the last two months as it's right down the street and the food was very good. But we ordered this Friday and ordered online, but when we received the food, it was not up to standard. We ordered a Full Tandoori Chicken for $28.99, what we got was 4 pieces of burnt chicken. First, it's burnt, 2nd its 4 pieces, not a full chicken. They refunded our money, but this is false advertising and poor food quality. Not going back, too bad as I usually order between $180 and $220 when I order for my large family. read more

Himalayan Kitchen - Burnt Chicken TANDOORI - Indian Near Me - San Rafael $$, California

If you have a large event hosting people with special dietary needs, THIS IS THE PLACE TO GO! A wonderful place to cater from! They came early enough to set up giving us everything we needed to keep the food warm for hours! Ordered two dishes that were half trays of vegetarian and meat options. We had plenty for 10 people. The chicken vindalo curry was amazing. The vegetarian, potato & cauliflower curry was amazing. Ordered garlic naan bread along with gluten free bread! All tasted with great flavor and spice. read more

I know I have written a review before, but every time I ENJOY this restaurant, I am impressed by the: 1. Quality, Freshness, and Tastiness of Food, 2.) The prices-- more than fair and well worth the money and 3.) the diligence, courteousness, and everything about the personnel. I am not trying to sound like a textbook in writing this. It is just rare that I come across a restaurant of this caliber....... The soup you get before your entree is a superb way to get the appetite to rev up for the meal !!!!! read more

Great value good clean basic aatmosphere, incredible food. Reasonably priced wine. Will be back . read more

Truly the best Nepalese food we've had and now one of our favorite restaurants in Marin. We had the butter chicken and classic chicken curry with garlic naan. They were so delicious and flavorful. Highly recommend dining here! read more

i've been to a number of indian/nepalese restaurants and let me tell you, this one is easily my favorite. we live over an hour away, but whenever we're in the marin area for hikes, this is our go to spot. paneer tikka masala is my favorite meal so i get it everytime and it. is. AMAZING. absolutely phenomenal and blows me away everytime i get it. (they also sell their tikka sauce and we got that to go, incredible). we've also tried their veggie and chicken momo's (amazing), chicken tikka masala, and Kukhura Pharsi. all of it was very delicious and we highly recommend. also, their garlic and cilantro naan is to DIE for. yum. their staff are super nice and friendly. they joke around and make the experience memorable and fun. over all, this place is a hit and if you're in the area, you need to come here! we will be back! read more

Himalayan Kitchen - Garlic Cilantro Naan - Indian Near Me - San Rafael $$, California

This place is legit. Super good, high quality food, even the lassi is homemade. The staff is super friendly and it family owned/operated. Smiles every time we come in. read more

Great NEW "Himalayan Kitchen" cafe in San Rafael - BEST Momos ever! Fresh, delicious homemade foods by master chef from Nepal! And if you have not tried momos - this is the place! Delicious fresh made steamed dumplings, with homemade dipping sauce, the lentil soup was delicious too. Lots of great vegetarian and vegan options. I did take out and can't wait to go back! Family run cafe with master chef uncle and nephew from Nepal. Beautiful photos and artwork of Nepal adorn the walls and I LOVE the wonderful wide screen videos playing of amazing trekking in backcountry Nepal! It really adds to the atmosphere and I now feel like I have actually visited the Himalayas! You feel the spirit of their country they love in this place - the people, their service and their food is truly made with love. It is great to support worthy family owned/operated small business serving our community in such a heart felt way. Open for lunch specials 11:30-2:30, dinner 4:30-9pm, closed Monday. Order online too: www.himalayankitchenmarin.com - Call 415-526-3161 read more

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FYI this is a new restaurant - if it's busy it might take them a while to serve you, so patience is a must until they get fully staffed. Nevertheless I'm very impressed with Himalayan Kitchen. The food is a great blend of Indian and Chinese influences which is exactly what you'd expect looking at the location from which the cuisine is inspired. I had the Chicken Chilly - and no, it isn't cold chicken - it's a delicious blend of curry spices and a Chinese style of sweet sauce. I recommend getting it spicy for extra dimensions of flavor. The Momo is good but it is like a potsticker, and is probably best used as a shared appetizer rather than a main course. I'll be coming back to try the tandoori and their chicken tikka as well. Central and northern Marin are food deserts and having something this unique here is a real treat. When I have to come back to the PRCA, and Marin in particular, I have witnessed more closings than openings, so I commend the family who opened this place! We need more options like this. read more

This our second time here at this restaurant. The food is truly delicious meat or vegetarian. The garlic naan/ bread is delicious it should be illegal ! I have tried two different dishes like buttered chicken with rice! Excellent! The service is very good because the staff is genuine, professional and on point! 5 stars! A nice decor as well.o read more

Our dinner on a Friday night was yummy. Wait staff was very attentive. Prices were affordable. Leftovers were DELICIOUS. I struggle with spicey food and all our choices were perfectly flavored without being hot. Will definitely head back to try more dishes. read more

Best Indian food I've ever had!! We occasionally eat Indian food here and there. This place was one hour from where we lived but it was worth driving. We had saag paneer, chicken butter curry, mixed grill, and cheese momo. Every entree comes with rice or naan. All the dishes are so flavorful, but my best pick was saag paneer. I can't wait to come back to try some other dishes! read more

My favorite place to have Indo-Nepali dish which I love the most and they serves the most delicious and authentic food in town and service is great as always.u won't regret taking ur loved ones for dinner or lunch that I can promise for sure. This is my 3rd time of the month coming here and every thing is just perfect. read more

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The food and service are both excellent. We loved the lamb pharsi, chicken tikka masala, the salmon curry and the carrot pudding. We will certainly be back to this fine restaurant! read more

My fave Indian place closed down recently so I looked around and came across this place on DoorDash. My pickup orders have always been ready faster than estimated and the employees are friendly. As for the food, well, it's definitely better than Lotus Indian which I'm not a huge fan of, although judging by the reviews of that place I'm the only one! Anyway, chicken tikka masala and chicken curry here are great! Garlic naan, of course a staple of Indian restaurants, has been OK. Could use a little improvement. Price is in line with the competition. Parking can be annoying during times the shopping center is busy but at dinner time plenty of parking and easy to get to. We'll be back! read more

Food was delicious and the service was also outstanding. Get the mono mixed platter! Yum!

New kitchen place to eat at lunch and dinner here in Montecito Plaza 3rd St. San Rafael CA! We are the first costumer here when Marin County open for lunch beginning March 1, 2021 People are nice and very attentive to costumers! You could try it coz it's a new food hub to have a bite read more

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