Having been here multiple times in the last decade, our visit yesterday was a bit disappointing, and I can no longer give this spot 5 stars. For a restaurant in a touristy area, it still lands at a solid 3.5 to 4 stars, but the experience has definitely taken a step back. Cleanliness - there's a fly constantly going up and down the window we sat next to. It was getting a lot of my attention but alas I did not have a fly swatter. Lucky sob!!! Food - portion sizes felt smaller. While Indian dishes aren't typically huge, the presentation this time made them look a bit meager--it could be the dinnerware, the presentation? I don't know. Flavor-wise, something has changed for the worse. The Chicken Tikka Masala was decent, but lacked the rich depth and spice profile of our previous visits. The Fish Vindaloo suffered a similar fate. It wasn't bad, but it lacked that bold, signature Indian flavor. Also, using salmon felt like a misstep; its strong flavor tends to clash with vindaloo spices rather than absorb them. Side note, this dish was not at all spicy. And the server never asked us about the spiciness level of any of the dishes we ordered. Maybe they only offer non-spicy for all their dishes?? The same vindaloo dish at our favorite Indian restaurant in L.A. is very spicy and full of other favors. Service was just ok. The restaurant was quiet, with far more empty tables than occupied ones, yet the food took quite a while to come out. At one point, at least four servers were standing around the counter watching the dinning hall. Yet, other than delivering the food, no one came to any of the tables to check on them once the food had been delivered. Multiple times nearby tables waved their hands in the air to get attention after they got their food. We overheard one young man asking for hot sauce and chuckled - so someone else wanted their food spicier, too! Come here if you REALLY love touristy/Americanized Indian or want some vegetarian choices. Personally, I'll find dinner elsewhere next time in Big Bear. read more

I was glad to find an Indian/ Himalayan Restaurant in Big Bear. One can only enjoy hamburgers and pizzas for a limited time. We ordered two Thali combo meals. Each combo meal comes with rice, lentil, naan, salad or Raita. We had (1) Chicken Curry with Raita. Raita was very watery. As was the lentil. Lentil was also watery. The chicken curry was good. (2) Tandoori chicken with salad. The salad was the better choice than Raita. The Tandoori chicken was good. Again the lentil was too watery. The rice and naan were good. We also had the mango lassi, which is a shake with yogurt and mango. It was delicious but I wish it had come earlier (while I was waiting for my food). The drink did not come until after my food has arrived. Service was adequate. Nothing exceptional but gets the job done. Portion size was good. read more

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Order the Chicken Masala w/ garlic bread, side of white rice and a side of that hot sauce. Whenever we come up to Big Bear we always eat here and crave it when we get home. read more

Not great overall. The lemonade was crazy sweet and mostly ginger - couldn't really detect lemon. We returned these as they weren't drinkable but weren't compensated. The "fresh apricot naan" was packed solid with dried apricots; they explained this as fresh dried :|. The dhal was very loose and too salty, and as a mild, it still had some heat (I actually liked the heat, but in case you prefer mild). The lamb masala was pretty bland and had 8 small pieces of lamb so mostly just a tomato cream sauce. Rice is sold separately. I wouldn't return for any of it. The one thing they did really well were the chicken momo, which were juicy and had a nice turmeric seasoning, although they were mostly ripped open. Service was very slow and totally non-responsive. $85 for lunch. read more

Some different flavors but overall. Good experience. This is my second time here and sadly, it was better the first time. Flavors were a little too muted. The star was the cheese naan. Everything else seemed overpriced for the portion and taste. read more

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This place is pretty good. Great cold weather food! We picked up a chicken tikka masala along with coconut chicken curry. We also tried the veggie mo-mo. We would probably skip on the mo-mos in the future. Way too salty. The curry were great! We got spicy and loved it. Packed some heat but wasn't bad. Order nan and rice separately. We picked up some regular nan and cheesey nan. Both paired well with the curries. The creaminess of the currybwith the nan was filling. This place does suffer from tourist overcrowding, amd details tend to slip. Such as trying to get anybody's attention was tough, and raw doughy nan because it was undercooked. But overall, tasted great. I would still recommend. read more

Himalayan Restaurant - 2. Chicken Tikka Masala (left) and 8.Coconut Chicken (right) - Indian Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

Food, service and ambiance are all top shelf. The portions and drinks are generously served. All servers attend to every table with total attention. I love it when the whole front of house considers every table and request as their own table, keep it up!! read more

Perhaps one of the best samosa on the West Coast. Service is good, food is excellent....they also managed to keep prices reasonable vs many places around here. read more

Himalayan Restaurant - Vegi momo - Indian Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

MUST EAT IN BIG BEAR!! I was skeptical to try this place due to the ratings but I AM SO GLAD I DID! The food was AMAZING, the staff was very kind and accommodating. The ambiance was relaxing and great for a date or for a family dinner. We got the cheese pakauda, veggie samosas, panneer tikka, lamb tikka, daal, garlic naan, mango lassi, and ginger lemonade. Everything was so tasty, filling, and fairly priced! Thank you to the staff for such a relaxing meal! read more

Himalayan Restaurant - Lemonade, Mango Lassi, Cheese Pakauda, veggie Samosas - Indian Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

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Fabulous restaurant - have been coming here for years every time we go up to Big Bear. Also, we bring friends here and everybody loves it. I get the same dish every time - the lamb chops with curry. read more

The food is very good. Great spot in the heart of Big Bear. It is family run and friendly. Servers could use a little professional training.

Really great restaurant located in Big Bear! I would highly recommend the paneer tikka masala, it has the greatest amount of sweetness for me and I really would get it again. The garlic naan is also really good! We had to get extra because we wanted to eat it with the paneer Tikka masala. The curry was also really good as well. I also really liked the dumpling! It was my first time having this style and it was quite nice. It tastes a bit different than the ones I usually get but I still really enjoy it. The mango lassi has a good amount of tart as well. The service was also really good! They were really kind and got us our food quickly. Overall, if your in big bear, i would recommend it! read more

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I wasn't quite sure what we were gonna end up with at this place, I was thinking it might be mostly Indian food. I've spent a few months in Nepal and was hoping it would be something more like that, and I was very pleasantly surprised that it was! We both ordered from the lunch special menu, and along with a chosen main dish came a fantastic array of sides, very much reminding me of the Nepalese Dal Bhat meal. Service was attentive and polite and the nice mountain vibe was very pleasant. Definitely recommend this place and I will be back! read more

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After a favorable review in a large metropolitan newspaper, I expected this Himalayan restaurant to be absolutely packed during Thanksgiving week. We arrived around 6:30pm. Indeed, it was crowded: however, luck was with us and a table was available in the back of one of the auxiliary dining rooms. We didn't take too long to order: tandoori chicken and butter chicken, and lamb masala. While we waited for the food, there was time to check out the gift shop of imported Nepal clothing items. The space between tables was not large as they maximized the number of tables to accommodate customers. It's a festive atmosphere: outside, the village has all the holiday light up and illuminated. I could see large (family?) groups having dinner. It was altogether bustling with people out having dinner. The available staff seemed stretched pretty thinly, but they seemed to do a good job of being everywhere needed during what seemed to be the peak of the dinner service. Our group of three was able to entertain ourselves with good conversation until the server brought our food out. I do not think that the wait time was unreasonably long. The staff was conscientious and attentive, occasionally refilling our water glasses and checking in to see if we needed anything. All of us really liked the food! The tandoori chicken was a generous serving. I loved the butter chicken($15.95) and had some basmati rice and fresh garlic naan ( the naan was quite good! )mixed with the tasty, creamy, buttery sauce. (Beware, all ye lactose intolerant folks: the cream component is the real thing. Quite rich and tasty). The person with the lamb masala ($15.95) made short work of it, agreeing that the meal was very good. We did have to wait a bit for the check at the end of the meal. However, I was watching a few large groups of new diners entering(one was a group of 13!) Overall, I was 100% satisfied with the service, quality of food, and the good value of the meal, overall. It was a real treat. Quite memorable. Highly recommended. Additional note: I was startled to see a review posted by someone who apparently was there dining at the same time who was less than pleased with the service. Might I suggest that considering the very reasonable menu pricing at this restaurant, if you'd wanted to pay for more catering by the service staff, that there were numerous other restaurants within a block or so walking distance that charge about double what this place does. Those places might be more to your liking. I appreciate that this place keeps their pricing reasonable for working families to afford while still giving good service. read more

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We came on a Friday night. It was fairly busy and we had a large group. We did have a reservation but it took them about 10-15 minutes or so to get our tables ready. Once we sat, we unfortunately had no service for the first hour we were there. We went to the front to ask for menus and waters (multiple times) and apparently we were supposed to grab our own menus. We went up multiple times to ask for a server and to get some waters started, and close to an hour and a half after being there...we got a server. This was all very unfortunate and typically I wouldn't have waited so long after not being served, but we had a large group so didn't have many options. However, once we actually got a server, our server was very kind and attentive. The food is pretty flavorful and the portions are larger than they look. The Butter Chicken & Coconut Chicken were my favorite. Giving this place a 4/5 for the major comeback in our service experience and the quality of the food, as well as hoping this was an off-experience due to how things turned around once we were helped. We ended up having a wonderful rest of our evening and I'd give this place another shot. read more

Himalayan Restaurant - Coconut Chicken & Butter Chicken with a side of rice and Garlic Naan - Indian Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

Soooooo so good. Perfect for when you need a warm dish to make you feel cozy. They offer free delivery within 5 miles of the restaurant. We ordered on a Friday night and got our food within an hour! We got the chicken tikki masala, coconut chicken, garlic naan, and cheese stuffed naan. Hammering. Would get again. read more

Himalayan Restaurant - Chicken tikka masala, coconut chicken, naan, delivered - Indian Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

oh my god. it was good. let me tell you, most of the time when i eat indian food i get a massive stomach ache. don't get me wrong, i like indian food a lot actually. but this one, i did not get a stomach ache! the butter curry was so good and the chicken was so tender and juicy, perfectly spiced. MUST GET: 1. Tandoori Chicken - this dish actually changed my life. I think about it sometimes. i went for a club retreat, and at first i was having my doubts but it was genuinely one of the best indian cuisines i've ever tried. i'm sad this restaurant is a 2.5 hour drive away... this snow season, this is a must try restaurant! read more

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Love this place !! Definately hit this place Everytime we are in Big Bear. The Garlic Naaan- Chicken Tika Masala - and sooo much more

Our go to Indian restaurant in San Diego! The butter chicken and chicken biryani is our order every time. We also really enjoy the complimentary lentil soap too. The portions look small but TRUST ME it's so plentiful and we are so full every time. The butter chicken is soo flavorful, I recommend the mild plus spice level. Highly recommend 10000000/10!!!! read more

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We love Indian cuisine, but this is unquestionably the very best we've ever tasted. The sauces were flavorful in the extreme, without being excessively hot. The meats were cooked to perfection, even the Tandoori chicken, which we've experienced in other venues as dry and overcooked, literally fell off the bone. The atmosphere was pleasant and comfortable and the service was attentive and friendly. If you like the flavors of that part of the world, DO NOT, under any circumstances, miss out on this experience. We will definitely be back. If we could give 10 stars, we would! read more

It was my first time having cuisine from India and ohhh my, it was absolutely delicious! My tummy and taste buds were happy!!! We had the samosas, butter chicken, coconut shrimp and garlic naan bread. read more

Himalayan Restaurant - Samosas - Indian Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

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We've been coming to this Indian restaurant regularly whenever we visit Big Bear -- over the past two years we've probably been here around ten times. Usually the food is good, which is why today was disappointing. The cheese naan used to be much better. This time it was dry, not very flavorful, and had very little cheese, as if it wasn't fresh. The chicken momos were also disappointing -- the dough was falling apart. We ordered a set that included eggplant with potatoes. The eggplant itself was tasty but overly salty, while the potatoes had an unpleasant, off taste. On the positive side, the meat dishes were still good, as usual. Service was inconsistent. One older staff member always provides great service, but the younger staff seemed distracted and inattentive, often on their phones. We hope this was just an off day, because this place has been much better in the past. read more

Himalayan Restaurant - Indian Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

Amazing food and kind and attentive staff! My favorites were the chicken sekuwa and the onion naan. Would definitely come back next time I'm in Big Bear! read more

Delicious food! We enjoyed the mo-mo, lentil soup, chicken tandoori the most. We also liked the lamb vindaloo and chicken tika masala and would prob ask to make both a little spicier on our next visit! Recommend this restaurant read more

I love this place because Nepalese cuisine is one of the most underrated cuisines that exists. There are a lot of crossovers with certain Indian dishes but things like Momo's, Kathi, etc... Ok, so this place was packed on like a Sunday a 3pm, and I think it generally stays packed. The ambience is what you'd expect from a casual Indian/Nepalese restaurant, and the service was awesome. Very friendly, super easy going servers. Let's get to the foooooodddd!!!! Ima start with the Tandoori chicken. This was my only, eh, that i had there. It didn't have that distinct clay pot flavor and it seemed like it wasn't as fresh as the rest of the meal. Don't get me wrong, it was good, but it didn't hit like the rest of the food. The only other knock I have on their food is their sauce. The achar was a little watery, and just didn't have too much flavor. The Kathi, or chicken rolls, were awesome, and the portions were amazing. Each wrap was like the size of two full chicken burritos, no joke. But the balance of flavor in them was perfect, a little more achar (kind of a pepper chutney), or even some sort of a Himalayan salsa would've helped. But they were super good. Now the star, and the true measurement of a good Nepalese restaurant...there national dish...the Momo!! This is the most underrated dumpling in the food world. Mainly because it doesn't come from a traditional "dumpling country," like China or Japan. Tomorrow has a distinct flavor that is sooooo good when done correctly, it is a game changer. This place had near perfect Momo's. Fresh steamed, nice dumpling, but the chicken mix inside was amazing, and exactly what a momo should be. I've had plenty of Momo's that used too much salt or didn't have blue fenugreek, but these ones had great great flavor, texture, everything!! If you're on Big Bear, this is a restaurant you should hit up, and please, please get the chicken Momos! read more

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My wife and I ate dinner here for her birthday on a Thursday evening, and had a very enjoyable dinner. The service and ambience were 5 stars all the way, & the food was very good, but warranted the 4 stars rating. Read on for details. In a town full of local, independent restaurants, this spot fits right in. It feels very Himalayan, regional India in decor, from colorful wall decorations, to the music, to the beautifully covers chairs. Adding to the overall experience is the attached Tibetan/Himalayan gift shop. The smells from the kitchen were as inviting as the friendly wait staff. The restaurant was more than 1/2 full when we arrived at 6 pm, and packed when we left. Clearly a Big Bear favorite! My wife is vegan and cannot eat sugar, so dining out is typically tough, but Himalayan made every effort to provide a great meal. We started with samosas which were large, crispy, and packed with a super flavorful potato mixture. I ate mine with mint/cilantro chutney, not vegan, and their wonderful chili paste (salty, pungent, sour, and spicy...SO good). For our bread, we ordered Aaloo Paratha, paratha stuffed with potato, and Tandori Roti. Both breads were warm and delicious, thought the paratha was a bit doughy and may have been a little under done. We over-ordered entrees so we could leave with leftovers. We chose Aaloo Govi (potatoes and cauliflower in a fairly thin curry, Baigan Aaloo (eggplant with potatoes), okra (Bindhi Masala some places), and tofu curry. The eggplant and potato was a new dish for us and was my wife's favorite of the night. Cooked with tomato and spices it was outstanding. My top dish was the okra, cooked with onion, tomato, and spices it had amazing flavor, was not slimy at all, and the texture was the perfect al dente (with just a little bite or crunch). The potato and cauliflower was tasty, but in all my years of eating this dish have never had it made with so much sauce, almost like a curry. That said, it was very flavorful. We ordered the tofu curry as an afterthought and it was not to the standard of the other dishes. The curry was thin and over salted, and the tofu was prepared in a way that we didn't enjoy so much. Commentary on heat and chutneys: The food was not spicy at all. While the chili paste was outstanding, the dishes themselves had no heat at all and I wonder if this is a local accommodation, or if Himalayan food just isn't spicy like Indian food is. I don't typically eat the tamarind chutney because it is too sweet for me, and this was the case here as well. The mango chutney was flavorful, but the sweetness overpowered the chutney for me. It was disappointing that their mint/cilantro chutney was not vegan due to the addition of yogurt. While we order vegan out, I do not vegan exclusively. I've been eating Indian and the regional cuisine for over 30 years and have only recently seen dairy appear in the essential mint/cilantro chutney. It was disappointing because the chutney does not need dairy, and in my experience the bright herbaciousness of this chutney is watered down with dairy...and also makes it inedible for vegans. I've not eaten in a Himalayan restaurant before, only north and South Indian, and Afghani restaurants, so maybe my comments here are reflect typical Himalayan cuisine. Overall, we enjoyed our meal and will return the next time we're in town. I recommend this spot for anyone who likes this type of food...you won't be disappointed. read more

Himalayan Restaurant - 4. Samosas - Indian Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

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Came here for lunch first I will say it's ADA friendly you could get a wheelchair in. It's very beautiful around and the people are nice. I ordered a lamb tikki masala ( I think it was) ( the picture posted is lamb masala) and there was a chicken tikki masala my dad ordered. The food was very good and fresh. The seasoning on one of the sauces was a bit spicy for me perfect for my dad. Lamb was great fresh so were the other dishes that came with it. The cauliflower one had a bit of salty taste but addicting to eat. I highly recommend this place it's also super clean. read more

Himalayan Restaurant - 10. Lamb Masala lunch dish - Indian Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

The food is AMAZING and the staff is incredibly kind. This will he a regular on our trips!

friendly staff with great recommendations. the cheese naan was so thick it was #awesome. we also loved the palak paneer - my personal fav. vibe was chill and lovely. will definitely be back read more

Himalayan Restaurant - 2. Chicken Tikka Masala 7. Palak Paneer B. Garlic Naan G. Cheese Naan - Indian Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

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This place rocks out the wazoo. Located on the main walking street of downtown big bear, it provides a wholesome, appetizing, satiating, inviting atmosphere. Whether it be conversation regarding "what are your intentions with my daughter", shared plates of lentil soup and spicy cauliflower, or free samplings of mango lassi, you're guaranteed to have a great time! I totally recommend this to anyone with allergies, they're very communicative and their menu is inclusive. Go Himalayan Restaurant Go! read more

Himalayan Restaurant - Coconut 1. Fish Curry Vindaloo - Indian Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

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Cozy Himalayan Gem in Big Bear Lake! After a day on the slopes, we walked here from our hotel and it was the perfect way to warm up and refuel! The food at Himalayan Restaurant was absolutely delicious, with rich and flavorful Indian dishes that hit the spot on a cold winter's day. What's more, the prices were very reasonable, making it an excellent value for the quality and portion sizes. If you're looking for a satisfying and comforting meal after skiing or exploring Big Bear Lake, look no further than Himalayan Restaurant. Highly recommend! read more

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This was a very mediocre experience. Nothing was impressing or very tasty. Just ok. Service was ok too. Went here on last Saturday for lunch. We ordered one order of Samosas, one chicken tikka masala, one shrimp tikka masala and 2 mango lasis. I actually liked the mango lasi the best. It has a nice sour taste. Not overly sweet. I probably won't be back as this was nothing special. The masala's were a bit too heavy on cream in my opinion. Not enough spice , low on salt . It was bland. Parking is street or lots around . If you are in town and are craving something other than American food, this can be a decent option. read more

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The service was fantastic! The butter chicken was the most flavorful I've ever eaten. The cheese naan can be improved, it was dry and overcooked. The only down side of this restaurant was the disgusting bathroom. The door doesn't lock and it looked like it hadn't been cleaned in a long time. read more

The local Indian restaurant I've had my eyes on. Located in downtown Big Bear. The restaurant is busy in the evenings. Venture is comfortable and spacious. I was sitting quickly. The service was mediocre, which threw off my whole experience. Let's dive into the food: Butter chicken: Surprisingly, not as flavorful as I thought. Naan::: Standard Rice: standard Samosas: The size is fantastic but I've had better Maybe it was an off day for them... read more

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Gem of a place!! Very yummy and nice people. I would highly recommend! Would definitely go back if i'm ever near.

Our large party was able to get seated at 3 different tables in this restaurant. It's a mix of Indian/Himalayan/Nepalese food. My family got the Himalayan Mixed Grill which had some tandoori chicken, shrimp, lamb, and chicken Sekuwa, chicken mo-mo (aka chicken dumplings), chicken curry, chicken naan, and some garlic naan and basmati rice. It took about 45 min after we ordered for our dishes to come out, so be prepared to wait. Food was decent, although I wasn't impressed with the meats on the Himalayan Mixed Grill as they were all quite dry and lacked flavor. Chicken was dry, lamb was tough, and shrimp didn't taste fresh. The chicken mo-mo tastes like Chinese dumplings, the thing that makes it unique is that it's served with a chutney. Chicken curry, chicken naan, and garlic naan were good. There are definitely better restaurants for this type of food, but as it's the only one in Big Bear, it's a decent spot if you're craving something Asian. read more

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The food was delicious. The service was pushy. Not too hot in the decor. But I'd go back because the food was delish.

This is truly a hidden gem in the city of Big Bear. Server was extremely helpful and welcoming when placing our order. We couldn't resist ordering Veggie Mo Mo's, tasty morsels of goodness in a wrapped in a flour dough, served with a ginger garlic chutney on the side. We also enjoyed Tofu Saag, a delicious dish cooked with puréed spinach, tofu and spices. The Daal Tadka was equally tasty, lentils served with Himalayan herbs. Was wonderful after 9 years to see this family run restaurant as good as ever. Highly recommend. read more

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Hidden gem. I feel like this place gets overlooked due to location and other restaurants that people pass before they get to Himalaya. We really had our hearts set on Tropicali but the line was insane. Our friends recommended this spot as an alternative and we're so glad they did! The restaurant staff was so nice and friendly and the food was fresh and super flavorful. We ordered the veggie momos, baby plate of chow main add chicken, mixed grill, garlic chicken with a side of rice and lentil soup. I have picky kids and they scarfed down the food. My daughter Coco wants me to add the she would eat this everyday! Everything came out super hot and tasted so delicious. There was enough leftover for another meal. This place didn't seem like a normal tourist trap, serving mediocre food at a high price tag. The prices were so reasonable for the quality. Give them a try and you won't be disappointed. read more

Himalayan Restaurant - 6. Himalayan Mixed Grill - Indian Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

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I love Himalayan food and this place did not disappoint. Not only was the food amazing, the staff was super friendly. We asked to sit outside because we had dogs and they were accommodating even though it had just rained. Super nice and made us feel welcomed. read more

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