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    Himali Bistro

    4.9 (293 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

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    HIMALI BISTRO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Dogs allowed

    Recommended Reviews - Himali Bistro

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    lamb shank
    Allen W.

    The food here is amazing! Everything is seasoned so well and the portions are generous. Menu descriptions are very accurate - reported the lamb shank would be fall-off-the-bone tender and indeed it was. We got a potato wedge entre also and it was just the right amount of spicy! Service was friendly and quick. There's a decent amount of seating on the inside.m and there was no wait for a group of 4 on a saturday around 6pm. Will definitely be coming back to try more of their dishes :)

    Chicken Biryani
    Roozbeh Z.

    Have seen this restaurant for a while, and finally decided to make a visit. It looks like an Indian restaurant, and wanted some Indian food. First of all, it is not Indian, it is Tibet, and the food is delicious. Momos (plural of Momo) is a combination of Buns (Chinese wrap) a Indian feeling. Very delicious. We wanted chicken lollipop for my son, but it wasn't very good. It's not really comfortable to eat. The chicken biryani that I ordered was very good, and I enjoyed it. Overall, we had a great experience because the owner went above and beyond to make sure my 3 yr old have a great experience, and I really appreciate it. My son is still asked for more Momos Anyways, will visit again for sure.

    Shella P.

    My friend chose this place to celebrate her bday as she is gluten free and this restaurant has a lot of option for her. Very cozy spot, located where Shabu House used to be. I recommend making a reservation to get seated quickly as they do tend to get crowded. We were asked if we have ever been there by I'm thinking the owner as he was so welcoming. Food came quick. We tried chicken tikka, lamb, salad and momos. Drinks were pretty strong and we liked that lol! In the end they surprised my friend with cheesecake we devoured!

    Momos
    Sarah C.

    super sweet staff! very accommodating especially towards our large group. unfortunately the food was average -- the curries weren't spicy enough, and the chicken in the tikka masala was pretty tough. the garlic naan were also hard and not enough garlic

    Tandoori Mushrooms
    Suzy K.

    Tldr: good flavor in seasoning/masala overall but wish we had opted for a curry instead of tandoori We ordered gobi manchurian, mushroom tandoori, and paneer tandoori (paneer tikka?). The gobi manchurian was amazing in both its flavor and texture - definitely will be a repeat order in the future. The two tandoori dishes, however, did not quite meet our expectation after that great appetizer. The masala on both seemed pretty good but the mushroom and the paneer itself just seemed like it was lacking flavor and was a little dense in texture, respectively. The onions under the mushroom seemed sort of undercooked as well. On the other hand the bell pepper and the onion on the side of the paneer were really tasty so we just felt like there was some missed potential for these non-meat dishes. The service was great and the ambiance very friendly as well so seems like a good family / date spot. I wish we had opted for a curry instead of one of our tandoori dishes so we could give a more comprehensive assessment but hopefully we'll stop by again in the future when we're in the neighborhood.

    Dal bhaat tarkari
    Pranathi B.

    **USP: Nepali cuisine with some really wonderful chowmein and stellar service in Burlingame. **SERVICE: we arrived 10 mins before closing time on a Friday. They were cleaning up and the chairs were all stacked up on the tables. We decided to leave but they insisted we stay. The person who I assume is the owner said "We don't like to turn away people when they are hungry. Athidhi devo bhava(guests are like divinity)". I was seriously impressed, and felt very welcome! **FOOD: we got chowmein, momos and Nepali national dish with some naans. Though they already closed the kitchen, they opened it up for us and got us steaming hot plates of food within 10 mins. They even managed to cook us a fresh hot naan! The chowmein was the best I had in the bayarea, the noodles were thin, bouncy and light. They didn't have extra grease weighing them down. The Nepali national dish -dal bhaat tarkari was a plate of rice and lentils served along side some vegetable and chicken curry. The lentils were light and piping hot. Both the curries were delicious as well. The momos were slightly disappointing without much flavor. The sauce they came with didn't help much as well.

    Ginger mint tea
    Koko M.

    Himalayan Hug on a Cold Winter Night Himali Bistro in San Mateo is an absolute GEM. If you're even thinking about going, make reservations -- this place fills up fast, and now I know exactly why. We walked in last minute on a freezing winter night, fully expecting to be turned away, but the staff worked some kind of magic and squeezed us in. That alone would've earned them points... but then the food started arriving.... Drool.. Every. Single. Bite. Was. Phenomenal. Perfectly spiced, deeply comforting, and bursting with flavor. These are the kind of dishes that warm you from the inside out. It turned what would've been a miserable cold night into an epic one. The service was warm, the ambiance cozy, and the food? Next-level. Himali Bistro just shot straight to the top of my San Mateo favorites. Highly recommend.. but seriously, reserve ahead unless you're hoping for the same miracle we got!

    Maya Y.

    Delicious meal at Himali Bistro! Perfect stop for a ride home from SF to South Bay. Highly recommended!

    Himali Chicken Chili
    Desiree L.

    Came here after a flight and the service was AMAZING! Everyone was so nice and attentive and the food was so tasty! I will be going back when i visit the area again :)

    Chicken tarkari curry
    Chandrika B.

    Loved the welcoming atmosphere of this corner restaurant in a beautiful street. Service was friendly, cutlery was clean and restrooms were not stinky :) so definitely a good start!! In $60, we got: - momos - chicken - 4/5 - this $16 dish comes with just 6 pieces and no red chili momo sauce. The taste was good but i feel it was expensive - tandoori mushroom - 5/5 - perfectly charred and so flavorful. This was my favorite thing here and only $12 so definitely good value for money on this app - chai - $4 - 0/5 - horrible, microwaved and even after 2 tries they couldn't get it right :( skip chai please and order a soda - chicken tarkari curry with rice - 4/5 - $21 - good portion size of chicken. I wish the curry was more flavorful but it was bland. Deducting one star for being super expensive and chai :( I will still come back for tandoori mushrooms :)

    Garlic Naan
    Esther G.

    Everything we had was delicious! Super nice and accommodating staff. Never had Nepalese food but familiar with Indian cuisine. We asked for peppered mushrooms to not be spicy since it's our toddlers favorite food. Had spice in there I've never had before but enjoyed! Lamb in the Bheda Ko Masu was tender. We asked for mild in case toddler wanted to try some. Solid even without the extra spice. Rice for both dishes cooked well. Chicken tikka masala- a little sweet since we also asked for mild spice. I personally liked the sweetness but others might not. Garlic naan- not as garlicky as some others I've had but naan is always a good idea to pair with the entrees. Our waters pitcher was refilled. Staff was super nice to my toddler. Nice ending with the candies with the bill. Only slight con was it was a little humid inside. I would definitely recommend this place and come back!

    Lamb kebob
    Evan C.

    Really good place, but the service is really slow and food takes a long time to come out. - momo's - we had vegetarian one and they are really well done. - samosas - pretty good esp the sauce, though in the spicy side - pancakes - get it with the egg. Crispy and pretty good. - crispy Brussels sprouts - wow this dish was phenomenal. Some of the best crispy sprouts I've had. The garnish that goes with it is top notch too. - lamb kebabs - decent. Lamb is not tough though not tender. Great flavour. - dal ? Curry - this was the national Nepalese dish. Comes with veggie curry and you can add chicken or lamb. Really really good flavours. Highly recommend this place.

    Kathleen W.

    This place is very popular during a weekday for lunch. We had been wanting to try this place so we got to check it out with friends. We got the chicken tandoori, chicken tarkari curry and gobi manchurian. The food was quite fresh and crispy~ We also had garlic and cheese naan with the cheese naan being a fluffy quesadilla essentially. Come here for a nice ambiance and delicious food

    Paneer tikka

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    Page 1 of 8

    Ask the Community - Himali Bistro

    Do you have gluten-free recommendations? Friend has Celiac, cannot have anything with gluten. Thank you in advance?

    Hi Vanessa, thanks for reaching out to us. We have plenty of GF options, soups, salads, all our curries, fried rice and biryani are GF!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Taste & Glory

    Taste & Glory

    4.4
    (835 reviews)
    3.3 mi
    $$

    Taste and Glory is one of those brunch spots that lives up to the hype. The menu puts a creative…read moreAsian fusion twist on classic breakfast favorites, and the result is both unique and incredibly satisfying. Every dish looked as good as it tasted. The flavors were fresh, well-balanced, and thoughtfully executed without feeling overdone. You can tell the kitchen pays attention to the details, from the beautifully plated entrées to the perfectly cooked eggs and crispy, well-seasoned sides. The fusion elements add just enough creativity while still letting the comfort of brunch shine through. The drinks were equally impressive, especially the specialty lattes and refreshing house beverages that paired perfectly with the meal. It's the kind of place where you'll find yourself eyeing neighboring tables and already planning what to order on your next visit. Service was warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. Even with a busy dining room, the staff kept everything running smoothly and made sure guests felt taken care of.

    Came on a Friday afternoon. Waited 5-10 min. Not long. Ordering was quick. Got their chicken…read morecroffle, Tom yum scramble and an ube latte Honestly left a tad disappointed. For the chicken croffle. You do lose all the flakiness of the croissant. The chicken was good. The Tom yum scramble. The Tom yum sauce doesn't work well with the. Other flavors. Wish the croissant was toasted. The ube latte was good. Not too sweet.

    Photos
    View upon entering
    View upon entering
    Banana French Toast
    Banana French Toast
    Tom Yum Scramble

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    Tom Yum Scramble
    Mingalaba

    Mingalaba

    3.9
    (2.8k reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$
    Established in 2008
    Locally owned & operated

    I haven't had good food in a while. Sometimes when I eat at Asian restaurants, it's just not as…read moreauthentic. Having said that, Mingalaba is probably the most authentic Asian restaurant I've eaten at so far. You can there that there's no shortcuts with the dishes, nothing is watered down, everything is just real. The coconut chicken soup is something out of this world. It's not spicy at all. I can't describe it but it was really delicious, as with all the other dishes. The service was amazing and they even amended some of our dishes so that we could feed it to our kid (non-spicy). I really like this restaurant. Only such a shame we live so far now and only just discovered it. I'd visit again if I'm around.

    We visit this restaurant occasionally due to its proximity to home, but the experience tends to be…read moreinconsistent. While there are a few highlights, several dishes don't quite justify the premium pricing. The Burmese beef and lamb curries are really good--the meat is consistently tender and the flavors are deep and well-developed. We also really enjoyed the rainbow salad and the paratha with curry sauce, though both felt overpriced for what they are. Other menu items have been disappointing: * Catfish Chowder: This was fairly average and bore a strange resemblance to pea soup. * Walnut Broccoli Chicken: Another mediocre dish that failed to leave an impression.

    Photos
    Coconut soup
    Coconut soup
    Mango Salad
    Mango Salad
    Pumpkin Yellow Chicken

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    Pumpkin Yellow Chicken
    Mokutanya

    Mokutanya

    3.9
    (2.5k reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Cute but pricey izakaya (it is owned by non-Japanese Asians!) They have a parking lot so don't park…read moreon the street like I did (alternatively, you could take Caltrain as they are right across the street from Broadway station!) The private booths are intimate, the lighting is dimmed, music is bopping (not to age myself, but it was bops from my high school years) Fitting, as I was getting dinner with my best HS friend! I love how you take off your shoes to get in the booths! So cute and fun. There were some families there and the kids were given coloring pages. Coming from SF, this is how you know you're in the suburbs. The skewers were delicious. A group of 4, we ordered 4 of each. We tried steak, chicken, takoyaki, fries (which were pretty much takoyaki fries), bacon-wrapped mochi, bacon enoki mushroom, unagi, fried chicken skin, Uzura Tamago (Quail Eggs), and more! Everything was good and flavorful. However, it ended up being over ~$70/person, so not cheap. I will say service was lacking. They didn't bring us the bill for over 20 minutes. Relatedly (in that it's negative), whoo boy was my stomach upset after! It was delicious, but at the cost of being greasy.

    A great, reliable spot if you're looking for a fun yakitori and Japanese tapas-style dinner…read moreexperience, especially one that closes decently late no matter the day. We came to Mokutanya for a casual night out. It was pretty late for a sushi spot to be open on a Sunday night (around 8:30 pm), and overall, it hit the spot. The menu has a lot of variety, and it's definitely a good place to share dishes with friends or a group. FOOD: 8/10 The skewers were the highlight for me and, I believe, one of their specialties. They were well-seasoned, nicely grilled, and served hot off the grill. I also enjoyed trying a variety of small plates, which made the meal feel fun and interactive. Some dishes were better than others, but overall it was a solid experience with good flavor and variety. We ordered their Raw Oysters, and it was decent. It definitely was not the freshest we've ever tried, but it was still good, thankfully. SERVICE: 8/10 Service was standard, but the staff was chill and easygoing. AMBIANCE: 8/10 The restaurant has a warm, lively, and slightly upscale-casual feel, great for groups or a casual night out. You can experience zashiki seating, where you take off your shoes before entering the dining area and sit down at low tables. The lighting was pretty dark, lol. Overall, it's a solid late-night option if you're in the mood for skewers, small plates, and a relaxed group dining experience.

    Photos
    Mokutanya
    Momo w/ Wasabi Wagyu Beef (Salt & Pepper) Wagyu Beef (Sweet) Momo w/ Yuzu Honey Glaze
    Momo w/ Wasabi Wagyu Beef (Salt & Pepper) Wagyu Beef (Sweet) Momo w/ Yuzu Honey Glaze
    Shochu

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    Shochu
    Hanabi Ramen & Japanese Curry

    Hanabi Ramen & Japanese Curry

    4.2
    (1k reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    Our go-to ramen spot in Burlingame. I've been here multiple times and I love their Tan Tan Ramen…read moreand Short Rib Ramen. They have multiple appetizers to choose from - one of our personal favorites is their vegetarian gyoza. I've dined in a few times, and the servers are quick and on top of it all. Considering it's a small location with fewer seats, it gets pretty busy in there. So lately I've done take-out. Even then, food is consistent and always hits the spot!

    We've been to Hanabi many times, when they were a fledging ramen place we'd go there because…read moregrowing son (now in mid 20s) just loved the slurp and after baseball was the perfect meal. Fast forward, it's Mom's Day, kids having meals on their own as parents, our celebration is to go somewhere good to have a meal, no lines (didn't make a res), kinda spontaneous. Hanabi fits the bill. Ordered the pork belly ramen ( looked really good at a neighboring table) and the Mayu-ramen, spicy, with kfc chicken (not what you think, means something else), both with a miso base. Wait was reasonable, time to get a table was 30 seconds tops. Other nights it's been jammed but not Mom's Day, just quiet, enjoyable. Both meals were spectacularly reasonable, serving what you'd want, with enough of everything to want to dive in because you were pretty assured you were going to be satisfied. Not fru-fru or bougie, ingredients that make the dish memorable yet feel you are knowledgeable and appreciated. Pork belly was soft, fatty yet lean, cooked well enough to be tender, yet with a little chew (not disintegrating like some bellies), lots of noodles al dente so you appreciate the noodle was not a mushy mass in the bowl like some places. The Mayu came with 3 drumsticks burning hot from the fryer but oh so good because it's served in a separate dish so it doesn't get soggy. The spicy is good enough to keep things interesting with losing its identity (unlike a lot of places). And they give plenty of ramen because it's that good. We keep coming back because they serve no-frills, you-can-bank-on-it ramen that is satisfying, consistent; staff is friendly without being overbearing. It's not a big place, tables and a counter, but they know how to keep diners happy and coming back for more. What more can you ask for? Thanks, Hanabi, will definitely be back!

    Photos
    Restaurant interior, counter pictured
    Restaurant interior, counter pictured
    Spicy Short Rib Ramen
    Spicy Short Rib Ramen
    Pork miso Ramen

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    Pork miso Ramen
    Rice Monster

    Rice Monster

    3.9
    (62 reviews)
    1.5 mi

    It was my first time eating at Rice Monster, I'm from out of town. We had a party of 8...we ordered…read moreour meals on the iPad...it took us a long time to ordered since we had to share one digital menu around 8 people. Wish they had another iPad to order because it took awhile to get our dishes. The food was delish and it was worth the wait. Everyone enjoyed their meals. I would recommend this place.

    I agree with the other commenters that this restaurant seems to have some consistency issues…read more Ordered the pork ribs clay pot rice and added lap cheung to it. The first thing I noticed was that there was really not many pieces of ribs, maybe they made the ribs portion smaller to make room for the lap cheung I ordered? The dish description also says that it includes taro, but I didn't have a single piece of taro in my pot. Strangely, although this place seems to share a kitchen with Social Eatery, the rice was cooked much more poorly here, which is obviously a shame for a place specializing in clay pot rice. It seems like the rice had too much water added, so it was a bit overcooked - you couldn't feel the "single grain" mouthfeel texture you should expect from well-cooked, high quality rice. Since the rice was too mushy, it obviously didn't crisp well either. Though it had some small amount of bits stuck to the edges of the metal (not clay!) pot, it was definitely not the super crispy, well browned "faan ziu" I expect, and not at all like the pictures featured in some earlier reviews of this restaurant.

    Photos
    Rice Monster
    To-Go: Unagi Sizzling Rice Bowl
    To-Go: Unagi Sizzling Rice Bowl
    Grapeholic - Mango Pomelo Sago with Tea Jelly

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    Grapeholic - Mango Pomelo Sago with Tea Jelly

    Himali Bistro - indpak - Updated July 2026

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