This place is great! There is no other way to say it. A tiny restaurant, with good service, great food, and even better prices. Been there several times for the Lamb Vindaloo and Thalis and it has been all good. It totally blew me away when I ordered the Thali and all this great food shows up and it's only $25. Plus, there's a great Himalayan market down the block, next to the gym, that is definitely worth checking out. read more

A tiny shack around El cerrito, this place is easy to miss and very small. Good for a family gathering and has an intimate feel. I went with some co workers for lunch and we shared what we individually ordered amongst ourselves because it was our first time getting Nepali food. When we arrived, there was no one at the front. Mind you, we came in 30 mins after opening for lunch. We rang the bell multiple times and then as we were about to go to a different place, thinking there was no one around, the cook came out and took our orders. I could tell he was a but overwhelmed since we were a group of 5, but he was really nice and courteous. He also answered the questions we had concerning the food. It took about 40 - 50 mins for our food to get in. We were the only ones in the restaurant so I'm surprised it took the long. That being said, i realized there was only one cook in the kitchen to it makes sense why it took so long however, I was not mentally prepared to wait that long. Around 12 pm, the hostess came in and was shocked to see us. She apologized for being late and wanted to get our orders but we told her the cook already got them. After waiting for about 50 mins, we finally got our orders. The food was AMAZING. Starting with the chicken sekuwa. It was a complete 10/10. I would definitely come back just for this. It was seasoned to perfection, very tender and juicy. The C Momo was very crispy and covered in a nice sweet chilli sauce. They're like deep fried dumplings. I would give it an 8/10. The lamb curry was very savory and filling. We got that with some rice and roti. It paired very well. I would also rate that an 8/10. The lamb thali was good but I think I was overwhelmed with everything on the plate. It was not bad, the lamb and lentil soup were good but I think I did not know how best to eat it so I could not fully appreciate it. I would give it a 6.5 The thai iced tea was pretty standard one. Very nice and not too sweet. 8/10 for ne The food here was pretty remarkable. I usually don't care about 'bad' service but this one really had a huge impact and stopped me from giving it a higher rating. I would not be too keen on coming back here with how understaffed they are but I do understand. If you're not in a rush, and are ready to grow your fruit of patience, I would definitely say the food is worth the wait and it was really good. read more

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Best butter chicken I've ever had. Why this place isn't packed right now, I don't know. Maybe because its lunch time. Server is very nice and offered some great options. I'll definitely come back and try the chicken tikka masala. read more

Little Kathmandu - Butter Chicken, rice and garlic naan - Indian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

Wonderful service on this cold, rainy winter night. Sadly it was cold inside too since it is one of those small strip mall kind of places. But the food warmed us right up! Vegetable thali plate, chicken curry, roti and chai masala was our order, all at medium spice level. First bites were spicy but then we got used to it and we ate up every bit. Not a 5 star dinner but everything was fresh, hot and tasty as expected. We especially liked the mustard greens, the daikon radish with mustard and the eggplant. Dahl soup was a bit salty for our taste though still good. Roti was solid and the chai was freshly made, yay! Chicken curry was tender. We'd certainly go back on a warmer day. Himalayan restaurants are beautifully calm and inviting so it would be nice to experience this place again under other conditions. read more

Little Kathmandu - TV in the corner playing a Himalayan video and music on repeat. - Indian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

Love it. Excellent butter chicken. Good service and pleasant space. Good location and open all days except Sunday.

Little Kathmandu, what a special gem serving Himalayan and Indian cuisine in a small and cozy setting. Located in an incredibly small strip mall off San Pablo in El Cerrito (there is parking), you'll find this spot. Check hours ahead of time because they do close after lunch hours and reopen for dinner. We've ordered to-go from here several times, but this was the first time we've sat down and had a meal in-person. There's nothing like warm Naan bread, Chicken Tikka Masala, and Saag Paneer on a cold day. So delicious. And of course, a Mango Lassi for the kiddo. They also tried the Rice Pudding for dessert and a cup of the Dal soup..what a spread we had. The staff is so kind, and we truly had such a wonderful dinner shared together. You can tell they put so much heart into their dishes and the community that comes to support them. We can't wait to come back and try the Momos, Tandoori Special Kebabs, and the Chowmein (with egg!) There's an incredible amount of veggie dishes and vegetarian dishes here too. Not too bad on the wallet. A fun, local find for any occasion. read more

Quiet, small restaurant serving made to order Nepalese/Indian food. Great value - the vegetarian thali is a go-to meal. Generous portion, very well balanced flavorsI have also had the excellent beef jhol momo, and the roti is done right. The service is attentive without being overbearing. One of the better Indo-Asian restaurants in this region of the East Bay. read more

Little Kathmandu opened in Vietnam Grille's space. Same infrastructure, new decor/menu. Seated promptly, got menu, ordered. Got eats within 15 minutes. Mostly made to order. Some reheated expertly without loss of flavors. Offerings (Indian, Nepalese/Himlayan): appetizers, vegetables, lamb & goat, tandoori specials, momos, Himalayan thali... Bites: Himalayan thali with goat curry (19.99) -lamb wasn't available. Goat curry was. Goat meat falling off the bone deliz. Curry spicy not too hot. -pickles slightly tart. Cucumber, carrot slices fresh. -rice pudding fresh tasting. Cool dish to cool spice. -papadum crunchy freshly made. Teepee shaped. -lentil soup watery. Slightly salty. Satisfying. -leafy greens non spicy, ok to cleanse palate -lotsa fresh fluffy long grain basmatic rice. Great! -mixed veggie curry with green beans, potato, cauliflower. Kinda spicy. 4.5 stars Worthy! Quality/Quantity very good. May is Asian American, Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month. read more

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My husband and I go there twice a month if not more. Their curry is very flavorful, not sweet like other Americanized restaurants. Tahli is my go to. Comes with a choice of curry (chicken), vegi curry, lintel curry, stirred green, rice, rice pudding and pickles. You can ask more for rice and condiments. The price is reasonable for the quality and quantity. The servers are very kind and just good manner in general. It's rare to see a willing servers nowadays so we feel very good from tummy to heart! read more

The feelings of Paarijat linger as an epiphany and the smoke and aroma of incense sticks welcome you into a dream land. Myriad Thanka paintings splash colors in your eyes and the melodious chants of the Buddhist monks add tranquility to your heart. Cafes and restaurants mushroom here all the year round as does the grass in the valley around Kathmandu. While drifting in these lanes of Thamel, you feel like Alice in Wonderland, discovering the magic of hand crafted wooden sculptures, pashminas and yak wool shawls. And meeting foreign tourists from all around the world, smiling and greeting you a "Namaste" will serenade you with the fragrance of Nepal, intoxicating one and all! -- Avijeet Das Amazing find in a strip center on San Pablo Blvd across from the natural grocery store. Authentic Nepalese/Tibetan food, no great views, but the meal was wonderful and soulful. We had the butter chicken with a Thali set. The sauces and sides were lovely, the roti and garlic naan perfect for dipping. Service was kind and friendly. The small restaurant has about 24 seats, it was busy on a late Sunday afternoon, there is a small beer and wine list. I've been missing out the last 4 years...highly recommended! read more

We have been to Little Kathmandu a few times now since we started going out to restaurants again last year, and I can't believe it has taken me until now to write about it. South Asian food is just about my favorite cuisine, and this place is one of the very best where I have had the pleasure of eating! Each dish is so distinct from all the others, with many different and sublime flavors... Many South Asian restaurants over-salt their food (I think to balance the bitter spices that many Americans may not be used to), but here the seasoning was absolutely perfect for us. Tonight we had the vegetarian thali, which was not only delicious but beautifully presented (we appreciated the decorative pea on the mound of rice, and the papadum rolled into a cone); for an appetizer we had the dahi puri, which are so delicate and subtle. And for all that, the prices are incredibly reasonable (based on our recent experience). Bonus for us is it is easy walking distance from our house, but I would drive a ways to get here if it weren't. It is an unassuming little place in a small strip mall, somewhat easy to miss - so look for it, don't miss it! read more

Great little hole in the wall. Service and food were great. All of my dishes were fresh and steaming hot, just how I like it! read more

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My cousin has a soft spot for Little Kathmandu and wanted to take me. After getting off work, we decided to have a cousin night out! The restaurant is small and not noticeable from the outside. Inside are several tables and homey Indian and Nepalese decor. We were one of the only customers but service was quite slow. It took a while for our food to come out and we weren't checked on for most of our meal. There are a few items I can always count on when trying a new Indian restaurant. One of those is Chicken Tikka Masala. I got it mild. The chicken was nicely sized but I felt the curry wasn't as robust. The spices weren't as present, the color was much lighter than I was used to, and it was quite heavy and creamy. My cousin had the Medium Chicken Butter Chicken, which was good. We enjoyed an order of Garlic Naan that we shared. What I liked was that our dishes came with rice and portions were well sized. It's nice to branch out, but I do prefer other Indian restaurants over Little Kathmandu. Located in the small shopping plaza, there's free parking in the lot. read more

Little Kathmandu - Garlic Naan - Indian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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This place is fantastic, small but clean. The staff and owner are friendly and attentive. Delicious food and fresh juice. Definitely will come back read more

Little Kathmandu may look like a simple takeout spot in the Cerrito Galleria, but it's a true hidden gem. Chef Kunsang Dorje, who came from Tibet nearly 20 years ago, serves a delicious mix of Nepalese, Tibetan, and Indian flavors. The vegetarian korma is rich yet light, the samosas are perfectly crisp, and the paneer naan is indulgent enough to be a meal. Don't miss the Mustang Aaloo, shabhaley dumplings, or the slow-cooked goat curry packed with Nepali spices like timur and jimbu. For dessert, the KTM Kulfi with cardamom and pistachio is the perfect finish. Warm decor, thoughtful touches, and friendly service make this small spot feel big in heart and flavor. read more

Little Kathmandu - Indian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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This place is amazing from little puri bowls that explode in your mouth to momos and butter chicken, it doesn't get any better. The Mustang style French fries are CRAZY good!!! This is our third time here and we are still finding new treasures. It's a hole in the wall atmosphere, but that just adds to the feeling that you have been transported to Nepal. Every time we have had the sweetest server that ensures our happiness and inspires us with theirs. read more

Little Kathmandu - Momos - Indian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

A nice little locals only Himalayan restaurant tucked into an unassuming strip mall, the food and service at Little Kathmandu are both absolutely stellar. I can't say enough good things about this place. Our server, Dawa, took fantastic care of us and everything was delicious. Highly recommend. read more

The flavors were really authentic to Nepal. Loved the quick service . Space was small & cozy. The momo jhol was however less than expected. Will be back soon again! read more

Little Kathmandu - Chicken Chowmein Chicken Chhoila Set - Indian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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Ordered 2 chicken and 1 beef momo and all 3 were not cooked thoroughly. The inside of the top of the momo were white raw and simply not cooked. So disappointed with this place. The bottom of the momos were over cooked and all soggy but the top was uncooked. I did not want to write this but this is simply a health hazard so i am compelled to write this. read more

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Small and quaint. Food is consistent and spiced accordingly. Aloo gobi comes with rice. Full sized naan. Staff is efficient. Good for takeout as well as eating in. Highly recommend. read more

Very nice staff with a nice interior. Food wise it was pretty mediocre. Nothing too special yet it wasn't terrible? A little bit expensive compared to its flavoring. Would I recommend? Maybe? But there are probably better Indian restaurants around. The naan was a good size and texture though. More on the bread like side. read more

We went there for a luncheon with 12 friends. None of them had been there before, and none had tried Nepalese or Indian cuisine before. The food was so good and the service was excellent & friendly. Six of my friends went back there again with their family and friends within the next two weeks. The restaurant is small, with cozy seating for about 20 people. So on a quiet day your group might have the place for a private meal together all to yourselves as we did. And the prices are so reasonable that it makes dining out more accessible and enjoyable. Definitely a must-try small neighborhood restaurant. You'll be back, too! read more

I Had Dinner & Lunch at this place for several times . I totally love their Service & food very much . Very Tasty Delicious & very reasonable rate compare to so many Restaurants. I recommend to everyone to try this place . I am sure you won't regret . You will surely love their service & Foods believe me read more

First time , Standard seating - normal seats , not too comfortable . C Service - no complain , friendly , little language barriers but all good. B+ Food - Good flavors , nothing unique very standard plates options . The chicken Momo was good , I mixed the Lamb Vandaloo sauce with the Momo and I preferred that sauce over the original Momo Sauce. The Chai was better than many other location near by. Overall . C+ read more

Little Kathmandu - Masala Tea , Lamb Vindaloo - Indian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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The food is incredible here - best butter chicken I've ever had! More than that, the service was excellent. Staff were attentive and friendly. I highly recommend! read more

Have you noticed the concentration of Nepalese restaurants there are in Albany, North Berkeley, and El Cerrito? There must be a long-standing community of Nepali expats in the area, and they certainly know how to cook because all of the places I've tried are quite good. That includes this compact spot located in a nondescript San Pablo Avenue strip mall at Stockton. In fact, I haven't set foot in here yet as I had my food delivered. I've had a love affair with Nepal ever since I visited over two decades ago when I was younger and more adventurous. I remember having delicious, inexpensive meals in Kathmandu and at stops on the Annapurna circuit. This is the kind of comfort food they make here, and I guess the GrubHub guy was my sherpa. I started with the $9.95 Veggie Momos, which was definitely a generous order of ten handmade dumplings filled with a mix of minced vegetables and seasonings. It was accompanied by a chutney dipping sauce (photo: https://bit.ly/39todfC). The $16.95 Goat Thali was a nice selection of Nepalese specialties starting with a savory goat curry and mixed vegetables accompanied by dal makhani, yogurt with rice, chili sauce, paneer, papadum, and jasmine rice (photo: https://bit.ly/3F31XFd). It was literally a movable feast that I quite enjoyed. To me, Nepalese food is earthier and less spicy than Indian cuisine, and sometimes that's exactly what I want. FOOD - 4 stars...Nepalese specialties prepared with care AMBIANCE - n/a...it was a delivery, I'll stop by sometime SERVICE - 4 stars...everything was well packaged TOTAL - 4 stars...makes me want to return to the real Kathmandu RELATED - Exploring El Cerrito? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2VyCP18 read more

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I've been here four times now, and the food is consistently as good as or better than any other Indian or Nepali restaurant in the larger Berkeley area (I've lived here 26 years, so have tried a lot of them.) Recommend very highly. read more

Ordered the Lamb Rogan Josh with Garlic Naan and the Chicken Tikka Masala with Garlic Naan. The curries come with rice, but I added Garlic Naan which usually goes great with curries. Going to start with what I recommend that you do not order. The chicken Tikka Masala was mediocre at best. It was way too cream heavy, the curry tasted like cream and not enough spices making it bland. It was more of a cream than a curry and the chicken was very tough. However, I really liked the Lamb Rogan Josh. Very tasty and flavorful, went great with both rice and the garlic naan. read more

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Due to the pandemic, I will be removing criteria that I had added to my reviews, such as restaurant ambience, mood, and wait time. This review will only focus on the dish. Quick Summary: - Not so spicy, from someone who has a low spice toleance. - Content and full after the meal - Chicken was tender and juicy It was late in the evening, an usual time at our house to have dinner. The places we wanted to try were near closing, so after quick discussion, we decided to find and eat at somewhere new, and that was when we stumbled upon this restaurant. We ordered a couple of our favorites such as the momo and the pakora, and the biryani. We also tried the Thali, which is a dish with a lot of side dishes and sauces. The sauces arrived in individual containers. It was cute to see all of the boxes and containers emerging from the delivery bags. I loved how each dish had different textures and flavors. I, who love dark green vegetables, liked the one that sauteed greens. It went well with the chicken curry dish I also ate. The momo here was very delicious! We got the chicken, so the inside was juicy and packed with meat. I really enjoyed the sauces that came along with the momo; we loved the one with the light orange color. I have a low spice tolerance, but most of the dishes we tried were just right. It wasn't so spicy that I find myself reaching for a glass of water. However, there was one sauce that was pretty spicy, and that was the dark green colored one. That one made me cough a few times. Overall, it was a fabulous dinner delivery food experience, and I would love to visit here in person to try the dishes. read more

Little Kathmandu - Indian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

Just had Little Kathmandu cater our daughter's high school graduation party. What a treat. They were a joy to work with, very responsive and accommodating. The food was delicious and may I add extremely plentiful, although we definitely over ordered on the number of dishes but we had different palates to please, ok and we love variety. I received lots of compliments about the food and each person seemed to like a different dish, which to me means that it was all delicious. Our guests asked us where we catered the food from because they wanted to go there in the future. Honestly we couldn't be happier and the other restaurants we reached out to either didn't even respond at all to both our voicemail and email inquiry or were a bit inflexible and significantly more expensive for less. For me the only downside was that I ate way too much! We would definitely use them again in the future. read more

For the dishes we tried-- butter chicken, lamb biryani, and garlic naan-- fantastic and good sized portions (lamb biriyani was huge btw!)! Also, when I order a curry/saucy type dish and it comes with rice, that is ALWAYS a win! Overall, 4/5 Will definitely come back and try more items! read more

Little Kathmandu - Butter Chicken and Garlic Naan - Indian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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Great customer service went above and beyond. Delicious food. The ambiance was peaceful. read more

I WISH I TOOK PICS OF THE FOOD!!! It was sooooo amazing!!!! This was my family and I's first time with this type of cuisine and it DID NOT DISAPPOINT!!! My daughter is a picky eater and even she had 2nds and 3rds!!!! This will definitely be a new staple in our home!! We ordered take out so I don't have any notes on the restaurant environment but the customer service over the phone was EXCELLENT!!! We will be back! read more

Little Kathmandu - Indian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

I ordered the chicken Thali. The six pieces of chicken were nugget style with a bone the center of each piece. There was so little actual chicken that it seemed a parody. There was nothing on the tray that stood out. Noticeably silly was the half inch thick slice of raw carrot that was so tough and dry that it challenged one to attempt to eat it. I was the only guest in the restaurant and that should have warned me to leave. read more

Nice, local restaurant we frequent for tasty Indian food. The curries have a lot of depth of flavor.

I LOVE grubbing this food! I forgot to take pictures of all the other stuff I've ordered and loved on other occasions, I recommend the saag paneer, chicken dishes are all so good! I got the chicken shush kebab, it was not what I expected but once I started eating it was even better!! The spices made Me feel all healthy!! The carrots and veg were cooked perfectly and juices! I took a picture so warming and filling I need to try momos read more

Little Kathmandu - Chicken Shish Kebab - Indian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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Awful experience today. They told me the order was ready, then when I arrived they told me (rudely) that it would be at least 15 more minutes and I would have to wait. I have no idea why they told me my order was ready when it wasn't. I had a tight timeline to pick up my food before a shift and as a result I'm now going hungry at my job. So disappointing. read more

Food is AMAZING!! Fresh!! Delicious!! Service is on time and with a smile. Love the ambiance. Love the music and videos playing inside the restaurant. Go there!! You'll enjoy it! read more

Noticed the old Vietnamese place had shut down and was replaced by Little Kathmandu, and determined to give it a try. After all, it's Friday, the week's work is mostly done and a a good curry is kind of traditional for we Brits. It's a small place, a few nice table and chairs but was empty when I popped in late. That's no surprise, it's new and people are still a bit iffy about eating out. Went for the veg pakora, a garlic naan and a lamb rogan josh, which is always a crapshoot in the Bay Area since everyone seems to interpret it differently. In the case of Little Kathmandu it was a surprise, but a very pleasant one. First off, the pakora, while small, were plentiful. Honestly prefer this to big lumps for sharing purposes and they were well cooked but on the right side of crispy.. The traditional sauces were OK generic stuff. The naan was gorgeous, a fluffy pillow of garlic-dotted goodness that tore easily and mopped up juices as intended. At first glance the lamb wasn't what I was expecting, a tad green and watery compared to the thick tomato-based dish I grew up on. But the taste was something else, tangy and sharp with a lovely depth of flavour and well cooked lamb that was soft and tasty. It comes with rice so no need to order extra. Right now my stomach wants to cuddle me all night and the tongue still tingles nicely. This is a good addition to the neighbourhood. read more

Little Kathmandu - Lamb rogan josh, pakora and garlic naan. - Indian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

Have eaten here several times. Food is delicious and reasonably priced. We love the momo, tikka masala, vegetarian thali...