I don't give 5 stars lightly, but Sanjay and his Himalayan restaurant deserve it. To say the food is a little like indian food doesn't do it justice. The spices are more subtle and nuanced, and there's plenty of dishes you cannot find anywhere else. Service is top notch, and the staff are both knowledgeable and attentive. I've been coming here since it opened, and I have pretty much eaten my way through the entire menu. I find it safe to say there is not a single bad dish on the menu. If you are of a vegetarian bent, go for the Nepalese Tarkari, get an order of garlic bread to go with. read more

I have to say if you are craving for hot spicy flavourful food, this is the place to be. The Buffet that I have been to was exceptional. We were seated we a glass of water - they cu-cumbered the water to alkalize the palate, prepare you for the spiciness to come. Spontaneous Staff, both kitchen and service, Kitchen staff always would make sure the buffet are topped up and ready. I have to Plus +++ this on - the buffet came with a serving of Naan bread. I have to say there is nothing I can find that is less than my expectation. Kudos to the newly renovated interior and ambiance, I find the washroom has a nice clean and exquisite feeling, comes with a handicap access as well. Showmanship to the owner Sanjay who bothered to introduce himself. read more

Nepalese cuisine: still don't understand exactly what I ate but I like it! A totally different type of culinary experience within Calgary than what is normal. I had one of the traditional dishes so I could try a bunch of different things and I have to say it was all delicious. I chose the lamb as my meat and it was very good. Look at everyone else's reviews that say essentially the same. Make a reservation and try it out! read more

Drum roll... Finally, here's my lunch buffet review: the boys and I were here on a Sunday afternoon and we were thankful that we made reservations. The restaurant was packed with hungry diners! Kudos to the kitchen staff, servers and Sanjay for their impeccable service and efficiency (the buffet was constantly being filled with fresh food). The buffet offerings this time were: pappadums, saffron rice, Machhako Jhol (tender morsels of fried basa in a perfectly spiced tomato and onion based mustard sauce), mushrooms and peas, Kathmandu vegetables (cauliflower, chickpeas and potatoes), Chau Chau (flour noodles stir-fried with cabbage, carrots, peppers and soy sauce), Jheneko Dal (lentils), Lamb with daikon (a mildly spiced and delicious lamb stew), butter chicken (melt-in-your-mouth boneless chicken pieces in a ginger, tomato and cashew nut sauce), pickled carrots and radishes, garden green salad, mango tapioca pudding, rice pudding, and fruit salad. Their mango mois are always excellent--very creamy and not too sweet. We were so full afterwards (we came in at 12:30pm) that we had no room for dinner!! read more

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We went to this place after reading the stellar yelp reviews and the many mentions of the care they take in preparing food for celiacs. We were not disappointed, the food was generally excellent, with all 5 of us being very impressed with our mains. I went with the vegetarian Dal Bhat, which I only got about half way through (it was huge and very tasty, though the dal was a bit bland). The mango rice pudding and chai (which wasn't too cinnamon-ie) were both fantastic. The service was excellent, with the staff being very careful to mention which items had wheat in them. My only real complaint was with the momos - we went with the pork momos but even flavorful pork could't elevate these. I know momos aren't supposed to be popping with flavor, but I think the herb/meat/aromatic mixture stands to be optimized. All in all, you should definitely check out The Himalayan. read more

Finally, got to try the lunch buffet at The Himalayan. I had a $2.00 coupon and could use it for the lunch buffet. There was a line-up at the door before 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. I had made reservations and am glad I did. Fresh naan bread was brought to the table. The buffet was nicely laid out with popaddums, saffron rice with cubed carrots and peas, vege dish, lentil (almost like a soup), eggplant & chicken; fish in a nice spicy mustard seed sauce, chicken in a cashew red sauce, salad bar, pakora, interesting condiments of mint & yogurt, mango hot sauce, and desserts of halva, mango rice pudding and fresh cut fruits like guava, papaya & pineapple with yogurt and shredde coconut. Everything was good. Just missing the spice. Really, good customer service. They have a watchful eye and remove dirty dishes once you've finished a plate and go for seconds, thirds??!! Limited parking space in the strip mall. I learnt that the restaurant will be closed for renovation at the end of May 2014 for 2 months. So if you like The Himalayan, you'd better get there fast before it closes down for renos! read more

Overall amazing! Great food, slightly on the more expensive side, but worth it! NOTE: Make sure to call to make reservations! They do have two open tables from 1700-1730 that don't require a reservation, but otherwise they are flat out booked for the rest of the night. Great place, highly recommend. read more

This was my first time coming to this restaurant and I must say I was very impressed. There service here is excellent and our waiter was very helpful in choosing the meal and he was honest in his recommendations. The location also matched the service; excellent. I love spicy food so this place worked for me but worry not you can always order a mild dish and just enjoy the flavors your own way! I will for sure be back this was an extremely pleasant experience. one note: MAKE RESERVATIONS. by chance I made some of a Monday night and if I hadn't we wouldn't have eaten! read more

One word: homely! Everything about this restaurant is homely - the decor, the service and the food. I went for the lunch buffett alone and ended up sitting in the bar. The decor immediately struck me. I could have easily been sitting in a friend's kitchen and not a commercial establishment because of the warmth of the interior and furnishings. Service was quick and politely friendly. I've had mixed experiences sitting in a restaurant bar and most times it's that you get a little ignored/overlooked. Not here. The server was very attentive for the duration of my meal. On to the meal. It was your typical small buffet with around 6 meat based offerings, one rice dish, several vegetable dishes and a couple of dessert offerings. I've never tried Nepali food and was surprised at the similarities with Indian cuisine. Some dishes were hard to figure out because they were not labelled/translated but I still enjoyed everything I tried. Note: the food described as spicy IS authentic spicy Loved this little nook. It's a little out of my way but if I'm ever in the area, it's on my go-to list. I'd dock half a star for the inadequacy of the unreserved parking spots but... read more

Very quaint clean nice staff nice owner good food will recommend always Limited on parking but still an overall great experience to go to this restaurant read more

The Himalayan is one of my favorite restaurants. The pakoras are awesome. Nice to mix in with my Indian, Thai and Veitnamese rotation.

This restaurant is all that other reviewers said It was. Delicious food and excellent service in a comfortable atmosphere. Highly recommended. read more

Tried it for dinner based on the reviews, was not disappointed. Friendly, attentive service. Had the pork momo (dumplings) and spinach Tarkari with lamb, both were very good. My son had the Thuk-pa soup, loved it. My wife tried grilled lamb and she, too was pleased. We'll be back! read more

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Friday night, after many recommendations from friends we ventured to The Himalayan. It was incredible! Great service, delicious food and a fantastic selection for GF/Vegetarian food. I had the Hot Vegetable Chatpat and boyfriend had the chicken dumplings with rice. So delicious, fair prices. Will DEFINITELY go back! read more

I went there based on yelp reviews.. And I have to say that the reviews were right!,.. Everything was delicious there!,.. Since the appetizers to the desserts!!... in Addition The service was excellent!,.. Also, the prices are very good... and the place is beautiful... If you enjoy exotic food, you shouldn't miss this place... I definitely recommend this place, and I will definitely go back there soon... read more

Oh so delicious. First time I went here, maybe a year ago, it was almost empty. Last week, packed and reservations required - apparently lots of people are finding this gem! I don't know much about the difference between Himalayan and, say, Indian, food - but I do know that this is flavourful, fullsome and delicious food. It seems to be family run, which is always nice. The naan was excellent, along with the chicken spinach dish I had (forget the name). Everything else looked excellent as well! read more

Friends of ours made reservations here and I'm absolutely thrilled to have another fabulous cultural experience in Calgary under my belt. I love the decor and the fact that the restaurant has limited seating. It allows for a quieter dining experience which is manageable with a larger group. I hate yelling while I eat. The Pork Momo is a great starter and I could have eaten the dipping sauce with a spoon. I tried the Chicken Mango Fruity and while I expected something different (like actual mango chunks, I suppose), I still really enjoyed the dish and would order it again in a heartbeat. Both breads may have been the best I've ever had in a restaurant and I could make a meal out of a few pounds of that alone. I can't wait to return and try other dishes, as each and every one looked enticing. I'm also excited to bring out-of-town company here. read more

Such delicious food. Had the Chili Stir Fry fish. Very flavorful! I'd easily give this place 5 stars. But it's bit pricey, portions are on the smaller side (esp given the price), and there service not good. They messed up our order (got the wrong type of meat) and then constantly blamed us for it. I was certain we stated "chili stir fry" fish, but nope, he was adamant we wanted the chicken. It was really unnecessary and not sure what the server was trying to prove by being so stubborn about it. I know this place gets really busy so keep that in mind. read more

I can not rave enough about this place!! We have been 3 times and have enjoyed every dish we have ordered. The naan bread is the best I have ever had! The service is awesome! They have a great beer selection! Literally everything is great about this place! I will say that if you are looking to go MAKE A RESERVATION they book up fast!!! read more

This place never fails to impress us as a family. Always on the spot in everything they do. Love their "Thali" and how they manage to create several dishes with different base sauces is amazing and true authentic way of doing it. Most IIndian/Pakistani/Nepali places use one or two base sauces for their majority of dishes which makes the taste of most dishes very similar - not The Himalayan. If you want to have great experience relishing multiple awesome dishes go for this place - you won't be disappointed. read more

Well got dragged here again . The food quality here is very good . Couple of complaints mind you today at the lunch buffet the temp in the restaurant was sweltering once I was all sweaty I downloaded a app to check the temp and it was 34 deg c . Tho I think they just turned on the ac because it started to cool rapidly. Now for the gross part , some knuckle dragger in a suit went up to the buffet line with a dirty plate the waitress attemp5ed to stop him and get him to use a clean one but he declined . I know she was trying to be polite but this is one instance where the customer is not right . All in all decent food . read more

Best Indian/Nepali food in whole Calgary area. Food is authentic, as close as possible to Nepal. The owner is very nice and he take cares of customer with care. Make sure you reserve in advance otherwise you will be disappointed. This place gets booked very fast. We made reservation for us all days while visiting Calgary and the owner was very kind to give us the best table every day! read more

One of my favourite Asian restaurants in the area. It is definitely a unique taste and something that everyone should try once. Nepalese food, as I'm led to believe, is a bit of a mix between East Indian, Chinese, and other Asian influences. The result are some truly spectacular dishes that offer a variety of flavours. The restaurant itself is quite small, so I would recommend making a reservation beforehand. During the evenings, the place does get filled up quickly and you can wait up to 1 hour for a table, but it's well worth it. Service is okay. On the two occasions that I've been here, the servers were not overly friendly nor were they very helpful with the menu. That being said, the owner came out to welcome us and to answer some of our food-related questions. Also, the staff were very quick and grabbed us extra utensils quickly after we asked. In regards to the food, I would definitely recommend trying their Mo:Mos. They are this unique mixing of Chinese soup dumplings with a curry-like sauce. Definitely a must try! The only issue is that they give you only 3!! Not nearly enough, since they are just so tasty! I would also recommend getting their DalBhat dish, which is like a sampler plate of their more popular/traditional dishes. It is a good place to start. I would also recommend their mango fruity (with either the chicken or shrimp - both are good!), which has a very rich sweet & savory sauce that is fabulous. We also have had their chau chau, which is a stir-fried noodle dish, similar to Shanghai chow mien. In terms of pricing, I think things are reasonably priced. Some dishes are a little smaller than expected, but I honestly think they are worth the price given that they are so flavourful! Definitely one of my favourite restaurants in the area! read more

Delicious food and great service! We highly recommend this place. The momos, grill plates and noodle dishes are delicious! Make sure to make a reservation as the lines can be long. read more

Oh why had I not discovered this place before! The food, the service and the ambience were all yummy! Make reservations if you are not sure, since it can get quite busy. And, don't tell anyone else, let's keep this hidden secret to ourselves! read more

The Himalayan is a cozy restaurant with a diverse menu. To start we ordered: the cottage cheese choyla. It's cubed cottage cheese with spices and herbs---has a spongy texture, really flavorful. The pork mo mo--essentially a pork dumpling served with nice tomato dipping sauce. The Fish Tareko, a chick pea battered basa served with a their house hot sauce. Warning, hot sauce is very spicy, but so good. For my main I order the Himalayan Lamb. Comes with a chick pea salad, rice and naan bread. It's a saucy dish, great for dipping and eating with rice. A friend ordered the traditional plate, which had a little of everything, a great way to sample flavors. The Saag (spinach in creamy sauce) was AMAZING, a must try. read more

The Himalayan - Fish Tareko, pork mo mo, Cottage Choyla - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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Hands down the best meal out I've had in years. Starting with the smile when I walked in, to the helpful suggestions of the knowledgable wait staff this was a phenomenal experience. Incredibly fresh ingredients, unbelievably tasty food and a chef who obviously (my dinner companion kept referencing sex for the palate) cares. I immediately bought gift certificates and left a big tip. I'll be back many times now that I know a place with this calibre of food exists. read more

The family, the service and the food is absolutley consistent and amazing after weekly dinners there for two years. Amazing on all fronts. Delicious read more

Fantastic Indian / Himalayan food. I was a frequent guest of this place when it was near 17 th Ave and 14 th street and it continues to be one of Calgary's greatest hidden gems. Great owner. Great food. Amazing staff. Exceptional value for your money as well. The only drawback is that the parking lot can get a little busy at times...otherwise the food and experience is out of this world! read more

Let me start with service which was amazing! Roopa was our server. Very attentive. We had himaliyan Lamb and fish stir fry. Both excellent l. Ambiance is very relaxing. Our first stop in Calgary food wise. I'll definitely bring my friends here. read more

The Himalayan - Himalayan Lamb and Fish stir fry both were excellent - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

Super good!! I've never had Himalayan food but was very impressed! They have great service and everyone is really nice! Definitely would recommend! read more

My family took me here for Mother's Day and it was their first time here. I came here when they used to have a lunch buffet which was the best ever! But sadly, they no longer have it. It was a very busy night and thankfully we got our reservations ! It's located in a strip mall and parking may be hard on a busy night and you have to find parking on side street. We each ordered an entree so we can share. We found that it was enough to feed 6 adults. We ordered an order of pork dumplings (pork mono) to start with a plate of garlic naan bread. Both were tasty and that bread came piping hot & fresh to our table! We each had either the fragrant coconut rice or the saffron rice . Most of the dishes ordered came with one or the other rice choices. We had the Himalayan grill entree with chunks of grilled lamb, a Chow chow noodle dish with shrimp, Butter chicken (my fav), mango fruity with shrimp dish, spinach dish with tomato & chicken and a mixed veggie dish. We asked for mild or medium spice level which was perfect. Of course we had to get another order of that most delicious naan again! Everyone enjoyed this wonderful meal and to end it, the couples each shared the pretty creamy mango rice puddings and one had a cheese type dessert. We all relaxed with the fragrant soothing chai teas and it was the best Mother's Day meal enjoyed by all of us! read more

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Places like Himalayan do not need a review; strongly holding the #2 spot among all of Calgary restaurants with their gourmet food, amazing ambiance and cordial service. The place was simply packed on Saturday night, the staff was on their toes and the owner was personally greeting the guests and apologizing for wait time. About the food - what can I say, the best momos I have ever eaten, absolutely melt in the mouth and steamed to perfection. Momos are very labor intensive, most places that make them don't offer vegetarian options and either under or over cook them. We also ordered their Paneer chili entrée and Chau Chau noodles. The noodles were great, probably the best fired tofu I have had in there. The chili paneer was average at best, I was not a big fan of their naan, rice or nepali salad. I was expecting higher prices given the ambiance and hype, but to my surprise, very reasonable (compared to US). 8 momos just for CA$7. Entrees were CA$15-16 but came with rice, naan and salad. read more

The Himalayan - Veg Hakka - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

An old favourite of ours. My husband brought me here for a birthday surprise not long ago and it was even better than the years before! They have expanded their restaurant!!!! I was so happy for the business, and even more happy to have a better chance at getting a table. The food is always amazing. Did not receive the usual small appie at the beginning of our meal; chips and two types of sauces, left more room to devour my meal :). read more

I'm a vegetarian and there are so many vegetarian options here! The food is great and are filling/satisfying. I got the vegetarian chatpot that came with naan, basmati rice, and a potato salad side which was really good! I took home some leftovers because it really filled me up. My boyfriend really liked the grilled lamb dish as well! Mango lassi was pretty good too. Service was fast as well read more

Was in Calgary for a day and stumbled upon this gem of a place. We ordered the cottage cheese choyla, dal bhaat, himalayan tofu, garlic veggies and tofu chau chau. Everything was delicious and authentic. They even serve the traditional chili powders, if you request them to. We got the highest spice level and were not disappointed! Would definitely be a regular if I was living in Calgary read more

Great food been going here for a few years, miss the lunch buffet though. We usually order take out due to our proximity and love the chicken chatpat and chicken chau chau Meow medium spice Also butter chicken, garlic chicken, and chicken grill is all goods no idea if i spelled them correctly Worth checking out - call early or a day before for reservations or be a boss and order take out with a 10% discount read more

Just recently renovated, this 'new' version has added at least 1/3 more seats and will likely have shorter line-ups nor have to turn away customers without reservations. The Nepalese staff are well-informed and super helpful. The decor is quite appealing with enough stuffed furniture and wall paintings to depict the Himalayas and other Nepali cultural features. As first-comers, we tried the chicken-del platter and one of the authentic fish dishes, and were quite taken by the spice combinations and intersecting flavours that were quite wonderful. Next time we ordered a singular non-platter chicken dish, a veggie dish and the same fish. All in all, what a treat! As a foodie and as knowing a few other great restaurants in town, we had a measuring stick a la palate, price and quantity to go by (eg. Raj Palace south Indian food on Harvest Hills/Country Hills area near the T&T chinese supermarket, and Bon-ga Korean house in China Town), and found The Himalayan close to their standards. Would we return? We did a few times, and slowly came to the realization that the spices were less to our liking than our original take, and that the portions tend to be on the small side. Do not stay away, however, but check it our for yourself. As its flavours are milder than southern Indian, for instance, perhaps it will likely be added to your list of restaurants of choice any day of the week. read more

Good Indian food in Calgary. If you are used to Indian food please order their spicy food. Spicy is actually medium. Good ambience and good service. Friendly staff. We got Chicken Dal shared between 2. It had naan bread, lentil daal, chicken curry, rice, coffee. Good for 2 to share. read more

We have dined at Himalayan twice, and each time was good: Amazing and knowledgeable service and very tasty food.Surprisingly, the server we had both times remembered us. read more