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    Himalayan Cafe

    3.8 (703 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 9:30 pm

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    HIMALAYAN CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Himalayan Cafe

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    Lamb
    Kim T.

    First things first. Parking was a breeze. Enter off Green Dr if you can. $1/2hrs. Huzzah! In Pasadena?! Anyway, you can see what we had in the photos. We also had chicken tandoori but I forgot to take the photo. It was stunning. Everything was delicious and well prepared. Service was an A+! Will be back!!

    Bread basket
    Stevo O.

    I had a Groupon that expired this evening, so had to use it or lose it. Fortunately, the food was decent and worthy of my $68 coupon. Service was a little slow, and the tea not what I was expecting, but when in Rome...

    Garlic Naan

    First time coming here and it was delicious. I didn't realize till after ordering that it was near closing. They weren't trying to rush us out and all the food was hot and delicious. Our total four 4 plates, Himalayan tea, 2 rices, 2 naans(1 garlic and 1 onion), a soup, and 2 orders of samosas came out to about $120. I don't think that was too bad for the amount of food ordered and we took some home. I would definitely come back and get the Paneer Tikki and the Onion Naan. It was the best naan I've had so far. I really liked the blue on the walls. It was nice and different. The whole restaurant was beautifully decorated. I know I went right before they closed but I hope it's packed during the day. I feel like I found a tasty gem

    Regular Naan (good already, but we also enjoy the Garlic Naan for a bit more flavor!)

    I first tried this restaurant about 2 months ago after having it bookmarked for a while, and it has quickly become a family favorite - we have been back maybe 5 times already since then ! And it's not easy to make a new family favorite - a place that appeals to multiple tastes and priorities. Great taste - amazing spices and seasoning; all the meat is tender; the curry entrees come with a heaping personal bowl of rice; the naan is excellent, flaky and fresh right out of the oven; the prices are good compared with other similar restaurants I've been to; the staff are so friendly; I like the unique Nepalese decorations; I like how the ambiance is usually chill, not too busy; and the location is very convenient - in the heart of Old Town Pasadena, walkable within all the other sights and parking structure. Some dishes our family enjoys: -Samasa Chat: I like to call this "Nepalese loaded nachos" - it's got a few triangles of fried, flaky dough (samasa), topped with a tangy, richly spiced chutney of chickpeas, diced onions, and some crunchy bits. Lots of fun textures, flavor, and a nice small/medium-sized shareable appetizer. Just fyi, there is more of the chutney than the dough triangles. So we end up eating the extra chutney with the naan :) I did like Samasa Chat as an appetizer more than Vhel Purl, just my preference.. the latter seemed saltier and I do like the fried dough pieces in the former. -Paneer Tikka Masala (ofc chicken is good/classic too) - omg this sauce. It reminds me of Italian vodka sauce bc both combine the tang and body of tomatoes with a creamy base. Whenever I order this my family members are always dipping into it during the meal :P Paneer is fun if you've never had it - it's cheese, but honestly the texture feels like firm tofu. -Lamb Tikka - comes out on a sizzling plate, and the portion of meat is pretty decent for a single serving. The lambs are cubed into these nice chunks, tender, with a ton of flavor. -Salmon Tikka - same presentation as the lamb. The salmon is super tender, less salted than the lamb, but still flavorful. We've been consistently happy here! Thank you :)

    Mango Lassi, Napali Thali, Tandoori Chicken, Chow Mein
    Julie V.

    We were craving Indian food and decided to finally stop by this place since we always pass by in Downtown Pasadena. It's a small, family-owned restaurant that serves authentic dishes. We ordered the tandoori chicken, chow mein, nepali thali, and mango lassi. Every dish was packed with bold, flavorful spices, and the portions were generous, great for sharing. Our favorites were the tandoori chicken, which was tender and juicy, and the nepali thali, especially the soft naan paired with the variety of sauces. The mango lassi was also good. This spot definitely satisfied our craving!

    Anisha D.

    We were debating between All India Cafe and here and decided to try this out. I was excited to try the paneer tikka masala and chicken vindaloo. It beyond met my expectations !! The paneer was delicious and my daughter loved it. The garlic naan was soft and really good. The chicken vindaloo was spicy but well cooked. Moreover, I would call the ingredients are super flavorful ! It made each bite worth it. I also got a side of raita to help with the spicy kick. My husband got a chicken thali and chai. The presentation was well-done as well as the feel of the restaurant. I loved the decor and Ganeshji murthis. And I loved the service. Tilak was super kind, patient and well-informed. He was very nice to our daughter and did an excellent job. We need more Tilaks!!!! I would love to come back again soon. I highly recommend ! 5/5 !!!

    Vegetable samosas
    Michelle O.

    We ordered vegetable samosas, tandoori chicken and naan. Delicious food. Terrific service. We will dine here again next time we're in Pasadena.

    Christiani S.

    Amazing food and great service!!! Came on a whim and had a lovely evening here :) prices are reasonable too!

    Chicken Biryani
    Jessica T.

    Wow! I've lived in the Pasadena area my whole life and this was my first time here. Been missing out! It's a hole in the wall that easily gets lost in the hustle and bustle of Old Town. It's right near the parking structure, so it's easy to find. This gem is definitely something. At first glance, it may seem small, quiet, and empty. But don't let that deter you from entering and enjoying a wonderful meal. The waiter was very friendly and helpful as we decided on what to eat. For dinner, I got the Chicken Biryani in a mild. Warning: It is spicy, but oh-so good. It hit the spot as it was very flavorful. Would recommend if you like spicy! We also got some garlic naan for the table. The bread was a great side and it was delicious to dip in the Chicken Tiki Masala sauce, which someone else on the table got. It's worth a try, especially if you want something different.

    Chicken soup
    Jennifer T.

    Delicious Indian food. The chicken soup sure hit the spot on a cool evening. The blue interior wall had a very calming effect in the atmosphere. Service is good and the staff were helpful in explaining each dish.

    Hot Himalayan Masala Tea
    Hailey C.

    Very cool ambiance and lovely service. Food is also very flavorful and reasonably priced, especially their lunch specials. Must try their garlic naan and chicken momo! The chutney sauce is very delicious. Also the samosa chaat with chickpeas is good! Lots of flavors including a tamarind sauce, yogurt sauce and spices. The chai is also good, they offer sugar on the side if you want to adjust the sweetness. Parking lot is next door for one one dollar for 2 hours.

    Dining Area
    Robin C.

    Stepping into this intimate space feels like you are being transported to Nepal. The decor is beautiful and the server was very nice. I made a to go order this includes the Tandoori mixed grill that includes bone-in chicken, boneless chicken breast, lamb and shrimp. The FLAVOR was amazing and all meats were tender [I did have one shrimp that was over cooked]. The food was cooked to order and very fresh. I also ordered the garlic Naan which had very good flavor. Because I ordered to go, I think the packaging steamed my Naan and it was a bit too moist for my liking. I will come back to dine in for the full experience.

    Menu - Tandoori Specialties, Roti (06/05/23). @HimalayanCafePasadena #Pasadena #HimalayanFood
    Jeff B.

    (Took Out 06/05/23 MO @ 5:00pm): One day I hoped to visit the Himalayas, but for now this cafe and its food would have to do! I've had Himalayan Cafe on my radar for several years, so when a meeting finished up nearby and I needed something for dinner, I took it as a sign. I've only had Himalayan cuisine once before many years ago (oddly enough also in Pasadena!) while I loved and had Indian food multiple times. It was the food's aroma that instantly pulled me in later to be taken over by the various flavors and spices. Would Himalayan Cafe take me to new heights of eating enjoyment!? PURCHASE Taj Mahal Premium Lager Beer 22floz Bottle ($9.00): Rich amber color, bready honey malty aroma, light body, bready honey malty flavor, crisp finish, and honey malty sweet aftertaste - a nice beer. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=riYsy3drzU-jZEf0Usr8XA&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw Aloo Naan ($5.00): Unleavened flour bread stuffed with mashed potatoes and spices, this was a light appetizer for me as I dunked torn pieces into the provided dipping sauces https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=Tkpf68P-vwtk_JWsNzfoow&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw for extra flavor. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=y3gqPpq9Jy46Im0mnjXdfg&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw Chau Mine Chicken ($12.00): Homemade stir-fried noodles, bite-size pieces of chicken, and mixed vegetables served with various chutneys, I never associated noodles with this type of cuisine which drew me to this dish. It reminded me of chow mein with obvious Indian aroma and spices, the portion size was big, and there were plenty of chicken pieces - it was a truly delightful dish! https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=tNifphwhYfJBOSrBPMZ84Q&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw Nepali Thali Special Lamb ($21.00): A combination platter that came with black lentil soup, seasonal vegetables, seasoned lamb, saffron basmati rice, and various chutneys served with butter naan. I was somewhat disappointed by the small portion sizes. Yes, everything tasted very good and the lamb was so flavorful and tender, but I was left wanting more for the paid price. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=r3wyORZMEulkuwLqwNDIcA&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw Mango Lassi 12floz Drink ($5.00): I always ordered this as a dessert whenever possible although it quite possible could've stood in as a meal on its own. This had a subtle mango flavor sweetness, a touch of soothing cardamom, and a slight velvety texture. It was good... and it helped to clear me out the next morning! https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=4pMD8FYtJZ9GRLCBAV-dSQ&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw SERVICE I was greeted by two charming young men behind the counter who quickly tended to my takeout order. There was only one family dining at the time, so I basically had their undivided attention. Will they worked on my order, I was kindly provided with water https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=VYSKv9oxItYM1C-VeudVUw&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw while I waited. About fifteen minutes later, my order was all securely wrapped up and ready. All was easy-peasy - Dhan'yavāda! PARKING (Varied; FREE this instance) I found a spot down at the corner of Green St. and simply crossed the street. Otherwise, there were plenty of parking structures all throughout the area as well as timed parking (read posted signs) along the main drag of Fair Oaks Ave. and all surrounding streets - 'nuff said. ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE A decent-sized space with many dining chairs/tables, soothing dark blue walls and light brown-painted plank walls, respectively, while tasteful cultural decorations and ornaments were hung on the walls. Plenty of natural lighting entered through the many windows and doors while recessed electric ceiling lights filled in the rest. There were no TVs while low-volumed music played in the background. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=1xaf6DHtYihbH0F81QhvAg&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw ATTIRE Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. OVERALL I was happy to finally try Himalayan Cafe and would consider another visit to further explore their sizable menu. Everything tasted fine, but next time I might try something more familiar to alleviate any further disappointment at least when it came to portion size. The prices were comparable, and the service was efficient. And, whenever possible I liked to support small family-owned and/or local businesses. I found very good value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $57.00 BEFORE any discounts and/or tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 4.0 STARS

    Chicken Korma, Chicken Marsala, Garlic Naan

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    2 years ago

    Good food, service was awesome and the ambiance is chill and comfortable with relaxing music playing in the background.

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    1 year ago

    Great atmosphere. These people know what they are doing. A little salty but is flavor town. Would recommend!

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Very good tandoori platter! The paneer korma was delicious! Very welcoming. Was told that I was handsome!

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    1 year ago

    This is some of the best Indian food I've ever had. Great service as well. Love this place!

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    Page 2 of 18

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