This is a long-overdue review for a place that is a part of the regular repertoire when I don't feel like cooking. Over the last few years, I've worked my way through nearly the entire menu and brought numerous guests here; every single one has left impressed. The interior is peaceful and welcoming, but it's the owners who truly make the experience. Their warmth and genuine hospitality--whether we are dining in or picking up takeout--make it a genuine pleasure to support this business. The food is nothing short of phenomenal. The curries are rich and deeply flavorful without ever being greasy. Here are the standouts I find myself ordering on repeat: Himalayan Goat Curry & Himalayan Lamb Curry: Both feature incredibly tender meat in aromatic, rich gravies. The goat curry, in particular, is a less dry version of Sukha Gosht--you can tell it's been slow-cooked for hours. Fish Coconut Curry: Perfectly cooked salmon in a decadent, and beautifully spiced coconut curry sauce. It ties with the goat curry as my absolute favorite. Aloo Bodi & Tama: This Nepalese dish was a new discovery for me. The contrast between the crunchy bamboo shoots and creamy potatoes/black-eyed peas is superb, and the spices never overwhelm the vegetables. The Classics (Dal, Palak Paneer, Chicken Tikka Masala): The Dal is pure comfort (exactly like my mother's!), and the Palak Paneer tastes like it came straight from an authentic Punjabi dhaba. Their Chicken Tikka Masala is a close second to the famous version at the iconic Chor Bazaarr restaurant in London--tangy, spicy, and delicious. A true local treasure! read more

For Half Moon Bay this is a solid Himalayan restaurant and could stand out even in the greater Bay Area. Dishes are well spiced and vegan options are properly marked on the menu. Because the food is good, the restaurant did get pretty crowded and seemed that the servers (likely owners) where a bit overwhelmed. Dropping one star because of that reason and also because the lady server/owner was visibly sick and although she ended up putting on a mask she clearly shouldn't have worked that day. read more

See all

This place was a very pleasant surprise, from being greeted with such warmth and hospitality, and the flavor of the food, I was impressed from the start. Monsoon really delivered in it's quality of food. Our waitress was helpful in assisting us in selecting dishes. She also recommended our portions, which helped a great deal. She was right on target. The food was fresh, hot, and flavorful. It was busy here, but not too crowded. The atmosphere had energy, and take out orders were happening too. After finishing our lunch, my first thought was, "I'd like to come back here tomorrow." And I did. read more

We came here two weeks ago for lunch & thoroughly enjoyed it. I love the Nepalese music & friendy service with excellent food & reasonable prices. The goat cheese nahn is a must with perfectly done bread & wonderful topping. The Monsoon special is the way to go with prawns, chicken, & lamb in a wonderful sauce with coconut peas, vegetables, & salad; perfectly done rice. The nahn with aricots, rasins, & cherries is excellent with the same formentioned bread & wonderful sweet & tart topping. The next day, I had my mother's chicken curry combo which was tender & the rice just as good in a perfect sauce that was mild with a subtle kick. Our friend ehnjoyed her fish curry combo. We will definitely be back to try more; my mother & our friend liked the rice pudding which I will try next time. So, for some excellent Nepolese cuisine at reasonable prices in a traditional casual atmosphere with friendly service & excellent food at reasonable prices, Monsoon cannot be beat. Keep up the good work guys. read more

Momo's = delicious Goat Curry = excellent Naan = yummy This place is doing everything right. read more

I absolutely loved the food here! We tried a variety of dishes and everything was delicious. The vegetable pakora was super tasty with just the right amount of crispiness. The chicken momo (steamed dumplings) were also excellent, great texture and a well-balanced meat-to-filling ratio. I ordered the non-vegetarian combo meal, which came with brown rice, chicken curry, saag curry, and a soup/salad. Everything was flavorful and comforting, perfectly spiced without being overpowering. We also shared the chow mein on the side, and it was packed with flavor. So good! The atmosphere was welcoming with really friendly vibes. Definitely a spot I'd come back to! read more

This restaurant always delivers wonderful service and food. After being on the beach today my husband said....i could really look forward to the mushroom soup at Monsoon. From the minute you walk in we are transported to the Himalayans. The decor is welcoming and peaceful. Im vegan so it's great to have so many options. We love both soups.(lentil is vegan) ...appetizers...and the meal. My husband is a meat eater and loves his choices. I love the coconut curry vegetables. The service is amazing...love the owner....she is so nice. Wonderful time at this beautiful restaurant. read more

Monsoon Himalayan Cuisine - Beautiful decor - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

A great spot for Himalayan food that hits the spot and has great value, too. We came right when they opened on a Sunday and each got our own combinations with curries and split an order of chicken momos. Everything was delicious, especially in the combos. I preferred the chicken curry over the lamb but both had tons of meat and everything was seasoned perfectly--not too salty, which is a rare find with me. It's mainly one woman leading the show up front who's very kind but sometimes can get busy when more tables start filling up so we did have empty water cups for a while, but didn't take away from the overall experience. read more

Monsoon Himalayan Cuisine - Chicken curry combination - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Decent Nepali place in the downtown half moon Bay Area. The grilled lamb sekuwa with salad was really good but the chicken momos and chicken chowmein were strictly ok! They were extremely busy with full crowd but service was still good. read more

See all

We love their food and service! The ambiance is also very nice. We will be back. Thank you.

The food and service at this place were great. My wife found it on line and wanted to try it. I'm not a huge curry fan normally but I saw on the menu they had chicken chow mein so I said sure. My wife ordered coconut chicken curry and I ordered the chicken chow mein both in mild,we also got an order of the garlic naan. I think this was possibly the best chow mein I've ever had. My wife loved hers as well. The prices are very reasonable and they give you a lot of food. I would definitely recommend this place if you're near by Half Moon Bay read more

Attentive service, delicious food. The combo plates are great bang for your buck, esp given the variety of food you get try.

The ambiance is nice and the employees/owners (assumption) were incredibly friendly. Unfortunately the food was very bland and lacked a fresh impression. It felt like the food was old and some of the appetizers were possibly purchased or not fresh made. I was very disappointed in the blandness and lack of taste on the food. We got the Chicken Korma and Coconut Shrimp. I think if they spent a little time in the kitchen and tasted the food it would be a good place. read more

Decorations all around on point. Food was delicious and not over powered with masala. Staff was very friendly. I would come back again.

We just ordered take out for the first time. It was outstanding! Everything we ordered was excellent: Chana masala Okra Lamb curry Monsoon special Mushroom soup Veggie dumplings Naan Can't recommend it enough. We will certainly be back. Eager to host an even bigger group at our home so we can try more items. The items we tried were perfect spice level. We ordered two items medium spice - perfect. We ordered everything else mild - also perfect. The lamb curry was delicious. At other places it can have an aftertaste but this one was spot on! read more

Amazing restaurant! Loved the ambiance, food(especially momo dressing for dumpling), staff/owner were super super friendly. Really can't ask for more. Probably one of the best restaurants I've visited in the past couple of years. read more

See all

Good food and nice people. We tried a few different dishes and everything was flavorful and fresh! read more

Monsoon Himalayan Cuisine - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

We went here for my husband's birthday because I saw they had a lot of vegetarian and vegan options. When we first walked in I immediately loved the decor, the restaurant felt very welcoming and casual but had so many interesting things to look at. The staff was very friendly and took time to chat with tables. The staff did wear masks most of the time but I could still tell they were always smiling while they were working. We both ordered a traditional Nepali vegetarian combo meal because we felt like it was a great value for everything that comes with it. It came with Daal soup, a salad with a mango dressing, choice of brown/white rice, saag curry (which is made from spinach), mixed vegetable curry, papadum with a dipping sauce, and some rice pudding with coconut, almond and raisin toppings. This is a great way to try a little bit of many dishes! You can also choose the spiciness level that you like, which is great because I don't like spice but my husband does. My husband raved about the saag curry and said it was the star of the show. I'm hit or miss with cooked spinach, but also though the saag curry was very tasty. The start of the show for me was the rice pudding though lol. Mostly because I absolutely love rice pudding. But everything was delicious. We had a great experience and I would highly recommend trying it out if you're in the area. read more

Came here after a long hike at Half Moon Bay and it was the perfect post-hike meal. We ordered the mango lassi, aloo paratha, shrimp tandoori, and Himalayan chicken curry. The shrimp was tasty but a little overcooked. We liked the vegetable curry that the plate came with though. The Himalayan chicken curry was steaming hot when it came out and packed with spices and flavor. The food took a bit to come out but it was well worth the wait. There's a small section where they sell local goods in the restaurant and the whole place has a great ambiance. Would definitely come again if in the area! read more

See all

My husband is Nepali and we thoroughly enjoyed our dinner at Monsoon. This is a cute little family-operated restaurant with plenty of menu items to choose from. For drinks, we got two of their Monsoon cocktails - Basanta and Barkha. Both delicious, reasonably priced, and tasted exactly as described on the menu. The Mango Lassi was great too. For food, we ordered 4 plates of Chicken Momos, as well as the Chicken Sekuwa. This was the perfect amount of food to feed me, my husband, and our 5 and 1 year old. The momos were good but the Sekuwa was my absolute favourite. Such a simple dish but packed with flavour, both the chicken and the veggies that came with it. 10/10 recommend We've been here twice already and this is definitely our go-to spot from now on whenever we're in Half Moon Bay. read more

See all

We had an amazing dinner in this beautiful restaurant. If you like curry, this place is for you.

Tbh I think we came on an off night. All four of us walked away from this meal feeling very indifferent about what we ate. The momos were kind of dry. There was a spice in all of the dishes that personally didn't sit well with me. I brought home my leftover chicken momo but ended up just tossing it because it wasn't as good as I hoped. The reviews made this place seem fabulous so I'm hoping we were visiting on a bad day. read more

Monsoon Himalayan Cuisine - Potato and cheese balls and veggie momo - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

We arrived a few minutes earlier than their supposed opening time, but they didn't open until 10/15 minutes later than 12PM (and the most annoying part was there was no sign outside as to when they would return/open the restaurant). We almost missed out on dining at this place. However, I am glad we didn't walk away. The food was delicious, prepared with just the right amount of spiciness. We had the thali and also the vegetable korma, both of which was really good and satisfactory to our palates. It is situated in a great location. What more to ask for, as I have my caffeine fix available at Half Moon Bay Coffee Co, who are located just next door to this restaurant. read more

Monsoon Himalayan Cuisine - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

See all

Great food and very kind staff. Food takes 10-20 minutes to order but this is not a fast food restaurant. Food was all great and the menu had plenty of different options. read more

I don't write many reviews. But I have to for this wonderful restaurant. When we walked in on a Monday Oct 2025 night round 6:30, we were greeted by the most friendly and warm lady. Also the decor was stimulating and the background music was nice and just audible, not too loud. We each ordered the Aloo & Kauli - $17.50 Fresh cauliflower, potatoes & peas sauteed w/onion, ginger, garlic, tomatoes & spices. Served with brown or white rice. Wow, delicious vegetarian warm comfort food. And a good value. We also ordered a simple appetizer Papadum - $3 Crispy lentil wafers baked in the hot tandoor. (no wheat) Another night I ordered the Fish Tandoori - $27 Seasoned & marinated wild salmon cooked in a clay oven. Served w/coconut peas rice & mixed vegetable curry. This was delicious too. Enjoy! read more

We stopped in last Monday on our way home from SLO. It was DH's BD, so as I was driving, he picked this restaurant in HMB to get takeout from. Alas, I have multiple food allergies and figured that I'd look but planned to cook at home for my dinner. I showed my long list of foodstuffs that are a no-go to the owner/chef and we talked about various options and went with the Dal soup. It was yummy! It's possible that I could do stir fry veggies and rice. We have added this to our need to go back to list! DH had coconut Chicken curry and he really like it as well. Our Thanks to Ram/Chef who went the extra mile for us and created a meal that we both could enjoy on a special day! read more

We love, love, love, Himalayan food and Monsoon does it the best. We have had Momo's and other delicacies all over California, and we have never had as good Himalayan Indian food as we had a monsoon. The Momos are huge and delicious, and the more Indian curries and other delicacies use the finest ingredients and have wonderful spices that we haven't had other similar restaurants. What makes monsoon stand out so much though is the wonderful service. The owner will likely be serving you if you come for lunch, and will happily recommend dishes that will suit your pallet, your desired level of spice and recommend new things to try. She is gracious and lovely and makes every meal we've had there even more special. If you like Indian food at all, even if you don't want to try the Himalayan dishes, you can't go wrong at Monsoon! I wish we lived closer so we could go there every week. read more

When you walk into a restaurant and the smell is so overwhelmingly good, you know it's going to be a great dinner. That was this place. The staff was great. Food was excellent! This is the first time having chicken momo's, which are like dumplings/pot stickers. The shrimp curry and chicken tikka masala along with the garlic naan was all top rate. Probably the best Indian style food that we have ever had. read more

See all

Oh my goodness... As soon as I walked in to pick up my to go order, the smell of all those incredible dishes was magnificent. And, the ambiance was warm and beautiful. It was my first time ordering from this place, and I can't wait to go back and dine in. The Mango Chicken Curry, Palak Paneer, and Kashmiri Naan were all delicious. Also, I had requested that they lightly bake my naan because I love when it's super soft. It ended up being the best Kashmiri naan, ever. I can't wait to go back. Thank you! read more

One of the best Indo Nepalese restaurants I've been to. Everything was fresh and the flavors were on point. I'm very critical of our food and this place did not disappoint. The service was really good and the ambience was authentic too. We ordered aloo bhanta(eggplant), lamb and chicken curry. This is the only place where I had veggie fried rice where all the veggies were hand chopped and not the frozen kind you usually see. The naan was the best: crispy outside and flaky inside . read more

See all

Everything we ordered was bursting with flavor. We ordered the Aloo bharta, tandoori chicken, chowmein, and garlic Nana and nothing disappointed. Even the kids loved it. For desert, we had gulab jamun, and nepalese Chai. Delicious. I am absolutely recommend and will be coming back here next time I am in HMB. read more

The food was truly exceptional! We had the monsoon mixed plate and dal - warming deliciousness! Come here! read more

Delicious and Flavorful! I'm not an expert in Indian/Nepalese/Himalayan food, but I do know what tastes good and when the chef takes pride in his dishes. The Himalayan lamb Curry was excellent. The chicken biryani and coconut curry chicken were also good, but lamb dish took the prize. This is going to be my new favorite place for a while in HMV can't wait to try the other dishes. read more

Great service and food options. The staff were really friendly and accommodating the food came out fairly quickly. I like their momo's and the achar. I would have liked a little more salt maybe in the momos but in general a great spot. read more

See all

Nice little, ma & pa, location tucked away in a small strip mall off Half Moon Bay Main Street. Authentic flavors, great options and reasonable places. The chili paneer is so tasty and you can tell them how spicy you want it. I was so enjoying the food that I forgot to photograph the rest of the meal (prawn vindalo and naan). Give them a try! read more

Monsoon Himalayan Cuisine - Chili Paneer - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

See all

DELICIOUS FOOD!! Lovely cultural experience too with beautiful & curious trinkets decorating the restaurant. The owners are kind, attentive and charming. Wish we lived nearby! read more

Excellent spot in Half Moon Bay with a nice dining room even though we opted for pick up. Ordering online was super easy and the food was ready quickly. Dishes were hot when we arrived back at the Air B&B and everything tasted excellent. Ordered a veggie thali meal, veggie momos, veggie korma plus garlic naan. Loved all of it especially the moms. Generous portions allowed 2 of us to have another meal the next day. And as always seems to taste even better the next day. Would def recommend and eat here again when in this area. read more

I haven't had much Nepalese/Indian food, but this is the best I've ever had anywhere!! I'll be thinking of Monsoon back home in LA and coming back whenever I'm in the area. Visited this place with a friend after a hike in Purisima Creek. From the start I was drawn in by the lovely decor, which consisted of various photos, flags, and statutes/figures. I also loved that they featured local artists, which added to the decor. I knew absolutely nothing when it came to the food and when I had questions about what to order, both of the people working were incredibly patient with me and answered all of them. After the food came, one of them would periodically drop by with a warm smile and ask how we were liking it (I was inhaling it at that point). I honestly can't say what we ordered other than that it was 2 curries and 2 breads, one curry had chicken in it and one had bamboo shoots and black eyed peas. The bamboo one was slightly sour and the black eyed peas gave it a nice crunch. The chicken one was moderately spicy and still juicy and tender. I need the bread in my life every week before a long run if possible. Overall. I loved my experience and would recommend anyone come, even people totally uninitiated into Nepalese/Indian food like me. read more

Monsoon Himalayan Cuisine - The inside is so cute! - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Food here is the freshest I have ever had. Fresh veggies, delicious flavors. This is certainly the best I have ever had and Indian is my favorite. Can't wait to come back to try more! Excellent service and ambiance. read more

I wasn't expecting to find Himalayan food in Half Moon Bay, but here it is. It basically tastes like Indian food to me. The lamb was very tender, but it could use more spice. The interior decoration was eclectic, and it's a little too busy for my taste. read more

See all