What a gem: the food, the atmosphere, & the owner and waitstaff! I thought about being selfish & keeping this place to myself, but they deserve your patronage. My 1st time trying Bhutanese/Nepalese food, so no point of comparison, but let me tell you that my partner & I left there so happy. Was staying nearby for a few nights, but would gladly make the 1+ hr drive from home to dine here again. We had the singara aloo (potato/peas filled), mixed momo, beef & chicken datsi & of course the onion rings everyone raves about. Loved it all. Nice heat to the datsi & onion ring dipping sauce, but not overpowering. Onion ring sauce was also sweet. My partner asked if they sell it by the bottle, he enjoyed it that much. There is a parking lot, but looked like only 2 spots for Norbu (others are reserved spots), but parking nearby. Only thing with my daysi is that cheese sauce was quite thin & not exactly as shown in other pictures, but hey - homemade, there will be variations & was still good. Give this local family-run spot a try. I'm confident you will not regret it. Thank you for giving us a chance to try this food, Norbu! We will most definitely return. read more

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Very exotic setting, decorated beautifully, very tasty, rich and creamy. Service very good. Chicken was acceptable but a little tough to chew and dried out. Veggies delicious. Will come again but would order tofu. read more

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Stellar service and flavorful food! We ordered the wai wai, the pak sha paa, and the ema datsi! Wai wai was a bit too salty for me, but I enjoyed the texture of the crunchy noodles. Pak sha paa was excellent - tender pork and gingery sauce. Ema datsi was super spicy (as we were warned haha) and I really enjoyed the cheese sauce. If you're getting ema datsi, a lassi is basically obligatory unless you have a truly emazing spice tolerance. read more

Is it weird to come to Lancaster and your favorite restaurant is a Bhutanese/Nepali restaurant. Maybe we had low expectations but this place was a perfect date night restaurant. We were still full from our buffet lunch and was planning to take it easy. Norbu had its own parking lot which was huge and spacious. We walked through the building entrance and was greeted by beautiful murals and the artist was still in the midst of his work. I should have taken some pictures. The restaurant is beautifully and tastefully decorated. There's a section where they had low tables and seat (almost floor seating) and regular table seating. We immediately opted for floor seating. Love the low chairs and being able to sit almost cross legged while enjoying my food. As we are originally from Asia, we have experienced a wide array of Asian food but I have never tried Bhutanese food. Our order consisted of onion fritters, the chicken thali and the pak sha datshi with pork shoulders. Drinks were the Himalayan black tea and milk tea iced. The Husband commented that even the crockery and serving ware were authentic. Onions fritters were properly battered and deep fried morsels of yumminess. Paired with their house hot sauce, it made our weary stomachs hungry and whetted our appetites. The thali is similar to an Indian version and the chicken was soft and moist. Finally the datshi is the first time I ever ate a dish and immediately wished I ordered a vegetarian version. Huge chucks of pork shoulder and broccoli coupled with a light slight spicy cheesy sauce combined to one of the most amazing bites I had on this trip. The cheese sauce is one of the most savory, delicate and complex cheese sauce I had. They had an option for the cheesy sauce noodles - I should have ordered that with chicken and broccoli. The pork shoulder was melt in your mouth delicious but for my own personal preference, I would have preferred chicken or just plain broccoli to allow the wonderful sauce to shine. Just realized I wrote a whole paragraph about some cheese sauce but it was that tasty folks. It may get too much for people if you are not a cheese lover. But I adore cheese so bring it on. The teas were very refreshing and much needed for the flavorful food. If I had more time, I would come back for another meal. If we are ever in Lancaster, this is the first place I am coming back to. read more

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Nice experience, hard to get to location. Servers great despite slight mishap in order. Ordered some more for takeout only to realize I was charged for an item and didn't receive it. Oh well. Despite that, food was delectable. Hubby enjoyed as did I. Toddler drank all my tea! read more

Norbu Lancaster - Himalayan tea! - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

This was my second time here and this time I brought a bunch of girlfriends. Needless to say, they all loved it! We shared the momo veggie dumplings, Himalayan onion rings and pakora for appetizers and everyone loved them. I shared the fish thali entree and the pork datsi with my friend and she and I especially loved the fish thali! We had a great time tonight, and we love that this restaurant is byob - really keeps the cost down. We tipped the staff very generously tonight for their delicious food, great service (even with a packed house) and as a Christmas gift! Thank you Norbu & Merry Christmas! read more

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Love it! Very friendly staff and clean. We went for lunch and the portions were huge and came with soup and salad. Flavorful, light and refreshing. Maybe scale down the portions during the lunch time would be my only suggestion. Will go again. read more

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I had ordered Lamb Thali and I have to admit that this was one of the best Lamb Thali that I tasted so far. I usually order Lamb Thali in many of the Himalayan restaurants that I visit and believe me, I have eaten and tasted a lot of lamb thalis :) . For starters, we had Himalayan onion rings, and beef Momo. My son and I both loved it. My wife could not stop raving about the beef datshi she had ordered. It was just the way she loved it-hot and spicy. Service was excellent and I truly loved the ambiance of the place. Truly gives you a homely feeling. Great place to dine with your family and they are BYOB. You should definitely check this place out if you are so me one who loves to try out good food and has a taste for spicy cuisine although there are plenty of options as well for those who don't like too much spices in their food. read more

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I tried Norbu for the first time a couple of weeks ago and was blown away by the quality and the flavors. My advice, be bold and choose something you've never had, even if you're not used to the flavor combinations. You won't be disappointed. read more

tl;dr: super cozy establishment with amazing service, even more amazing food, and SPICY I repeat SPICY options (no regrets)! ~ the service (5/5) ~ We arrived to Lancaster as a destination on our road trip and thought we'd try Bhutanese food which no one in our party had tried before. I had found this place on yelp as it was highly reviewed and didn't know what to expect. As soon as we walked in we could tell that this is a place for locals and travellers alike- the decor was super cozy with some traditional tables with little squat stools which I loooved! Our waitress told us that even though there was a bit of a wait she'd make sure to tell the kitchen that our orders were coming if we cut it too close to the time that the kitchen would close, which I was touched by. ~ the food (5/5) ~ Shrimp Dahtsi (5/5): cheesy, spicy, deliciousness. SUPER flavorful and also super generous portions.You get to choose your spice levels, and as I alluded in my tl;dr be aware that they are not joking when they talk about their spice levels. I, for one, am a spice fiend to the detriment of my stomach, so after a very informative conversation with my waitress about how most people think a 7/8 is a lot of heat, I went ahead and ordered a 9. Let's just say pepto was needed later that evening. Mango Lassi (5/5): The mango lassi was thinner than I am used to but still quite delicious. Also super necessary after eating the spicy Dahtsi. Paratha (5/5): A lovely bread that was super fresh and hot! read more

Norbu Lancaster - Shrimp Dahtsi - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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Fabulous meal, start to finish! Nice ambiance/decor, expertly prepared food, great service, friendly owner. I started with the vegetable Momos (food porn). Highly recommend. Melted in my mouth. Two dipping sauces, both delicious. Then had the Shamu Datsi (vegetarian mushroom entree). Flavor explosion! Wanted to lick the plate, but didn't. It was my birthday and was given complimentary donuts after my entree. Dessert was Desi (saffron rice with butter and raisins). Amazing flavor. I have nothing but glowing praises for the quantity/ratio, service, freshness, food served hot etc... Beat a path here and support this local business! read more

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New place in town, you absolutely have to try it! I could smell the flavorful food the minute I stepped out of my car. I ordered the sweet and sticky sesame chicken and momo chicken dumplings for take out. The sesame chicken came with a side of rice. The dumplings were flavorful enough to be had on their own but they came with two sauces. I have no idea what they were but they were yummy. One was a little spicy, kinda reminded me of chimichurri, and the other one was mild and savory. The chicken was sweet but not overpowering. If I had to be nit picky I do wish the chicken was on the crunchier side but it feels as if it was oven baked and not fried (so I get bonus points for being healthier). The rice just tasted like good old rice which was perfect with all the flavors already going on. The staff was also friendly. The vibe of the restaurant looked cute. Definitely a hidden gem date night spot. Wishing the best for this new business. I will definitely be back to order this again! read more

Norbu Lancaster - Chicken momo dumplings and sweet and sticky chicken - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Maybe for the Lancaster area this place is better than most, but I was disappointed with the flavor and quality of the food here. However, the service here is great and the staff are super friendly. The interior is cute, and I loved the traditional seating area. The momos were the best thing we got, but they just tasted like ordinary dumplings. The phuta noodles were basically inedible because of how salty the dish was; it was so salty it made my tongue hurt. Lastly, my friend and I tried the thali with chicken and weren't impressed. Everything on the tasting platter was average or below average. The flavors were familiar but unfortunately lacking compared to other Nepalese places I've gone to. read more

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The best food and great people. I have been here about 4 times over the past two years and the staff remembered me. Goes to show how committed they are to exceptional service and kindness. Would always recommend this place to anyone. Thank you Norbu read more

Went on a Friday night, we were seated right away. Atmosphere is great, but loud. Service was non-existent. The hostess apologized for how behind they were when she took our order, apologized again when our food and starter came at the same time, and apologized finally when we gave up waiting for the check, refills on drinks, or a box for leftovers and checked ourselves out. The food was mediocre, overcooked chicken and tough beef. Many better options in walking distance. If there is a staff shortage, the best business practice would be to reduce the number of tables or online orders so the staff can service customers. read more

Norbu is fantastic! So many vegan and vegetarian options. Everything I've ever eaten here has been delicious. Add to that friendly service and a clean restaurant and this place is definitely a keeper. Try the vegan cheesecake, you won't be disappointed! read more

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Norbu opened in downtown Lancaster on Sunday 5/23/21 in the former Character's Pub location. Norbu is the newest adfition to the Yak N Yeti family featuring Bhutanese and Nepali dishes. It is my understanding that the Yak N Yeti in New Cumberland, PA has closed it's doors (hopefully temporarily) to open the Lancaster location. I had been to the New Cumberland location before, travelling all the way from Lancaster, because the experience was worth the drive. The experience here at Norbu was familiar. Friendly service and delicious, exotic food. Today, I tried the Pak Sha Datsi as well as the Turmeric-Ginger Cheesecake. Both were amazing and reminded me why I love this family's group of restaurants. A group of friends accompanied me on opening day and everyone thoroughly enjoyed every appetizer, entree, and dessert they ordered. They recently started a lunch buffet that I am so excited to get into to afford the opportunity to try more of their delicious creations. Highly recommended! read more

The service is friendly and timely. The server and the manager were exceptionally open and flexible to make accommodations for my dietary regimen. The flavors and aromas, along with the decorations truly made me feel I was in another country. The food is delicious! A great experience and definitely a keeper. read more

Came for the lunch buffet on Thursday. I always enjoy a buffet when I am unfamiliar with the food, it makes me feel better that I can try everything and don't have to commit to ordering 1 or 2 dishes and hoping I like them. I also really appreciate their ample vegan options - I was slightly worried that they would only have 1 or 2, but they had 10!!! We enjoyed it every much, and will def be back the next time we do not work on a weekday. Also I really appreciated that they were responsive on Facebook messenger for any questions we had. Thanks Norbu!! read more

Norbu Lancaster - a plate of food on a table - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Delicious food - and very cool to get an authentic taste of food from Bhutan and Nepal. The owner was our waitress- she was so friendly! Had an awesome experience! Definitely recommend when in downtown Lancaster. read more

Norbu Lancaster - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Hardly ever in town but tried something different. Thought service and food were spectacular. Ambiance felt comfy and warm.

We were looking for the celebrate Lancaster greet fair and didn't realize it was canceled so we walked around and decided to try Norbu. It is a cozy spot with colorful decor and delicious food. My hubby had the sweet and sour cauliflower, I had to try the mango lassi and the paratha. All of it was delicious. The service was quick and friendly too. We are definitely coming back! read more

The former Characters Pub has been reclaimed by this new spot. It is unrecognizable inside. Brand new appearance. Our food was tasty. The server was so delightful. I'm looking forward to trying new items to have a more complete picture of all that Norbu has to offer. The momo sizzler was the clear stand out. I also loved the paratha. read more

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I'm surprised this restaurant doesn't have more reviews considering how great the food is. I've been here two times now, and it has been delicious both times. I remembering hearing about a new Bhutanese restaurant coming to town and I was ecstatic to see a new addition to an already diverse food scene. I was not disappointed when I came on its grand opening; the mango lassi, momos, and sikam (dried pork belly) datsi were delicious. On my second visit, I ordered a strawberry lassi, cauliflower pakora, and sekuwa with pork shoulder. Again, I was not disappointed and my friends were impressed. The staff were friendly and I enjoyed the ambiance. I look forward to coming again in the future. read more

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We arrived at an early lunchtime, 11:30; the buffet was already overcooked and heated. Foods were so salty, spicy, and overly seasoned. The fried chicken(dark meat only) was so dry, my knife couldn't cut through. $15.49 per person wasn't the cheapest buffet and some dishes weren't edible. I have eaten at many Naples restaurants but I have never seen Panini pasta served as Naples food. Naan/paratha would be a good fit for South Asian flatbread. There wasn't any. There wasn't anything fresh, not even a simple fruit. The rice pudding was good, creamy, slightly sweet with a hint of ginger very refreshing. Perhaps menu ordering could avoid the dryness of food but it wouldn't skip the heavy salt. Cook, please taste-test your foods before you add additional ingredients. The ambiance was very colorful, and interesting. read more

All I can say is Wow! This Bhutanese and Nepalese food was absolutely amazing! The variety of herbs, spices and flavors made this one of my favorite meals ever! All of the meat was so tender that it melted in my mouth. The fish was outstanding! Highly recommend this hidden gem! Excellent service and food! A huge bonus for me is that almost all of the items on the menu are gluten free!! I have Celiac and struggle to have many options to choose from on most menus. Not here! At Norbu, I can eat about 90-95% of the items on the menu! Try it out! You won't be disappointed! read more

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Delicious food, friendly staff, warm, welcoming ambience, good prices.... Norbu's the best!! Highly recommend their lunch buffet on Tuesdays and Thursdays which features different dishes every time (always amazed by this). Love that they offer MANY hot, delicious vegetarian dishes. Also love their milk tea, hot or iced, it really complements the Bhutanese/Nepalese spices. read more

Definitely a new favorite restaurant in downtown Lancaster! My friends and I were so excited to learn about a Bhutanese restaurant opening in the area. We went on opening day and again since. Relaxing atmosphere in a beautifully designed space; has both indoor and outdoor seating. The food is absolutely to die for: first time was momos and kewa datsi; second time was cauliflower pakora and chicken sekuwa. The staff were lovely and accommodating, recognizing us on our second visit and checking in regularly. I cannot wait to go back! read more

This place was amazing. First of all the service was incredible. The hostess and server were attentive and welcoming. The restaurant itself was decorated so nicely and I loved the colors in the textiles and walls! The food was so so good! I had the sweet and sticky cauliflower and my friends had a ton of appetizers. It's so nice that they had options for everyone (i am vegan and one friend has egg and gluten allergies). This is a gem in a town that really didn't have very amazing food otherwise in my opinion. Should I ever come back to Lancaster, I'll be eating here every day! read more

Everything was delicious! We got the full spice on the spicy noodles (which is what we wanted) and WOW! It really packs a punch! If you don't like spice make sure to order it mild. Their flavors are so unique. We loved everything and we will definitely be back! read more

Norbu Lancaster - Thali and spicy cheesy noodles - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Incredible flavors. Terrible location. Maybe a secret location...try it! Pork was tasty and chicken was amazing. You will love it.

Food was amazing and had so much flavor. We got the spicy noodles and chicken curry. Best meal I have had in a while! The restaurant is decorated beautifully and is an overall lovely environment. Busy on a Wednesday evening. The food is very reasonably priced as well. Great experience all around, will definitely come back! read more

Food and services was great! Decent ambiance, Reasonably priced. Veggie Monos were full of flavors. BYOB!! Looking forward to going back there again. read more

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I have been meaning to try this place for a while and finally checked it off the list. Angry I waited so long!! This place has GREAT flavors. Wife and Kids all had great meals. My only disclaimer would be the Spice level is LEGIT! They do not mess around. I am a fan of spicy, and I think I handle it really well. Love a good spicy wing! BUT this place offers a super spicy that my wife actually talked me out of, so I requested they do a "level 7 spicy" with my meal. Not a plain spicy but not the super spicy....WELL let me tell you what, This should come with a disclaimer! THEY DO NOT MESS AROUND!!! It was fantastic BUT it was SPICYYYYYYYY... so my only thing I would suggest is try their standard spice level before you get all tough and go for the super spicy. The waitress said the chef eats the super spicy EVERY day for lunch! He must not be human, because WOW... But on a serious note other than the spicy levels everything was GREAT. They have non spicy as well, I don't want to scare everyone off...my wife hates spicy and LOVED her dish. its just a warning for those who think they can handle spicy.... you don't know spicy until you have tried this place!!!!! read more

Our food was PERFECTION. The spice level was exactly what I hoped for. Spicy, but not painful. All the flavors were robust and delicious. The owner was incredibly kind and attentive. It was a beautiful night and we were able to sit in their outdoor dining area. We will be repeat customers for sure! read more

Cauliflower Pakora & Sweet and Sticky Sesame Chicken were amazing. Don't forget BYOB. Will definitely be coming back :)

OMG!!! I wish i took pics of the food! my son, who is a very picky eater, loved the fries, and the sweet and sticky chicken. the chicken dish reminded me of a mild orange chicken but super tasty and the chicken held its battered crunch. The fries, also were crunchy and tasted like boardwalk fries!!!! we had the chicken sizzler, which was a bit on the sweet side, and the chicken jasha paa-that sauce was super flavorful and I had to walk away from it!! all came with lentil soup, and salads. the salad dressing reminds me of the japanese steakhouse dressing!!! I tried the mango cheesecake-too sweet for me, but the texture was on point. everything listed on here is gluten free, and almost every item on their menu is gluten free. it is byob, I WILL DEF BE BACK!!!! can't wait to eat there and bring wine :) Only thing i wish they could do is put the sauce on the side. super large helpings for a very low price. all of this was under $50 read more

Brilliant bright food. Seasonings perfect. I will order from here so many more times. The Kahatamandi fried chicken and chicken curry were divine and the mixed norbu were the best dumplings I've ever had read more

Really great food! Ended up here after hopping around for for drinks. Waitresses were very helpful. Great atmosphere.

I've never had Nepalese food before and was passing through Lancaster and saw some good reviews about Norbu. I have to say... it was worth the hype. Super tasty and very different from other Asian cuisines I've had. I enjoyed the Nepalese dishes more than the Bhutanese, but it was cool to try those options as well. Hits were the Nepalese fries, pork momo, and the pork shoulder special (per the waitress recommendation). Unique, cool atmosphere, friendly staff. I'll be back! read more