Pema is one of my favorite restaurants in Denver. It has such a cute interior, and I don't love that it's a "hidden gem" because they're on a very busy street in Five Points (literally on Larimer!) and deserve more reviews. If you love cozy Tibetan, Nepali, and Indian food, check it out. The first time I heard of Pema was through the TooGoodToGo app. Everyone who runs the place is so sweet. Every food item I've gotten, especially their noodles and curry (with whatever flavors/ingredients they threw together from their kitchen) has been phenomenal and filling. Eventually I brought some girl friends here and we had the best lunch date. I dream about coming back and will do soon. Best to do so in a big group to try their whole menu. I really hope they do well!! read more

Pema - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Came through here in a food tour and only got to sample two dumplings, one beef and one veggie. I've had Himalayan momos before and these were decent. The sauce made them really good! I had been hoping for the traditional yak momos but alas, no yak served. The owner was VERY nice, I liked her a lot! The two samples were quite enough to earn more stars but I AM DEFINITELY willing to go back and take a taste of the rest of the menu. There's lots of street parking around the RiNo area. It's a great area, you all need to come and support the arts! Stop by, have some Himalayan food! I'll be back, see you next time PEMA!! read more

Pema - Front signage - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

See all

The food at Pema is amazing! My wife and I love Nepalese Momo and this place delivers! Not spicy at all. We ordered Momo and also the Shabafala (spelling). In addition the wonderful Nepalese owner saw we had an infant and provided us with a small amount of rice, milk and butter for him to eat as well. In summary, amazing service paired with delicious food. read more

Really tasty and well executed food. A nice blend of multiple cuisines but with a decidedly south eastern bent. Delicious! read more

Hearty Tibetan food! Got the jhol momo with chicken and the beef keema (ground meat) noodles. The jhol momos were soft, salted perfectly, and the jhol was aromatic. The noodles were a tad under salted but otherwise seasoned and the meat was well browned and cooked. Portion was generous. Service was quick and the waitress was very kind. read more

Pema - Jhol Himalayan Momo - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

This place is adorable in many ways. I found it while searching for ethnic restaurants in Denver. I wanted something that would be a great starter for my upcoming vacation overseas. This place nailed it in many ways. I love the ambiance. The paintings on the walls are a nice touch. I love how the music wasn't loud. This would be a great place for date night. Food was home cooked and phenomenal. I ordered a lot! I had a papadum with dipping sauces, coconut soup (get it!), chicken chili (medium - should have ordered it hot), roti bread (delicious) and a Diet Coke. They have desserts but I skipped. I really enjoyed myself here. If you're looking for Tibetan & Nepalese food or would like to try it, check this place out. Also, I adored the lady's personality; the staff member who waited on me. I believe this is family run. Keep up the good job! Hope this place stays open. read more

See all

I had other plans in this neighborhood with a group of friends so wanted to find an ideal spot for us to have dinner and a conversation. Pema worked really well. It is a small establishment so I put in a reservation since we were a large group just to make sure but we were the only guests at the time on an early Wednesday evening. Everyone in our group enjoyed the meal selection and options. It was affordable given it is Denver. We were able to have a good conversation, staff was kind and patient. I'd encourage people who are in this busy neighborhood of Denver to check out Pema and support it. This should not be like Babu Bhatt and the Dream Cafe! read more

This place is a gem if you have not tried it yet you're missing out. We are so happy to report that we absolutely love this place and we do not give reviews often but we had to with this family owned. Great food. Best ever check it out. read more

Pema - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

We came here last Sunday afternoon and sat outside. The atmosphere was quiet with no one dining in - it seems like most people choose takeout. We were helped by a woman who I believe might be the owner, and she was incredibly kind and welcoming. She prepared our food quickly, and the chow mein portions were generous. The food was fantastic, comforting and home-cooked in the best way. The chow mein was my favorite, the bread was fresh and tasty, and the tikka was excellent (a little on the creamy side for me, but still delicious). Overall, it was a great experience, and I appreciated the warm, personal service, even though it seemed to be just one person running things, it felt intimate and genuine. I'll definitely be back, likely for takeout next time! Update: I wanted to include that the prices were reasonable! We spent about $37. read more

Pema - Chicken Tikka Masala, Vegetable Chow Mein and Roti Bread - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

See all

Good location, with friendly service. Got take out via the Too Good To Go app, which is a great deal! Got a very healthy portion of chicken saag with rice. First few bites were good but then tasted too salty after I got into it. Nice to have protein and vegetables all in one dish. read more

Pema - Chicken saag - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

I've been here 5 times in the last two months. I think it's safe to say it's my favorite restaurant in Denver. You can close your eyes and point anywhere on the menu and it's gonna be dankkkkkk!! read more

I visited this restaurant for takeout last night. It is new in the neighborhood and I wanted to try it out. I ordered the Keema Noodles with beef and chicken Tikka Masala. The food was ready pretty quickly. The Keema noodles were good, though I have never had this dish before, so I have nothing to compare them to. The chicken tikka masala was average, but did fulfill my cravings. The serving size on both dishes were generous portions, and I have plenty of leftovers. The restaurant was empty when I got there, so if you are looking for good and affordable food in RiNo without having to wait for a table somewhere I would recommend it! read more

Pema - Chicken Tikka Masala and Keema Noodle with beef. This is not the entire serving. - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Absolutely LOVE Pema! A most welcome exotic addition to the neighborhood. The owner has done a remarkable job of an upscale Himalayan decor with modern furnishings, well chosen colors, and authentic artifacts from Central Asia. Prices are quite reasonable for some of the finest Tibetan/Nepalese fare I've had anywhere, including in Nepal. And of course the proprietress -- a bona fide Sherpa from the Everest region -- is overwhelmingly warm and welcoming in the namaste tradition. Pema is becoming a regular habit! read more

See all

Wow, this spot was such a great find! The coconut soup was HEARTY! The saag paneer and chicken korma were both . Serving sizes are generous and the woman working was a doll! We will absolutely be back! read more

See all

Absolute hidden gem! This place is wonderful with exceptional food and great service! It was the perfect place to stop in for lunch and the vibe was peaceful and calm. We had the momo and the pan puri; exquisite. The chai was also on point, wonderful flavor. Go and support a small local business, you won't regret it! read more

Pema - Pani Puri - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

See all

Really good! Ordered to-go and food was fresh & on-time for pickup. Very flavorful and great spice profile. Good portion size as well. 2 entrées was enough for me and the fiancée. Highly recommended trying this Himalayan Cuisine. read more

Pema - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Great food, great ambiance, and great service! The menu is simple with a strong selection of Tibetan, Nepalese, and Indian food. Their Roti and Aloo Paratha's are fluffy, the rice is cooked perfectly, and they do staple dishes really well. I brought my Tibetan relatives who were really impressed with the food. The restaurant is family owned, and the owner is incredibly nice. read more

See all

Delicious food and great service! We got the beef keema noodles, chicken tikka masala, and chicken chili. All were delicious, but the beef keema dish was my favorite. Definitely will be back! read more

The food is really good and flavorful! The chow mein was delicious and the portions are pretty big! read more

See all

Stay away, we were so exited about lunch at this place, had a reservation and when we showed up the place was closed. People next door told us they sometime just no open. Their phone number is out of service so consider this place closed or be disappointed read more

First, the FOOD WAS AMAZING!!!! No brainer, would come back again. COME HERE TO EAT! Second, the service was superb! Thirdly, I ordered the coconut soup (not pictured) but it was DELISH! I could've had three more bowls of it. The Himalayan momo dumplings were tasty with the tomato sauce to dip it with. The shapaley with beef was HUGE in portion size and also flavorful. The keema noodle was lovely and I asked for some extra spicy chili sauce on the side to go with it. The owner said she's originally from Nepal and that her business has been open for 5 months now! She's trying to still acquire her liquor license, and I'm definitely wishing her success in the neighborhood! Will definitely be coming back. read more

See all

The food was incredible here! The staff were very friendly and helped me find a dish for me. The inside of the restaurant is pretty. I will be back read more

Pema has friendly staff, a relaxing ambiance, and incredible food. They nail snacks like pani puri and pakora, have excellent fresh rotis, and every entree I've tried (chicken saag, momos) have been delicious. Serving sizes are generous. I usually leav leftovers which are still great the next day. read more

Pema - Hot chai and steamed chicken momo. - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Food was amazing and the owner was super sweet. She gave us extra rice. Got one of the curries and the momos.

Everything is delicious and everyone who works there is very friendly. Highly recommend

Pema is absolutely outstanding. I live out of state but work in Denver every few months and I always make it a point to come to Pema! The flavors, quality, service, and ambience are exceptional. Portion sizes are also big! I spoke with the owner for a bit and she's the sweetest lady. She makes everything by hand in house and you can absolutely tell. If you're in the area and looking for a unique and beyond satisfying culinary experience. Come to Pema! read more

Really good and affordable prices!! We had the Korma, Himalayan Curry, Samosas, and Mango Lassi. All of it was 10/10. read more

Pema - Himalayan Curry and Korma - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

The food is amazing! The only issue was the restaurant was very chilly. I will definitely go back and/or take out.

Ordered takeout and experience was easy, service was great, food was on time and absolutely delicious! Tried three dishes and all were great. Try the lamb vindaloo and chili chicken. Yummy!! read more

Incredible food, tranquil atmosphere, attentive service. We ordered momos, pani puri, Himalayan curry with lamb, kheer and gulab jamun. The portion sizes were filling and the flavors were delicious. Would happily return again! read more

I can't recommend this place enough. The food was absolutely amazing as well as the owner. Definitely a not well known treasure. So clean and modern with a welcoming environment. My new favorite place!!! read more

One of the best meals in Denver. Quiet pleasant atmosphere. Fast courteous service. Mind blowing delicious flavors. I wish I lived in Denver just so I could eat there more frequently read more

Ordered the daal (lentil) soup to go! Was asked about spice level and she did a perfect job nailing the spice. Great flavor and service!

I didn't know this place was Nepalese. My dad is Nepalese and he would make lamb curry all the time. I got the lamb curry to compare, and I took one whiff. Based off of that, I knew it was going to be good. Come check this place out read more

Great service, super nice owner. I personally really liked the chicken korma and went back a few times for it. The ambiance is great too!

The food was delicious and the owner is incredibly kind and accommodating. Great atmosphere as well. It's a must try!