Himalayan Sherpa Cuisine

Nepalese and Himalayan restaurants are regrettably rare around Orange County, so we go out of our way to try them whenever possible. Despite often having “Himalayan” in the name, though, they can serve largely Indian food, dishes with Chinese influences, or something inbetween – you never know until you see the menu.

Located in Carlsbad roughly halfway between Orange County and San Diego, Himalayan Sherpa Cuisine has a substantially Indian menu with one-sixth or fewer Himalayan offerings. Most conspicuous is the Nepalese staple momo dumplings, but if you read the descriptions for other unfamiliar dishes, you’ll see they often reference Himalayan sauces or spices.

The Lamb Boti Kabab is tandoori yogurt-baked lamb served sizzling yet tender with veggies; Chicken Chhoila includes room temperature chicken breast chunks in a Buffalo-style sauce; Kukhura ko Masu is chicken with Himalayan spices and onion-tomato gravy; and Himalayan Balti fills a copper cup with chicken, lamb, shrimp, cheese, tofu, and vegetables plus a dark Himalayan herb-spice sauce.