Himalaya Himalaya
35 W. Main St. (Ventura Ave.)
Ventura, CA 93001
805-643-0795
Map
Cuisine: Indian / Tibetan / Nepalese
Uncommon Tibetan and Nepali dishes meet typical Indian fare in a Ventura strip mall.
Openings: Lunch & Dinner Tues.-Sun.

Features

  • Parking lot
  • Dress code: Casual


Himalaya Restaurant Review:


If you’ve got a hankering for yak, there’s only one place in the area to get it. And if you’ve never tried it, which is more likely, the light, delicate flavor --- not gamey in the least --- may come as a surprise. Here, it’s liberally seasoned, skewered and grilled medium rare. Other Tibetan specialties include tender boneless goat cooked in a traditional Sherpa style, with a mild sauce and fresh cilantro, and thukpa, a hearty soup of simmered noodles, a staple among Tibetan and Nepalese people. In an unassuming Ventura strip mall it’s all very exotic, of course. But you’ll also find familiar Indian fare like tandoori dishes and chicken tikka masala, not to mention fusion anomalies that sound more bizarre than they actually are --- think naan-wrapped “burritos” stuffed with sautéed vegetables, lamb or paneer cubes, and mint and tamarind sauce. Start with an appetizer of Tibetan momos, but be sure to save room for desserts like house-made coconut ice cream and flowery sweet gulab jamun infused with reduced milk and soaked in saffron-rosewater syrup.