Savoring Himalayan flavor

Eatery offers dishes from Tibet, Nepal, India

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Shambhu Dhungana has seen a lot of the world. Born and raised in Nepal, he went to college in the Philippines and eventually lived in Africa and several locations in the United States.

Now he's bringing some of the food and culture of his native Nepal to Las Vegas with Himalayan Cuisine, 730 E. Flamingo Road, which opened on April 17.

"We tried to create that regional food, right from the lap of the mountain -- Mount Everest and the Himalayan Range," said Dhungana.

Patrons dine under Tibetan prayer flags on the ceiling and can look at the traditional fabrics and tapestries from the region on the wall.

Dhungana's journey in the restaurant business began last summer in Durango, Colo., where he opened the first Himalayan Cuisine restaurant.

He said Durango, with its relaxed atmosphere and soaring mountains, reminded him of Nepal's capital, Kathmandu.

"The people responded so well, overwhelmingly," Dhungana said.

People loved the food and made the restaurant a success, he said.

Dhungana next expanded to Santa Fe, N.M. That restaurant opened in January and also has had success. Dhungana decided Las Vegas would be an excellent city to try next.

He wanted his menu to include foods that were familiar to anyone who likes Indian cuisine. About 50 percent to 60 percent of his menu is made up of traditional Indian dishes.

But diners can get Indian food almost anywhere now, Dhungana said, so he's hoping they will take advantage of the opportunity to try foods from Tibet and Nepal.

He said the fare will remind people of Indian food they have had before, only less spicy, in general, and less oily.

There is an array of vegetarian dishes, such as dal maharani, a Nepalese dish of lentils with butter, cream and spices; vegetable thukpa, a soup with Tibetan noodles, spices and vegetables; and alu dum, fried potato curry.

Poultry, lamb and seafood dishes include lamb bhuteko, a Nepalese entree with seasoned lamb and dry tomato sauce with cooked onion; meat momo, a Tibetan dish of steamed dumplings with ground turkey and mixed vegetables; and tika saag, roasted chicken with creamy spinach.

The menu also includes drinks common in the Nepal-India-Tibet region. Chia, a spiced tea made with milk, is offered, as well as lassi, a drink made from homemade yogurt with rose water and a choice of mango, cinnamon or banana.

The cook uses a clay oven to whip up many of the items on the menu, including naan, the traditional bread of the region.

Although it's more expensive to purchase ingredients in Las Vegas, Dhungana said he felt it was important to keep the price range the same as his other restaurants, about $10-$15 per entree.

The lunch buffet, which includes about 14 hot items and 10 that are cold, costs $9.95. Residents get a $2 discount.

So far, the response has been good, said manager Mahesh Dhakal.

"It's started picking up," Dhakal said.

Tourists have been part of that response.

"One couple from Los Angeles, tourists, came in one night and liked our food so much, especially our desserts, they ate here the rest of their stay," Dhungana said.

Take out and catering services are available. Hours are 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.