Himalayan Tandoori and Curry House – Where fresh meets flavor

If you like Indian or Nepalese food, you will be richly rewarded by what you find at Himalayan Tandoori and Curry House in Sebastopol. Ruth, both manager and daughter of owners, Mom, Sunita and Dad, Prabhakar, nicknamed Robin, are a delightful representation of the family. They passionately cook and serve up some great Nepalese food. The restaurant has been in their larger family in Sebastopol for 16 years. Robin worked in the restaurant in 2016 and left for a time to work in Mountain View. Sunita and Robin returned and purchased Himalayan Tandoori and Curry House in May of this year.

Robin has been cooking since he was a child in Nepal and learned from the best, his mom, an avid hostess who cooked constantly. When asked if he still feels passion for cooking when he goes home after work, his face broke into an even bigger smile, and he gave an enthusiastic affirmative. Sunita is his sous chef and constant help in the kitchen for her husband. When meeting any of the Rana kin, one can tell that passion and love of family and community, which is like an extended family, is poured into everything they make and serve.

Robin’s experience here in Sonoma County as a chef has had a circuitous route that encompasses working in Nassau, Bahamas, for over 12 years, then moving with the family to Orlando, Florida, then on to Sacramento, to Sunnyvale, until finally arriving in Sonoma County in 2007. He has been showcased in Bon Appetit and is a decidedly down-to-earth, gentle soul. Like the spices that complement each dish, Sunita is the perfect partner in all they do. Uncle Dinesh also works in the kitchen, focusing on the tandoori, naan and appetizers.

Deciding what to choose on the menu felt like a bit of a conundrum, but we finally made several choices, starting with a serving of dal that whetted our appetites. Next up, the Samosa Chaat arrived at the table, unforgettably delicious and undoubtedly the best I’ve ever tasted. The flavors lingering in my mouth after finishing the last bite almost made me want to stop and meditate on it. It was beautiful in presentation, from the wonderfully crispy exterior enveloped in yogurt, mint and tamarind sauce, topped with shavings of garbanzo bean noodles, to the piquant garbanzo bean filling. The hint of spicy sweetness made it one of those foods I will be thinking about for some time to come. It didn’t have apples, which make a samosa too sweet for some. The tamarind was all it needed for a subtly sweet flavor. A serving of the tender lamb masala with its spicy goodness over rice was the perfect segue into the main entree.

This is slow food at its best, and the Tandoori chicken is well worth waiting for. Sizzling hot and oh so savory. It was served with grilled vegetables, and we complemented it with sides of chutney and Raita, a light yogurt sauce with hints of mint, carrots, cucumber and cilantro. Like all the choices on the menu, the Tandoori chicken is very Nepalese, but all of Robin’s creation. One of the things that are special and different from just about any restaurant I can think of is that they grind and create all their spice mixtures fresh for each meal, an old-world way of cooking that pays off in authentic Nepalese flavors.

Check out their specials on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/969himalayan/

To go:

969 Gravenstein Hwy South, Sebastopol

707-824-1800