Himal Chuli

Very pleasant experience. Our server was very helpful in choosing a dish and the food was excellent.

Sorry, I can’t agree with the great ratings this place is getting. I will agree, the food was tasty, I ordered chicken, it was $ 16.99. It was less than a quarter chicken, with some spinach, black eyed peas and spices. Then I got a soup, it was basic veggie soup with spices.$ 8.99. Over priced and cash only. Blah!

Since I have nothing to compare it to, it’s a solid 4 – 4.5. Hard to give a 5. Smallish place, cozy but comfy. Server very fast and attentive. We got the roti and takari with a split (tried both takari’s of he day). They had a cauliflower one and one with tofu. Both great. Wife got the himal platter to taste a few things. And I got the momo to have a little meat. Liked the momo better than the momocha, the peanut in that was slightly bland. Still good. And the spicy tomatoey sauce on both was very tasty, made the dish. The rotis were thick, but not chewy, just right. Had the wheat and the white, both excellent. The samosa was good, oh, and the dal that came with the platter was very flavorful too.
Felt very wholesome, tasty, get portions not overwhelming.
Oh, best part was the homemade hot sauce! I asked for something on the side, got a little tin with a very spicy homemade, sort of like sambal, but way better. If you like hot, that got me sweating but good.

This is a gem that is hidden in plain sight on State Street! With the modge podge of colorful and diverse food offerings, Himal Chuli gets lost in the mix, but stands on its own for quality! I have enjoyed the food here on two occasions and eagerly look forward to future trips to Madison just to eat here again.
I ate here the first time in the summer and enjoyed their patio seating, the second time in late fall and ate indoors. The place is tiny, and especially when outdoor seating is not an option, does not have much space. The menu is extensive, and while being well laid out, the staff is happy to help with suggestions and advice. On my first visit, I enjoyed the chicken sikar with jasmine rice and samosas. The dish was flavorful, but not spicy. On my second visit, I had a bit of a cold and tried the hyala (soup) with momo (chicken dumplings) and added extra spice. This is important to note — the dishes are fragrant and filled with spices, but for the most part are not spicy. Additional spices can be added upon request.
The roti (whole wheat) flat bread is another savory treat when eating here. I also enjoyed their seasonal lemonade with lemon and basil. Even their ice water is garnished with fresh mint.
One thing to keep in mind — Himal Chuli is cash only! There is an ATM at the gyro shop next door that does not charge a fee, should you need cash in a pinch.

Excellent food, portions are a little small. But the food is also pretty inexpensive so you won’t end up spending a fortune to get an entrée plus a side of dal or momo. I tried the tuk-​pa (a spicy veggie stew) with momo (the meat version) and a side of dal. Everything was really good and hearty. Great choice for a chilly night. Only draw-​back (and why I didn’t give 5 stars) is that they do not take credit cards. Luckily I had cash, it was worth it!

Himal Chuli might be my all-​time favorite restaurant in Madison. I’ve been going since I was a kid, and the quality and deliciousness is always on point. I also really appreciate that I can eat always count on Himal Chuli for food that is both delicious and healthful.
My personal favorites include:
Dal, hearty, creamy without cream soup
Whole Wheat Roti
Cinnamon Lassi
Momocha, amazing dumplings with an incredible, tangy, fresh, slightly spicy tomato sauce
Tofu or Chicken Polungo
Almost any Takari, especially those with potatoes
I know some people find it to be expensive, but I find that I can eat either a cheap, smaller meal like Roti and Dal or a more expensive meal that leaves me with leftovers. Usually if I spend a lot, it’s because I couldn’t decide what to order and got a bit of everything.
The space is small and can be crowded, and the patio is a nice option in good weather.

I had never eaten Nepalese until checking out Himal Chuli, after eating there once I was hooked. You know you have a homerun when you think about their food WEEKS later. This was the case for me at Himal Chuli.
I have had the combination platter and Chef’s choice. I love the option of those because you get to try a few different things. Everything was and always is delicious. One of these days I may even try something else. :)
It’s different then other places on State St and certainly worth a try if you haven’t been over there yet. The service can be a little slow, but that just leaves more time to anticipate what you are going to eat. Oh and heads up, they only take cash!

After a hard day at work, my friends and I decided to visit Himal Chuli as a treat for passing all of our exams. Since one of my friends had been here before and thought it was good, we took his recommendation and went here for our celebratory feast.
Walking into the restaurant, the first thing I noticed was how small it was. It was a bit hard to get to my seat without getting in the way of the other diners enjoying their meals. However, I sort of liked the cozy environment after getting settled in. It definitely made things more intimate. The ceiling is painted beautifully and all the decorations make it feel like you’re in another country.
Being my first time getting Himalayan/​Nepalese food, I was a bit lost while looking at the menu. So, naturally, I went on Unilocal to see what people thought was good. Since I like dumplings in general, I settled on the recommendation of one Unilocaler and got the Momocha (a steamed, peanut flavored dumpling).
When my food arrived, I was quite excited to dive in. The presentation of the dumplings was exquisite and really made my mouth water. I took my first bite after rolling the dumpling around in the sauce they provided, and I was a little disappointed. The dough of the dumpling was watery tasting and the peanut-​flavored filling was not very flavorful. I loved the sauce though! Perhaps it would have tasted better with the sauce on the inside or if the dumplings were pan-​seared. They come in either 6 or 8 pieces, but get 8 if you’re hungry because they’re not all that filling.
My friends and I shared our food with each other and, after trying what they ordered, I think I may have gotten the wrong dish. Their food was very flavorful and delicious in comparison with mine.
I’m going to give this restaurant another shot and visit again sometime in the future. When I do, I’ll update my review accordingly.

Himal Chuli is a home-​like spot for refreshing and tasty Nepali and Tibetan food.
It’s a small cosy family owned restaurant on the always bustling State street. It has a very warm and fuzzy décor, nothing too over the top eye-​catching. People are here for one reason, food.
We came for a Sat light lunch before heading to the overture for a show. It was busier than I would expect. They have a relatively small group of staff, however, service was prompt and friendly.
We tried two soups, which one is supposed to be very spicy with various veggies, like carrots, cabbage and broccoli with momos. The other one is a thicker lentil base soup. The choice of either roti and rice was given which we picked over of each.
If I had to describe their food, it’s got a very clean flavor, very refreshing, it’s food that you think you can eat everyday. There have a wide selections of food, which I would like to come back and try.
One must try is their spiced coffee and chai. Best I have had in town!

A favorite for decades. Great tarkaris with roti and dal. Cozy, unpretentious, and affordable. Bring cash since they don’t take credit cards.

When I visited Madison I ate here everyday for a few days. This is one of the best Nepali restaurants I have been to. I have tried several dishes from the menu. I loved farsi ko tarkari and chicken ko masu. Dal here is my favorite. I even asked for recipe. I tried making it at home but it wasn’t the same :(Great atmosphere, super friendly people, healthy and delicious food!

PROS: Light, non-​greasy dishes, fresh ingredients, homestyle cooking
CONS: Pricey-​for-​portion, borderline bland
My feeling about the food at Himal Chuli (and perhaps Nepalese food in general) is that the dishes are essentially Indian, but without the heavy load of spices and ghee/​butter. My taste buds were not wow’ed, but the dishes did feel more homey. A possible alternative for those who are turned off by strongly-​spiced Indian cuisine.

Amazing! Of all of the places in downtown, I’m glad I chose this place. Super friendly staff (this is the Midwest, after all) and a cozy ambience makes this a place worth returning to many times over. My meal was delicious and fast.
Worth a trip if you are curious

Luckily, we went to dinner here on a beautiful night so we were able to eat outside. Even though they were short staffed for servers, our meal came out hot and fast. The food was delicious and fresh. The vegetarian menu had more entrées than the meat menu so we all order a vegetarian meal. They were so authentic and tasty.
It was also fun people watching on a Saturday evening on state street!

My expectations were probably a bit too high; anywhere was bound to be a bit of a letdown.
There is nowhere like this in Madison — it’s the only Nepalese restaurant in town, and it does serve authentic Nepalese foods. I think I was hoping for more spice and a wider menu of traditional Newari foods. A full dalbat meal would also be amazing!

This is a nice restaurant in a lovely part of town. They have a cozy interior and a small outdoor space. The restaurant is cash or check only, which I found unusual in this day and age. The food was quite good, and I will try more dishes if I’m back in the area. The portion wasn’t terribly large, and the price wasn’t particularly low, but it seemed fair. It’s nice that they have a large vegetarian selection.

This was a college favorite restaurant for me. I’d never heard of Nepalese/​Himalayan food when I discovered it, but I quickly became a fan.
I visited it again after 16 years and it was still excellent.
The food has some things in common with Indian food, but other dishes are entirely unique.
The place is tiny — a handful of tables in a little room, but clean and decorated with Buddhist art.
The staff is extremely friendly and helpful.
The restaurant serves beer, which is an improvement over the past.
I had the vegetarian Momocha (steamed dumplings) and an order of roti.
Both were hot, fresh and as good as I recalled.
Please note though — it’s cash only, so come prepared.

One of my favorite restaurant’s in Madison, nay, the world.
It feels so healthy. Many vegetarian/​vegan options. You can specify whole wheat roti and brown rice.
My go to order is the combination plate. comes with:
–A cup of DAL: rich and flavorful. I always think it needs more salt.
–a SAMOSA: filled with spices and potatoes. A bit dry but covered in yogurt sauce so you can dip. Not greasy because they’re baked not fried!
–two mamochitas – dumplings filled with peanut paste and covered in a fresh tomato sauce. Really tender and chewy
–whole wheat rote: it seems crazy but this is the best part. It’s hot and salty and tastes like a healthy Aunt Annie’s pretzel. Wheat is better tasting than white!
This visit we also got 6 momo’s –beef/​lamb filled dumplings in a fresh tomato sauce DELICIOUS
and Lamb Sikar: tender chunks of lamb, steamed spinach, brown rice, a cup of dal. I’d definitely get it again.
It’s family owned and definitely got hole-​in-​the-​wall chic but that means that it’s cash only = a pain if you don’t come prepared. It’s also not super cheap. It’s such quality food so it’s worth it.

Adore!
The prices are enough to make me head over heals for the place.
Add to this unique flavors not found anywhere else on State, I’m a fan.
Typical these days is the dal/​roti/​takari… the sweet potato being my fave.
And while service can be slow and it’s cash only, knowing that going in makes it a wee more tolerable.

Oh yes! Clean, honnest, yummy home-​cooked food! Lots of vegetarian options.
We really enjoyed it. Thank you so much.