Himalaya Restaurant
Open since 2004, Himalaya is a well-regarded Indian-Pakistani restaurant run by a Pakistani chef known for his creative dishes and authentic flavors. His signature masala-spiced fried chicken has everyone talking. Himalaya chef and owner Kaiser Lashkari spent four months developing the recipe for his chicken. It starts with a traditional Southern preparation: marinated in buttermilk for up to 24 hours and dredged in all-purpose flour. Lashkari's seasoning is what sets his chicken apart. Biting into the thick, dense crust reveals heavy doses of garlic, ginger and garam masala, flavors that permeate the meat, so even a crust-less bite packs a wallop. Himalaya's chicken is prepared without its skin, which means trading a little crunch for lower fat and cholesterol. At $18.50 for a whole chicken, it's a solid value, especially for people who take advantage of Himalaya's BYOB policy and tote along a bottle of sparkling wine or a couple bottles of beer. Pair it with an order of naan for an Indo-Pak riff on chicken and a biscuit. Pro tip: Due to capacity and the time-consuming prep, Lashkari only commits to serving 15 orders of Masala-spiced fried chicken each night, and he only guarantees to serve it on Friday and Saturday nights.
