Himalayan Spice

Himalayan Spice is one of those hidden gems that seems too good to be true. It has the appearance of a small, unassuming restaurant...but only on the outside. Once we stepped foot indoors, we knew right away that it was anything but small, with an open dining room, brand-spankin'-new bar, large banquet hall and traditional, floor cushion (!) dining, there's room a-plenty. Oh, and the Indian and Nepalese fare? We're on it. And we're not alone. The place opened a mere seven months ago, but regulars are already as devoted as the two friends who started it all. Dilip, who had a restaurant in Nepal met Sujit after moving to the US of A, which explains the authenticity of their wares. After moving to the South, they both began to realize that the ol' ATL could use a little more Nepalese, and, well, they were the men for the job. Nepalese cuisine, for the uninitiated, is similar to Northern Indian fare (which this spot also has, by the way): lots of cilantro, cumin and coriander, but much less oil. In other words, all of the flavor, less of the stuff that's bad for ya. And of course, we couldn't leave without sampling the momo, a traditional Nepalese dumpling which, according to Sujit is, "perfect for eating in the morning, in the evening�anytime, really." As we tasted the flavorful fillings inside, we couldn't agree more. And while there are certainly a plethora of seating options, we prefer the aforementioned cushion-seating. We could even take off our shoes, which is pretty classy if you ask us. And if you ask us what else to order? The Khukri Rum, Milk Tea (best enjoyed, like most things, with sugar) and Chau-Chau, a stir-fried noodle dish, for sure. But don't tell too many people. It is a hidden gem, after all.