Himal Chuli Restaurant

This was my first time eating Nepalese food and I'm in love! This is a really small restaurant so I'd get there early if you don't have a reservation. Everything was so flavorful and delicious.

It’s a small intimate restaurant so if know if you’re coming during busy hours with a large crowd, this may not be right spot. BUT for a small lunch with your girlfriends or a quiet lunch alone, this is perfect! Many vegetarian options with a few meat dishes. The food is very flavorful! My favorites dishes are the appetizer platter with samosas, dal, naan and momos (dumplings) or one of the daily curries. Do yourself the favor a try something new at this place! You won’t regret it!

I love Himal Chuli. Its small but nicely decorated interior has peaceful vibes. The dal soup is my all-time favorite!! Highly recommend!! The staff are nice, the food is excellent, if i’m in the area and they’re open, i’m sure to visit. Also i enjoy the chai, warms my soul!

I'm visiting my friend in Madison. I am so happy she brought me to this restaurant. It was all so delicious. I had vegetarian options.

Terrific smells, foods, and service! Honestly try as much as your stomach can handle and ask questions! The peda didn't last long enough for a picture lol but it was very good!

Our favorite spot in Madison! Himal Chuli is a warm respite against the winter chill. Every dish is packed with flavor and easy on the stomach. The meals are diverse and they have different side specials often. I highly recommend giving it a try!

Lovely little gem right between downtown and campus. It's a smaller restaurant with no AC (but it has fans), and it feels very cozy. I stopped in for lunch and got the combination platter - everything was delicious! The staff were also so kind. Will definitely be back he next time I'm in town :)

Food was delicious. We had a lamb dish with salad and a small soup, plus dessert (shared everything and it was the prefect amount). Everything felt very healthy and fresh. Nice service and staff. The space itself doesn't offer any privacy, as sound echoes, but it's cozy and there is also the option of outdoor seating.

I've enjoyed eating at Himal Chuli since 1988, my freshman year of college. It's cozy and constant. The food is excellent and unique. I am obsessed with the momocha and probably always will be. The service is solid. You can use cards to pay again. You can have a glass of wine or beer or Nepalese tea or coffee. Just eat there. It's a privilege to have access to such a treasure.

I feel so bad. In my high school and college days, Himul Chuli was the bomb. So much so that nearly 30 years later, I chose this restaurant for my family dinner during our trip to Madison. Well. The kindest description I can use is that it was like horribly overpriced co-op food from 1980. The stir fry was okay but the momochas - which I've raved about for decades - tasted nothing of peanut butter and were dreadfully dry and bland with very little sauce. The bill wasn't cheap and as we walked down State Street past all the yummy noodle shops and new restaurants all I could manage was a small, mumbled "sorry".

I visited on Kedar's recommendation and was pretty happy with my meal. I asked the waiter for a vegan recommendation, and he steered me to a roti/tarkari/daal combo ($14 plus tax), recommending I get half-and-half of the two tarkari specials of the day, which were: cauli (cauliflower, potato, peas, carrots) and chana (garbanzo bean, onion, carrot, potato). The daal came out first, which was top-notch. The plate followed shortly thereafter, with a generous portion of the tarkaris, and 4 fairly sizeable pieces of whole wheat roti. Very home-cooked feel to the food, airing away from strong flavours. I couldn't help but wish for a little more, as, compared to the Nepalese food I can get at home (Vancouver, BC), this seemed a bit underwhelming. Very tasty, filling, healthy, and reasonably priced though, so I was happy overall. I'd give this 3.5 if I could.

Small and cozy Nepalese restaurant. I had a combo plate and a mango lassi. The food was good but I wish I didn't get the lassi. It wasn't very flavorful and wasn't cool. I was hoping it would have been more refreshing on a hot day. Glad the food was tasty though, that made up for it! It is hot inside - I went on a warm day and thought I'd be cooler inside but I wish I sat outside, I was sweating.

I used to frequent this restaurant years ago. I moved away about eight years ago. I stopped back in town two days ago for a quick visit and stopped in with happy expectations. It was fresh, it was still well cooked, but oh dear Lord, was it BLAND. If there were spices used in any of the dishes the three of us chose, I'm pretty sure they were just waved in the vicinity of the food and not actually put into it. It was healthy, but it also beyond uninteresting. Even the condiment with the little fried peanut dumplings was flavorless. The space is still adorable and our waiter was pleasant. But it was so disappointing.

I took out lunch from here on a Friday. The place was full. Dhal soup was my favorite item. Chicken sikar was my entree. It had good flavors. I also tried the momocho. It wasn't as good as the momos or the samosa.

Just visiting and was very grateful to find this place. I love that they keep the door open for fresh air. The service was very quick and very pleasant. The food was fantastic. A lot of vegan options. You must get the soup. Everything was fresh and light and quite tasty and delicious. I love this place.

This is a little he in the wall place on State Street in Madison. Nothing fancy, but a few Nepalese decorations to give a little ambiance. This is the 2nd time we've eaten here. Enjoyed the food both times. I had the chicken sikar (curry chicken) with a side of brown rice and Cauli (cauliflower, potato, peas and carrots in curry) with brown rice. It was lightly seasoned and very good. My wife had the butternut squash Tarkari and enjoyed it very much. Nothing too spicy. Made a nice lunch. Server was very friendly.

Service was great. It was a nice sitting outside. Himal's combination platter- The momochas were bland small hint of peanut at the end, not much other flavor to it. The dish was also cold and had salsa on it. The Samosa was also cold, lacking spices for flavoring, the sauces drizzled over it along with purple cabbage was an unusual pairing. This was not very impressive. The Roti Takari, and Dal what is a gamble we did not know how the sauce would be, nor which vegetables we would get. this ended up being warm and delicious. Both dishes came with a lentil soup, which was also tasty . We may have been eating frozen food that was prepared. I would not say anything stood out as home grown and fresh. Some of the food was lacking spices at all, there was also ordinary salsa which is not part of Nepalese cuisine. it's decent food

The food was delicious, service was great and we loved the ambiance. So nice to have many vegetarian options as well.

This place is a madison institution. Do not pass it up if you get a chance. Their momo and chicken buff is killer! Their interior is amazing and has not changed and 30 years. I hope it never changed.

State Street restaurants come and go but Himal Chuli has been a reliable staple for decades. That's because it's a true gem! Food is unique, fresh, homemade. Depth of flavor yet brightness. Do NOT sleep on the Tofu Buff entree. It's so unexpectedly light yet savory. I don't love stir frys with thick, sweet sauces -- and this tofu dish is miles away from that, woo hoo! Lemony, garlicky, marinated tofu with fresh veg, can't rave enough. A standby we get every time -- the momocha. These dumplings are super mellow and soft with a hint of peanut flavor. Has to be paired with the simple but punchy tomato herb dipping sauce. Magic combo. Daal is fresh, thinner, full-flavored and fortifying. Ambiance is homey and easygoing. Good for a casual date night or a bite with a small-medium sized group. Service is great. I forgot my hat and the server ran after to return it.

I decided to get a light lunch and it was so good for a cold day. Wait was a little long but not crazy. The samosas are delicious.

I love Nepali food. Unfortunately, the food I had at Himal Chuli was very bland. I tried dal bhat takari and momos. I was surprised that the dal bhat takari wasn't presented more traditionally. It all just needed way more flavor. Don't be afraid to use more of those wonderful spices and aromatics that make Nepali food so fantastic. Also, the prices were just too high for Nepali food. The service was very good, though.

To have a place where the menu starts off with vegetarian options is quite unusual, but if anywhere can do it, it would be a South Asian food place, and Himal Chuli, which is a Nepali restaurant, did just that. My friends and I ordered the veggie combo, which was basically a double meal of rice, tarkari, and dal, along with some momocha. As added measures, we ordered momo and samosas as well to give them a shot. For the tarkari, the vegetables did not contain enough seasoning but the juice tasted well with brown rice, so I had to pour a bit of juice into the rice and then eat the vegetables with the rice to make it taste the best. The dal, which was a mixed bean soup, was also slightly underseasoned, but tasted very well due to the original ingredient flavors. Both the momocha and the momo were excellent! Even though the menu said both would come with the tomato coriander sauce, we had a different kind of sauce for the momo, and we prefered it so we dipped both kinds of food in there instead of the tomato coriander sauce. I also had the lassi drink, which tasted like a spiced up version (not spicy but containing spices) of yogurt and milk, and I enjoyed it. The samosa was something I had never experienced before, served with yogurt sauce, which I had no issues with, but the skin was not really fully cooked and still felt dough-ey. However, the inside was perfect, and that mattered the most. Lastly, my friends and I had the vegan peda, which tasted as good as it could as a vegan dessert. We would have picked the peda if the restaurant didn't run out of it because it contained ricotta cheese and I knew it would have tasted amazing. Overall the food was very easy to eat and to digest, and I would recommend this place to anyone visiting Madison, WI looking for a place to eat!

Really amazing food! Warming and nourishing. Will definitely make a point of coming back.

The ambiance was right on, beautiful and quaint small place. I was recommended to going to this place and walked around looking for it, small enough to miss! But when you walk in the smell and flavors are bold and delicious. I was not disappointed by any dish. The samosas were not what I thought but still delicious. They were sweet and savory. The Dahl is something I need to make at home...so flavorful and warm. Last but not least the Golden Tea...if you try anything you MUST try the Golden Tea....it reminds me of a cozy warm sweater sitting in front of a fire. I want to replicate this at home too but have been so u successful. Definitely a place to return to!!

Authentic and super nice Great vegetarian options I got the tofu and the combination platter

I've eaten here many times over the years. I was disappointed yesterday, mostly by the service. The restaurant was empty but the server motioned us to sit at a recently vacated unclean table with the check still on it. We ended up moving ourselves to the next table over since there was food debris on the first table. Waters were not refilled unless asked. The check was delivered to the table before we were even done with our meal. The food wasn't as good as I remembered. My meal was mostly cold when it was set in front of me. I've had that same dish many times before.

Himal Chuli has been a State Street favorite of mine for a long time! So many great vegetarian choices on the menu! Start off with an order of the momocha, a kind of dumpling filled with peanut butter paste as an appetizer. For your main course try the takari, roti (a homemade flat bread) and dal platter to get a sampling of all of the best flavors. The takari (a house vegetable stewed with fresh spices) changes daily. The dal, a mixed bean soup, is absolutely delicious!

Himal Chuli offers amazing and delicious cuisine with the NICEST staff. a neighborhood staple

The Best Cleanest foos in Madison!!! Bomb Healthy Great place to visit sweet staff. Going back again and again

fairly good experience dining at himal chuli. first time trying Nepalese food and not entirely impressed. left hungry and unsatisfied. service: waiter was attentive, solid. food: somewhat bland, relatively small portioned and watered down (?) *salad -- interesting dressing, basic house salad *tofu buff -- basic tofu dish, somewhat over salted and small *quasi -- watered down bean soup, expected the 9-bean stew to be thick but it was watery and not spiced at all. [not shown] *kitchadi -- barely any lentils even though this was the point of the dish, boring and bland. tiny! [not shown] *golden milk/tea -- honestly the best part of the meal. not a bad place but not very impressive either. not sure if we ordered wrong... i just wish it had more flavor and quality!

There's dumpling you should know - this place's dumplings rock the block!! What a relaxing place to sit with food that will nourish the soul. The service was impeccable. Lots of options for us vegetarians ;) The portions were spot on and the flavors hit in all the right places. Left with our bellies full and large smiles!

Fantastic food. Friendly people. If I ever make it back to Madison they will definitely be on my list of restaurants I have to go to.

Honestly one of my favorites! A Madison favorite. I don't know anyone who has ever had a less than outstanding food and relaxing experience. A must go. Service is excellent!

Such a great little place! Went for dinner around 530 on a Sunday and it was packed! Seated right away, and service was great. The food was 10/10 and was definitely made with love. I got half and half of the daily specials and it was truly delicious. First time there, and will definitely be going back. Cannot recommend enough!

I dream about their momos with tomato achar and their bhutti salad!

I stumbled upon this place walking on state street and it felt like I tried to my grandmothers kitchen. It was very cozy and the staff was incredible kind and hospitable. Now the yum.....YUM! I am always a little nervous to try new foods but this was delicious. It is vegan friendly and vegetarian options are a personal favorite. I had a mago lassie that was delicious. The prices are affordable! go and support this local business!

Only to confirm and re-confirm that this is one of my favorite restaurants in the world. A gem on State Street keeping affordable prices as they take cash only. Amazing and delicious food with ample vegetarian selections. I've been a fan of their Cauli tarkari for over fifteen years now. A tarkari with roti and dal is always a great meal. There sample platter is another good option as are the momochi. Family-owned, with attentive service and a true appreciation for good and nourishing food.

I was introduced to this place a couple years ago by my then 15yr old friend. I go here at least once a month and I continuously bring new people here with me. Its a perfect hidden gem that I'm blessed to know about. Great food, excellent service. Definitely check it out.

We really enjoyed the spices and trying a different country's food. The service was quick and it was a quiet little place.

Excellent authentic Nepali food with quality ingredients. Loved that the restaurant was handed down by the grandma to the son. Very friendly owner and staff. They even gave us complimentary extra desert. Just a wonderful place to eat.

absolutley DELISH people were nice dal was SCRUMPTIOUS highly recommend stacks up to food in nyc if you are visiting and want some delish asian cuisine i highly highly reccomend

It has been over 30 years since I last ate here! The wait person said nothing has changed but it has and it has not. Still a nice small shop. Seating are very close to one another especially in the alcove near the door. Decorations were dated for sure. Prices have gone up for sure too. Nevertheless, food quality remains simple and tasty. My partner had the chicken sikar and I had the hyala. The chicken sikar was tasty. The sauce on the chicken is even better. Since there wasn't enough sauce, we asked for more and they obliged by cooking just the sauce. That's service! Hyala is a soup Mader's with minced bison meat. I can't tell the difference between that and minced beef of pork. The soup is made with fresh ingredients and has a clear broth. There is also a certain fragrant that I can't pinpoint. A pleasant one though. Anyway, as others have noted, this is a cash or check place. No CC. Maybe Yelp can have a special icon for these places. A small, decent restaurant tucked into the middle of state st. I probably won't be returning anytime soon but I hope it won't be another 30 years.

There are so many great new restaurants in Madison and I would love to try everyone of them, but On my short 2 day trips I can't stop visiting Himal! This place is truly a little gem on State Street. I try to eat mid afternoon to avoid the rush (only 9 tables). The dal and cauliflower takari are my favorites but everything is good!

Himal Chuli is an institution on State Street in Madison, and is a great place for vegetarians. From small families, students, to professors kvetching about tenures- this is a popular place for Madisonians of all stripes. It's not fancy or expensive, which is how I like State Street institutions. Service is friendly and perfect for the restaurant. Our favorite dishes: Tofu or chicken Buff Cho Mari Tofu or chicken Polungo "Where do you want to go?" "Let's go to Himal Chuli!" "I was thinking the same thing!"

This place is one our favorite restaurants in Madison. The servers are long-tenured staff and very attentive, we went often enough that they started remembered our favorite orders, which was nice. The tarkari and dal are fantastic especially, and they have rotating sets of tarkari they make so you can get a slightly different spin on the same dish depending on when you go. If you're a big spice nut you might find it under spiced compared to certain indian restaurants (I'm not aware of any other Nepalese) in the area, but its still quite flavorful. I've had over a dozen different things at this place, and they're pretty much all great. The one thing I might not recommend is the momo, mostly just because its a small serving size unless you're just looking for a snack.

Food is consistently good. Service excellent. Good vegetarian options. Small place but clean.

Love the combo platter. Service is always great. Local family restaurant that is Fresh and delicious. It's no frills but don't let that detour you. I would eat here everyday if I could. My favorite restaurant in Madison.

I visited Madison for a week, and I can already say this is my favorite restaurant in the area. The menu is quite diverse, and there are many vegetarian/ vegan and even gluten free options. The food has a great balance of flavors. I ordered a delicious (vegan) okra dish. I also liked the dal that came with my entree. There are many options to try! It's a small, cozy place with outside seating as an option. It definitely has a home-like vibe. The restaurant staff I met were all friendly. The individual who brought our food that night was very knowledgeable about the menu, gave us some great recommendations for entrees, and was also genuinely kind. Some of the menu options are higher priced, but I believe it to be worth it overall. A great little place that in my short visit was very memorable. I do hope we cross paths again some day.

This place is so cute! Quaint and on state street, i missed it every time until my friend decided he wanted to try it. Nom nom nom-- here's what we got: Himals combination platter: a little taste of everything from their dumpling, flat bread, curry for the day, and samosas! I would recommend this as they say in their menu as an appetizer. It's a great sampling and super flavorful. Chicken sikar: you get your choice of jasmine or brown rice or bread. You can't go wrong with any of it, and his chicken was moist and well seasoned. It was a mix of regular stewed chicken but not as mushy and even more flavorful. It came with a lentil soup and while I don't really like beans this soup was really quite good! Overall the service was good, comprehensive with the menu and very nice. I would be back with some of vegetarian friends because it is a good place for everyone to try something new and get some good food! Happy eating

Great food and great service! Love all the vegetarian options. Awesome prices for the amount of food you get. Will be back!

Tasty Nepali dishes. Love this tiny restaurant on State St. As a non vegetarian, I enjoy the many vegetarian dishes offered. Dal soup and no mos are not to be missed. When the weathered nice, sit outside and enjoy the people watching. Cash only, be prepared!

Haven't been here in a while but have pleasant memories of eating dinners here many moons ago. Glad to see the business still going strong! Authentic Nepali flavors and attentive service is what I remember. Thanks for introducing me to the mountains cuisine :).

Fabulous Nepali food in outdoor seating--I had a veggie combo plate while my dining companion had chicken. Filling and delicious!

Service was so so. Potions small. And over priced. But it was yummy. So 3 stars. (this review is independent and no one paid me for it unlike the "scam squad"

Why don't I eat here once a week?? Thumps is a vegan, peanut filling in a dumpling, in a spicy soup, whole wheat roti, and Himal Chuli's vegan dessert. Perfect heaven.

Review based on one visit at 5:15 pm on a Thursday. Empty at first but by 6pm half of the ten tables were occupied. Nothing fancy, which is fine with me. Seated by a friendly server who helped me figure out the menu and what to order. Had the Chicken Sikar (dark/white meat chicken with rice and vegetables). Dish was nicely cooked, very flavorful, and included a cup of lentil (dal) soup. Enjoyed my dinner and was happy with the quality and quantity of the meal. Only negative is that I felt the price ($18) was a bit high given the simple, inexpensive ingredients. Final bill, with a bottle of beer, was $22 before tip. However, overall good food and a good experience. Would return and recommend.