May 25, 2018

Himalayan Indian Cuisine opens Sunday, and customers can try the buffet for free from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or order from the menu at half-price all day.

The restaurant on Arrowhead Parkway is the first to bring authentic Indian and Nepali recipes to the east side of Sioux Falls, said Kishor “Nandi” Siwakoti, who owns Himalayan with his brothers Anena and Metrika and their friend Sarbajit Rai.

“Now, the people in eastern Sioux Falls don’t have to go all the way to the other side of town,” Siwakoti said.

The extensive menu features a range of dishes from tandoori and biryani specialties to choices such as lamb vindaloo, chicken tikka masala, goat curry and shrimp korma. Vegetarians have more than a dozen offerings.

“Many people are scared of trying Indian food because of the spices,” Siwakoti said. “We don’t force the customers to eat the food that way. We will offer the level of spice to them as their choice.”

The goal is to represent the food of those cultures and blend it to American tastes, he said.

The food will be prepared from scratch, and “we are trying to use locally grown vegetables.”

Siwakoti’s previous career was as a food quality auditor, so he assures customers that their food will be prepared properly. His brother Anena and friend Rai, who have experience as chefs, will do most of the cooking.

Co-owners Matrika Siwakoti, Kishor “Nandi” Siwakoti and Sarbajit Rai. Not pictured: co-owner Anena Siwakoti.

Himalayan has a beer and wine license, and choices include a selection of Indian beverages.

Children can try mango chicken from the kids’ menu or have American standards such as macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets and French fries.

Himalayan Indian Cuisine is in a retail center at 5310 E. Arrowhead Parkway, across the street from Walmart. The main dining room can seat 70, and there’s a separate room that can be reserved for parties. An outdoor patio to the rear of the restaurant overlooks homes in the neighborhood.

The restaurant will serve a lunch buffet from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. Several dishes will be regular features, such as tandoori chicken and rice pudding, and others will rotate daily.

At lunch, customers also can order from the menu. Dinner from the menu will be served from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. Anyone who is hungry between lunch and dinner hours can call and the kitchen staff will try to accommodate a takeout order, Siwakoti said.

“We will be trying hard from our end to make the customer happy,” Siwakoti said.