Why: For authentic Tibetan food
Where: University Ave (Downtown), Berkeley
Who: A very nice, helpful Tibetan lady runs this place (incidentally also our server of the day when we first visited one afternoon). Further details are unknown (her origin remains shrouded in mystery like the Himalayan kingdom itself) but I guess we should let the food do all the talking!
BayMonkey two cents: Misleading conceptions about Tibetan food (and for that matter, cuisine of any other Himalayan country sandwiched between India and China) is that how very often people refer to such cuisines as a cross between Indian and Chinese fare. So just to clear the air for once and for all (hopefully), Tibetan food ain't Indian or Chinese or a mish-mash of both! Its culturally distinct, unique and representative of the land, its resources and people. Its best enjoyed for the diversity it offers, and not a borrowed similarity.
Now that this private peeve of mine has been taken care of, lets move on to the food. I've been here twice (lunch and dinner) and have loved the meals every single time! The food has all the warmth of a home cooked meal and is authentically Tibetan. The appetizers are big enough to be ordered as a complete meal if you go for a couple and this is what we did on both occasions. First up, the eggplant chips (Dholooma Kamngoe) were amazing and bore an uncanny resemblance to the "beguni" (eggplant fritters), a popular street food in Kolkata, India. The chips were savory, gently laced with salt and spices and had a crispy, crunchy feel to them with a well cooked eggplant in the core. The accompanying red dip was pure delight! Next stop were the mouth-watering momos (Himalayan dumplings). The steamed variety is highly recommended and you can either order a combination platter of meat and vegetable momos or a single kind, my personal favorite being the chicken momos (adorably called Sha momo). The next order of the Cafe Tibet soup (tofu, chicken,oats, veggies) was exactly what was needed for that cold, rainy day; a hot flavorful broth overflowing with heartwarming goodness. Finally, we ended up sampling the famous Tibetan butter tea (remember the memorable scene in Seven Years in Tibet?)- a salty tea with the richness of butter; definitely go for it if you are in an adventurous mood. All items on the menu come in two avatars (lunch or dinner version) and although small, there are still plenty of items to choose from. Definitely worth repeat visits!
MONKEY METER
Food:
Green quotient (vegetarian friendly): Friendly indeed, with lots of choices!
Interior/decor: A small place decorated with Tibetan wall hangings, statues and a potrait of the Dalai Lama on one of the walls. Nothing fancy, but has a homely feel.
Service: Friendly, helpful and attentive.
For more details to fill your cranium, visit YELP.
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