Himalaya Café: Discover Authentic Indian Cuisine in Old Saybrook

Absolutely Incredible Indian Cuisine! We had an amazing dinner here and were blown away from start to finish. Our server, Sam, was phenomenal—warm, knowledgeable, and so passionate about the food. He walked us through several off-menu specials we never would have known about, and every recommendation was spot-on. We ordered garlic naan, chicken tikka masala, shrimp coconut curry, lamb rogan josh, raita, and papadum—each dish bursting with rich, layered flavors. You can taste the freshness and care in every bite. And the mango lassi? Hands down the best we’ve ever had—perfectly creamy, refreshing, and full of real mango flavor. Every dish was exceptional, the service was top-tier, and the experience left us already planning our next visit. Highly recommended!

THE best Indian food we have ever had by far!!! Deserves higher than 5 stars. Everything we got was perfect, such great flavors and high quality ingredients and presentation. We over-ordered and it was still so reasonably priced. Vibe was great inside. Our waitress was very attentive and nice, she comp’d our dessert after we told her it was our first time there. Genuinely it will be hard to beat this food and I’ve had a lot of Indian food in my life. You need to get the chicken tandoori, paneer tikka masala, and garlic naan… you’re welcome. Didn’t get pictures of our mains but had to take ALL of our leftovers home :)

Had some authentic Indian food here. The vibe is so calming and food very tasty. Sam served us and he is an extremely humble and a kind guy! Kudos to the chef for making such delicious Indian cuisine!

Atmosphere was amazing service was quick and our server was very attentive. The food was beyond good some of the best Indian food I’ve ever had. Especially the garlic Naan!

Nice decor and chill vibe in this small authentic Indian restaurant. Great service with really kind and attentive waitstaff. And food so good it will knock your socks off. For those with a low tolerance for heat (spice level), make sure you go mild.

We were transported to another realm while dining at Himalaya Cafe - one where the sounds, smells, sights, and tastes meld together in a deliciously exotic way. Entering Himalaya Cafe, you are greeted by a large statue of Ganesha, the patron of beginnings, wisdom, and prosperity. There is also a “cash only” sign and an ATM in the entryway. Moving further into the dining area, we were delighted to see the eclectic mix over wooden table, chairs, and benches, which somehow evoked a welcoming, hospitable feeling. Colorful pillows and cushions further invited us to sit and experience being present to the experience. The smells of warm spices and food being prepared in the open kitchen filled the air. The menu offered more delicious choices than we could handle in a single sitting, so we settled for the Tikka Salmon, Lamb Dahba, and naan. The salmon was delightful. Warm spices were seared into the crisp outside of the fish, while the interior remain moist and flavorful. Likewise chunks of tender lamb were simmered in a warmly spiced, and very flavorful sauce. We ended the meal with rice pudding. Note: The Himalaya Cafe is currently cash only.

We ordered a lot of chicken and lamb dishes. All were above standards! The chef has figured out the exact recipes for chicken and lamb. The food was awesome. I highly recommend the Indian hot seasoning. Makes the food come alive plus the atmosphere here is authentic and inviting. The experience is amazing, and the chef gave us awesome recommendations please, please, please don't pass this up. Come and eat!! I would have left the exact names of the dishes we had, but I am unaware of the spelling... Lastly, get the Naan and enjoy the dishes as designed. Choa.

Went here for the first time, although we did have their food delivered to a friend’s house and it was amazing. Tonight we loved everything we had, the place is cozy and rustic. Sam was our waiter and he’s smart, funny and attentive. They have five different levels of spice so you can order each dish to your own heat level. We had their food delivered at a friend’s house and loved it. So, tonight we ordered Butter Chicken, chicken Biryani, and garlic naan. It was essentially the perfect order for the two of us. We even have leftovers, and then they bought us a rice pudding and gulad jamun, which is a donut hole with a rose water syrup. Yummmm. Cannot recommend more for eat in or take out. Cash Only with ATM on site.