New Nepali restaurant planned for Knightville
A new restaurant bringing Nepali and Tibetan cuisine to South Portland's Knightville neighborhood is expected to open by mid-July in the former Taco Trio space on Ocean Street.
Himalayas on the Bay will occupy 60 Ocean St., a more than 6,000-square-foot location currently undergoing renovations. Co-owner and head chef Laxman Neupane, who runs the new venture with partners from Nepal, also co-owns Hi Bombay in Portland.
The group is aiming to fill a niche in the local dining scene by showcasing a blend of Nepali, Tibetan and Indian dishes. "We're trying to cover Nepalese, Tibetan and Indian food in general," Neupane said.
The menu will feature traditional Himalayan specialties including momo, or dumplings, thukpa, a noodle soup, thali, a sampler-style meal, and Nepali chow mein. Indian favorites like butter chicken and chicken curry will round out the offerings.
Neupane emphasized that the new restaurant will offer a distinct experience from Hi Bombay. "It's going to be a lot different from Hi Bombay," he said. In addition to the expanded menu, Himalayas on the Bay will include a full bar serving beer, wine and cocktails.
The team has not yet finalized the restaurant's days and hours of operation, though Neupane said he expects the schedule to be similar to Hi Bombay, which serves lunch and dinner daily.
The Knightville neighborhood has seen a wave of changes in recent years, and the arrival of a restaurant focused on Himalayan cuisine adds another layer of diversity to the area's growing dining landscape.
