Fargo-Moorhead boasts a cornucopia of ethnic restaurants. It’s truly a blessing for those with a proclivity for seeking colorful and spicy flavors. Some recent restaurant openings expand that palette, which can definitely please a food enthusiast’s palate. These new Indian and Nepalese restaurants are very much welcome and will definitely gain a following.
Indian and Nepalese cuisines have flavors that come together like skilled musicians in a well-seasoned symphony. The countries are different, but have some similar foodways. And I immensely enjoy walking into a restaurant perfumed with the earthy and sweet smell of fenugreek. A hard-working tandoor oven can also enhance a dining experience.
These new restaurants offer that, and much more. Additionally, it’s hard to find good vegetarian menu items around here. International cuisines can definitely fill that gap.
Anand Indian Cuisine just opened up in the former Himalayan Yak location at 1109 38th St. S. in Fargo. The restaurant is affiliated with the House of Punjab in Grand Forks.
There’s a lunch buffet served every day from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for $22. I was hungry and went for lunch on opening day, so the buffet was my go to. The pakoras and samosas were very tasty and so were the chutneys. I really enjoyed the Delhi’s tawa chicken and paneer tikka masala featured on the buffet.
My next initiative is to try some of the menu items, and not just the buffet. I did find that the buffet needed a few more items on it. I went on opening day, so a little leniency is appropriate. Photos recently posted on Anand’s Facebook page show additional items. That’s positive.
This restaurant is open until 9 p.m., which is nice for folks seeking a spice fix later in the evening. Although losing Himalayan Yak was tough, Anand is a solid replacement for that location.
A few Fridays ago, I drove out to Casselton to try out Love’s Yummy Cuisine operating in the Governor’s Inn. It’s a new Indian restaurant that fills the space recently occupied by a Mexican restaurant.
I was pleasantly surprised by the goods. I ordered butter chicken, garlic naan and matar paneer. A bowl of steaming basmati rice was included with the entrees. The flavors were great, which made the dining experience well worth the drive.
However, the decor and service need some improvement. This restaurant is fairly new, so there is time to make adjustments. Also, good Indian food is hard to find in Casselton. I shouldn’t complain.
Additionally, Mount Everest recently opened up in another former Himalayan Yak location at 1450 25th St. S. in Fargo. It’s a Nepalese restaurant, which also features Indian cuisine.
Similar to the Anand venture, I went on opening day and enjoyed the buffet. The buffet items are very similar to what Himalayan Yak offered, but with elevated presentation and flavors. I really enjoyed the garlic chicken, pakoras, pulao rice and tandoori chicken. The lunch buffet is available every day from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and is $18.
I also recently tried some menu items at Mount Everest — a sizzling platter of tandoori chicken and veggie momos. These delicious Nepalese dumplings are a favorite, especially when served with a traditional spicy chutney. The Mount Everest version made for a tasty treat that day.
Another new food find is at India Street Food, located in Fargo Fresh at 855 45th St. S. I have been ordering to-go items there for years, but just found out that dosas are served only on weekends for $9.99. These crepe-like creations are filled with a spiced-potato mash and green peas. The dosas are served with an incredibly flavorful coconut chutney and vegetable stew. Finding secret menu items at favorite restaurants is always a pleasant surprise.
If, for some reason, Indian-style crepes aren’t appealing, grab a samosa chaat at India Street Food for only $8.50 or an order of pani puri for just $7.20. The samosa chaat is extremely satisfying and is slicked with sweet chutneys and yogurt. There are also panini sandwiches and other items available.
While waiting for your grub at India Street Food, be sure to peruse Fargo Fresh for grocery items. You’ll find dairy, fresh produce, frozen items, lentils, meat, spices, sweets, teas and rice.
My favorite thing to pick up at Fargo Fresh is a large box of frozen samosas. These come in handy to heat in an oven when winter travel to an Indian restaurant is not convenient. The spices in the samosas have a warming effect, which is great when the temperature dips below the dreaded donut.
Additional Indian eats in this area have a loyal following — and for good reason. Some of these places are just as good as many big city restaurants.
In my opinion, the triumvirate of Indian restaurants in Fargo includes India Palace at 5050 13th Ave. S., Passage to India at 855 45th St. S., and Taj India at 2877 45th St. S. Dining at any of these three restaurants will not disappoint. The food and service is consistently good. Menu items are chock full of flavors. Local diners often argue about which restaurant takes the top spot.
The only drawback to dining at a few of these restaurants is dealing with the current construction on 45th St. S. in Fargo. Traffic is squeezed while driving along the thoroughfare, so make extra time. The flavors make it worth the ordeal, though.
Brick and mortar restaurants are not the only game in town. Namaste Kitchen food truck can be frequently found at the Red River Market in downtown Fargo serving up naan tacos, pakoras and samosas.
Its sister trailer, Namaste Chai, boasts a panoply of satisfying hot and cold drinks. This mobile rig can be found at a variety of parking lots around the area — and sometimes at Broadway Square in downtown Fargo. It’s a great stop to make for a steaming chai tea on a chilly fall day. The owner is also very friendly and fun to chat with.
Many of the fine folks involved in these ventures are intrepid entrepreneurs. Be sure to thank them for working hard to bring great flavors to the Fargo-Moorhead area. Many are new Americans. Their diaspora has helped to expand culinary choices here. It’s great to have restaurants like this available on the Northern Plains. Expressing gratitude is important.
To digress and reminisce a bit, calling attention to my favorite local Indian restaurant of all time is important — Saffron. This fine establishment opened in 2004 and was located just across from the big Essentia Health hospital on 32nd Ave. S. in Fargo (Innovis Health at the time). Saffron closed quite a while ago, but still holds a special place in my stomach. The flavors of the menu items were incredible.
Fargo is not the only metro area in North Dakota with good Indian restaurants. India Clay Oven in downtown Bismarck is a must-stop when traveling west. The aforementioned House of Punjab in Grand Forks is also very much worth a visit.
Before concluding this column, I need to posit that someone needs to fire up a dosa-making rig at the Red River Market. The hot food selection at this market is quite immense, but a dosa stall would make for a tasty addition. Just a friendly suggestion.
Indian and Nepalese restaurants and mobile food vendors are aplenty in the Fargo-Moorhead area these days. Be sure to give one a try. The symphony of flavors will definitely satisfy a spice craving and be a special treat for those seeking delicious vegetarian cuisine.
