I live just a few houses down from Shambala, so my boyfriend and I dine here all the time. The owners are always so friendly. The food comes out quickly, and is consistently delicious. The servings are large, so you can split a dish between two people if you get an appetizer. My ultimate fave is the Tofu fried noodle. We often order the veggie fried momos and beef steamed momos (they will do half orders of each) and hot & sour soup. You can't ask for much better for the price.
(5)
Dhara J.
I can't believe I've never written a review for this place yet. I've been a few times and this place is honestly a vegetarian's paradise. First few times I've ordered off the menu for dinner; however, today I went for lunch and got the buffet. They have an amazing variety of stuff in the buffet (mostly veggie friendly) but a couple of meat items. One think you definitely can not beat is the price for lunch. $8.50 + tax will get you a choice of 6-8 items: drink not included. For the quality of food at this cute mom and pop ethnic restaurant that's amazing! My favorite things here include the spicy tofu dish (the buffet version is not as spicy) as well as the veggie fried momos. This place is a wonderful blend of Chinese, Indian, and Nepali flavors. The staff is super attentive and helpful when trying to choose something off the extensive menu and are able to answer any questions you may have. I will definitely come back for more! p.s. The spicy sauce that they have out on the tables is no joke... SUPER spicy!
(5)
Hannah L.
I'm glad I was able to try this place out on my last visit to Salt Lake. It was right next to a friends apartment, and he had only good things to say. We wanted an inexpensive dinner so we stopped in. We ordered three things and split among the table. There were three of us, and although we finished it, it was definitely more than enough for the table (they are just very hungry boys- normal people couldn't have finished it all). We had the vegetable tofu curry, the eggplant and a beef dish. The veggie curry didn't have much curry flavor to me, but it was delicious none the less. The veggies tasted fresh and perfect. The beef was also good but a little bit chewy. The eggplant was by far everyone's favorite- I'd definitely recommend it. The best part about eating here was that it wasn't too heavy. I left feeling like I ate a lot, but it was mostly vegetables, so I didn't feel so bad about it :) this place is very vegetarian friendly also! Come give this little place a try.
Had the lunch buffet. There were around 12 options that included rice, noodles, potatoes, veggies, tofu, chicken, momos, soup, fruit, and rice pudding. A lot of spicy intense flavors. It was less than $20 for my husband and myself. Customer service was good.
(4)
Mike N.
Mo mo-mos please! I can't get enough of them. Or the fried noodles, or the mango lassi, or pretty much everything. This is a cozy little out of the way spot in the avenues that is one of my favorite spots in the city. It isn't hard to get a table, and I secretly hope that it stays that way. The first time I walked in, it definitely reminded me of many places I had dined in Singapore, China, Cambodia, etc. They have a variety of menu items with nods to many different Asian cuisines. The family-run atmosphere is great, and the workers are as nice as can be. It is one of those places where they will give me a sincere apology if I have to wait even 30 seconds for a refill or to pay my bill. Not to mention they are fast. I put in an order for two entrees, and it was sitting in front of me piping hot within five minutes. Not even Jimmy Johns could match that freaky fast service. If you're in the mood for something different that will put a lot on your plate and take little from your wallet, Cafe Shambala is worth a visit.
(5)
Caden W.
Never fails to impress! Great, friendly service. High quality ingredients, great variety on the menu. Shared 5 different dishes with some friends last night and every one was amazing! Definitely not a place to miss!
(5)
Maddie D.
Tucked away in the avenues, this authentic homestyle cafe was a pleasant surprise to stumble into for some late night munching! The low light from hanging lanterns gave the space a warm, intimate ambiance that matched the staff's friendly and attentive demeanor. Our food came out quickly and stylistically looked very appetizing. Served with a warm, sweet ginger sauce for rice, I ordered sweet and sour tofu while my partner scored a delicious deal with the vegetarian plate that included potatoes, fried rice and the oh-so famous Mo-Mos! If you don't order the Mo-Mos here, you've really missed an opportunity to taste a dish that has procured a Salt Lake City cult following. Similar to flakey dumplings, these Mo-Mo's are served hot, stuffed with your choice of potatoes, veggies and meat. The usage of spice and seasoning is near heavenly perfection, and with seven on your plate, you'll be thanking any and every deity you stopped in for dinner. What I love more than anything about Cafe Shambala is the food has a very "at home" feel to it because it is family owned and ran. The vegetables are lightly prepared so that they keep a crispness that really accentuates a straight-out-of-the-garden flavor. Our rice was cooked perfectly and the ginger sauce was one of the highlights of our dinner. You can tell each dish is prepared carefully and served with love. A must try for anyone seeking delicious, authentic Himalayan Food for a price that will keep you coming back for "Mo".
(4)
Nigel L.
This place has a definitive quaint, home-cooked feel to it. I ordered the Veggie Combo which was a mix of fried rice, potatoes, and 3 veggie momos. It's a good deal and all the items in said combo were tasty. The momos have a lot of garlic and similar spices so be careful if that type of thing is not agreeable with your stomach. My companion had the sweet and sour tofu+veggie dish; it was OK, but certainly not something I would recommend or order in the future. The iced chai was similarly disappointing; watery and lacking taste. Service was excellent. The water was never empty and the server had a gentle demeanor. I was slightly reluctant given my last experience with Nepalese cuisine, but this place came through. I'll be back.
(4)
Zack S.
Like many others I found Cafe Shambala by reading about the food on Yelp. Being that this place is literally blocks away from my house, I almost felt a little ashamed I hadn't visited sooner. Everything about this place is authentic: Food, atmosphere, and... Well, can I say food again? Because it's amazing! We tried the beef momos (fried and boiled) - they were awesome. The beef chow mein was also an amazing dish. Forget leftovers: you'll want it all. Food comas are only natural at Cafe Shambala.
(5)
Arash A.
This place is a classic. I've been going here for ten years and the food has never been anything less than great! They also do take-out and have a great lunch buffet. Try the spicy potatoes :3
(5)
Hana A.
Lunch buffet Spicy tofu with mixed veggies were my favorite Chow mein Fried rice Potato curry Veggie momo Rice pudding Soup-like dal Cantaloupe Very friendly service
(4)
Clear S.
Ok place. Nothing special. We have so many other good Indian/Himalayan restaurants around valley. I don't think the price is cheap either.
(2)
Dennis M.
amazing vegetarian/vegan selection Best lentil soup in UT
(5)
Rob H.
I've lived in SLC for 15 years and I've seen this place and heard about it never ventured inside until tonight. It's small and quaint. The owners and their daughter are extremely nice. The food was delicious. I shared the Singapore Fried Noodles with Chicken and the Steamed Vegetable Momos. The noodles were really good with a sauce that was sweet but not as overly sweet as a lot of Chinese dishes. The momos were fantastic. They had potatoes and veggies inside--similar to a samosa.
(4)
Douglas S.
Decided to try this place on a whim and was very pleased. We had no idea what we were walking in to but the waitress was very helpful. She explained the origin of the food and some of the favorites so we tried a number of dishes. The dumplings were fantastic and we tried both beef and chicken noodle dishes, both of which were great. Surprisingly there was a ton of food and the dishes had a lot of meat in them. We got two additional meals from the leftovers.
(4)
H Y.
If you are a vegetarian then you probably love their buffet. There are only two meat options: fried beef momo and chicken curry. The meat options were OK, nothing compared to Kathmandu's buffet. The veggie options were very fresh and as good as you are going to get for vegetarian food. The buffet was $9 including tax. I don't think I will be back cause I love my meat too much :-)
(3)
Jack B.
I would highly recommend this place. The service is fantastic. the waitress could tell that we are wanting pictures of the food so she went out and got some. She was just really attentive and made sure we were happy. The food was delicious and the portions were very impressive. The only real drawback with the atmosphere there didn't seem to have a lot of character.
(4)
Cody L.
That was great. Momos fantastic, rice pudding excellent, curry chicken fabulous. Lunch buffet all around awesome. Definitely worth the visit. Full belly and happy about it.
(5)
Graci D.
The lunch buffet was amazing! Momos and curry potatoes were my favorite. Very reasonably priced.
(5)
Dhara J.
I can't believe I've never written a review for this place yet. I've been a few times and this place is honestly a vegetarian's paradise. First few times I've ordered off the menu for dinner; however, today I went for lunch and got the buffet. They have an amazing variety of stuff in the buffet (mostly veggie friendly) but a couple of meat items. One think you definitely can not beat is the price for lunch. $8.50 + tax will get you a choice of 6-8 items: drink not included. For the quality of food at this cute mom and pop ethnic restaurant that's amazing! My favorite things here include the spicy tofu dish (the buffet version is not as spicy) as well as the veggie fried momos. This place is a wonderful blend of Chinese, Indian, and Nepali flavors. The staff is super attentive and helpful when trying to choose something off the extensive menu and are able to answer any questions you may have. I will definitely come back for more! p.s. The spicy sauce that they have out on the tables is no joke... SUPER spicy!
(5)
Hannah L.
I'm glad I was able to try this place out on my last visit to Salt Lake. It was right next to a friends apartment, and he had only good things to say. We wanted an inexpensive dinner so we stopped in. We ordered three things and split among the table. There were three of us, and although we finished it, it was definitely more than enough for the table (they are just very hungry boys- normal people couldn't have finished it all). We had the vegetable tofu curry, the eggplant and a beef dish. The veggie curry didn't have much curry flavor to me, but it was delicious none the less. The veggies tasted fresh and perfect. The beef was also good but a little bit chewy. The eggplant was by far everyone's favorite- I'd definitely recommend it. The best part about eating here was that it wasn't too heavy. I left feeling like I ate a lot, but it was mostly vegetables, so I didn't feel so bad about it :) this place is very vegetarian friendly also! Come give this little place a try.
I live just a few houses down from Shambala, so my boyfriend and I dine here all the time. The owners are always so friendly. The food comes out quickly, and is consistently delicious. The servings are large, so you can split a dish between two people if you get an appetizer. My ultimate fave is the Tofu fried noodle. We often order the veggie fried momos and beef steamed momos (they will do half orders of each) and hot & sour soup. You can't ask for much better for the price.
(5)
Caden W.
Never fails to impress! Great, friendly service. High quality ingredients, great variety on the menu. Shared 5 different dishes with some friends last night and every one was amazing! Definitely not a place to miss!
(5)
Mike N.
Mo mo-mos please! I can't get enough of them. Or the fried noodles, or the mango lassi, or pretty much everything. This is a cozy little out of the way spot in the avenues that is one of my favorite spots in the city. It isn't hard to get a table, and I secretly hope that it stays that way. The first time I walked in, it definitely reminded me of many places I had dined in Singapore, China, Cambodia, etc. They have a variety of menu items with nods to many different Asian cuisines. The family-run atmosphere is great, and the workers are as nice as can be. It is one of those places where they will give me a sincere apology if I have to wait even 30 seconds for a refill or to pay my bill. Not to mention they are fast. I put in an order for two entrees, and it was sitting in front of me piping hot within five minutes. Not even Jimmy Johns could match that freaky fast service. If you're in the mood for something different that will put a lot on your plate and take little from your wallet, Cafe Shambala is worth a visit.
(5)
Natalee B.
Had the lunch buffet. There were around 12 options that included rice, noodles, potatoes, veggies, tofu, chicken, momos, soup, fruit, and rice pudding. A lot of spicy intense flavors. It was less than $20 for my husband and myself. Customer service was good.
(4)
Maddie D.
Tucked away in the avenues, this authentic homestyle cafe was a pleasant surprise to stumble into for some late night munching! The low light from hanging lanterns gave the space a warm, intimate ambiance that matched the staff's friendly and attentive demeanor. Our food came out quickly and stylistically looked very appetizing. Served with a warm, sweet ginger sauce for rice, I ordered sweet and sour tofu while my partner scored a delicious deal with the vegetarian plate that included potatoes, fried rice and the oh-so famous Mo-Mos! If you don't order the Mo-Mos here, you've really missed an opportunity to taste a dish that has procured a Salt Lake City cult following. Similar to flakey dumplings, these Mo-Mo's are served hot, stuffed with your choice of potatoes, veggies and meat. The usage of spice and seasoning is near heavenly perfection, and with seven on your plate, you'll be thanking any and every deity you stopped in for dinner. What I love more than anything about Cafe Shambala is the food has a very "at home" feel to it because it is family owned and ran. The vegetables are lightly prepared so that they keep a crispness that really accentuates a straight-out-of-the-garden flavor. Our rice was cooked perfectly and the ginger sauce was one of the highlights of our dinner. You can tell each dish is prepared carefully and served with love. A must try for anyone seeking delicious, authentic Himalayan Food for a price that will keep you coming back for "Mo".
(4)
Linda K.
2 stars = Meh. That's how I feel about the place. I generally love hole in the wall places because the food is where it matters, but I didn't think much of the food here. I visited during lunch when they had the buffet out. There weren't too many options, in my opinion, and nothing stood out good enough to go back for. I also thought the food was quite bland and some of it tasted as if it had been sitting for awhile instead of being fresh for lunch.
(2)
Nigel L.
This place has a definitive quaint, home-cooked feel to it. I ordered the Veggie Combo which was a mix of fried rice, potatoes, and 3 veggie momos. It's a good deal and all the items in said combo were tasty. The momos have a lot of garlic and similar spices so be careful if that type of thing is not agreeable with your stomach. My companion had the sweet and sour tofu+veggie dish; it was OK, but certainly not something I would recommend or order in the future. The iced chai was similarly disappointing; watery and lacking taste. Service was excellent. The water was never empty and the server had a gentle demeanor. I was slightly reluctant given my last experience with Nepalese cuisine, but this place came through. I'll be back.
(4)
Zack S.
Like many others I found Cafe Shambala by reading about the food on Yelp. Being that this place is literally blocks away from my house, I almost felt a little ashamed I hadn't visited sooner. Everything about this place is authentic: Food, atmosphere, and... Well, can I say food again? Because it's amazing! We tried the beef momos (fried and boiled) - they were awesome. The beef chow mein was also an amazing dish. Forget leftovers: you'll want it all. Food comas are only natural at Cafe Shambala.
(5)
Arash A.
This place is a classic. I've been going here for ten years and the food has never been anything less than great! They also do take-out and have a great lunch buffet. Try the spicy potatoes :3
(5)
Clear S.
Ok place. Nothing special. We have so many other good Indian/Himalayan restaurants around valley. I don't think the price is cheap either.
(2)
Hana A.
Lunch buffet Spicy tofu with mixed veggies were my favorite Chow mein Fried rice Potato curry Veggie momo Rice pudding Soup-like dal Cantaloupe Very friendly service
(4)
Dennis M.
amazing vegetarian/vegan selection Best lentil soup in UT
(5)
Rob H.
I've lived in SLC for 15 years and I've seen this place and heard about it never ventured inside until tonight. It's small and quaint. The owners and their daughter are extremely nice. The food was delicious. I shared the Singapore Fried Noodles with Chicken and the Steamed Vegetable Momos. The noodles were really good with a sauce that was sweet but not as overly sweet as a lot of Chinese dishes. The momos were fantastic. They had potatoes and veggies inside--similar to a samosa.
(4)
David B.
This place was absolutely amazing. I ordered the chicken phingsha and it was great! The server was helpful and friendly and the restaurant was clean. I will definitely be back to try their other offerings.
(5)
Benjamin C.
I really love this place. I mostly go for the lunch buffet, very affordable and delicious! Especially the beef and veggie mo-mos. The staff (I think it's family run, maybe?) are all super sweet and on point. Vegan and vegetarian friendly.
(5)
Daniel Z.
Wow, what a nice place. This was my first time trying Himalayan/Nepalese, and it was a pleasant evening. We started with the beef mo-mo, as recommended by fellow yelpers, and they were excellent. Definitely our top choice for the meal. We had three kinds of soups -- vegetable, tomato egg drop, and hot and sour with chicken -- and all were good. Try the vegetable or hot and sour if you prefer spicy, and the egg drop if you like it quite a bit tamer. We then had singapore veggie noodles, curry chicken, and beef and broccoli (to satisfy our tamer palates). The singapore noodles were by far our favorite. The curry chicken was OK, but was not as strong as we would have liked, and the beef and broccoli was mostly broccoli. I chatted with our server afterwards, and she indicated the restaurant had been around for 14 years, so its clearly got a good following. Sadly, Dolcetti's next door has closed down. Hopefully they get another strong restaurant next door to help keep a strong customer base.
(4)
Wes N.
Yummy, inexpensive lunch buffet with an assortment of options, many of which are vegan. At one point, they even updated their rice pudding recipe to make it vegan based on customer feedback, using soy milk as the base now. Pretty awesome that they listen to their customers! Veggie Momo's are excellent.
(4)
M J.
Everytime I eat at this restaurant, I always wonder why I don't more often. The service is great, it's owned by a couple from Tibet whose daughter serves. They are always friendly and accomodating. The food is fantasic. I have not had a bad dish yet. I'm particularly fond of the spicy tofu, veggie noodles, and garlic spinach and mushrooms. Also like the tofu and noodles and the beef momos. Oh, and the prices are great! I almost feel gulity when I get the bill.
(5)
Brooke N.
Tofu vegetable curry, spicy potatoes and veggie momos are my favorites. The prices are great and the people that work there are so so nice. Love this place.
(5)
Andrew W.
I went here for lunch today. I really enjoyed it. I gave it 4 stars only for a small selection at the buffet. BUT what was there had good flavor. I particularly enjoyed the beef and veg stuffed pastry (can't remember the name) and the spicy tofu. It seemed to be a family establishment which I'm in favor of patronizing local places like this. I'll be going back to Cafe Shambala soon! They were super friendly! You all should go!
(4)
Kyle K.
I'll keep it short-- Delicious, filling, cheap food in the Avenues. We had the steamed beef mo-mos. The wife described them as "beef stew in a dumpling." Which means yum. Our spicy tofu and potatoes were yum, too, and huge portions (they're particularly good cold the next day). And my tomato-egg drop soup was well, like gaspacho and egg drop soup mixed together. You might think that sounds odd, but the acidity of the tomatoes went really well with the savory egg drop soup. Oh, and did I mention that they allow BYOB and don't charge a corkage fee?!?!? While no dish made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, everything was delicious and cheap. We will certainly be back!
(4)
Ashley L.
I think if you like this type of food it would be a four star place, sadly this type of food is not my taste so I had to give it a low star. The service was really great and the staff was attentive and had a positive attitude toward their customers. Plus they had a pretty big vegetarian selection. The only down side {aside from my own taste in food} is that it's located in a place with minimal parking and in a building that looks slightly... old and out of the way.
(2)
Jann M.
We went in for a late lunch Buffet. Since I have never eaten food from Tibet I was anxious to try it I would describe it as a fusion of Chinese meets Indian Food but with a milder touch. The mo-mos are divine. I could live the rest of my life eating their Spicy Potatoes. The service is great and the story of the family is wonderful too. Take the time to enjoy it all, read the quotes from the Dali Lama and take a quick food tour through Tibet you'll be glad you did.
(4)
John S.
Neat and quaint little restaurant. The momos are delicious. The variety keeps you coming back. And you can eat healthy. Really kind staff too. They make you feel special.
(4)
Michelle K.
We weren't impressed with our main dishes (Singapore noodles) the first time we visited, so we always stick to an order of Beef Mo-Mos -- they are delicious, filling, and always make the trip worthwhile. In fact, overwhelming recommendations on Yelp were the reason we tried the Mo-Mos to begin with. Mo-Mos are beef-filled dumplings shaped like traditional asian buns. You can get them fried, steamed or half of each. Make sure you use plenty of the awesome spicy sauce waiting for you at the table.
(4)
Chris S.
There is a reason this has a good raiting. They had me with their noodles. Very tasty! The owners are also very nice!
(5)
Cindy P.
We wanted to try something new but we've been burned by some of the reviews here on yelp so were a little apprehensive about all of the good reviews for this place. I have to say, the reviews for this place are spot on! It's a great little hidden jewel. The food is really yummy (kept reading about the spicy potato and Momo's) both were delicious. We tried 5 different dishes and all were wonderful. It has a sweet little unpretentious feel to it and a unique location, away from all the hustle. Service was great! Will def go again and again.
(4)
Lisa D.
I love this neighborhood restaurant when I am visiting family in Salt Lake. The food is good and the service is excellent. When we have guests from out of town visit, this is our go to place.
(5)
Chase A.
Lunch buffet is a steal. Beef mo-mo's are off the charts. Curry is great. Potatoes are great. Love love LOVE this place.
(5)
Dan T.
This is my favorite buddha spot in the state. Buffet lunch is always the same menu (oddly pleasing to me): Beef momo (steamed or fried dim sum bun) Veggie momo Spicy potato Veggie mix (cauliflower, broccoli, onion, squash) Noodles with veggie Tofu and cauliflower Veggie rice Chicken drumstick in curry Salad Cantaloupe Rice pudding Love this place (I dip momo in ginger dressing...)
Love their lunch buffet. THe mo mo is still my favorite pick from there. I love all of their vegetarian dishes. Contrary to some of the reviewers, we never have any issues with the customer service. One tip, when you walk in, don't worry about being seated, just pick a table and sit down since it is such a small place, they do not have specific seating arrangement. I lllovveeee their chili sauce with the soy sauce base.
(5)
Arnold K.
Yup, come here for their lunch buffet or dinner. Either way you can't go wrong. Just come by when their open, especially for their buffet. Late-ish arrival for lunch buffet can be challenging, however when I've done this on accident, the owners asked if there was anything that was low that I would like to eat. And they happily made some more right there on the spot. This is one of the places my friends and I go when they come in town. The owners and employees are super friendly. Discovery of this place is a must. Oh and I love their fried momo's. Ordering them for take out becomes a habit.
(4)
Lindsey P.
Every dish I have tried here is excellent! The service is great and the prices are unbeatable. My favorite dishes are the Singapore noodles the beef fingsha and the momo. Yum! I could eat here every day.
(5)
Garret N.
I went here with a friend and found the service to be lovely and the atmosphere very casual and quiet. All the dishes we tried were tasty and varied. I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Brandon R.
What a wonderful place. Its in a lovely little neighborhood in a lovely little store with an amazing window front. I would like to eat here on a cold winter night - the atmosphere would be straight out of a film. Upon entry we were greeted right away and sat. They must be keeping tabs on their Yelp reviews (as previous patrons were unhaopy with the service) because we were treated very well. It seems like most of the business is take-out, because there was a lot of traffic, but no dine-ins (all the more romantic if that's your thing). Let me start at price. Cheap. Two entrees, Shambala special fried momos, and hot tea was under $25. No wonder everyone calls orders. The momos are as good as everyone says, better actually. If you don't know momos, they are the doughy stuffed balls that Master Ishu trains Panda with. I would fight for those too. The tea was soothing and on a cold night...mmm. We got the vegetable and tofu curry and sweet and sour tofu. I don't like tofu, don't ask why I got it, but it was still decent. Nothing wrong with the tofu. The sauce was sweet and spicy and drizzled great over the rice that comes attached. But the tofu. If it was beef or chicken it would have been awesome. The curry was mild, but very flavorful. She likes tofu so she loved the curry. The serving size was big. Way too much for me. Go hungry or take a date, unless again you have a voracious appetite. No dessert this time. Overall I would definitely suggest this if you are looking for tibetan or varied asian - even if not I suggest it.
(4)
Allie C.
Delish! Momos were excellent! :) Well priced and tasty.
(5)
Pamela P.
Good but not great food. Especially tasty was the dal soup, the rice pudding and the chicken curry. Tibetan food in America is a huge improvement on Tibetan food in Tibet so were glad to be there. Also this is a good place for both veg and non-veg eaters. The owners were very quiet but came and filled water glasses, cleared plates etc., despite it being primarily a buffet place. Decor basically formica tables on tile floor - actually not all that different from places on South Asia!
(4)
Richard M.
Shambala's is the only place I've been to where the mo mos don't fall into pieces the first bite, whether beef filled and fried, or veggie filled and steamed they're never soggy or difficult. The buffet is great and there is plenty on the dinner menu to please. My wife and I have been stuck on the Singapore Fried Chicken Noodle for over a year (Great with added soy sauce, just don't let anyone see you add it because I'm sure its a sin.) I love its exclusive local feel. The avenues are not like any other neighborhoods in Salt Lake so some might find places in it a little unnerving. Just walk in and pretend like you're family and enjoy the best Tibetan food Salt Lake has to offer.
(5)
Sarah C.
I went there last month at 1:30, reasonable lunch hours, and they were out of rice. How an Asian restaurant runs out of rice is beyond me, but lo and behold, they were all out. This was after we stood in the doorway for over 5 solid minutes (the place was entirely empty) while the waiter hung out in plain view, ignoring us. I had to holler over to get him to "seat" us (which consisted of waving around and pointing to some menus)... which should have been my cue to just leave, but since some of my favorite restaurants have bad service, I stuck it out. Then, our food came out. I got the Singapore noodles and my friend got a tofu dish (sans rice). They were the same awful dish, one tofu and one noodles. Both were covered in a sugary syrup that tasted like failure and melted Skittles. Atrocious and unacceptable by any standards and any price beginning to end.
(1)
Geri D.
So glad I discovered this place....it's become one of my favorite restaurants in SLC. The food is super tasty, though the noodles on the buffet were slightly on the dry side. LOVE all the veggie dishes on the buffet, and ordered the spinach and tofu curry from the menu and it was fantastic. Home cooked, fresh food, no MSG, and good ambiance for a small hole in the wall ethnic food restaurant. I'm happy that I live so close and can eat there regularly!
(5)
Rebecca M.
Tibetan Comfort food. For a sampling of most of their best, go at lunch time for the buffet. Owners are pleasant people that mostly stay out of your way. Nothing fancy, but reliably enjoyable food.
(4)
Jern Y.
This place is around the corner from where I live. It has pretty good reviews, but is OK in my book. I like that the owners all are of original descent, and have unique foods. Perhaps the food is similar to Chinese food that I grew up on but isn't exactly the same, particularly the mo-mos. Perhaps I'm not exactly used to this type of Asian food, but I'm just not a huge fan. Location is fine, although a bit off the beaten path.
(3)
Harsha R.
Everytime I go to Cafe Shambala, I think how cool it would be to stay within a block of this place. If you don't feel like cooking at home tonight, just walk over to Cafe Shambala. Its the closest you will come to food like it is cooked at home. I have eaten there a few times and I think the food is very tasty. Their lunch buffet is also worth the money. Anyway, don't go there expecting great service. Mom and Pop run the show. Parking can be a pain, the language can be a barrier but you will leave contented with the quality of the food.
(4)
Jackie B.
I had the lunch buffet. I tried everything they had on the buffet that did not include meat. Most of what I had was fairly mediocre, but the veggie momo and the lentil soup were tasty enough to make me think I'd want to return.
(3)
Ksenia B.
This is a great little place. I've been there a few times and I loved the food. It's very simple but tasty. My favorite was their lunch buffet. Plenty of vegetarian options. Their smoothies are wonderful too.
(5)
Hadrian B.
I've tried Nepalese food around the country, while this is different - more Tibetian, I wasn't that impressed. I went up here because I like small local joints, as they can be real gems. This wasn't it though. The ambience was not good, the staff *looked* friendly, but difficult to interact with. The momos were fried and tough, not that yummy. The rice was meh. You gotta get the rice right *sigh*. While I did have two plates, it was filling, but not yumm. I was just really hungry. A previous post is spot on about the lack of fancy spices (IE indian spices really) makes this really just a hearty meal. That may be true, but it's not enough for me to come back to. Maybe I'll try the other Tibetian place next.
(2)
Alina R.
Loved the food and the atmosphere. Contrary to other reviews I received fantastic service! I will most definitely return to this restaurant.
(4)
Ben G.
Last night was my first time at Shambala and I only wish I'd found it sooner. Great food at great prices. The leftovers made a perfect lunch. It's an awesome spot for vegans that's made even more awesome by the fact that the chocolate shop next door has tons of vegan treats made from scratch. Try the dark-chocolate hot chocolate. Holy crap.
(5)
A J.
Really good food that seems healthy. It's managed by a Tibetan family and the prices are very reasonable considering the quality of the food. I'd much rather spend money here rather than at some impersonal corporate chain. Doing my bit to stick it to the man ;-) Even otherwise, the place is good. Since the lunch is a buffet you can have a very quick, cheap and healthy meal in that 30-min lunch-break.
(5)
Therron R.
Much better Tibetan Food than House of Tibet, I think! They serve yogurt smoothies, and we always came here for the Lunch Buffet. Chicken curry drumsticks, and plenty of Beef Momos (Meat or Vegi-Paste filled dumplings) topped with a ginger sauce. Don't worry there are vegetarian options like cabbage carrot salad, Lo Mein noodles, Spicy Potatoes, and Veggie Momos. The rice pudding is great to top it all off. The cool thing about this Mom/Pop Dive is the owners. They came to America many years ago on a state assisted refugee program, and had to leave their young Daugherty behind. How hard it must be to leave a child behind in a distant land? They vowed that someday they would raise enough money to finally send for their daughter. So they have worked hard to make this restaurant prosper where many other shop owners have failed, and the last time we got to eat there we asked if the young girl assisting tables was their daughter, and Yes she had been reunited with them here in America. God Bless Um! Parking can be bad sometimes because this shop is in the avenues, but never farther than half a block walk.
(5)
Anstrum J.
Walk in, grab a plate, and load up! The chicken is amazing, great rice, dumplings, fantastic lo mein noodles, spicy potatoes, and veggies. A friend of mine exclaimed with a smirk on his face, "I could live off this soup!" So be sure not to miss it. Still hungry? Keep your plate and head back for more. Pay when you're done and head next door for some chocolate from Hatch's (another locally owned business). Ahhh, life on the Avenues in Salt Lake. Very nice.
(4)
Allen R.
Location: Up in the Avenues just south of the Avenues' Smith's. Parking is sometimes difficult during lunch hours, since there are only 5-10 spots in front of the restaurant (which shares those spots with a candy store). Atmosphere: Don't come here for the ambience, but rather, for the food. The walls are lined with the traditional images of the Dalai Lama and Buddha. I always find it funny that when decor is from an Eastern religion, we don't think that it's odd, but if you went to an Italian restaurant that was decorated with images of popes, saints, and Jesus, it would be quasi-invasive and semi-offensive. Quality: Excellent lunch buffet with similar fare to that of the House of Tibet, down on 1300 South and State Street. One key difference is that the dumplings here are fried instead of steamed, which makes them have even more delicious, hip-growing appeal. If they get really busy, they tend to bring out additional dishes that aren't served at House of Tibet, such as tofu sqaures in a curry sauce, and cardamom-seasoned coconut rice pudding. They also have two amazing sauces--a ginger-based one that is similar to the salad dressing at Behi Hana, and a traditional cayenne sauce with a soy sauce base. Value: ~$7 per person. Service: This place is owned by a Tibetan man and wife who are responsible for preparing the food, serving water, and taking money up at the counter. Occasionally, a relative is there to help them out, but it's usually just the two of them. When they get into a fight in the kitchen, it only adds to the atmosphere! The only problem here is that they frequently let you go without water, which can be a real problem is you've soaked your dumplings in cayenne sauce, as I like to do.
(4)
Joan C.
My five stars are based on my realization, as we prepare to move from Salt Lake, that this is the restaurant I am going to miss the most of all restaurants we patronize in the area. I think the food has a lot of flavor, the quality has been consistent over many visits, and the value is fantastic. The service isn't always fast but we've never had to wait for seating at dinner, so at least it's a comfortable wait. The lunch buffet may be more crowded, but I don't really go often at lunch. I find the items on the menu much more interesting than the lunch buffet. However, the rice pudding dessert that's available in the buffet is wonderful. I love to order their chai tea, too - much tastier (and less sweet) than any coffee house chai tea I've ever had. I'm going to miss this place - and it'll no doubt be a must-visit every time we return to visit!
(5)
Soko T.
love their momos
(4)
BoiseFoodie A.
One word - home cooked. Well, that's two words but never mind. First time there over the weekend and the minute we walked in, the aroma of the spices inside had me nearly sold. Just out of curiosity, I removed the cover and looked at the chicken dish, and I had no more doubts at all that I was going to love these guys. The dishes looked very much like those prepared in my grandmother's kitchen in a long ago world. Incidentally she was also from the Mountains of Nepal. Service was excellent. We arrived pretty late (2:30 pm) when their posted hours for the buffet indicated they close at 3pm. Most buffets (where I am from) stop replenishing the dishes at this point but Cafe Shambala kept the trays full and hot. Not every dish is authentic. There's the tofu and the mixed veggies and noodles - something for everyone I guess. I mainly concentrated on the stuff that is more authentic. However, the tofu-spinach dish was quite yummy :) We will definitely go back any time we have a hankering for good, hearty, flavorful South Asian home cooking.
(4)
U N.
Visited for the buffet, early September. I'm vegetarian, so I'll comment only on that part of the offerings. And, of course, on service. This is a mom and pop place. Neither was around when I arrived, so I was guided by another patron. Ultimately, I did encounter 'dad', a seemingly friendly-enough guy. Mom wasn't so easy to deal with; she was trying to tell me something, and, despite my usually keen ear for hearing English through an accent, I couldn't DISscern her CONcern, which seemed to make her madder and madder. Tried a bit of the tofu in sweet and sour-type sauce. Some vegetables. All fine. One look at the mo-mos and no-mo'; deep fried anything ain't on my diet. All in all, not bad. Three stars is a bit on the generous side, though for real buffet types, there's probably ample value here. For me, a taste of each veg dish was plenty.
(3)
Johnny Jennie B.
When I first read about this place, we weren't sure what to expect...we had never had Tibetan food. However, this place reminds me of my aunt's cooking. True asian homestyle-type cooking without huge flavor...just the true essentials of a hearty meal. We had the lunch buffet and feasted on lo mein, fried rice, veggie momo, beef momo, vegetables, spicy potatoes and chicken curry drumstick. Must say..that my favorite was the beef momo and the vegetables. Lo mien was something that you could get at a mongolian "genghis khan" restaurant. Staff wasn't overly friendly, but very asian family like... we would probably come back if we ever visited SLC again.
(3)
miso w.
You know that Conga line song? It could go with "I like to eat momos, I like to eat momos, I like to eat momos, aaaaatttt Cafe Shambala" and it would totally work. Really, just try it for a second. See? It works. And that is how good Cafe Shambala is. Not just the momos, but the spicy potatoes, the vegetable soup, and my god- the best chai I have ever had in my life. And the owners/staff are so nice. Really, this place brings out the hippy in me because after I eat here, I just feel all happy and fat and peaceful. Momo!
(5)
Tina N.
Love their lunch buffet. THe mo mo is still my favorite pick from there. I love all of their vegetarian dishes. Contrary to some of the reviewers, we never have any issues with the customer service. One tip, when you walk in, don't worry about being seated, just pick a table and sit down since it is such a small place, they do not have specific seating arrangement. I lllovveeee their chili sauce with the soy sauce base.
(5)
Douglas S.
Decided to try this place on a whim and was very pleased. We had no idea what we were walking in to but the waitress was very helpful. She explained the origin of the food and some of the favorites so we tried a number of dishes. The dumplings were fantastic and we tried both beef and chicken noodle dishes, both of which were great. Surprisingly there was a ton of food and the dishes had a lot of meat in them. We got two additional meals from the leftovers.
(4)
Michelle K.
We weren't impressed with our main dishes (Singapore noodles) the first time we visited, so we always stick to an order of Beef Mo-Mos -- they are delicious, filling, and always make the trip worthwhile. In fact, overwhelming recommendations on Yelp were the reason we tried the Mo-Mos to begin with. Mo-Mos are beef-filled dumplings shaped like traditional asian buns. You can get them fried, steamed or half of each. Make sure you use plenty of the awesome spicy sauce waiting for you at the table.
(4)
Chris S.
There is a reason this has a good raiting. They had me with their noodles. Very tasty! The owners are also very nice!
(5)
Benjamin C.
I really love this place. I mostly go for the lunch buffet, very affordable and delicious! Especially the beef and veggie mo-mos. The staff (I think it's family run, maybe?) are all super sweet and on point. Vegan and vegetarian friendly.
(5)
David B.
This place was absolutely amazing. I ordered the chicken phingsha and it was great! The server was helpful and friendly and the restaurant was clean. I will definitely be back to try their other offerings.
(5)
Daniel Z.
Wow, what a nice place. This was my first time trying Himalayan/Nepalese, and it was a pleasant evening. We started with the beef mo-mo, as recommended by fellow yelpers, and they were excellent. Definitely our top choice for the meal. We had three kinds of soups -- vegetable, tomato egg drop, and hot and sour with chicken -- and all were good. Try the vegetable or hot and sour if you prefer spicy, and the egg drop if you like it quite a bit tamer. We then had singapore veggie noodles, curry chicken, and beef and broccoli (to satisfy our tamer palates). The singapore noodles were by far our favorite. The curry chicken was OK, but was not as strong as we would have liked, and the beef and broccoli was mostly broccoli. I chatted with our server afterwards, and she indicated the restaurant had been around for 14 years, so its clearly got a good following. Sadly, Dolcetti's next door has closed down. Hopefully they get another strong restaurant next door to help keep a strong customer base.
(4)
H Y.
If you are a vegetarian then you probably love their buffet. There are only two meat options: fried beef momo and chicken curry. The meat options were OK, nothing compared to Kathmandu's buffet. The veggie options were very fresh and as good as you are going to get for vegetarian food. The buffet was $9 including tax. I don't think I will be back cause I love my meat too much :-)
(3)
Wes N.
Yummy, inexpensive lunch buffet with an assortment of options, many of which are vegan. At one point, they even updated their rice pudding recipe to make it vegan based on customer feedback, using soy milk as the base now. Pretty awesome that they listen to their customers! Veggie Momo's are excellent.
(4)
M J.
Everytime I eat at this restaurant, I always wonder why I don't more often. The service is great, it's owned by a couple from Tibet whose daughter serves. They are always friendly and accomodating. The food is fantasic. I have not had a bad dish yet. I'm particularly fond of the spicy tofu, veggie noodles, and garlic spinach and mushrooms. Also like the tofu and noodles and the beef momos. Oh, and the prices are great! I almost feel gulity when I get the bill.
(5)
Brooke N.
Tofu vegetable curry, spicy potatoes and veggie momos are my favorites. The prices are great and the people that work there are so so nice. Love this place.
(5)
Andrew W.
I went here for lunch today. I really enjoyed it. I gave it 4 stars only for a small selection at the buffet. BUT what was there had good flavor. I particularly enjoyed the beef and veg stuffed pastry (can't remember the name) and the spicy tofu. It seemed to be a family establishment which I'm in favor of patronizing local places like this. I'll be going back to Cafe Shambala soon! They were super friendly! You all should go!
(4)
Kyle K.
I'll keep it short-- Delicious, filling, cheap food in the Avenues. We had the steamed beef mo-mos. The wife described them as "beef stew in a dumpling." Which means yum. Our spicy tofu and potatoes were yum, too, and huge portions (they're particularly good cold the next day). And my tomato-egg drop soup was well, like gaspacho and egg drop soup mixed together. You might think that sounds odd, but the acidity of the tomatoes went really well with the savory egg drop soup. Oh, and did I mention that they allow BYOB and don't charge a corkage fee?!?!? While no dish made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, everything was delicious and cheap. We will certainly be back!
(4)
Cody L.
That was great. Momos fantastic, rice pudding excellent, curry chicken fabulous. Lunch buffet all around awesome. Definitely worth the visit. Full belly and happy about it.
(5)
Graci D.
The lunch buffet was amazing! Momos and curry potatoes were my favorite. Very reasonably priced.
(5)
Jack B.
I would highly recommend this place. The service is fantastic. the waitress could tell that we are wanting pictures of the food so she went out and got some. She was just really attentive and made sure we were happy. The food was delicious and the portions were very impressive. The only real drawback with the atmosphere there didn't seem to have a lot of character.
(4)
Linda K.
2 stars = Meh. That's how I feel about the place. I generally love hole in the wall places because the food is where it matters, but I didn't think much of the food here. I visited during lunch when they had the buffet out. There weren't too many options, in my opinion, and nothing stood out good enough to go back for. I also thought the food was quite bland and some of it tasted as if it had been sitting for awhile instead of being fresh for lunch.
(2)
Ashley L.
I think if you like this type of food it would be a four star place, sadly this type of food is not my taste so I had to give it a low star. The service was really great and the staff was attentive and had a positive attitude toward their customers. Plus they had a pretty big vegetarian selection. The only down side {aside from my own taste in food} is that it's located in a place with minimal parking and in a building that looks slightly... old and out of the way.
(2)
Jann M.
We went in for a late lunch Buffet. Since I have never eaten food from Tibet I was anxious to try it I would describe it as a fusion of Chinese meets Indian Food but with a milder touch. The mo-mos are divine. I could live the rest of my life eating their Spicy Potatoes. The service is great and the story of the family is wonderful too. Take the time to enjoy it all, read the quotes from the Dali Lama and take a quick food tour through Tibet you'll be glad you did.
(4)
John S.
Neat and quaint little restaurant. The momos are delicious. The variety keeps you coming back. And you can eat healthy. Really kind staff too. They make you feel special.
(4)
Cindy P.
We wanted to try something new but we've been burned by some of the reviews here on yelp so were a little apprehensive about all of the good reviews for this place. I have to say, the reviews for this place are spot on! It's a great little hidden jewel. The food is really yummy (kept reading about the spicy potato and Momo's) both were delicious. We tried 5 different dishes and all were wonderful. It has a sweet little unpretentious feel to it and a unique location, away from all the hustle. Service was great! Will def go again and again.
(4)
Chase A.
Lunch buffet is a steal. Beef mo-mo's are off the charts. Curry is great. Potatoes are great. Love love LOVE this place.
(5)
Lisa D.
I love this neighborhood restaurant when I am visiting family in Salt Lake. The food is good and the service is excellent. When we have guests from out of town visit, this is our go to place.
(5)
Dan T.
This is my favorite buddha spot in the state. Buffet lunch is always the same menu (oddly pleasing to me): Beef momo (steamed or fried dim sum bun) Veggie momo Spicy potato Veggie mix (cauliflower, broccoli, onion, squash) Noodles with veggie Tofu and cauliflower Veggie rice Chicken drumstick in curry Salad Cantaloupe Rice pudding Love this place (I dip momo in ginger dressing...)
Yup, come here for their lunch buffet or dinner. Either way you can't go wrong. Just come by when their open, especially for their buffet. Late-ish arrival for lunch buffet can be challenging, however when I've done this on accident, the owners asked if there was anything that was low that I would like to eat. And they happily made some more right there on the spot. This is one of the places my friends and I go when they come in town. The owners and employees are super friendly. Discovery of this place is a must. Oh and I love their fried momo's. Ordering them for take out becomes a habit.
(4)
Lindsey P.
Every dish I have tried here is excellent! The service is great and the prices are unbeatable. My favorite dishes are the Singapore noodles the beef fingsha and the momo. Yum! I could eat here every day.
(5)
Garret N.
I went here with a friend and found the service to be lovely and the atmosphere very casual and quiet. All the dishes we tried were tasty and varied. I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Brandon R.
What a wonderful place. Its in a lovely little neighborhood in a lovely little store with an amazing window front. I would like to eat here on a cold winter night - the atmosphere would be straight out of a film. Upon entry we were greeted right away and sat. They must be keeping tabs on their Yelp reviews (as previous patrons were unhaopy with the service) because we were treated very well. It seems like most of the business is take-out, because there was a lot of traffic, but no dine-ins (all the more romantic if that's your thing). Let me start at price. Cheap. Two entrees, Shambala special fried momos, and hot tea was under $25. No wonder everyone calls orders. The momos are as good as everyone says, better actually. If you don't know momos, they are the doughy stuffed balls that Master Ishu trains Panda with. I would fight for those too. The tea was soothing and on a cold night...mmm. We got the vegetable and tofu curry and sweet and sour tofu. I don't like tofu, don't ask why I got it, but it was still decent. Nothing wrong with the tofu. The sauce was sweet and spicy and drizzled great over the rice that comes attached. But the tofu. If it was beef or chicken it would have been awesome. The curry was mild, but very flavorful. She likes tofu so she loved the curry. The serving size was big. Way too much for me. Go hungry or take a date, unless again you have a voracious appetite. No dessert this time. Overall I would definitely suggest this if you are looking for tibetan or varied asian - even if not I suggest it.
(4)
Pamela P.
Good but not great food. Especially tasty was the dal soup, the rice pudding and the chicken curry. Tibetan food in America is a huge improvement on Tibetan food in Tibet so were glad to be there. Also this is a good place for both veg and non-veg eaters. The owners were very quiet but came and filled water glasses, cleared plates etc., despite it being primarily a buffet place. Decor basically formica tables on tile floor - actually not all that different from places on South Asia!
(4)
Allie C.
Delish! Momos were excellent! :) Well priced and tasty.
(5)
Richard M.
Shambala's is the only place I've been to where the mo mos don't fall into pieces the first bite, whether beef filled and fried, or veggie filled and steamed they're never soggy or difficult. The buffet is great and there is plenty on the dinner menu to please. My wife and I have been stuck on the Singapore Fried Chicken Noodle for over a year (Great with added soy sauce, just don't let anyone see you add it because I'm sure its a sin.) I love its exclusive local feel. The avenues are not like any other neighborhoods in Salt Lake so some might find places in it a little unnerving. Just walk in and pretend like you're family and enjoy the best Tibetan food Salt Lake has to offer.
(5)
Sarah C.
I went there last month at 1:30, reasonable lunch hours, and they were out of rice. How an Asian restaurant runs out of rice is beyond me, but lo and behold, they were all out. This was after we stood in the doorway for over 5 solid minutes (the place was entirely empty) while the waiter hung out in plain view, ignoring us. I had to holler over to get him to "seat" us (which consisted of waving around and pointing to some menus)... which should have been my cue to just leave, but since some of my favorite restaurants have bad service, I stuck it out. Then, our food came out. I got the Singapore noodles and my friend got a tofu dish (sans rice). They were the same awful dish, one tofu and one noodles. Both were covered in a sugary syrup that tasted like failure and melted Skittles. Atrocious and unacceptable by any standards and any price beginning to end.
(1)
Geri D.
So glad I discovered this place....it's become one of my favorite restaurants in SLC. The food is super tasty, though the noodles on the buffet were slightly on the dry side. LOVE all the veggie dishes on the buffet, and ordered the spinach and tofu curry from the menu and it was fantastic. Home cooked, fresh food, no MSG, and good ambiance for a small hole in the wall ethnic food restaurant. I'm happy that I live so close and can eat there regularly!
(5)
Rebecca M.
Tibetan Comfort food. For a sampling of most of their best, go at lunch time for the buffet. Owners are pleasant people that mostly stay out of your way. Nothing fancy, but reliably enjoyable food.
(4)
Jern Y.
This place is around the corner from where I live. It has pretty good reviews, but is OK in my book. I like that the owners all are of original descent, and have unique foods. Perhaps the food is similar to Chinese food that I grew up on but isn't exactly the same, particularly the mo-mos. Perhaps I'm not exactly used to this type of Asian food, but I'm just not a huge fan. Location is fine, although a bit off the beaten path.
(3)
Harsha R.
Everytime I go to Cafe Shambala, I think how cool it would be to stay within a block of this place. If you don't feel like cooking at home tonight, just walk over to Cafe Shambala. Its the closest you will come to food like it is cooked at home. I have eaten there a few times and I think the food is very tasty. Their lunch buffet is also worth the money. Anyway, don't go there expecting great service. Mom and Pop run the show. Parking can be a pain, the language can be a barrier but you will leave contented with the quality of the food.
(4)
Jackie B.
I had the lunch buffet. I tried everything they had on the buffet that did not include meat. Most of what I had was fairly mediocre, but the veggie momo and the lentil soup were tasty enough to make me think I'd want to return.
(3)
Ksenia B.
This is a great little place. I've been there a few times and I loved the food. It's very simple but tasty. My favorite was their lunch buffet. Plenty of vegetarian options. Their smoothies are wonderful too.
(5)
Hadrian B.
I've tried Nepalese food around the country, while this is different - more Tibetian, I wasn't that impressed. I went up here because I like small local joints, as they can be real gems. This wasn't it though. The ambience was not good, the staff *looked* friendly, but difficult to interact with. The momos were fried and tough, not that yummy. The rice was meh. You gotta get the rice right *sigh*. While I did have two plates, it was filling, but not yumm. I was just really hungry. A previous post is spot on about the lack of fancy spices (IE indian spices really) makes this really just a hearty meal. That may be true, but it's not enough for me to come back to. Maybe I'll try the other Tibetian place next.
(2)
Alina R.
Loved the food and the atmosphere. Contrary to other reviews I received fantastic service! I will most definitely return to this restaurant.
(4)
Ben G.
Last night was my first time at Shambala and I only wish I'd found it sooner. Great food at great prices. The leftovers made a perfect lunch. It's an awesome spot for vegans that's made even more awesome by the fact that the chocolate shop next door has tons of vegan treats made from scratch. Try the dark-chocolate hot chocolate. Holy crap.
(5)
A J.
Really good food that seems healthy. It's managed by a Tibetan family and the prices are very reasonable considering the quality of the food. I'd much rather spend money here rather than at some impersonal corporate chain. Doing my bit to stick it to the man ;-) Even otherwise, the place is good. Since the lunch is a buffet you can have a very quick, cheap and healthy meal in that 30-min lunch-break.
(5)
Therron R.
Much better Tibetan Food than House of Tibet, I think! They serve yogurt smoothies, and we always came here for the Lunch Buffet. Chicken curry drumsticks, and plenty of Beef Momos (Meat or Vegi-Paste filled dumplings) topped with a ginger sauce. Don't worry there are vegetarian options like cabbage carrot salad, Lo Mein noodles, Spicy Potatoes, and Veggie Momos. The rice pudding is great to top it all off. The cool thing about this Mom/Pop Dive is the owners. They came to America many years ago on a state assisted refugee program, and had to leave their young Daugherty behind. How hard it must be to leave a child behind in a distant land? They vowed that someday they would raise enough money to finally send for their daughter. So they have worked hard to make this restaurant prosper where many other shop owners have failed, and the last time we got to eat there we asked if the young girl assisting tables was their daughter, and Yes she had been reunited with them here in America. God Bless Um! Parking can be bad sometimes because this shop is in the avenues, but never farther than half a block walk.
(5)
Anstrum J.
Walk in, grab a plate, and load up! The chicken is amazing, great rice, dumplings, fantastic lo mein noodles, spicy potatoes, and veggies. A friend of mine exclaimed with a smirk on his face, "I could live off this soup!" So be sure not to miss it. Still hungry? Keep your plate and head back for more. Pay when you're done and head next door for some chocolate from Hatch's (another locally owned business). Ahhh, life on the Avenues in Salt Lake. Very nice.
(4)
Allen R.
Location: Up in the Avenues just south of the Avenues' Smith's. Parking is sometimes difficult during lunch hours, since there are only 5-10 spots in front of the restaurant (which shares those spots with a candy store). Atmosphere: Don't come here for the ambience, but rather, for the food. The walls are lined with the traditional images of the Dalai Lama and Buddha. I always find it funny that when decor is from an Eastern religion, we don't think that it's odd, but if you went to an Italian restaurant that was decorated with images of popes, saints, and Jesus, it would be quasi-invasive and semi-offensive. Quality: Excellent lunch buffet with similar fare to that of the House of Tibet, down on 1300 South and State Street. One key difference is that the dumplings here are fried instead of steamed, which makes them have even more delicious, hip-growing appeal. If they get really busy, they tend to bring out additional dishes that aren't served at House of Tibet, such as tofu sqaures in a curry sauce, and cardamom-seasoned coconut rice pudding. They also have two amazing sauces--a ginger-based one that is similar to the salad dressing at Behi Hana, and a traditional cayenne sauce with a soy sauce base. Value: ~$7 per person. Service: This place is owned by a Tibetan man and wife who are responsible for preparing the food, serving water, and taking money up at the counter. Occasionally, a relative is there to help them out, but it's usually just the two of them. When they get into a fight in the kitchen, it only adds to the atmosphere! The only problem here is that they frequently let you go without water, which can be a real problem is you've soaked your dumplings in cayenne sauce, as I like to do.
(4)
Joan C.
My five stars are based on my realization, as we prepare to move from Salt Lake, that this is the restaurant I am going to miss the most of all restaurants we patronize in the area. I think the food has a lot of flavor, the quality has been consistent over many visits, and the value is fantastic. The service isn't always fast but we've never had to wait for seating at dinner, so at least it's a comfortable wait. The lunch buffet may be more crowded, but I don't really go often at lunch. I find the items on the menu much more interesting than the lunch buffet. However, the rice pudding dessert that's available in the buffet is wonderful. I love to order their chai tea, too - much tastier (and less sweet) than any coffee house chai tea I've ever had. I'm going to miss this place - and it'll no doubt be a must-visit every time we return to visit!
(5)
Soko T.
love their momos
(4)
BoiseFoodie A.
One word - home cooked. Well, that's two words but never mind. First time there over the weekend and the minute we walked in, the aroma of the spices inside had me nearly sold. Just out of curiosity, I removed the cover and looked at the chicken dish, and I had no more doubts at all that I was going to love these guys. The dishes looked very much like those prepared in my grandmother's kitchen in a long ago world. Incidentally she was also from the Mountains of Nepal. Service was excellent. We arrived pretty late (2:30 pm) when their posted hours for the buffet indicated they close at 3pm. Most buffets (where I am from) stop replenishing the dishes at this point but Cafe Shambala kept the trays full and hot. Not every dish is authentic. There's the tofu and the mixed veggies and noodles - something for everyone I guess. I mainly concentrated on the stuff that is more authentic. However, the tofu-spinach dish was quite yummy :) We will definitely go back any time we have a hankering for good, hearty, flavorful South Asian home cooking.
(4)
U N.
Visited for the buffet, early September. I'm vegetarian, so I'll comment only on that part of the offerings. And, of course, on service. This is a mom and pop place. Neither was around when I arrived, so I was guided by another patron. Ultimately, I did encounter 'dad', a seemingly friendly-enough guy. Mom wasn't so easy to deal with; she was trying to tell me something, and, despite my usually keen ear for hearing English through an accent, I couldn't DISscern her CONcern, which seemed to make her madder and madder. Tried a bit of the tofu in sweet and sour-type sauce. Some vegetables. All fine. One look at the mo-mos and no-mo'; deep fried anything ain't on my diet. All in all, not bad. Three stars is a bit on the generous side, though for real buffet types, there's probably ample value here. For me, a taste of each veg dish was plenty.
(3)
Johnny Jennie B.
When I first read about this place, we weren't sure what to expect...we had never had Tibetan food. However, this place reminds me of my aunt's cooking. True asian homestyle-type cooking without huge flavor...just the true essentials of a hearty meal. We had the lunch buffet and feasted on lo mein, fried rice, veggie momo, beef momo, vegetables, spicy potatoes and chicken curry drumstick. Must say..that my favorite was the beef momo and the vegetables. Lo mien was something that you could get at a mongolian "genghis khan" restaurant. Staff wasn't overly friendly, but very asian family like... we would probably come back if we ever visited SLC again.
(3)
miso w.
You know that Conga line song? It could go with "I like to eat momos, I like to eat momos, I like to eat momos, aaaaatttt Cafe Shambala" and it would totally work. Really, just try it for a second. See? It works. And that is how good Cafe Shambala is. Not just the momos, but the spicy potatoes, the vegetable soup, and my god- the best chai I have ever had in my life. And the owners/staff are so nice. Really, this place brings out the hippy in me because after I eat here, I just feel all happy and fat and peaceful. Momo!
(5)
Ashley L.
I think if you like this type of food it would be a four star place, sadly this type of food is not my taste so I had to give it a low star. The service was really great and the staff was attentive and had a positive attitude toward their customers. Plus they had a pretty big vegetarian selection. The only down side {aside from my own taste in food} is that it's located in a place with minimal parking and in a building that looks slightly... old and out of the way.
(2)
BoiseFoodie A.
One word - home cooked. Well, that's two words but never mind. First time there over the weekend and the minute we walked in, the aroma of the spices inside had me nearly sold. Just out of curiosity, I removed the cover and looked at the chicken dish, and I had no more doubts at all that I was going to love these guys. The dishes looked very much like those prepared in my grandmother's kitchen in a long ago world. Incidentally she was also from the Mountains of Nepal. Service was excellent. We arrived pretty late (2:30 pm) when their posted hours for the buffet indicated they close at 3pm. Most buffets (where I am from) stop replenishing the dishes at this point but Cafe Shambala kept the trays full and hot. Not every dish is authentic. There's the tofu and the mixed veggies and noodles - something for everyone I guess. I mainly concentrated on the stuff that is more authentic. However, the tofu-spinach dish was quite yummy :) We will definitely go back any time we have a hankering for good, hearty, flavorful South Asian home cooking.
(4)
U N.
Visited for the buffet, early September. I'm vegetarian, so I'll comment only on that part of the offerings. And, of course, on service. This is a mom and pop place. Neither was around when I arrived, so I was guided by another patron. Ultimately, I did encounter 'dad', a seemingly friendly-enough guy. Mom wasn't so easy to deal with; she was trying to tell me something, and, despite my usually keen ear for hearing English through an accent, I couldn't DISscern her CONcern, which seemed to make her madder and madder. Tried a bit of the tofu in sweet and sour-type sauce. Some vegetables. All fine. One look at the mo-mos and no-mo'; deep fried anything ain't on my diet. All in all, not bad. Three stars is a bit on the generous side, though for real buffet types, there's probably ample value here. For me, a taste of each veg dish was plenty.
(3)
Johnny Jennie B.
When I first read about this place, we weren't sure what to expect...we had never had Tibetan food. However, this place reminds me of my aunt's cooking. True asian homestyle-type cooking without huge flavor...just the true essentials of a hearty meal. We had the lunch buffet and feasted on lo mein, fried rice, veggie momo, beef momo, vegetables, spicy potatoes and chicken curry drumstick. Must say..that my favorite was the beef momo and the vegetables. Lo mien was something that you could get at a mongolian "genghis khan" restaurant. Staff wasn't overly friendly, but very asian family like... we would probably come back if we ever visited SLC again.
(3)
miso w.
You know that Conga line song? It could go with "I like to eat momos, I like to eat momos, I like to eat momos, aaaaatttt Cafe Shambala" and it would totally work. Really, just try it for a second. See? It works. And that is how good Cafe Shambala is. Not just the momos, but the spicy potatoes, the vegetable soup, and my god- the best chai I have ever had in my life. And the owners/staff are so nice. Really, this place brings out the hippy in me because after I eat here, I just feel all happy and fat and peaceful. Momo!
(5)
Jack B.
I would highly recommend this place. The service is fantastic. the waitress could tell that we are wanting pictures of the food so she went out and got some. She was just really attentive and made sure we were happy. The food was delicious and the portions were very impressive. The only real drawback with the atmosphere there didn't seem to have a lot of character.
(4)
Linda K.
2 stars = Meh. That's how I feel about the place. I generally love hole in the wall places because the food is where it matters, but I didn't think much of the food here. I visited during lunch when they had the buffet out. There weren't too many options, in my opinion, and nothing stood out good enough to go back for. I also thought the food was quite bland and some of it tasted as if it had been sitting for awhile instead of being fresh for lunch.
(2)
H Y.
If you are a vegetarian then you probably love their buffet. There are only two meat options: fried beef momo and chicken curry. The meat options were OK, nothing compared to Kathmandu's buffet. The veggie options were very fresh and as good as you are going to get for vegetarian food. The buffet was $9 including tax. I don't think I will be back cause I love my meat too much :-)
(3)
Dhara J.
I can't believe I've never written a review for this place yet. I've been a few times and this place is honestly a vegetarian's paradise. First few times I've ordered off the menu for dinner; however, today I went for lunch and got the buffet. They have an amazing variety of stuff in the buffet (mostly veggie friendly) but a couple of meat items. One think you definitely can not beat is the price for lunch. $8.50 + tax will get you a choice of 6-8 items: drink not included. For the quality of food at this cute mom and pop ethnic restaurant that's amazing! My favorite things here include the spicy tofu dish (the buffet version is not as spicy) as well as the veggie fried momos. This place is a wonderful blend of Chinese, Indian, and Nepali flavors. The staff is super attentive and helpful when trying to choose something off the extensive menu and are able to answer any questions you may have. I will definitely come back for more! p.s. The spicy sauce that they have out on the tables is no joke... SUPER spicy!
(5)
Hannah L.
I'm glad I was able to try this place out on my last visit to Salt Lake. It was right next to a friends apartment, and he had only good things to say. We wanted an inexpensive dinner so we stopped in. We ordered three things and split among the table. There were three of us, and although we finished it, it was definitely more than enough for the table (they are just very hungry boys- normal people couldn't have finished it all). We had the vegetable tofu curry, the eggplant and a beef dish. The veggie curry didn't have much curry flavor to me, but it was delicious none the less. The veggies tasted fresh and perfect. The beef was also good but a little bit chewy. The eggplant was by far everyone's favorite- I'd definitely recommend it. The best part about eating here was that it wasn't too heavy. I left feeling like I ate a lot, but it was mostly vegetables, so I didn't feel so bad about it :) this place is very vegetarian friendly also! Come give this little place a try.
I live just a few houses down from Shambala, so my boyfriend and I dine here all the time. The owners are always so friendly. The food comes out quickly, and is consistently delicious. The servings are large, so you can split a dish between two people if you get an appetizer. My ultimate fave is the Tofu fried noodle. We often order the veggie fried momos and beef steamed momos (they will do half orders of each) and hot & sour soup. You can't ask for much better for the price.
(5)
Caden W.
Never fails to impress! Great, friendly service. High quality ingredients, great variety on the menu. Shared 5 different dishes with some friends last night and every one was amazing! Definitely not a place to miss!
(5)
Mike N.
Mo mo-mos please! I can't get enough of them. Or the fried noodles, or the mango lassi, or pretty much everything. This is a cozy little out of the way spot in the avenues that is one of my favorite spots in the city. It isn't hard to get a table, and I secretly hope that it stays that way. The first time I walked in, it definitely reminded me of many places I had dined in Singapore, China, Cambodia, etc. They have a variety of menu items with nods to many different Asian cuisines. The family-run atmosphere is great, and the workers are as nice as can be. It is one of those places where they will give me a sincere apology if I have to wait even 30 seconds for a refill or to pay my bill. Not to mention they are fast. I put in an order for two entrees, and it was sitting in front of me piping hot within five minutes. Not even Jimmy Johns could match that freaky fast service. If you're in the mood for something different that will put a lot on your plate and take little from your wallet, Cafe Shambala is worth a visit.
(5)
Natalee B.
Had the lunch buffet. There were around 12 options that included rice, noodles, potatoes, veggies, tofu, chicken, momos, soup, fruit, and rice pudding. A lot of spicy intense flavors. It was less than $20 for my husband and myself. Customer service was good.
(4)
Maddie D.
Tucked away in the avenues, this authentic homestyle cafe was a pleasant surprise to stumble into for some late night munching! The low light from hanging lanterns gave the space a warm, intimate ambiance that matched the staff's friendly and attentive demeanor. Our food came out quickly and stylistically looked very appetizing. Served with a warm, sweet ginger sauce for rice, I ordered sweet and sour tofu while my partner scored a delicious deal with the vegetarian plate that included potatoes, fried rice and the oh-so famous Mo-Mos! If you don't order the Mo-Mos here, you've really missed an opportunity to taste a dish that has procured a Salt Lake City cult following. Similar to flakey dumplings, these Mo-Mo's are served hot, stuffed with your choice of potatoes, veggies and meat. The usage of spice and seasoning is near heavenly perfection, and with seven on your plate, you'll be thanking any and every deity you stopped in for dinner. What I love more than anything about Cafe Shambala is the food has a very "at home" feel to it because it is family owned and ran. The vegetables are lightly prepared so that they keep a crispness that really accentuates a straight-out-of-the-garden flavor. Our rice was cooked perfectly and the ginger sauce was one of the highlights of our dinner. You can tell each dish is prepared carefully and served with love. A must try for anyone seeking delicious, authentic Himalayan Food for a price that will keep you coming back for "Mo".
(4)
Cody L.
That was great. Momos fantastic, rice pudding excellent, curry chicken fabulous. Lunch buffet all around awesome. Definitely worth the visit. Full belly and happy about it.
(5)
Graci D.
The lunch buffet was amazing! Momos and curry potatoes were my favorite. Very reasonably priced.
(5)
Nigel L.
This place has a definitive quaint, home-cooked feel to it. I ordered the Veggie Combo which was a mix of fried rice, potatoes, and 3 veggie momos. It's a good deal and all the items in said combo were tasty. The momos have a lot of garlic and similar spices so be careful if that type of thing is not agreeable with your stomach. My companion had the sweet and sour tofu+veggie dish; it was OK, but certainly not something I would recommend or order in the future. The iced chai was similarly disappointing; watery and lacking taste. Service was excellent. The water was never empty and the server had a gentle demeanor. I was slightly reluctant given my last experience with Nepalese cuisine, but this place came through. I'll be back.
(4)
Zack S.
Like many others I found Cafe Shambala by reading about the food on Yelp. Being that this place is literally blocks away from my house, I almost felt a little ashamed I hadn't visited sooner. Everything about this place is authentic: Food, atmosphere, and... Well, can I say food again? Because it's amazing! We tried the beef momos (fried and boiled) - they were awesome. The beef chow mein was also an amazing dish. Forget leftovers: you'll want it all. Food comas are only natural at Cafe Shambala.
(5)
Arash A.
This place is a classic. I've been going here for ten years and the food has never been anything less than great! They also do take-out and have a great lunch buffet. Try the spicy potatoes :3
(5)
Clear S.
Ok place. Nothing special. We have so many other good Indian/Himalayan restaurants around valley. I don't think the price is cheap either.
(2)
Hana A.
Lunch buffet Spicy tofu with mixed veggies were my favorite Chow mein Fried rice Potato curry Veggie momo Rice pudding Soup-like dal Cantaloupe Very friendly service
(4)
Dennis M.
amazing vegetarian/vegan selection Best lentil soup in UT
(5)
Rob H.
I've lived in SLC for 15 years and I've seen this place and heard about it never ventured inside until tonight. It's small and quaint. The owners and their daughter are extremely nice. The food was delicious. I shared the Singapore Fried Noodles with Chicken and the Steamed Vegetable Momos. The noodles were really good with a sauce that was sweet but not as overly sweet as a lot of Chinese dishes. The momos were fantastic. They had potatoes and veggies inside--similar to a samosa.
(4)
David B.
This place was absolutely amazing. I ordered the chicken phingsha and it was great! The server was helpful and friendly and the restaurant was clean. I will definitely be back to try their other offerings.
(5)
Benjamin C.
I really love this place. I mostly go for the lunch buffet, very affordable and delicious! Especially the beef and veggie mo-mos. The staff (I think it's family run, maybe?) are all super sweet and on point. Vegan and vegetarian friendly.
(5)
Daniel Z.
Wow, what a nice place. This was my first time trying Himalayan/Nepalese, and it was a pleasant evening. We started with the beef mo-mo, as recommended by fellow yelpers, and they were excellent. Definitely our top choice for the meal. We had three kinds of soups -- vegetable, tomato egg drop, and hot and sour with chicken -- and all were good. Try the vegetable or hot and sour if you prefer spicy, and the egg drop if you like it quite a bit tamer. We then had singapore veggie noodles, curry chicken, and beef and broccoli (to satisfy our tamer palates). The singapore noodles were by far our favorite. The curry chicken was OK, but was not as strong as we would have liked, and the beef and broccoli was mostly broccoli. I chatted with our server afterwards, and she indicated the restaurant had been around for 14 years, so its clearly got a good following. Sadly, Dolcetti's next door has closed down. Hopefully they get another strong restaurant next door to help keep a strong customer base.
(4)
Wes N.
Yummy, inexpensive lunch buffet with an assortment of options, many of which are vegan. At one point, they even updated their rice pudding recipe to make it vegan based on customer feedback, using soy milk as the base now. Pretty awesome that they listen to their customers! Veggie Momo's are excellent.
(4)
M J.
Everytime I eat at this restaurant, I always wonder why I don't more often. The service is great, it's owned by a couple from Tibet whose daughter serves. They are always friendly and accomodating. The food is fantasic. I have not had a bad dish yet. I'm particularly fond of the spicy tofu, veggie noodles, and garlic spinach and mushrooms. Also like the tofu and noodles and the beef momos. Oh, and the prices are great! I almost feel gulity when I get the bill.
(5)
Brooke N.
Tofu vegetable curry, spicy potatoes and veggie momos are my favorites. The prices are great and the people that work there are so so nice. Love this place.
(5)
Andrew W.
I went here for lunch today. I really enjoyed it. I gave it 4 stars only for a small selection at the buffet. BUT what was there had good flavor. I particularly enjoyed the beef and veg stuffed pastry (can't remember the name) and the spicy tofu. It seemed to be a family establishment which I'm in favor of patronizing local places like this. I'll be going back to Cafe Shambala soon! They were super friendly! You all should go!
(4)
Kyle K.
I'll keep it short-- Delicious, filling, cheap food in the Avenues. We had the steamed beef mo-mos. The wife described them as "beef stew in a dumpling." Which means yum. Our spicy tofu and potatoes were yum, too, and huge portions (they're particularly good cold the next day). And my tomato-egg drop soup was well, like gaspacho and egg drop soup mixed together. You might think that sounds odd, but the acidity of the tomatoes went really well with the savory egg drop soup. Oh, and did I mention that they allow BYOB and don't charge a corkage fee?!?!? While no dish made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, everything was delicious and cheap. We will certainly be back!
(4)
Jann M.
We went in for a late lunch Buffet. Since I have never eaten food from Tibet I was anxious to try it I would describe it as a fusion of Chinese meets Indian Food but with a milder touch. The mo-mos are divine. I could live the rest of my life eating their Spicy Potatoes. The service is great and the story of the family is wonderful too. Take the time to enjoy it all, read the quotes from the Dali Lama and take a quick food tour through Tibet you'll be glad you did.
(4)
John S.
Neat and quaint little restaurant. The momos are delicious. The variety keeps you coming back. And you can eat healthy. Really kind staff too. They make you feel special.
(4)
Michelle K.
We weren't impressed with our main dishes (Singapore noodles) the first time we visited, so we always stick to an order of Beef Mo-Mos -- they are delicious, filling, and always make the trip worthwhile. In fact, overwhelming recommendations on Yelp were the reason we tried the Mo-Mos to begin with. Mo-Mos are beef-filled dumplings shaped like traditional asian buns. You can get them fried, steamed or half of each. Make sure you use plenty of the awesome spicy sauce waiting for you at the table.
(4)
Chris S.
There is a reason this has a good raiting. They had me with their noodles. Very tasty! The owners are also very nice!
(5)
Cindy P.
We wanted to try something new but we've been burned by some of the reviews here on yelp so were a little apprehensive about all of the good reviews for this place. I have to say, the reviews for this place are spot on! It's a great little hidden jewel. The food is really yummy (kept reading about the spicy potato and Momo's) both were delicious. We tried 5 different dishes and all were wonderful. It has a sweet little unpretentious feel to it and a unique location, away from all the hustle. Service was great! Will def go again and again.
(4)
Lisa D.
I love this neighborhood restaurant when I am visiting family in Salt Lake. The food is good and the service is excellent. When we have guests from out of town visit, this is our go to place.
(5)
Allie C.
Delish! Momos were excellent! :) Well priced and tasty.
Love their lunch buffet. THe mo mo is still my favorite pick from there. I love all of their vegetarian dishes. Contrary to some of the reviewers, we never have any issues with the customer service. One tip, when you walk in, don't worry about being seated, just pick a table and sit down since it is such a small place, they do not have specific seating arrangement. I lllovveeee their chili sauce with the soy sauce base.
(5)
Douglas S.
Decided to try this place on a whim and was very pleased. We had no idea what we were walking in to but the waitress was very helpful. She explained the origin of the food and some of the favorites so we tried a number of dishes. The dumplings were fantastic and we tried both beef and chicken noodle dishes, both of which were great. Surprisingly there was a ton of food and the dishes had a lot of meat in them. We got two additional meals from the leftovers.
(4)
Arnold K.
Yup, come here for their lunch buffet or dinner. Either way you can't go wrong. Just come by when their open, especially for their buffet. Late-ish arrival for lunch buffet can be challenging, however when I've done this on accident, the owners asked if there was anything that was low that I would like to eat. And they happily made some more right there on the spot. This is one of the places my friends and I go when they come in town. The owners and employees are super friendly. Discovery of this place is a must. Oh and I love their fried momo's. Ordering them for take out becomes a habit.
(4)
Lindsey P.
Every dish I have tried here is excellent! The service is great and the prices are unbeatable. My favorite dishes are the Singapore noodles the beef fingsha and the momo. Yum! I could eat here every day.
(5)
Garret N.
I went here with a friend and found the service to be lovely and the atmosphere very casual and quiet. All the dishes we tried were tasty and varied. I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Chase A.
Lunch buffet is a steal. Beef mo-mo's are off the charts. Curry is great. Potatoes are great. Love love LOVE this place.
(5)
Dan T.
This is my favorite buddha spot in the state. Buffet lunch is always the same menu (oddly pleasing to me): Beef momo (steamed or fried dim sum bun) Veggie momo Spicy potato Veggie mix (cauliflower, broccoli, onion, squash) Noodles with veggie Tofu and cauliflower Veggie rice Chicken drumstick in curry Salad Cantaloupe Rice pudding Love this place (I dip momo in ginger dressing...)
(5)
Brandon R.
What a wonderful place. Its in a lovely little neighborhood in a lovely little store with an amazing window front. I would like to eat here on a cold winter night - the atmosphere would be straight out of a film. Upon entry we were greeted right away and sat. They must be keeping tabs on their Yelp reviews (as previous patrons were unhaopy with the service) because we were treated very well. It seems like most of the business is take-out, because there was a lot of traffic, but no dine-ins (all the more romantic if that's your thing). Let me start at price. Cheap. Two entrees, Shambala special fried momos, and hot tea was under $25. No wonder everyone calls orders. The momos are as good as everyone says, better actually. If you don't know momos, they are the doughy stuffed balls that Master Ishu trains Panda with. I would fight for those too. The tea was soothing and on a cold night...mmm. We got the vegetable and tofu curry and sweet and sour tofu. I don't like tofu, don't ask why I got it, but it was still decent. Nothing wrong with the tofu. The sauce was sweet and spicy and drizzled great over the rice that comes attached. But the tofu. If it was beef or chicken it would have been awesome. The curry was mild, but very flavorful. She likes tofu so she loved the curry. The serving size was big. Way too much for me. Go hungry or take a date, unless again you have a voracious appetite. No dessert this time. Overall I would definitely suggest this if you are looking for tibetan or varied asian - even if not I suggest it.
(4)
Pamela P.
Good but not great food. Especially tasty was the dal soup, the rice pudding and the chicken curry. Tibetan food in America is a huge improvement on Tibetan food in Tibet so were glad to be there. Also this is a good place for both veg and non-veg eaters. The owners were very quiet but came and filled water glasses, cleared plates etc., despite it being primarily a buffet place. Decor basically formica tables on tile floor - actually not all that different from places on South Asia!
(4)
Richard M.
Shambala's is the only place I've been to where the mo mos don't fall into pieces the first bite, whether beef filled and fried, or veggie filled and steamed they're never soggy or difficult. The buffet is great and there is plenty on the dinner menu to please. My wife and I have been stuck on the Singapore Fried Chicken Noodle for over a year (Great with added soy sauce, just don't let anyone see you add it because I'm sure its a sin.) I love its exclusive local feel. The avenues are not like any other neighborhoods in Salt Lake so some might find places in it a little unnerving. Just walk in and pretend like you're family and enjoy the best Tibetan food Salt Lake has to offer.
(5)
Sarah C.
I went there last month at 1:30, reasonable lunch hours, and they were out of rice. How an Asian restaurant runs out of rice is beyond me, but lo and behold, they were all out. This was after we stood in the doorway for over 5 solid minutes (the place was entirely empty) while the waiter hung out in plain view, ignoring us. I had to holler over to get him to "seat" us (which consisted of waving around and pointing to some menus)... which should have been my cue to just leave, but since some of my favorite restaurants have bad service, I stuck it out. Then, our food came out. I got the Singapore noodles and my friend got a tofu dish (sans rice). They were the same awful dish, one tofu and one noodles. Both were covered in a sugary syrup that tasted like failure and melted Skittles. Atrocious and unacceptable by any standards and any price beginning to end.
(1)
Geri D.
So glad I discovered this place....it's become one of my favorite restaurants in SLC. The food is super tasty, though the noodles on the buffet were slightly on the dry side. LOVE all the veggie dishes on the buffet, and ordered the spinach and tofu curry from the menu and it was fantastic. Home cooked, fresh food, no MSG, and good ambiance for a small hole in the wall ethnic food restaurant. I'm happy that I live so close and can eat there regularly!
(5)
Rebecca M.
Tibetan Comfort food. For a sampling of most of their best, go at lunch time for the buffet. Owners are pleasant people that mostly stay out of your way. Nothing fancy, but reliably enjoyable food.
(4)
Jern Y.
This place is around the corner from where I live. It has pretty good reviews, but is OK in my book. I like that the owners all are of original descent, and have unique foods. Perhaps the food is similar to Chinese food that I grew up on but isn't exactly the same, particularly the mo-mos. Perhaps I'm not exactly used to this type of Asian food, but I'm just not a huge fan. Location is fine, although a bit off the beaten path.
(3)
Harsha R.
Everytime I go to Cafe Shambala, I think how cool it would be to stay within a block of this place. If you don't feel like cooking at home tonight, just walk over to Cafe Shambala. Its the closest you will come to food like it is cooked at home. I have eaten there a few times and I think the food is very tasty. Their lunch buffet is also worth the money. Anyway, don't go there expecting great service. Mom and Pop run the show. Parking can be a pain, the language can be a barrier but you will leave contented with the quality of the food.
(4)
Jackie B.
I had the lunch buffet. I tried everything they had on the buffet that did not include meat. Most of what I had was fairly mediocre, but the veggie momo and the lentil soup were tasty enough to make me think I'd want to return.
(3)
Ksenia B.
This is a great little place. I've been there a few times and I loved the food. It's very simple but tasty. My favorite was their lunch buffet. Plenty of vegetarian options. Their smoothies are wonderful too.
(5)
Hadrian B.
I've tried Nepalese food around the country, while this is different - more Tibetian, I wasn't that impressed. I went up here because I like small local joints, as they can be real gems. This wasn't it though. The ambience was not good, the staff *looked* friendly, but difficult to interact with. The momos were fried and tough, not that yummy. The rice was meh. You gotta get the rice right *sigh*. While I did have two plates, it was filling, but not yumm. I was just really hungry. A previous post is spot on about the lack of fancy spices (IE indian spices really) makes this really just a hearty meal. That may be true, but it's not enough for me to come back to. Maybe I'll try the other Tibetian place next.
(2)
Alina R.
Loved the food and the atmosphere. Contrary to other reviews I received fantastic service! I will most definitely return to this restaurant.
(4)
Ben G.
Last night was my first time at Shambala and I only wish I'd found it sooner. Great food at great prices. The leftovers made a perfect lunch. It's an awesome spot for vegans that's made even more awesome by the fact that the chocolate shop next door has tons of vegan treats made from scratch. Try the dark-chocolate hot chocolate. Holy crap.
(5)
A J.
Really good food that seems healthy. It's managed by a Tibetan family and the prices are very reasonable considering the quality of the food. I'd much rather spend money here rather than at some impersonal corporate chain. Doing my bit to stick it to the man ;-) Even otherwise, the place is good. Since the lunch is a buffet you can have a very quick, cheap and healthy meal in that 30-min lunch-break.
(5)
Therron R.
Much better Tibetan Food than House of Tibet, I think! They serve yogurt smoothies, and we always came here for the Lunch Buffet. Chicken curry drumsticks, and plenty of Beef Momos (Meat or Vegi-Paste filled dumplings) topped with a ginger sauce. Don't worry there are vegetarian options like cabbage carrot salad, Lo Mein noodles, Spicy Potatoes, and Veggie Momos. The rice pudding is great to top it all off. The cool thing about this Mom/Pop Dive is the owners. They came to America many years ago on a state assisted refugee program, and had to leave their young Daugherty behind. How hard it must be to leave a child behind in a distant land? They vowed that someday they would raise enough money to finally send for their daughter. So they have worked hard to make this restaurant prosper where many other shop owners have failed, and the last time we got to eat there we asked if the young girl assisting tables was their daughter, and Yes she had been reunited with them here in America. God Bless Um! Parking can be bad sometimes because this shop is in the avenues, but never farther than half a block walk.
(5)
Anstrum J.
Walk in, grab a plate, and load up! The chicken is amazing, great rice, dumplings, fantastic lo mein noodles, spicy potatoes, and veggies. A friend of mine exclaimed with a smirk on his face, "I could live off this soup!" So be sure not to miss it. Still hungry? Keep your plate and head back for more. Pay when you're done and head next door for some chocolate from Hatch's (another locally owned business). Ahhh, life on the Avenues in Salt Lake. Very nice.
(4)
Allen R.
Location: Up in the Avenues just south of the Avenues' Smith's. Parking is sometimes difficult during lunch hours, since there are only 5-10 spots in front of the restaurant (which shares those spots with a candy store). Atmosphere: Don't come here for the ambience, but rather, for the food. The walls are lined with the traditional images of the Dalai Lama and Buddha. I always find it funny that when decor is from an Eastern religion, we don't think that it's odd, but if you went to an Italian restaurant that was decorated with images of popes, saints, and Jesus, it would be quasi-invasive and semi-offensive. Quality: Excellent lunch buffet with similar fare to that of the House of Tibet, down on 1300 South and State Street. One key difference is that the dumplings here are fried instead of steamed, which makes them have even more delicious, hip-growing appeal. If they get really busy, they tend to bring out additional dishes that aren't served at House of Tibet, such as tofu sqaures in a curry sauce, and cardamom-seasoned coconut rice pudding. They also have two amazing sauces--a ginger-based one that is similar to the salad dressing at Behi Hana, and a traditional cayenne sauce with a soy sauce base. Value: ~$7 per person. Service: This place is owned by a Tibetan man and wife who are responsible for preparing the food, serving water, and taking money up at the counter. Occasionally, a relative is there to help them out, but it's usually just the two of them. When they get into a fight in the kitchen, it only adds to the atmosphere! The only problem here is that they frequently let you go without water, which can be a real problem is you've soaked your dumplings in cayenne sauce, as I like to do.
(4)
Joan C.
My five stars are based on my realization, as we prepare to move from Salt Lake, that this is the restaurant I am going to miss the most of all restaurants we patronize in the area. I think the food has a lot of flavor, the quality has been consistent over many visits, and the value is fantastic. The service isn't always fast but we've never had to wait for seating at dinner, so at least it's a comfortable wait. The lunch buffet may be more crowded, but I don't really go often at lunch. I find the items on the menu much more interesting than the lunch buffet. However, the rice pudding dessert that's available in the buffet is wonderful. I love to order their chai tea, too - much tastier (and less sweet) than any coffee house chai tea I've ever had. I'm going to miss this place - and it'll no doubt be a must-visit every time we return to visit!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Kristie B.
I live just a few houses down from Shambala, so my boyfriend and I dine here all the time. The owners are always so friendly. The food comes out quickly, and is consistently delicious. The servings are large, so you can split a dish between two people if you get an appetizer. My ultimate fave is the Tofu fried noodle. We often order the veggie fried momos and beef steamed momos (they will do half orders of each) and hot & sour soup. You can't ask for much better for the price.
(5)Dhara J.
I can't believe I've never written a review for this place yet. I've been a few times and this place is honestly a vegetarian's paradise. First few times I've ordered off the menu for dinner; however, today I went for lunch and got the buffet. They have an amazing variety of stuff in the buffet (mostly veggie friendly) but a couple of meat items. One think you definitely can not beat is the price for lunch. $8.50 + tax will get you a choice of 6-8 items: drink not included. For the quality of food at this cute mom and pop ethnic restaurant that's amazing! My favorite things here include the spicy tofu dish (the buffet version is not as spicy) as well as the veggie fried momos. This place is a wonderful blend of Chinese, Indian, and Nepali flavors. The staff is super attentive and helpful when trying to choose something off the extensive menu and are able to answer any questions you may have. I will definitely come back for more! p.s. The spicy sauce that they have out on the tables is no joke... SUPER spicy!
(5)Hannah L.
I'm glad I was able to try this place out on my last visit to Salt Lake. It was right next to a friends apartment, and he had only good things to say. We wanted an inexpensive dinner so we stopped in. We ordered three things and split among the table. There were three of us, and although we finished it, it was definitely more than enough for the table (they are just very hungry boys- normal people couldn't have finished it all). We had the vegetable tofu curry, the eggplant and a beef dish. The veggie curry didn't have much curry flavor to me, but it was delicious none the less. The veggies tasted fresh and perfect. The beef was also good but a little bit chewy. The eggplant was by far everyone's favorite- I'd definitely recommend it. The best part about eating here was that it wasn't too heavy. I left feeling like I ate a lot, but it was mostly vegetables, so I didn't feel so bad about it :) this place is very vegetarian friendly also! Come give this little place a try.
(5)Joe M.
Cafe Shambala never disappoints. One of my favorite places in town. This place is a must, especially if you're vegetarian. Everything on the menu is good, but I keep coming back to the eggplant sauté and of course those momos! Great location, service, and atmosphere too.
(5)Natalee B.
Had the lunch buffet. There were around 12 options that included rice, noodles, potatoes, veggies, tofu, chicken, momos, soup, fruit, and rice pudding. A lot of spicy intense flavors. It was less than $20 for my husband and myself. Customer service was good.
(4)Mike N.
Mo mo-mos please! I can't get enough of them. Or the fried noodles, or the mango lassi, or pretty much everything. This is a cozy little out of the way spot in the avenues that is one of my favorite spots in the city. It isn't hard to get a table, and I secretly hope that it stays that way. The first time I walked in, it definitely reminded me of many places I had dined in Singapore, China, Cambodia, etc. They have a variety of menu items with nods to many different Asian cuisines. The family-run atmosphere is great, and the workers are as nice as can be. It is one of those places where they will give me a sincere apology if I have to wait even 30 seconds for a refill or to pay my bill. Not to mention they are fast. I put in an order for two entrees, and it was sitting in front of me piping hot within five minutes. Not even Jimmy Johns could match that freaky fast service. If you're in the mood for something different that will put a lot on your plate and take little from your wallet, Cafe Shambala is worth a visit.
(5)Caden W.
Never fails to impress! Great, friendly service. High quality ingredients, great variety on the menu. Shared 5 different dishes with some friends last night and every one was amazing! Definitely not a place to miss!
(5)Maddie D.
Tucked away in the avenues, this authentic homestyle cafe was a pleasant surprise to stumble into for some late night munching! The low light from hanging lanterns gave the space a warm, intimate ambiance that matched the staff's friendly and attentive demeanor. Our food came out quickly and stylistically looked very appetizing. Served with a warm, sweet ginger sauce for rice, I ordered sweet and sour tofu while my partner scored a delicious deal with the vegetarian plate that included potatoes, fried rice and the oh-so famous Mo-Mos! If you don't order the Mo-Mos here, you've really missed an opportunity to taste a dish that has procured a Salt Lake City cult following. Similar to flakey dumplings, these Mo-Mo's are served hot, stuffed with your choice of potatoes, veggies and meat. The usage of spice and seasoning is near heavenly perfection, and with seven on your plate, you'll be thanking any and every deity you stopped in for dinner. What I love more than anything about Cafe Shambala is the food has a very "at home" feel to it because it is family owned and ran. The vegetables are lightly prepared so that they keep a crispness that really accentuates a straight-out-of-the-garden flavor. Our rice was cooked perfectly and the ginger sauce was one of the highlights of our dinner. You can tell each dish is prepared carefully and served with love. A must try for anyone seeking delicious, authentic Himalayan Food for a price that will keep you coming back for "Mo".
(4)Nigel L.
This place has a definitive quaint, home-cooked feel to it. I ordered the Veggie Combo which was a mix of fried rice, potatoes, and 3 veggie momos. It's a good deal and all the items in said combo were tasty. The momos have a lot of garlic and similar spices so be careful if that type of thing is not agreeable with your stomach. My companion had the sweet and sour tofu+veggie dish; it was OK, but certainly not something I would recommend or order in the future. The iced chai was similarly disappointing; watery and lacking taste. Service was excellent. The water was never empty and the server had a gentle demeanor. I was slightly reluctant given my last experience with Nepalese cuisine, but this place came through. I'll be back.
(4)Zack S.
Like many others I found Cafe Shambala by reading about the food on Yelp. Being that this place is literally blocks away from my house, I almost felt a little ashamed I hadn't visited sooner. Everything about this place is authentic: Food, atmosphere, and... Well, can I say food again? Because it's amazing! We tried the beef momos (fried and boiled) - they were awesome. The beef chow mein was also an amazing dish. Forget leftovers: you'll want it all. Food comas are only natural at Cafe Shambala.
(5)Arash A.
This place is a classic. I've been going here for ten years and the food has never been anything less than great! They also do take-out and have a great lunch buffet. Try the spicy potatoes :3
(5)Hana A.
Lunch buffet Spicy tofu with mixed veggies were my favorite Chow mein Fried rice Potato curry Veggie momo Rice pudding Soup-like dal Cantaloupe Very friendly service
(4)Clear S.
Ok place. Nothing special. We have so many other good Indian/Himalayan restaurants around valley. I don't think the price is cheap either.
(2)Dennis M.
amazing vegetarian/vegan selection Best lentil soup in UT
(5)Rob H.
I've lived in SLC for 15 years and I've seen this place and heard about it never ventured inside until tonight. It's small and quaint. The owners and their daughter are extremely nice. The food was delicious. I shared the Singapore Fried Noodles with Chicken and the Steamed Vegetable Momos. The noodles were really good with a sauce that was sweet but not as overly sweet as a lot of Chinese dishes. The momos were fantastic. They had potatoes and veggies inside--similar to a samosa.
(4)Douglas S.
Decided to try this place on a whim and was very pleased. We had no idea what we were walking in to but the waitress was very helpful. She explained the origin of the food and some of the favorites so we tried a number of dishes. The dumplings were fantastic and we tried both beef and chicken noodle dishes, both of which were great. Surprisingly there was a ton of food and the dishes had a lot of meat in them. We got two additional meals from the leftovers.
(4)H Y.
If you are a vegetarian then you probably love their buffet. There are only two meat options: fried beef momo and chicken curry. The meat options were OK, nothing compared to Kathmandu's buffet. The veggie options were very fresh and as good as you are going to get for vegetarian food. The buffet was $9 including tax. I don't think I will be back cause I love my meat too much :-)
(3)Jack B.
I would highly recommend this place. The service is fantastic. the waitress could tell that we are wanting pictures of the food so she went out and got some. She was just really attentive and made sure we were happy. The food was delicious and the portions were very impressive. The only real drawback with the atmosphere there didn't seem to have a lot of character.
(4)Cody L.
That was great. Momos fantastic, rice pudding excellent, curry chicken fabulous. Lunch buffet all around awesome. Definitely worth the visit. Full belly and happy about it.
(5)Graci D.
The lunch buffet was amazing! Momos and curry potatoes were my favorite. Very reasonably priced.
(5)Dhara J.
I can't believe I've never written a review for this place yet. I've been a few times and this place is honestly a vegetarian's paradise. First few times I've ordered off the menu for dinner; however, today I went for lunch and got the buffet. They have an amazing variety of stuff in the buffet (mostly veggie friendly) but a couple of meat items. One think you definitely can not beat is the price for lunch. $8.50 + tax will get you a choice of 6-8 items: drink not included. For the quality of food at this cute mom and pop ethnic restaurant that's amazing! My favorite things here include the spicy tofu dish (the buffet version is not as spicy) as well as the veggie fried momos. This place is a wonderful blend of Chinese, Indian, and Nepali flavors. The staff is super attentive and helpful when trying to choose something off the extensive menu and are able to answer any questions you may have. I will definitely come back for more! p.s. The spicy sauce that they have out on the tables is no joke... SUPER spicy!
(5)Hannah L.
I'm glad I was able to try this place out on my last visit to Salt Lake. It was right next to a friends apartment, and he had only good things to say. We wanted an inexpensive dinner so we stopped in. We ordered three things and split among the table. There were three of us, and although we finished it, it was definitely more than enough for the table (they are just very hungry boys- normal people couldn't have finished it all). We had the vegetable tofu curry, the eggplant and a beef dish. The veggie curry didn't have much curry flavor to me, but it was delicious none the less. The veggies tasted fresh and perfect. The beef was also good but a little bit chewy. The eggplant was by far everyone's favorite- I'd definitely recommend it. The best part about eating here was that it wasn't too heavy. I left feeling like I ate a lot, but it was mostly vegetables, so I didn't feel so bad about it :) this place is very vegetarian friendly also! Come give this little place a try.
(5)Joe M.
Cafe Shambala never disappoints. One of my favorite places in town. This place is a must, especially if you're vegetarian. Everything on the menu is good, but I keep coming back to the eggplant sauté and of course those momos! Great location, service, and atmosphere too.
(5)Kristie B.
I live just a few houses down from Shambala, so my boyfriend and I dine here all the time. The owners are always so friendly. The food comes out quickly, and is consistently delicious. The servings are large, so you can split a dish between two people if you get an appetizer. My ultimate fave is the Tofu fried noodle. We often order the veggie fried momos and beef steamed momos (they will do half orders of each) and hot & sour soup. You can't ask for much better for the price.
(5)Caden W.
Never fails to impress! Great, friendly service. High quality ingredients, great variety on the menu. Shared 5 different dishes with some friends last night and every one was amazing! Definitely not a place to miss!
(5)Mike N.
Mo mo-mos please! I can't get enough of them. Or the fried noodles, or the mango lassi, or pretty much everything. This is a cozy little out of the way spot in the avenues that is one of my favorite spots in the city. It isn't hard to get a table, and I secretly hope that it stays that way. The first time I walked in, it definitely reminded me of many places I had dined in Singapore, China, Cambodia, etc. They have a variety of menu items with nods to many different Asian cuisines. The family-run atmosphere is great, and the workers are as nice as can be. It is one of those places where they will give me a sincere apology if I have to wait even 30 seconds for a refill or to pay my bill. Not to mention they are fast. I put in an order for two entrees, and it was sitting in front of me piping hot within five minutes. Not even Jimmy Johns could match that freaky fast service. If you're in the mood for something different that will put a lot on your plate and take little from your wallet, Cafe Shambala is worth a visit.
(5)Natalee B.
Had the lunch buffet. There were around 12 options that included rice, noodles, potatoes, veggies, tofu, chicken, momos, soup, fruit, and rice pudding. A lot of spicy intense flavors. It was less than $20 for my husband and myself. Customer service was good.
(4)Maddie D.
Tucked away in the avenues, this authentic homestyle cafe was a pleasant surprise to stumble into for some late night munching! The low light from hanging lanterns gave the space a warm, intimate ambiance that matched the staff's friendly and attentive demeanor. Our food came out quickly and stylistically looked very appetizing. Served with a warm, sweet ginger sauce for rice, I ordered sweet and sour tofu while my partner scored a delicious deal with the vegetarian plate that included potatoes, fried rice and the oh-so famous Mo-Mos! If you don't order the Mo-Mos here, you've really missed an opportunity to taste a dish that has procured a Salt Lake City cult following. Similar to flakey dumplings, these Mo-Mo's are served hot, stuffed with your choice of potatoes, veggies and meat. The usage of spice and seasoning is near heavenly perfection, and with seven on your plate, you'll be thanking any and every deity you stopped in for dinner. What I love more than anything about Cafe Shambala is the food has a very "at home" feel to it because it is family owned and ran. The vegetables are lightly prepared so that they keep a crispness that really accentuates a straight-out-of-the-garden flavor. Our rice was cooked perfectly and the ginger sauce was one of the highlights of our dinner. You can tell each dish is prepared carefully and served with love. A must try for anyone seeking delicious, authentic Himalayan Food for a price that will keep you coming back for "Mo".
(4)Linda K.
2 stars = Meh. That's how I feel about the place. I generally love hole in the wall places because the food is where it matters, but I didn't think much of the food here. I visited during lunch when they had the buffet out. There weren't too many options, in my opinion, and nothing stood out good enough to go back for. I also thought the food was quite bland and some of it tasted as if it had been sitting for awhile instead of being fresh for lunch.
(2)Nigel L.
This place has a definitive quaint, home-cooked feel to it. I ordered the Veggie Combo which was a mix of fried rice, potatoes, and 3 veggie momos. It's a good deal and all the items in said combo were tasty. The momos have a lot of garlic and similar spices so be careful if that type of thing is not agreeable with your stomach. My companion had the sweet and sour tofu+veggie dish; it was OK, but certainly not something I would recommend or order in the future. The iced chai was similarly disappointing; watery and lacking taste. Service was excellent. The water was never empty and the server had a gentle demeanor. I was slightly reluctant given my last experience with Nepalese cuisine, but this place came through. I'll be back.
(4)Zack S.
Like many others I found Cafe Shambala by reading about the food on Yelp. Being that this place is literally blocks away from my house, I almost felt a little ashamed I hadn't visited sooner. Everything about this place is authentic: Food, atmosphere, and... Well, can I say food again? Because it's amazing! We tried the beef momos (fried and boiled) - they were awesome. The beef chow mein was also an amazing dish. Forget leftovers: you'll want it all. Food comas are only natural at Cafe Shambala.
(5)Arash A.
This place is a classic. I've been going here for ten years and the food has never been anything less than great! They also do take-out and have a great lunch buffet. Try the spicy potatoes :3
(5)Clear S.
Ok place. Nothing special. We have so many other good Indian/Himalayan restaurants around valley. I don't think the price is cheap either.
(2)Hana A.
Lunch buffet Spicy tofu with mixed veggies were my favorite Chow mein Fried rice Potato curry Veggie momo Rice pudding Soup-like dal Cantaloupe Very friendly service
(4)Dennis M.
amazing vegetarian/vegan selection Best lentil soup in UT
(5)Rob H.
I've lived in SLC for 15 years and I've seen this place and heard about it never ventured inside until tonight. It's small and quaint. The owners and their daughter are extremely nice. The food was delicious. I shared the Singapore Fried Noodles with Chicken and the Steamed Vegetable Momos. The noodles were really good with a sauce that was sweet but not as overly sweet as a lot of Chinese dishes. The momos were fantastic. They had potatoes and veggies inside--similar to a samosa.
(4)David B.
This place was absolutely amazing. I ordered the chicken phingsha and it was great! The server was helpful and friendly and the restaurant was clean. I will definitely be back to try their other offerings.
(5)Benjamin C.
I really love this place. I mostly go for the lunch buffet, very affordable and delicious! Especially the beef and veggie mo-mos. The staff (I think it's family run, maybe?) are all super sweet and on point. Vegan and vegetarian friendly.
(5)Daniel Z.
Wow, what a nice place. This was my first time trying Himalayan/Nepalese, and it was a pleasant evening. We started with the beef mo-mo, as recommended by fellow yelpers, and they were excellent. Definitely our top choice for the meal. We had three kinds of soups -- vegetable, tomato egg drop, and hot and sour with chicken -- and all were good. Try the vegetable or hot and sour if you prefer spicy, and the egg drop if you like it quite a bit tamer. We then had singapore veggie noodles, curry chicken, and beef and broccoli (to satisfy our tamer palates). The singapore noodles were by far our favorite. The curry chicken was OK, but was not as strong as we would have liked, and the beef and broccoli was mostly broccoli. I chatted with our server afterwards, and she indicated the restaurant had been around for 14 years, so its clearly got a good following. Sadly, Dolcetti's next door has closed down. Hopefully they get another strong restaurant next door to help keep a strong customer base.
(4)Wes N.
Yummy, inexpensive lunch buffet with an assortment of options, many of which are vegan. At one point, they even updated their rice pudding recipe to make it vegan based on customer feedback, using soy milk as the base now. Pretty awesome that they listen to their customers! Veggie Momo's are excellent.
(4)M J.
Everytime I eat at this restaurant, I always wonder why I don't more often. The service is great, it's owned by a couple from Tibet whose daughter serves. They are always friendly and accomodating. The food is fantasic. I have not had a bad dish yet. I'm particularly fond of the spicy tofu, veggie noodles, and garlic spinach and mushrooms. Also like the tofu and noodles and the beef momos. Oh, and the prices are great! I almost feel gulity when I get the bill.
(5)Brooke N.
Tofu vegetable curry, spicy potatoes and veggie momos are my favorites. The prices are great and the people that work there are so so nice. Love this place.
(5)Andrew W.
I went here for lunch today. I really enjoyed it. I gave it 4 stars only for a small selection at the buffet. BUT what was there had good flavor. I particularly enjoyed the beef and veg stuffed pastry (can't remember the name) and the spicy tofu. It seemed to be a family establishment which I'm in favor of patronizing local places like this. I'll be going back to Cafe Shambala soon! They were super friendly! You all should go!
(4)Kyle K.
I'll keep it short-- Delicious, filling, cheap food in the Avenues. We had the steamed beef mo-mos. The wife described them as "beef stew in a dumpling." Which means yum. Our spicy tofu and potatoes were yum, too, and huge portions (they're particularly good cold the next day). And my tomato-egg drop soup was well, like gaspacho and egg drop soup mixed together. You might think that sounds odd, but the acidity of the tomatoes went really well with the savory egg drop soup. Oh, and did I mention that they allow BYOB and don't charge a corkage fee?!?!? While no dish made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, everything was delicious and cheap. We will certainly be back!
(4)Ashley L.
I think if you like this type of food it would be a four star place, sadly this type of food is not my taste so I had to give it a low star. The service was really great and the staff was attentive and had a positive attitude toward their customers. Plus they had a pretty big vegetarian selection. The only down side {aside from my own taste in food} is that it's located in a place with minimal parking and in a building that looks slightly... old and out of the way.
(2)Jann M.
We went in for a late lunch Buffet. Since I have never eaten food from Tibet I was anxious to try it I would describe it as a fusion of Chinese meets Indian Food but with a milder touch. The mo-mos are divine. I could live the rest of my life eating their Spicy Potatoes. The service is great and the story of the family is wonderful too. Take the time to enjoy it all, read the quotes from the Dali Lama and take a quick food tour through Tibet you'll be glad you did.
(4)John S.
Neat and quaint little restaurant. The momos are delicious. The variety keeps you coming back. And you can eat healthy. Really kind staff too. They make you feel special.
(4)Michelle K.
We weren't impressed with our main dishes (Singapore noodles) the first time we visited, so we always stick to an order of Beef Mo-Mos -- they are delicious, filling, and always make the trip worthwhile. In fact, overwhelming recommendations on Yelp were the reason we tried the Mo-Mos to begin with. Mo-Mos are beef-filled dumplings shaped like traditional asian buns. You can get them fried, steamed or half of each. Make sure you use plenty of the awesome spicy sauce waiting for you at the table.
(4)Chris S.
There is a reason this has a good raiting. They had me with their noodles. Very tasty! The owners are also very nice!
(5)Cindy P.
We wanted to try something new but we've been burned by some of the reviews here on yelp so were a little apprehensive about all of the good reviews for this place. I have to say, the reviews for this place are spot on! It's a great little hidden jewel. The food is really yummy (kept reading about the spicy potato and Momo's) both were delicious. We tried 5 different dishes and all were wonderful. It has a sweet little unpretentious feel to it and a unique location, away from all the hustle. Service was great! Will def go again and again.
(4)Lisa D.
I love this neighborhood restaurant when I am visiting family in Salt Lake. The food is good and the service is excellent. When we have guests from out of town visit, this is our go to place.
(5)Chase A.
Lunch buffet is a steal. Beef mo-mo's are off the charts. Curry is great. Potatoes are great. Love love LOVE this place.
(5)Dan T.
This is my favorite buddha spot in the state. Buffet lunch is always the same menu (oddly pleasing to me): Beef momo (steamed or fried dim sum bun) Veggie momo Spicy potato Veggie mix (cauliflower, broccoli, onion, squash) Noodles with veggie Tofu and cauliflower Veggie rice Chicken drumstick in curry Salad Cantaloupe Rice pudding Love this place (I dip momo in ginger dressing...)
(5)Sharon G.
I really like their momos - both the beef and the vegetable. It's such a pleasing concept - meat or vegetables tucked up inside these doughy little packages. Their sautéed vegetables, cabbage and noodles are also really good. I've never had Tibetan food, other than here, and it makes me want to have much more of it. It's a perfect restaurant for Salt Lake City, where the climate and altitude resembles that of Tibet more so than most cities in the U.S.. I hope the owners, if they are from Tibet, find a little home comfort there, just as I would in a seaside town abroad.
(4)Tina N.
Love their lunch buffet. THe mo mo is still my favorite pick from there. I love all of their vegetarian dishes. Contrary to some of the reviewers, we never have any issues with the customer service. One tip, when you walk in, don't worry about being seated, just pick a table and sit down since it is such a small place, they do not have specific seating arrangement. I lllovveeee their chili sauce with the soy sauce base.
(5)Arnold K.
Yup, come here for their lunch buffet or dinner. Either way you can't go wrong. Just come by when their open, especially for their buffet. Late-ish arrival for lunch buffet can be challenging, however when I've done this on accident, the owners asked if there was anything that was low that I would like to eat. And they happily made some more right there on the spot. This is one of the places my friends and I go when they come in town. The owners and employees are super friendly. Discovery of this place is a must. Oh and I love their fried momo's. Ordering them for take out becomes a habit.
(4)Lindsey P.
Every dish I have tried here is excellent! The service is great and the prices are unbeatable. My favorite dishes are the Singapore noodles the beef fingsha and the momo. Yum! I could eat here every day.
(5)Garret N.
I went here with a friend and found the service to be lovely and the atmosphere very casual and quiet. All the dishes we tried were tasty and varied. I'll definitely be back.
(4)Brandon R.
What a wonderful place. Its in a lovely little neighborhood in a lovely little store with an amazing window front. I would like to eat here on a cold winter night - the atmosphere would be straight out of a film. Upon entry we were greeted right away and sat. They must be keeping tabs on their Yelp reviews (as previous patrons were unhaopy with the service) because we were treated very well. It seems like most of the business is take-out, because there was a lot of traffic, but no dine-ins (all the more romantic if that's your thing). Let me start at price. Cheap. Two entrees, Shambala special fried momos, and hot tea was under $25. No wonder everyone calls orders. The momos are as good as everyone says, better actually. If you don't know momos, they are the doughy stuffed balls that Master Ishu trains Panda with. I would fight for those too. The tea was soothing and on a cold night...mmm. We got the vegetable and tofu curry and sweet and sour tofu. I don't like tofu, don't ask why I got it, but it was still decent. Nothing wrong with the tofu. The sauce was sweet and spicy and drizzled great over the rice that comes attached. But the tofu. If it was beef or chicken it would have been awesome. The curry was mild, but very flavorful. She likes tofu so she loved the curry. The serving size was big. Way too much for me. Go hungry or take a date, unless again you have a voracious appetite. No dessert this time. Overall I would definitely suggest this if you are looking for tibetan or varied asian - even if not I suggest it.
(4)Allie C.
Delish! Momos were excellent! :) Well priced and tasty.
(5)Pamela P.
Good but not great food. Especially tasty was the dal soup, the rice pudding and the chicken curry. Tibetan food in America is a huge improvement on Tibetan food in Tibet so were glad to be there. Also this is a good place for both veg and non-veg eaters. The owners were very quiet but came and filled water glasses, cleared plates etc., despite it being primarily a buffet place. Decor basically formica tables on tile floor - actually not all that different from places on South Asia!
(4)Richard M.
Shambala's is the only place I've been to where the mo mos don't fall into pieces the first bite, whether beef filled and fried, or veggie filled and steamed they're never soggy or difficult. The buffet is great and there is plenty on the dinner menu to please. My wife and I have been stuck on the Singapore Fried Chicken Noodle for over a year (Great with added soy sauce, just don't let anyone see you add it because I'm sure its a sin.) I love its exclusive local feel. The avenues are not like any other neighborhoods in Salt Lake so some might find places in it a little unnerving. Just walk in and pretend like you're family and enjoy the best Tibetan food Salt Lake has to offer.
(5)Sarah C.
I went there last month at 1:30, reasonable lunch hours, and they were out of rice. How an Asian restaurant runs out of rice is beyond me, but lo and behold, they were all out. This was after we stood in the doorway for over 5 solid minutes (the place was entirely empty) while the waiter hung out in plain view, ignoring us. I had to holler over to get him to "seat" us (which consisted of waving around and pointing to some menus)... which should have been my cue to just leave, but since some of my favorite restaurants have bad service, I stuck it out. Then, our food came out. I got the Singapore noodles and my friend got a tofu dish (sans rice). They were the same awful dish, one tofu and one noodles. Both were covered in a sugary syrup that tasted like failure and melted Skittles. Atrocious and unacceptable by any standards and any price beginning to end.
(1)Geri D.
So glad I discovered this place....it's become one of my favorite restaurants in SLC. The food is super tasty, though the noodles on the buffet were slightly on the dry side. LOVE all the veggie dishes on the buffet, and ordered the spinach and tofu curry from the menu and it was fantastic. Home cooked, fresh food, no MSG, and good ambiance for a small hole in the wall ethnic food restaurant. I'm happy that I live so close and can eat there regularly!
(5)Rebecca M.
Tibetan Comfort food. For a sampling of most of their best, go at lunch time for the buffet. Owners are pleasant people that mostly stay out of your way. Nothing fancy, but reliably enjoyable food.
(4)Jern Y.
This place is around the corner from where I live. It has pretty good reviews, but is OK in my book. I like that the owners all are of original descent, and have unique foods. Perhaps the food is similar to Chinese food that I grew up on but isn't exactly the same, particularly the mo-mos. Perhaps I'm not exactly used to this type of Asian food, but I'm just not a huge fan. Location is fine, although a bit off the beaten path.
(3)Harsha R.
Everytime I go to Cafe Shambala, I think how cool it would be to stay within a block of this place. If you don't feel like cooking at home tonight, just walk over to Cafe Shambala. Its the closest you will come to food like it is cooked at home. I have eaten there a few times and I think the food is very tasty. Their lunch buffet is also worth the money. Anyway, don't go there expecting great service. Mom and Pop run the show. Parking can be a pain, the language can be a barrier but you will leave contented with the quality of the food.
(4)Jackie B.
I had the lunch buffet. I tried everything they had on the buffet that did not include meat. Most of what I had was fairly mediocre, but the veggie momo and the lentil soup were tasty enough to make me think I'd want to return.
(3)Ksenia B.
This is a great little place. I've been there a few times and I loved the food. It's very simple but tasty. My favorite was their lunch buffet. Plenty of vegetarian options. Their smoothies are wonderful too.
(5)Hadrian B.
I've tried Nepalese food around the country, while this is different - more Tibetian, I wasn't that impressed. I went up here because I like small local joints, as they can be real gems. This wasn't it though. The ambience was not good, the staff *looked* friendly, but difficult to interact with. The momos were fried and tough, not that yummy. The rice was meh. You gotta get the rice right *sigh*. While I did have two plates, it was filling, but not yumm. I was just really hungry. A previous post is spot on about the lack of fancy spices (IE indian spices really) makes this really just a hearty meal. That may be true, but it's not enough for me to come back to. Maybe I'll try the other Tibetian place next.
(2)Alina R.
Loved the food and the atmosphere. Contrary to other reviews I received fantastic service! I will most definitely return to this restaurant.
(4)Ben G.
Last night was my first time at Shambala and I only wish I'd found it sooner. Great food at great prices. The leftovers made a perfect lunch. It's an awesome spot for vegans that's made even more awesome by the fact that the chocolate shop next door has tons of vegan treats made from scratch. Try the dark-chocolate hot chocolate. Holy crap.
(5)A J.
Really good food that seems healthy. It's managed by a Tibetan family and the prices are very reasonable considering the quality of the food. I'd much rather spend money here rather than at some impersonal corporate chain. Doing my bit to stick it to the man ;-) Even otherwise, the place is good. Since the lunch is a buffet you can have a very quick, cheap and healthy meal in that 30-min lunch-break.
(5)Therron R.
Much better Tibetan Food than House of Tibet, I think! They serve yogurt smoothies, and we always came here for the Lunch Buffet. Chicken curry drumsticks, and plenty of Beef Momos (Meat or Vegi-Paste filled dumplings) topped with a ginger sauce. Don't worry there are vegetarian options like cabbage carrot salad, Lo Mein noodles, Spicy Potatoes, and Veggie Momos. The rice pudding is great to top it all off. The cool thing about this Mom/Pop Dive is the owners. They came to America many years ago on a state assisted refugee program, and had to leave their young Daugherty behind. How hard it must be to leave a child behind in a distant land? They vowed that someday they would raise enough money to finally send for their daughter. So they have worked hard to make this restaurant prosper where many other shop owners have failed, and the last time we got to eat there we asked if the young girl assisting tables was their daughter, and Yes she had been reunited with them here in America. God Bless Um! Parking can be bad sometimes because this shop is in the avenues, but never farther than half a block walk.
(5)Anstrum J.
Walk in, grab a plate, and load up! The chicken is amazing, great rice, dumplings, fantastic lo mein noodles, spicy potatoes, and veggies. A friend of mine exclaimed with a smirk on his face, "I could live off this soup!" So be sure not to miss it. Still hungry? Keep your plate and head back for more. Pay when you're done and head next door for some chocolate from Hatch's (another locally owned business). Ahhh, life on the Avenues in Salt Lake. Very nice.
(4)Allen R.
Location: Up in the Avenues just south of the Avenues' Smith's. Parking is sometimes difficult during lunch hours, since there are only 5-10 spots in front of the restaurant (which shares those spots with a candy store). Atmosphere: Don't come here for the ambience, but rather, for the food. The walls are lined with the traditional images of the Dalai Lama and Buddha. I always find it funny that when decor is from an Eastern religion, we don't think that it's odd, but if you went to an Italian restaurant that was decorated with images of popes, saints, and Jesus, it would be quasi-invasive and semi-offensive. Quality: Excellent lunch buffet with similar fare to that of the House of Tibet, down on 1300 South and State Street. One key difference is that the dumplings here are fried instead of steamed, which makes them have even more delicious, hip-growing appeal. If they get really busy, they tend to bring out additional dishes that aren't served at House of Tibet, such as tofu sqaures in a curry sauce, and cardamom-seasoned coconut rice pudding. They also have two amazing sauces--a ginger-based one that is similar to the salad dressing at Behi Hana, and a traditional cayenne sauce with a soy sauce base. Value: ~$7 per person. Service: This place is owned by a Tibetan man and wife who are responsible for preparing the food, serving water, and taking money up at the counter. Occasionally, a relative is there to help them out, but it's usually just the two of them. When they get into a fight in the kitchen, it only adds to the atmosphere! The only problem here is that they frequently let you go without water, which can be a real problem is you've soaked your dumplings in cayenne sauce, as I like to do.
(4)Joan C.
My five stars are based on my realization, as we prepare to move from Salt Lake, that this is the restaurant I am going to miss the most of all restaurants we patronize in the area. I think the food has a lot of flavor, the quality has been consistent over many visits, and the value is fantastic. The service isn't always fast but we've never had to wait for seating at dinner, so at least it's a comfortable wait. The lunch buffet may be more crowded, but I don't really go often at lunch. I find the items on the menu much more interesting than the lunch buffet. However, the rice pudding dessert that's available in the buffet is wonderful. I love to order their chai tea, too - much tastier (and less sweet) than any coffee house chai tea I've ever had. I'm going to miss this place - and it'll no doubt be a must-visit every time we return to visit!
(5)Soko T.
love their momos
(4)BoiseFoodie A.
One word - home cooked. Well, that's two words but never mind. First time there over the weekend and the minute we walked in, the aroma of the spices inside had me nearly sold. Just out of curiosity, I removed the cover and looked at the chicken dish, and I had no more doubts at all that I was going to love these guys. The dishes looked very much like those prepared in my grandmother's kitchen in a long ago world. Incidentally she was also from the Mountains of Nepal. Service was excellent. We arrived pretty late (2:30 pm) when their posted hours for the buffet indicated they close at 3pm. Most buffets (where I am from) stop replenishing the dishes at this point but Cafe Shambala kept the trays full and hot. Not every dish is authentic. There's the tofu and the mixed veggies and noodles - something for everyone I guess. I mainly concentrated on the stuff that is more authentic. However, the tofu-spinach dish was quite yummy :) We will definitely go back any time we have a hankering for good, hearty, flavorful South Asian home cooking.
(4)U N.
Visited for the buffet, early September. I'm vegetarian, so I'll comment only on that part of the offerings. And, of course, on service. This is a mom and pop place. Neither was around when I arrived, so I was guided by another patron. Ultimately, I did encounter 'dad', a seemingly friendly-enough guy. Mom wasn't so easy to deal with; she was trying to tell me something, and, despite my usually keen ear for hearing English through an accent, I couldn't DISscern her CONcern, which seemed to make her madder and madder. Tried a bit of the tofu in sweet and sour-type sauce. Some vegetables. All fine. One look at the mo-mos and no-mo'; deep fried anything ain't on my diet. All in all, not bad. Three stars is a bit on the generous side, though for real buffet types, there's probably ample value here. For me, a taste of each veg dish was plenty.
(3)Johnny Jennie B.
When I first read about this place, we weren't sure what to expect...we had never had Tibetan food. However, this place reminds me of my aunt's cooking. True asian homestyle-type cooking without huge flavor...just the true essentials of a hearty meal. We had the lunch buffet and feasted on lo mein, fried rice, veggie momo, beef momo, vegetables, spicy potatoes and chicken curry drumstick. Must say..that my favorite was the beef momo and the vegetables. Lo mien was something that you could get at a mongolian "genghis khan" restaurant. Staff wasn't overly friendly, but very asian family like... we would probably come back if we ever visited SLC again.
(3)miso w.
You know that Conga line song? It could go with "I like to eat momos, I like to eat momos, I like to eat momos, aaaaatttt Cafe Shambala" and it would totally work. Really, just try it for a second. See? It works. And that is how good Cafe Shambala is. Not just the momos, but the spicy potatoes, the vegetable soup, and my god- the best chai I have ever had in my life. And the owners/staff are so nice. Really, this place brings out the hippy in me because after I eat here, I just feel all happy and fat and peaceful. Momo!
(5)Tina N.
Love their lunch buffet. THe mo mo is still my favorite pick from there. I love all of their vegetarian dishes. Contrary to some of the reviewers, we never have any issues with the customer service. One tip, when you walk in, don't worry about being seated, just pick a table and sit down since it is such a small place, they do not have specific seating arrangement. I lllovveeee their chili sauce with the soy sauce base.
(5)Douglas S.
Decided to try this place on a whim and was very pleased. We had no idea what we were walking in to but the waitress was very helpful. She explained the origin of the food and some of the favorites so we tried a number of dishes. The dumplings were fantastic and we tried both beef and chicken noodle dishes, both of which were great. Surprisingly there was a ton of food and the dishes had a lot of meat in them. We got two additional meals from the leftovers.
(4)Michelle K.
We weren't impressed with our main dishes (Singapore noodles) the first time we visited, so we always stick to an order of Beef Mo-Mos -- they are delicious, filling, and always make the trip worthwhile. In fact, overwhelming recommendations on Yelp were the reason we tried the Mo-Mos to begin with. Mo-Mos are beef-filled dumplings shaped like traditional asian buns. You can get them fried, steamed or half of each. Make sure you use plenty of the awesome spicy sauce waiting for you at the table.
(4)Chris S.
There is a reason this has a good raiting. They had me with their noodles. Very tasty! The owners are also very nice!
(5)Benjamin C.
I really love this place. I mostly go for the lunch buffet, very affordable and delicious! Especially the beef and veggie mo-mos. The staff (I think it's family run, maybe?) are all super sweet and on point. Vegan and vegetarian friendly.
(5)David B.
This place was absolutely amazing. I ordered the chicken phingsha and it was great! The server was helpful and friendly and the restaurant was clean. I will definitely be back to try their other offerings.
(5)Daniel Z.
Wow, what a nice place. This was my first time trying Himalayan/Nepalese, and it was a pleasant evening. We started with the beef mo-mo, as recommended by fellow yelpers, and they were excellent. Definitely our top choice for the meal. We had three kinds of soups -- vegetable, tomato egg drop, and hot and sour with chicken -- and all were good. Try the vegetable or hot and sour if you prefer spicy, and the egg drop if you like it quite a bit tamer. We then had singapore veggie noodles, curry chicken, and beef and broccoli (to satisfy our tamer palates). The singapore noodles were by far our favorite. The curry chicken was OK, but was not as strong as we would have liked, and the beef and broccoli was mostly broccoli. I chatted with our server afterwards, and she indicated the restaurant had been around for 14 years, so its clearly got a good following. Sadly, Dolcetti's next door has closed down. Hopefully they get another strong restaurant next door to help keep a strong customer base.
(4)H Y.
If you are a vegetarian then you probably love their buffet. There are only two meat options: fried beef momo and chicken curry. The meat options were OK, nothing compared to Kathmandu's buffet. The veggie options were very fresh and as good as you are going to get for vegetarian food. The buffet was $9 including tax. I don't think I will be back cause I love my meat too much :-)
(3)Wes N.
Yummy, inexpensive lunch buffet with an assortment of options, many of which are vegan. At one point, they even updated their rice pudding recipe to make it vegan based on customer feedback, using soy milk as the base now. Pretty awesome that they listen to their customers! Veggie Momo's are excellent.
(4)M J.
Everytime I eat at this restaurant, I always wonder why I don't more often. The service is great, it's owned by a couple from Tibet whose daughter serves. They are always friendly and accomodating. The food is fantasic. I have not had a bad dish yet. I'm particularly fond of the spicy tofu, veggie noodles, and garlic spinach and mushrooms. Also like the tofu and noodles and the beef momos. Oh, and the prices are great! I almost feel gulity when I get the bill.
(5)Brooke N.
Tofu vegetable curry, spicy potatoes and veggie momos are my favorites. The prices are great and the people that work there are so so nice. Love this place.
(5)Andrew W.
I went here for lunch today. I really enjoyed it. I gave it 4 stars only for a small selection at the buffet. BUT what was there had good flavor. I particularly enjoyed the beef and veg stuffed pastry (can't remember the name) and the spicy tofu. It seemed to be a family establishment which I'm in favor of patronizing local places like this. I'll be going back to Cafe Shambala soon! They were super friendly! You all should go!
(4)Kyle K.
I'll keep it short-- Delicious, filling, cheap food in the Avenues. We had the steamed beef mo-mos. The wife described them as "beef stew in a dumpling." Which means yum. Our spicy tofu and potatoes were yum, too, and huge portions (they're particularly good cold the next day). And my tomato-egg drop soup was well, like gaspacho and egg drop soup mixed together. You might think that sounds odd, but the acidity of the tomatoes went really well with the savory egg drop soup. Oh, and did I mention that they allow BYOB and don't charge a corkage fee?!?!? While no dish made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, everything was delicious and cheap. We will certainly be back!
(4)Cody L.
That was great. Momos fantastic, rice pudding excellent, curry chicken fabulous. Lunch buffet all around awesome. Definitely worth the visit. Full belly and happy about it.
(5)Graci D.
The lunch buffet was amazing! Momos and curry potatoes were my favorite. Very reasonably priced.
(5)Jack B.
I would highly recommend this place. The service is fantastic. the waitress could tell that we are wanting pictures of the food so she went out and got some. She was just really attentive and made sure we were happy. The food was delicious and the portions were very impressive. The only real drawback with the atmosphere there didn't seem to have a lot of character.
(4)Linda K.
2 stars = Meh. That's how I feel about the place. I generally love hole in the wall places because the food is where it matters, but I didn't think much of the food here. I visited during lunch when they had the buffet out. There weren't too many options, in my opinion, and nothing stood out good enough to go back for. I also thought the food was quite bland and some of it tasted as if it had been sitting for awhile instead of being fresh for lunch.
(2)Ashley L.
I think if you like this type of food it would be a four star place, sadly this type of food is not my taste so I had to give it a low star. The service was really great and the staff was attentive and had a positive attitude toward their customers. Plus they had a pretty big vegetarian selection. The only down side {aside from my own taste in food} is that it's located in a place with minimal parking and in a building that looks slightly... old and out of the way.
(2)Jann M.
We went in for a late lunch Buffet. Since I have never eaten food from Tibet I was anxious to try it I would describe it as a fusion of Chinese meets Indian Food but with a milder touch. The mo-mos are divine. I could live the rest of my life eating their Spicy Potatoes. The service is great and the story of the family is wonderful too. Take the time to enjoy it all, read the quotes from the Dali Lama and take a quick food tour through Tibet you'll be glad you did.
(4)John S.
Neat and quaint little restaurant. The momos are delicious. The variety keeps you coming back. And you can eat healthy. Really kind staff too. They make you feel special.
(4)Cindy P.
We wanted to try something new but we've been burned by some of the reviews here on yelp so were a little apprehensive about all of the good reviews for this place. I have to say, the reviews for this place are spot on! It's a great little hidden jewel. The food is really yummy (kept reading about the spicy potato and Momo's) both were delicious. We tried 5 different dishes and all were wonderful. It has a sweet little unpretentious feel to it and a unique location, away from all the hustle. Service was great! Will def go again and again.
(4)Chase A.
Lunch buffet is a steal. Beef mo-mo's are off the charts. Curry is great. Potatoes are great. Love love LOVE this place.
(5)Lisa D.
I love this neighborhood restaurant when I am visiting family in Salt Lake. The food is good and the service is excellent. When we have guests from out of town visit, this is our go to place.
(5)Dan T.
This is my favorite buddha spot in the state. Buffet lunch is always the same menu (oddly pleasing to me): Beef momo (steamed or fried dim sum bun) Veggie momo Spicy potato Veggie mix (cauliflower, broccoli, onion, squash) Noodles with veggie Tofu and cauliflower Veggie rice Chicken drumstick in curry Salad Cantaloupe Rice pudding Love this place (I dip momo in ginger dressing...)
(5)Sharon G.
I really like their momos - both the beef and the vegetable. It's such a pleasing concept - meat or vegetables tucked up inside these doughy little packages. Their sautéed vegetables, cabbage and noodles are also really good. I've never had Tibetan food, other than here, and it makes me want to have much more of it. It's a perfect restaurant for Salt Lake City, where the climate and altitude resembles that of Tibet more so than most cities in the U.S.. I hope the owners, if they are from Tibet, find a little home comfort there, just as I would in a seaside town abroad.
(4)Arnold K.
Yup, come here for their lunch buffet or dinner. Either way you can't go wrong. Just come by when their open, especially for their buffet. Late-ish arrival for lunch buffet can be challenging, however when I've done this on accident, the owners asked if there was anything that was low that I would like to eat. And they happily made some more right there on the spot. This is one of the places my friends and I go when they come in town. The owners and employees are super friendly. Discovery of this place is a must. Oh and I love their fried momo's. Ordering them for take out becomes a habit.
(4)Lindsey P.
Every dish I have tried here is excellent! The service is great and the prices are unbeatable. My favorite dishes are the Singapore noodles the beef fingsha and the momo. Yum! I could eat here every day.
(5)Garret N.
I went here with a friend and found the service to be lovely and the atmosphere very casual and quiet. All the dishes we tried were tasty and varied. I'll definitely be back.
(4)Brandon R.
What a wonderful place. Its in a lovely little neighborhood in a lovely little store with an amazing window front. I would like to eat here on a cold winter night - the atmosphere would be straight out of a film. Upon entry we were greeted right away and sat. They must be keeping tabs on their Yelp reviews (as previous patrons were unhaopy with the service) because we were treated very well. It seems like most of the business is take-out, because there was a lot of traffic, but no dine-ins (all the more romantic if that's your thing). Let me start at price. Cheap. Two entrees, Shambala special fried momos, and hot tea was under $25. No wonder everyone calls orders. The momos are as good as everyone says, better actually. If you don't know momos, they are the doughy stuffed balls that Master Ishu trains Panda with. I would fight for those too. The tea was soothing and on a cold night...mmm. We got the vegetable and tofu curry and sweet and sour tofu. I don't like tofu, don't ask why I got it, but it was still decent. Nothing wrong with the tofu. The sauce was sweet and spicy and drizzled great over the rice that comes attached. But the tofu. If it was beef or chicken it would have been awesome. The curry was mild, but very flavorful. She likes tofu so she loved the curry. The serving size was big. Way too much for me. Go hungry or take a date, unless again you have a voracious appetite. No dessert this time. Overall I would definitely suggest this if you are looking for tibetan or varied asian - even if not I suggest it.
(4)Pamela P.
Good but not great food. Especially tasty was the dal soup, the rice pudding and the chicken curry. Tibetan food in America is a huge improvement on Tibetan food in Tibet so were glad to be there. Also this is a good place for both veg and non-veg eaters. The owners were very quiet but came and filled water glasses, cleared plates etc., despite it being primarily a buffet place. Decor basically formica tables on tile floor - actually not all that different from places on South Asia!
(4)Allie C.
Delish! Momos were excellent! :) Well priced and tasty.
(5)Richard M.
Shambala's is the only place I've been to where the mo mos don't fall into pieces the first bite, whether beef filled and fried, or veggie filled and steamed they're never soggy or difficult. The buffet is great and there is plenty on the dinner menu to please. My wife and I have been stuck on the Singapore Fried Chicken Noodle for over a year (Great with added soy sauce, just don't let anyone see you add it because I'm sure its a sin.) I love its exclusive local feel. The avenues are not like any other neighborhoods in Salt Lake so some might find places in it a little unnerving. Just walk in and pretend like you're family and enjoy the best Tibetan food Salt Lake has to offer.
(5)Sarah C.
I went there last month at 1:30, reasonable lunch hours, and they were out of rice. How an Asian restaurant runs out of rice is beyond me, but lo and behold, they were all out. This was after we stood in the doorway for over 5 solid minutes (the place was entirely empty) while the waiter hung out in plain view, ignoring us. I had to holler over to get him to "seat" us (which consisted of waving around and pointing to some menus)... which should have been my cue to just leave, but since some of my favorite restaurants have bad service, I stuck it out. Then, our food came out. I got the Singapore noodles and my friend got a tofu dish (sans rice). They were the same awful dish, one tofu and one noodles. Both were covered in a sugary syrup that tasted like failure and melted Skittles. Atrocious and unacceptable by any standards and any price beginning to end.
(1)Geri D.
So glad I discovered this place....it's become one of my favorite restaurants in SLC. The food is super tasty, though the noodles on the buffet were slightly on the dry side. LOVE all the veggie dishes on the buffet, and ordered the spinach and tofu curry from the menu and it was fantastic. Home cooked, fresh food, no MSG, and good ambiance for a small hole in the wall ethnic food restaurant. I'm happy that I live so close and can eat there regularly!
(5)Rebecca M.
Tibetan Comfort food. For a sampling of most of their best, go at lunch time for the buffet. Owners are pleasant people that mostly stay out of your way. Nothing fancy, but reliably enjoyable food.
(4)Jern Y.
This place is around the corner from where I live. It has pretty good reviews, but is OK in my book. I like that the owners all are of original descent, and have unique foods. Perhaps the food is similar to Chinese food that I grew up on but isn't exactly the same, particularly the mo-mos. Perhaps I'm not exactly used to this type of Asian food, but I'm just not a huge fan. Location is fine, although a bit off the beaten path.
(3)Harsha R.
Everytime I go to Cafe Shambala, I think how cool it would be to stay within a block of this place. If you don't feel like cooking at home tonight, just walk over to Cafe Shambala. Its the closest you will come to food like it is cooked at home. I have eaten there a few times and I think the food is very tasty. Their lunch buffet is also worth the money. Anyway, don't go there expecting great service. Mom and Pop run the show. Parking can be a pain, the language can be a barrier but you will leave contented with the quality of the food.
(4)Jackie B.
I had the lunch buffet. I tried everything they had on the buffet that did not include meat. Most of what I had was fairly mediocre, but the veggie momo and the lentil soup were tasty enough to make me think I'd want to return.
(3)Ksenia B.
This is a great little place. I've been there a few times and I loved the food. It's very simple but tasty. My favorite was their lunch buffet. Plenty of vegetarian options. Their smoothies are wonderful too.
(5)Hadrian B.
I've tried Nepalese food around the country, while this is different - more Tibetian, I wasn't that impressed. I went up here because I like small local joints, as they can be real gems. This wasn't it though. The ambience was not good, the staff *looked* friendly, but difficult to interact with. The momos were fried and tough, not that yummy. The rice was meh. You gotta get the rice right *sigh*. While I did have two plates, it was filling, but not yumm. I was just really hungry. A previous post is spot on about the lack of fancy spices (IE indian spices really) makes this really just a hearty meal. That may be true, but it's not enough for me to come back to. Maybe I'll try the other Tibetian place next.
(2)Alina R.
Loved the food and the atmosphere. Contrary to other reviews I received fantastic service! I will most definitely return to this restaurant.
(4)Ben G.
Last night was my first time at Shambala and I only wish I'd found it sooner. Great food at great prices. The leftovers made a perfect lunch. It's an awesome spot for vegans that's made even more awesome by the fact that the chocolate shop next door has tons of vegan treats made from scratch. Try the dark-chocolate hot chocolate. Holy crap.
(5)A J.
Really good food that seems healthy. It's managed by a Tibetan family and the prices are very reasonable considering the quality of the food. I'd much rather spend money here rather than at some impersonal corporate chain. Doing my bit to stick it to the man ;-) Even otherwise, the place is good. Since the lunch is a buffet you can have a very quick, cheap and healthy meal in that 30-min lunch-break.
(5)Therron R.
Much better Tibetan Food than House of Tibet, I think! They serve yogurt smoothies, and we always came here for the Lunch Buffet. Chicken curry drumsticks, and plenty of Beef Momos (Meat or Vegi-Paste filled dumplings) topped with a ginger sauce. Don't worry there are vegetarian options like cabbage carrot salad, Lo Mein noodles, Spicy Potatoes, and Veggie Momos. The rice pudding is great to top it all off. The cool thing about this Mom/Pop Dive is the owners. They came to America many years ago on a state assisted refugee program, and had to leave their young Daugherty behind. How hard it must be to leave a child behind in a distant land? They vowed that someday they would raise enough money to finally send for their daughter. So they have worked hard to make this restaurant prosper where many other shop owners have failed, and the last time we got to eat there we asked if the young girl assisting tables was their daughter, and Yes she had been reunited with them here in America. God Bless Um! Parking can be bad sometimes because this shop is in the avenues, but never farther than half a block walk.
(5)Anstrum J.
Walk in, grab a plate, and load up! The chicken is amazing, great rice, dumplings, fantastic lo mein noodles, spicy potatoes, and veggies. A friend of mine exclaimed with a smirk on his face, "I could live off this soup!" So be sure not to miss it. Still hungry? Keep your plate and head back for more. Pay when you're done and head next door for some chocolate from Hatch's (another locally owned business). Ahhh, life on the Avenues in Salt Lake. Very nice.
(4)Allen R.
Location: Up in the Avenues just south of the Avenues' Smith's. Parking is sometimes difficult during lunch hours, since there are only 5-10 spots in front of the restaurant (which shares those spots with a candy store). Atmosphere: Don't come here for the ambience, but rather, for the food. The walls are lined with the traditional images of the Dalai Lama and Buddha. I always find it funny that when decor is from an Eastern religion, we don't think that it's odd, but if you went to an Italian restaurant that was decorated with images of popes, saints, and Jesus, it would be quasi-invasive and semi-offensive. Quality: Excellent lunch buffet with similar fare to that of the House of Tibet, down on 1300 South and State Street. One key difference is that the dumplings here are fried instead of steamed, which makes them have even more delicious, hip-growing appeal. If they get really busy, they tend to bring out additional dishes that aren't served at House of Tibet, such as tofu sqaures in a curry sauce, and cardamom-seasoned coconut rice pudding. They also have two amazing sauces--a ginger-based one that is similar to the salad dressing at Behi Hana, and a traditional cayenne sauce with a soy sauce base. Value: ~$7 per person. Service: This place is owned by a Tibetan man and wife who are responsible for preparing the food, serving water, and taking money up at the counter. Occasionally, a relative is there to help them out, but it's usually just the two of them. When they get into a fight in the kitchen, it only adds to the atmosphere! The only problem here is that they frequently let you go without water, which can be a real problem is you've soaked your dumplings in cayenne sauce, as I like to do.
(4)Joan C.
My five stars are based on my realization, as we prepare to move from Salt Lake, that this is the restaurant I am going to miss the most of all restaurants we patronize in the area. I think the food has a lot of flavor, the quality has been consistent over many visits, and the value is fantastic. The service isn't always fast but we've never had to wait for seating at dinner, so at least it's a comfortable wait. The lunch buffet may be more crowded, but I don't really go often at lunch. I find the items on the menu much more interesting than the lunch buffet. However, the rice pudding dessert that's available in the buffet is wonderful. I love to order their chai tea, too - much tastier (and less sweet) than any coffee house chai tea I've ever had. I'm going to miss this place - and it'll no doubt be a must-visit every time we return to visit!
(5)Soko T.
love their momos
(4)BoiseFoodie A.
One word - home cooked. Well, that's two words but never mind. First time there over the weekend and the minute we walked in, the aroma of the spices inside had me nearly sold. Just out of curiosity, I removed the cover and looked at the chicken dish, and I had no more doubts at all that I was going to love these guys. The dishes looked very much like those prepared in my grandmother's kitchen in a long ago world. Incidentally she was also from the Mountains of Nepal. Service was excellent. We arrived pretty late (2:30 pm) when their posted hours for the buffet indicated they close at 3pm. Most buffets (where I am from) stop replenishing the dishes at this point but Cafe Shambala kept the trays full and hot. Not every dish is authentic. There's the tofu and the mixed veggies and noodles - something for everyone I guess. I mainly concentrated on the stuff that is more authentic. However, the tofu-spinach dish was quite yummy :) We will definitely go back any time we have a hankering for good, hearty, flavorful South Asian home cooking.
(4)U N.
Visited for the buffet, early September. I'm vegetarian, so I'll comment only on that part of the offerings. And, of course, on service. This is a mom and pop place. Neither was around when I arrived, so I was guided by another patron. Ultimately, I did encounter 'dad', a seemingly friendly-enough guy. Mom wasn't so easy to deal with; she was trying to tell me something, and, despite my usually keen ear for hearing English through an accent, I couldn't DISscern her CONcern, which seemed to make her madder and madder. Tried a bit of the tofu in sweet and sour-type sauce. Some vegetables. All fine. One look at the mo-mos and no-mo'; deep fried anything ain't on my diet. All in all, not bad. Three stars is a bit on the generous side, though for real buffet types, there's probably ample value here. For me, a taste of each veg dish was plenty.
(3)Johnny Jennie B.
When I first read about this place, we weren't sure what to expect...we had never had Tibetan food. However, this place reminds me of my aunt's cooking. True asian homestyle-type cooking without huge flavor...just the true essentials of a hearty meal. We had the lunch buffet and feasted on lo mein, fried rice, veggie momo, beef momo, vegetables, spicy potatoes and chicken curry drumstick. Must say..that my favorite was the beef momo and the vegetables. Lo mien was something that you could get at a mongolian "genghis khan" restaurant. Staff wasn't overly friendly, but very asian family like... we would probably come back if we ever visited SLC again.
(3)miso w.
You know that Conga line song? It could go with "I like to eat momos, I like to eat momos, I like to eat momos, aaaaatttt Cafe Shambala" and it would totally work. Really, just try it for a second. See? It works. And that is how good Cafe Shambala is. Not just the momos, but the spicy potatoes, the vegetable soup, and my god- the best chai I have ever had in my life. And the owners/staff are so nice. Really, this place brings out the hippy in me because after I eat here, I just feel all happy and fat and peaceful. Momo!
(5)Ashley L.
I think if you like this type of food it would be a four star place, sadly this type of food is not my taste so I had to give it a low star. The service was really great and the staff was attentive and had a positive attitude toward their customers. Plus they had a pretty big vegetarian selection. The only down side {aside from my own taste in food} is that it's located in a place with minimal parking and in a building that looks slightly... old and out of the way.
(2)BoiseFoodie A.
One word - home cooked. Well, that's two words but never mind. First time there over the weekend and the minute we walked in, the aroma of the spices inside had me nearly sold. Just out of curiosity, I removed the cover and looked at the chicken dish, and I had no more doubts at all that I was going to love these guys. The dishes looked very much like those prepared in my grandmother's kitchen in a long ago world. Incidentally she was also from the Mountains of Nepal. Service was excellent. We arrived pretty late (2:30 pm) when their posted hours for the buffet indicated they close at 3pm. Most buffets (where I am from) stop replenishing the dishes at this point but Cafe Shambala kept the trays full and hot. Not every dish is authentic. There's the tofu and the mixed veggies and noodles - something for everyone I guess. I mainly concentrated on the stuff that is more authentic. However, the tofu-spinach dish was quite yummy :) We will definitely go back any time we have a hankering for good, hearty, flavorful South Asian home cooking.
(4)U N.
Visited for the buffet, early September. I'm vegetarian, so I'll comment only on that part of the offerings. And, of course, on service. This is a mom and pop place. Neither was around when I arrived, so I was guided by another patron. Ultimately, I did encounter 'dad', a seemingly friendly-enough guy. Mom wasn't so easy to deal with; she was trying to tell me something, and, despite my usually keen ear for hearing English through an accent, I couldn't DISscern her CONcern, which seemed to make her madder and madder. Tried a bit of the tofu in sweet and sour-type sauce. Some vegetables. All fine. One look at the mo-mos and no-mo'; deep fried anything ain't on my diet. All in all, not bad. Three stars is a bit on the generous side, though for real buffet types, there's probably ample value here. For me, a taste of each veg dish was plenty.
(3)Johnny Jennie B.
When I first read about this place, we weren't sure what to expect...we had never had Tibetan food. However, this place reminds me of my aunt's cooking. True asian homestyle-type cooking without huge flavor...just the true essentials of a hearty meal. We had the lunch buffet and feasted on lo mein, fried rice, veggie momo, beef momo, vegetables, spicy potatoes and chicken curry drumstick. Must say..that my favorite was the beef momo and the vegetables. Lo mien was something that you could get at a mongolian "genghis khan" restaurant. Staff wasn't overly friendly, but very asian family like... we would probably come back if we ever visited SLC again.
(3)miso w.
You know that Conga line song? It could go with "I like to eat momos, I like to eat momos, I like to eat momos, aaaaatttt Cafe Shambala" and it would totally work. Really, just try it for a second. See? It works. And that is how good Cafe Shambala is. Not just the momos, but the spicy potatoes, the vegetable soup, and my god- the best chai I have ever had in my life. And the owners/staff are so nice. Really, this place brings out the hippy in me because after I eat here, I just feel all happy and fat and peaceful. Momo!
(5)Jack B.
I would highly recommend this place. The service is fantastic. the waitress could tell that we are wanting pictures of the food so she went out and got some. She was just really attentive and made sure we were happy. The food was delicious and the portions were very impressive. The only real drawback with the atmosphere there didn't seem to have a lot of character.
(4)Linda K.
2 stars = Meh. That's how I feel about the place. I generally love hole in the wall places because the food is where it matters, but I didn't think much of the food here. I visited during lunch when they had the buffet out. There weren't too many options, in my opinion, and nothing stood out good enough to go back for. I also thought the food was quite bland and some of it tasted as if it had been sitting for awhile instead of being fresh for lunch.
(2)H Y.
If you are a vegetarian then you probably love their buffet. There are only two meat options: fried beef momo and chicken curry. The meat options were OK, nothing compared to Kathmandu's buffet. The veggie options were very fresh and as good as you are going to get for vegetarian food. The buffet was $9 including tax. I don't think I will be back cause I love my meat too much :-)
(3)Dhara J.
I can't believe I've never written a review for this place yet. I've been a few times and this place is honestly a vegetarian's paradise. First few times I've ordered off the menu for dinner; however, today I went for lunch and got the buffet. They have an amazing variety of stuff in the buffet (mostly veggie friendly) but a couple of meat items. One think you definitely can not beat is the price for lunch. $8.50 + tax will get you a choice of 6-8 items: drink not included. For the quality of food at this cute mom and pop ethnic restaurant that's amazing! My favorite things here include the spicy tofu dish (the buffet version is not as spicy) as well as the veggie fried momos. This place is a wonderful blend of Chinese, Indian, and Nepali flavors. The staff is super attentive and helpful when trying to choose something off the extensive menu and are able to answer any questions you may have. I will definitely come back for more! p.s. The spicy sauce that they have out on the tables is no joke... SUPER spicy!
(5)Hannah L.
I'm glad I was able to try this place out on my last visit to Salt Lake. It was right next to a friends apartment, and he had only good things to say. We wanted an inexpensive dinner so we stopped in. We ordered three things and split among the table. There were three of us, and although we finished it, it was definitely more than enough for the table (they are just very hungry boys- normal people couldn't have finished it all). We had the vegetable tofu curry, the eggplant and a beef dish. The veggie curry didn't have much curry flavor to me, but it was delicious none the less. The veggies tasted fresh and perfect. The beef was also good but a little bit chewy. The eggplant was by far everyone's favorite- I'd definitely recommend it. The best part about eating here was that it wasn't too heavy. I left feeling like I ate a lot, but it was mostly vegetables, so I didn't feel so bad about it :) this place is very vegetarian friendly also! Come give this little place a try.
(5)Joe M.
Cafe Shambala never disappoints. One of my favorite places in town. This place is a must, especially if you're vegetarian. Everything on the menu is good, but I keep coming back to the eggplant sauté and of course those momos! Great location, service, and atmosphere too.
(5)Kristie B.
I live just a few houses down from Shambala, so my boyfriend and I dine here all the time. The owners are always so friendly. The food comes out quickly, and is consistently delicious. The servings are large, so you can split a dish between two people if you get an appetizer. My ultimate fave is the Tofu fried noodle. We often order the veggie fried momos and beef steamed momos (they will do half orders of each) and hot & sour soup. You can't ask for much better for the price.
(5)Caden W.
Never fails to impress! Great, friendly service. High quality ingredients, great variety on the menu. Shared 5 different dishes with some friends last night and every one was amazing! Definitely not a place to miss!
(5)Mike N.
Mo mo-mos please! I can't get enough of them. Or the fried noodles, or the mango lassi, or pretty much everything. This is a cozy little out of the way spot in the avenues that is one of my favorite spots in the city. It isn't hard to get a table, and I secretly hope that it stays that way. The first time I walked in, it definitely reminded me of many places I had dined in Singapore, China, Cambodia, etc. They have a variety of menu items with nods to many different Asian cuisines. The family-run atmosphere is great, and the workers are as nice as can be. It is one of those places where they will give me a sincere apology if I have to wait even 30 seconds for a refill or to pay my bill. Not to mention they are fast. I put in an order for two entrees, and it was sitting in front of me piping hot within five minutes. Not even Jimmy Johns could match that freaky fast service. If you're in the mood for something different that will put a lot on your plate and take little from your wallet, Cafe Shambala is worth a visit.
(5)Natalee B.
Had the lunch buffet. There were around 12 options that included rice, noodles, potatoes, veggies, tofu, chicken, momos, soup, fruit, and rice pudding. A lot of spicy intense flavors. It was less than $20 for my husband and myself. Customer service was good.
(4)Maddie D.
Tucked away in the avenues, this authentic homestyle cafe was a pleasant surprise to stumble into for some late night munching! The low light from hanging lanterns gave the space a warm, intimate ambiance that matched the staff's friendly and attentive demeanor. Our food came out quickly and stylistically looked very appetizing. Served with a warm, sweet ginger sauce for rice, I ordered sweet and sour tofu while my partner scored a delicious deal with the vegetarian plate that included potatoes, fried rice and the oh-so famous Mo-Mos! If you don't order the Mo-Mos here, you've really missed an opportunity to taste a dish that has procured a Salt Lake City cult following. Similar to flakey dumplings, these Mo-Mo's are served hot, stuffed with your choice of potatoes, veggies and meat. The usage of spice and seasoning is near heavenly perfection, and with seven on your plate, you'll be thanking any and every deity you stopped in for dinner. What I love more than anything about Cafe Shambala is the food has a very "at home" feel to it because it is family owned and ran. The vegetables are lightly prepared so that they keep a crispness that really accentuates a straight-out-of-the-garden flavor. Our rice was cooked perfectly and the ginger sauce was one of the highlights of our dinner. You can tell each dish is prepared carefully and served with love. A must try for anyone seeking delicious, authentic Himalayan Food for a price that will keep you coming back for "Mo".
(4)Cody L.
That was great. Momos fantastic, rice pudding excellent, curry chicken fabulous. Lunch buffet all around awesome. Definitely worth the visit. Full belly and happy about it.
(5)Graci D.
The lunch buffet was amazing! Momos and curry potatoes were my favorite. Very reasonably priced.
(5)Nigel L.
This place has a definitive quaint, home-cooked feel to it. I ordered the Veggie Combo which was a mix of fried rice, potatoes, and 3 veggie momos. It's a good deal and all the items in said combo were tasty. The momos have a lot of garlic and similar spices so be careful if that type of thing is not agreeable with your stomach. My companion had the sweet and sour tofu+veggie dish; it was OK, but certainly not something I would recommend or order in the future. The iced chai was similarly disappointing; watery and lacking taste. Service was excellent. The water was never empty and the server had a gentle demeanor. I was slightly reluctant given my last experience with Nepalese cuisine, but this place came through. I'll be back.
(4)Zack S.
Like many others I found Cafe Shambala by reading about the food on Yelp. Being that this place is literally blocks away from my house, I almost felt a little ashamed I hadn't visited sooner. Everything about this place is authentic: Food, atmosphere, and... Well, can I say food again? Because it's amazing! We tried the beef momos (fried and boiled) - they were awesome. The beef chow mein was also an amazing dish. Forget leftovers: you'll want it all. Food comas are only natural at Cafe Shambala.
(5)Arash A.
This place is a classic. I've been going here for ten years and the food has never been anything less than great! They also do take-out and have a great lunch buffet. Try the spicy potatoes :3
(5)Clear S.
Ok place. Nothing special. We have so many other good Indian/Himalayan restaurants around valley. I don't think the price is cheap either.
(2)Hana A.
Lunch buffet Spicy tofu with mixed veggies were my favorite Chow mein Fried rice Potato curry Veggie momo Rice pudding Soup-like dal Cantaloupe Very friendly service
(4)Dennis M.
amazing vegetarian/vegan selection Best lentil soup in UT
(5)Rob H.
I've lived in SLC for 15 years and I've seen this place and heard about it never ventured inside until tonight. It's small and quaint. The owners and their daughter are extremely nice. The food was delicious. I shared the Singapore Fried Noodles with Chicken and the Steamed Vegetable Momos. The noodles were really good with a sauce that was sweet but not as overly sweet as a lot of Chinese dishes. The momos were fantastic. They had potatoes and veggies inside--similar to a samosa.
(4)David B.
This place was absolutely amazing. I ordered the chicken phingsha and it was great! The server was helpful and friendly and the restaurant was clean. I will definitely be back to try their other offerings.
(5)Benjamin C.
I really love this place. I mostly go for the lunch buffet, very affordable and delicious! Especially the beef and veggie mo-mos. The staff (I think it's family run, maybe?) are all super sweet and on point. Vegan and vegetarian friendly.
(5)Daniel Z.
Wow, what a nice place. This was my first time trying Himalayan/Nepalese, and it was a pleasant evening. We started with the beef mo-mo, as recommended by fellow yelpers, and they were excellent. Definitely our top choice for the meal. We had three kinds of soups -- vegetable, tomato egg drop, and hot and sour with chicken -- and all were good. Try the vegetable or hot and sour if you prefer spicy, and the egg drop if you like it quite a bit tamer. We then had singapore veggie noodles, curry chicken, and beef and broccoli (to satisfy our tamer palates). The singapore noodles were by far our favorite. The curry chicken was OK, but was not as strong as we would have liked, and the beef and broccoli was mostly broccoli. I chatted with our server afterwards, and she indicated the restaurant had been around for 14 years, so its clearly got a good following. Sadly, Dolcetti's next door has closed down. Hopefully they get another strong restaurant next door to help keep a strong customer base.
(4)Wes N.
Yummy, inexpensive lunch buffet with an assortment of options, many of which are vegan. At one point, they even updated their rice pudding recipe to make it vegan based on customer feedback, using soy milk as the base now. Pretty awesome that they listen to their customers! Veggie Momo's are excellent.
(4)M J.
Everytime I eat at this restaurant, I always wonder why I don't more often. The service is great, it's owned by a couple from Tibet whose daughter serves. They are always friendly and accomodating. The food is fantasic. I have not had a bad dish yet. I'm particularly fond of the spicy tofu, veggie noodles, and garlic spinach and mushrooms. Also like the tofu and noodles and the beef momos. Oh, and the prices are great! I almost feel gulity when I get the bill.
(5)Brooke N.
Tofu vegetable curry, spicy potatoes and veggie momos are my favorites. The prices are great and the people that work there are so so nice. Love this place.
(5)Andrew W.
I went here for lunch today. I really enjoyed it. I gave it 4 stars only for a small selection at the buffet. BUT what was there had good flavor. I particularly enjoyed the beef and veg stuffed pastry (can't remember the name) and the spicy tofu. It seemed to be a family establishment which I'm in favor of patronizing local places like this. I'll be going back to Cafe Shambala soon! They were super friendly! You all should go!
(4)Kyle K.
I'll keep it short-- Delicious, filling, cheap food in the Avenues. We had the steamed beef mo-mos. The wife described them as "beef stew in a dumpling." Which means yum. Our spicy tofu and potatoes were yum, too, and huge portions (they're particularly good cold the next day). And my tomato-egg drop soup was well, like gaspacho and egg drop soup mixed together. You might think that sounds odd, but the acidity of the tomatoes went really well with the savory egg drop soup. Oh, and did I mention that they allow BYOB and don't charge a corkage fee?!?!? While no dish made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, everything was delicious and cheap. We will certainly be back!
(4)Jann M.
We went in for a late lunch Buffet. Since I have never eaten food from Tibet I was anxious to try it I would describe it as a fusion of Chinese meets Indian Food but with a milder touch. The mo-mos are divine. I could live the rest of my life eating their Spicy Potatoes. The service is great and the story of the family is wonderful too. Take the time to enjoy it all, read the quotes from the Dali Lama and take a quick food tour through Tibet you'll be glad you did.
(4)John S.
Neat and quaint little restaurant. The momos are delicious. The variety keeps you coming back. And you can eat healthy. Really kind staff too. They make you feel special.
(4)Michelle K.
We weren't impressed with our main dishes (Singapore noodles) the first time we visited, so we always stick to an order of Beef Mo-Mos -- they are delicious, filling, and always make the trip worthwhile. In fact, overwhelming recommendations on Yelp were the reason we tried the Mo-Mos to begin with. Mo-Mos are beef-filled dumplings shaped like traditional asian buns. You can get them fried, steamed or half of each. Make sure you use plenty of the awesome spicy sauce waiting for you at the table.
(4)Chris S.
There is a reason this has a good raiting. They had me with their noodles. Very tasty! The owners are also very nice!
(5)Cindy P.
We wanted to try something new but we've been burned by some of the reviews here on yelp so were a little apprehensive about all of the good reviews for this place. I have to say, the reviews for this place are spot on! It's a great little hidden jewel. The food is really yummy (kept reading about the spicy potato and Momo's) both were delicious. We tried 5 different dishes and all were wonderful. It has a sweet little unpretentious feel to it and a unique location, away from all the hustle. Service was great! Will def go again and again.
(4)Lisa D.
I love this neighborhood restaurant when I am visiting family in Salt Lake. The food is good and the service is excellent. When we have guests from out of town visit, this is our go to place.
(5)Allie C.
Delish! Momos were excellent! :) Well priced and tasty.
(5)Sharon G.
I really like their momos - both the beef and the vegetable. It's such a pleasing concept - meat or vegetables tucked up inside these doughy little packages. Their sautéed vegetables, cabbage and noodles are also really good. I've never had Tibetan food, other than here, and it makes me want to have much more of it. It's a perfect restaurant for Salt Lake City, where the climate and altitude resembles that of Tibet more so than most cities in the U.S.. I hope the owners, if they are from Tibet, find a little home comfort there, just as I would in a seaside town abroad.
(4)Tina N.
Love their lunch buffet. THe mo mo is still my favorite pick from there. I love all of their vegetarian dishes. Contrary to some of the reviewers, we never have any issues with the customer service. One tip, when you walk in, don't worry about being seated, just pick a table and sit down since it is such a small place, they do not have specific seating arrangement. I lllovveeee their chili sauce with the soy sauce base.
(5)Douglas S.
Decided to try this place on a whim and was very pleased. We had no idea what we were walking in to but the waitress was very helpful. She explained the origin of the food and some of the favorites so we tried a number of dishes. The dumplings were fantastic and we tried both beef and chicken noodle dishes, both of which were great. Surprisingly there was a ton of food and the dishes had a lot of meat in them. We got two additional meals from the leftovers.
(4)Arnold K.
Yup, come here for their lunch buffet or dinner. Either way you can't go wrong. Just come by when their open, especially for their buffet. Late-ish arrival for lunch buffet can be challenging, however when I've done this on accident, the owners asked if there was anything that was low that I would like to eat. And they happily made some more right there on the spot. This is one of the places my friends and I go when they come in town. The owners and employees are super friendly. Discovery of this place is a must. Oh and I love their fried momo's. Ordering them for take out becomes a habit.
(4)Lindsey P.
Every dish I have tried here is excellent! The service is great and the prices are unbeatable. My favorite dishes are the Singapore noodles the beef fingsha and the momo. Yum! I could eat here every day.
(5)Garret N.
I went here with a friend and found the service to be lovely and the atmosphere very casual and quiet. All the dishes we tried were tasty and varied. I'll definitely be back.
(4)Chase A.
Lunch buffet is a steal. Beef mo-mo's are off the charts. Curry is great. Potatoes are great. Love love LOVE this place.
(5)Dan T.
This is my favorite buddha spot in the state. Buffet lunch is always the same menu (oddly pleasing to me): Beef momo (steamed or fried dim sum bun) Veggie momo Spicy potato Veggie mix (cauliflower, broccoli, onion, squash) Noodles with veggie Tofu and cauliflower Veggie rice Chicken drumstick in curry Salad Cantaloupe Rice pudding Love this place (I dip momo in ginger dressing...)
(5)Brandon R.
What a wonderful place. Its in a lovely little neighborhood in a lovely little store with an amazing window front. I would like to eat here on a cold winter night - the atmosphere would be straight out of a film. Upon entry we were greeted right away and sat. They must be keeping tabs on their Yelp reviews (as previous patrons were unhaopy with the service) because we were treated very well. It seems like most of the business is take-out, because there was a lot of traffic, but no dine-ins (all the more romantic if that's your thing). Let me start at price. Cheap. Two entrees, Shambala special fried momos, and hot tea was under $25. No wonder everyone calls orders. The momos are as good as everyone says, better actually. If you don't know momos, they are the doughy stuffed balls that Master Ishu trains Panda with. I would fight for those too. The tea was soothing and on a cold night...mmm. We got the vegetable and tofu curry and sweet and sour tofu. I don't like tofu, don't ask why I got it, but it was still decent. Nothing wrong with the tofu. The sauce was sweet and spicy and drizzled great over the rice that comes attached. But the tofu. If it was beef or chicken it would have been awesome. The curry was mild, but very flavorful. She likes tofu so she loved the curry. The serving size was big. Way too much for me. Go hungry or take a date, unless again you have a voracious appetite. No dessert this time. Overall I would definitely suggest this if you are looking for tibetan or varied asian - even if not I suggest it.
(4)Pamela P.
Good but not great food. Especially tasty was the dal soup, the rice pudding and the chicken curry. Tibetan food in America is a huge improvement on Tibetan food in Tibet so were glad to be there. Also this is a good place for both veg and non-veg eaters. The owners were very quiet but came and filled water glasses, cleared plates etc., despite it being primarily a buffet place. Decor basically formica tables on tile floor - actually not all that different from places on South Asia!
(4)Richard M.
Shambala's is the only place I've been to where the mo mos don't fall into pieces the first bite, whether beef filled and fried, or veggie filled and steamed they're never soggy or difficult. The buffet is great and there is plenty on the dinner menu to please. My wife and I have been stuck on the Singapore Fried Chicken Noodle for over a year (Great with added soy sauce, just don't let anyone see you add it because I'm sure its a sin.) I love its exclusive local feel. The avenues are not like any other neighborhoods in Salt Lake so some might find places in it a little unnerving. Just walk in and pretend like you're family and enjoy the best Tibetan food Salt Lake has to offer.
(5)Sarah C.
I went there last month at 1:30, reasonable lunch hours, and they were out of rice. How an Asian restaurant runs out of rice is beyond me, but lo and behold, they were all out. This was after we stood in the doorway for over 5 solid minutes (the place was entirely empty) while the waiter hung out in plain view, ignoring us. I had to holler over to get him to "seat" us (which consisted of waving around and pointing to some menus)... which should have been my cue to just leave, but since some of my favorite restaurants have bad service, I stuck it out. Then, our food came out. I got the Singapore noodles and my friend got a tofu dish (sans rice). They were the same awful dish, one tofu and one noodles. Both were covered in a sugary syrup that tasted like failure and melted Skittles. Atrocious and unacceptable by any standards and any price beginning to end.
(1)Geri D.
So glad I discovered this place....it's become one of my favorite restaurants in SLC. The food is super tasty, though the noodles on the buffet were slightly on the dry side. LOVE all the veggie dishes on the buffet, and ordered the spinach and tofu curry from the menu and it was fantastic. Home cooked, fresh food, no MSG, and good ambiance for a small hole in the wall ethnic food restaurant. I'm happy that I live so close and can eat there regularly!
(5)Rebecca M.
Tibetan Comfort food. For a sampling of most of their best, go at lunch time for the buffet. Owners are pleasant people that mostly stay out of your way. Nothing fancy, but reliably enjoyable food.
(4)Jern Y.
This place is around the corner from where I live. It has pretty good reviews, but is OK in my book. I like that the owners all are of original descent, and have unique foods. Perhaps the food is similar to Chinese food that I grew up on but isn't exactly the same, particularly the mo-mos. Perhaps I'm not exactly used to this type of Asian food, but I'm just not a huge fan. Location is fine, although a bit off the beaten path.
(3)Harsha R.
Everytime I go to Cafe Shambala, I think how cool it would be to stay within a block of this place. If you don't feel like cooking at home tonight, just walk over to Cafe Shambala. Its the closest you will come to food like it is cooked at home. I have eaten there a few times and I think the food is very tasty. Their lunch buffet is also worth the money. Anyway, don't go there expecting great service. Mom and Pop run the show. Parking can be a pain, the language can be a barrier but you will leave contented with the quality of the food.
(4)Jackie B.
I had the lunch buffet. I tried everything they had on the buffet that did not include meat. Most of what I had was fairly mediocre, but the veggie momo and the lentil soup were tasty enough to make me think I'd want to return.
(3)Ksenia B.
This is a great little place. I've been there a few times and I loved the food. It's very simple but tasty. My favorite was their lunch buffet. Plenty of vegetarian options. Their smoothies are wonderful too.
(5)Hadrian B.
I've tried Nepalese food around the country, while this is different - more Tibetian, I wasn't that impressed. I went up here because I like small local joints, as they can be real gems. This wasn't it though. The ambience was not good, the staff *looked* friendly, but difficult to interact with. The momos were fried and tough, not that yummy. The rice was meh. You gotta get the rice right *sigh*. While I did have two plates, it was filling, but not yumm. I was just really hungry. A previous post is spot on about the lack of fancy spices (IE indian spices really) makes this really just a hearty meal. That may be true, but it's not enough for me to come back to. Maybe I'll try the other Tibetian place next.
(2)Alina R.
Loved the food and the atmosphere. Contrary to other reviews I received fantastic service! I will most definitely return to this restaurant.
(4)Ben G.
Last night was my first time at Shambala and I only wish I'd found it sooner. Great food at great prices. The leftovers made a perfect lunch. It's an awesome spot for vegans that's made even more awesome by the fact that the chocolate shop next door has tons of vegan treats made from scratch. Try the dark-chocolate hot chocolate. Holy crap.
(5)A J.
Really good food that seems healthy. It's managed by a Tibetan family and the prices are very reasonable considering the quality of the food. I'd much rather spend money here rather than at some impersonal corporate chain. Doing my bit to stick it to the man ;-) Even otherwise, the place is good. Since the lunch is a buffet you can have a very quick, cheap and healthy meal in that 30-min lunch-break.
(5)Therron R.
Much better Tibetan Food than House of Tibet, I think! They serve yogurt smoothies, and we always came here for the Lunch Buffet. Chicken curry drumsticks, and plenty of Beef Momos (Meat or Vegi-Paste filled dumplings) topped with a ginger sauce. Don't worry there are vegetarian options like cabbage carrot salad, Lo Mein noodles, Spicy Potatoes, and Veggie Momos. The rice pudding is great to top it all off. The cool thing about this Mom/Pop Dive is the owners. They came to America many years ago on a state assisted refugee program, and had to leave their young Daugherty behind. How hard it must be to leave a child behind in a distant land? They vowed that someday they would raise enough money to finally send for their daughter. So they have worked hard to make this restaurant prosper where many other shop owners have failed, and the last time we got to eat there we asked if the young girl assisting tables was their daughter, and Yes she had been reunited with them here in America. God Bless Um! Parking can be bad sometimes because this shop is in the avenues, but never farther than half a block walk.
(5)Anstrum J.
Walk in, grab a plate, and load up! The chicken is amazing, great rice, dumplings, fantastic lo mein noodles, spicy potatoes, and veggies. A friend of mine exclaimed with a smirk on his face, "I could live off this soup!" So be sure not to miss it. Still hungry? Keep your plate and head back for more. Pay when you're done and head next door for some chocolate from Hatch's (another locally owned business). Ahhh, life on the Avenues in Salt Lake. Very nice.
(4)Allen R.
Location: Up in the Avenues just south of the Avenues' Smith's. Parking is sometimes difficult during lunch hours, since there are only 5-10 spots in front of the restaurant (which shares those spots with a candy store). Atmosphere: Don't come here for the ambience, but rather, for the food. The walls are lined with the traditional images of the Dalai Lama and Buddha. I always find it funny that when decor is from an Eastern religion, we don't think that it's odd, but if you went to an Italian restaurant that was decorated with images of popes, saints, and Jesus, it would be quasi-invasive and semi-offensive. Quality: Excellent lunch buffet with similar fare to that of the House of Tibet, down on 1300 South and State Street. One key difference is that the dumplings here are fried instead of steamed, which makes them have even more delicious, hip-growing appeal. If they get really busy, they tend to bring out additional dishes that aren't served at House of Tibet, such as tofu sqaures in a curry sauce, and cardamom-seasoned coconut rice pudding. They also have two amazing sauces--a ginger-based one that is similar to the salad dressing at Behi Hana, and a traditional cayenne sauce with a soy sauce base. Value: ~$7 per person. Service: This place is owned by a Tibetan man and wife who are responsible for preparing the food, serving water, and taking money up at the counter. Occasionally, a relative is there to help them out, but it's usually just the two of them. When they get into a fight in the kitchen, it only adds to the atmosphere! The only problem here is that they frequently let you go without water, which can be a real problem is you've soaked your dumplings in cayenne sauce, as I like to do.
(4)Joan C.
My five stars are based on my realization, as we prepare to move from Salt Lake, that this is the restaurant I am going to miss the most of all restaurants we patronize in the area. I think the food has a lot of flavor, the quality has been consistent over many visits, and the value is fantastic. The service isn't always fast but we've never had to wait for seating at dinner, so at least it's a comfortable wait. The lunch buffet may be more crowded, but I don't really go often at lunch. I find the items on the menu much more interesting than the lunch buffet. However, the rice pudding dessert that's available in the buffet is wonderful. I love to order their chai tea, too - much tastier (and less sweet) than any coffee house chai tea I've ever had. I'm going to miss this place - and it'll no doubt be a must-visit every time we return to visit!
(5)Soko T.
love their momos
(4)