ROCKLAND — It’s only a short trek south on Route 1 to Himalayan restaurant, but once there, let the tastebuds travel widely through Asian culinary cuisine.

Order the Tibetan Momo (six small hollow, homemade dough pastries filled with meat and vegetables or left vegetarian). Opt for an Indian or Japanese dish, homemade curry, a Shanghai Beef Noodle Soup, a Singapore Rice Noodle, a Vietnamese Beef Pho or Szechaun Chicken, among many other options.

And yes, there’s even a dish named “Himalayan,” prepared as a chef specialty for the patron yearning scallops and squid with mixed vegetables.

The Himalayan, located in the former Roselyn’s building near the intersection with Route 1 and Payne Avenue on the south side of Rockland, opened Tuesday, May 26.

Despite not advertising, business has been good, and for good reason.

Along with reasonable prices, the rice used in the lengthy list of sushi options is just right, the Momo is tasty, and the vegetables in the Tibet Cho Main are cooked to a nice, crisp texture.

This level of fresh, homemade quality requires extra cooking time while the customer waits, but there are plenty of appetizers to choose from.

“We do our best so people are happy and enjoy their meals,” said owner Kristina Tenzin.

Tenzin, first-time restaurant owner, and her family emigrated from Tibet when Tenzin was 15 years old. The family moved to India before situating near China Town in New York City, where she, her father Luorang Gongb, and her uncle Tashi Atsok worked in the restaurant industry.

The family moved to Rockland at the encouragement of the operator of the sushi bar at Hannaford Supermarket, who happens to be a friend of Tenzin’s father.

Tenzin’s uncle worked at that sushi bar until joining Tenzin’s father as cooks at the Himalayan. Tenzin’s mother also works at this family-run restaurant with two dining areas separated by the kitchen. 

Himalayan is open seven days a week. Mon - Thurs, 10 a.m. - 8:30 p.m., Fri - Sat, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com.