The seven year old Lali Guras is located in Jackson Heights, Queens which is fast becoming the epicenter for the recent immigration of people from the Himalayan region. (Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan.) The restaurant is named after the country's beautiful national flower (Lali Guras) which grows all over the hillsides and valleys of Nepal.  The Nepalese are one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in the city with an estimated population of 35,000, the high majority in Queens; especially Jackson Heights and Sunnyside. Lali Guras is a restaurant that is beloved by the local Nepali.  

The restaurant is small, with just eight tables (seating two each) which always seem to be pushed together to form two long communal tables seating about twenty people.  The place is always packed. But packed in a good way, in that it is such a natural place to get significant contact with the local Nepali people and learn more about their culture. It is a place where the Nepali linger, eating slowly, sipping tea, flipping though one of the two locally published Nepali newspapers, catching up on news from home. I find that the people, though shy at first, once you begin to talk they are quite demonstrative and pleased to talk about their country on a wide range of topics.

The "momo" . . . this little dumpling ubiquitous to the Himalayan region is very tasty. Lali Guras offers four selections; beef, pork, chicken, or vegetable. They are served eight on a plate with two optional sauces, either hot or hotter.

"Thali" is the national dish of Nepal.  If your stomach has room for only one entree I recommend the Thali as the "must have" entree. If you are not familiar with Thali (south India has their similar version also) you are in for a treat.  First, the visual alone, is colorful as the meal is served on a large silver circular platter with seven varying food items.  The Thali can be vegetarian, but I prefer the non-vegetarian chicken Thali which contains: rice, daal, saag, chanti and vegetables. 

Anu, a native of Nepal, she is the lone server and goes from table to table carefully checking out each person's Thali platter and refilling if you need more of anything. This is at no extra cost. You feel very "loved and comforted" at Lali Guras.  

Kamula (on the left) is the head chef, her husband is named Gopal. They are the owners of Lali Guras. They immigrated to the US fifteen years ago.

Lali Guras is the place to find out about the latest Nepali film "Blockbuster."

Interesting fact - The flag of Nepal is the only national flag in the world that is not quadrilateral in shape.

Nepali language - "Hello" (Namaskara)  "Thank you" (dyanybhad)  "Delicious" (mitho)

Address - Lali Guras - 37-76th Street. (718) 424 - 0617