Namaste Shangri La, Anchorage

The bold herbs and spices of Nepalese, Indian, Burmese, and Tibetan cuisines converge on Namaste Shangri-La's menu, giving diners a brief overview of the Himalayan region's rich culinary offerings. These dishes vary in their heat and intensity, ranging from tender lamb in an incendiary vindaloo sauce to skewers of jumbo shrimp that are marinated in savory Indian spices and then roasted inside a clay tandoor oven.

Many of the entrees eschew meat entirely while still embracing the rich flavors that characterize Himalayan cooking. Cubes of homemade cottage cheese simmer in a fragrant tomato-onion sauce with a dash of fenugreek seeds, and pomegranate sauce adds a hint of sweetness to orders of organic chickpeas. With its lemon-yellow walls, scattered artwork, and display cases full of imported rainbows, Namaste Shangri-La's dining room complements the vibrant flavors featured in its cuisine.