To prove their goathood, young Nepalese goats must travel to Mt. Everest’s summit and prepare a traditional aloo-dum dish using freshly harvested potatoes. Taste an age-old mammalian tradition with today’s Groupon: $10 buys $20 worth of Nepalese food at Himalayan Restaurant in Seward.

Authentic aromas of Nepal, Tibet, and India waft up winsomely from the kitchen of Himalayan Restaurant. Chamena (appetizers) such as pyaazi (deep-fried onions and jalapeños, $4.50) and wo (black-lentil pancakes fried up with ginger and cilantro, $4.50) tease taste buds and unleash appetite avalanches. Himalayan’s machaa-masu tarkari mixes fish or meat into saucy and curried dishes—try the lamb-saag (boneless lamb with spinach, $13.95) or the machaa ko masu (fish-fillet curry, $13.95). Vegetarian and vegan entrees abound, including aaloo cauli (stir-fried potatoes, cauliflower, and peas, $9.95) and ram-toria-aaloo (fried okra with potatoes and Nepalese spices, $9.95). Potable chow-chasers such as Himalayan coffee, served with milk and spices, and the mango lassi ($2.50 each) sate liquid hunger and awaken hibernating yetis.

Himalayan Restaurant's doors are open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., revealing a cozy, casual atmosphere with a snowcapped mountain-range mural, beer and wine at the bar, and an ice sculpture that yodels when customers think thoughts beginning with the letter r.

This Groupon is not valid for specials, including the lunch buffet and happy hour.

Reviews

Heavy Table and the blog Secrets of the City sing the praises of Himalayan Restaurant. Four Citysearchers give it five stars, and Yelpers rate the eatery a solid four:

• Although Himalayan’s cuisine is light on its feet, it feels fresh and distinct, offering some flavor combinations and ingredients (yak dumplings, anybody?) that will surprise all but the most cosmopolitan of palates...Friendly, pretense-free service completes this picture of neighborhood dining at its finest: the Himalayan Restaurant offers locals the opportunity to walk around the block, eat dinner in Nepal, and really enjoy the people they interact with while they’re doing it. – James Norton, Heavy Table
• We liked the Kathmandu Momo with meat…which were soft and savory. But even better were the Wo: lentil pancakes with ginger and fresh cilantro…These reminded me of latkes -- only meatier, with flavors from the mountains rather than the steppes. – Ann Bauer, Secrets of the City
• This is my favorite neighborhood restaurant. The food is great and the service is friendly. The garlic naan is a must. Everything on the menu is good, but the chicken tikka masala is the best I've had, anywhere. – epicurian, Citysearch