Saroj Lamichhane
Production Editor
Roshan Kumar Shah, who is the owner of Himalayan Grocery and Smoke Shop, bought the restaurant in 2018 and changed its name from Nosh Mahal to Himalayan Flavor.
“I was involved in the restaurant business because it is easier for me to mobilize the goods and products that I have in the store,” said Roshan Kumar Shah.
Shah is originally from Nepal and is a graduate of Business Administration from Idaho State University. He wants his business to bring diversity to Pocatello.
Himalayan Flavor is located at 303 E Alameda Rd in Pocatello, ID. The customer smells the Asian recipes right before entering through the door. There are two small TVs on the left top corner that highlights Nepalese culture.
After sitting in the dining area, the waiter greets the customer with water and Garlic Naan before serving the food orders.
Himalayan Flavor celebrated its first anniversary from September 23 to October 6. Customers received a discount in the Buffet for ToGo meals at $9.99 and Lunch at $11.99 in its anniversary period. The price went back to the usual price of $11.99 and $13.99 for ToGo and Lunch after the anniversary.
Although the buffet has just started, the restaurant is doing well in sales. Customers don’t have to order one plate and stick to that, there are more options to taste at an affordable price. People can enjoy more than 12 varieties through the buffet.
“There were a lot of struggles in the past because of its bad reputation in the market, however, the new branding and goodwill have made our first year very successful,” Shah added to his experience.
Shah said the restaurant has also modified its menu to provide better customer experience. The restaurant provides options for Appetizers ($3.49 to $6.99), Chicken and Vegetable dishes (11.99 to $13.99), Tandoori ($11.99 to $19.99), Naan ($2.49 to $3.99), Rice ($2.49), Biryani and Pulao ($5.99 to $12.99), Momo ($9.99 to $12.99), Drinks ($1.99 to $2.99) and Deserts ($2.49 to $4.49).
“People have enjoyed the food. There are a lot of customers who even declared that it was the best food they have ever had in the state,” Shah added.“The community has an option to explore the different worlds that they have never tasted or knew about.”
Shah wants to encourage the local community to give it a try and see what people think about the food and know the changes they would like to see in the future.
