Assajita Awale (Dhanwa) is a Bangkok-based Nepali business owner who is also the vice president of the Non-Residence of Nepal (NRNA) in Thailand. In this interview he talks about is love for Himalayan food and his efforts to promote the Himalayan region to the Thai public.
You’ve been in Thailand since 1984 and have been a very active member of the society. How did you move to Bangkok?
I came here to study so I completed all my schooling from high school to master degree here. Then, for about 18-19 years, I worked as journalist in for a Thai local newspaper. Now I’m running a small travel business including the Himalaya Restaurant.
Where are you from originally?
Originally I’m from Patan, a city just beside Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. Patan is also called Lalitpur, which means “the city of art.” It is here where you can find the most beautiful wood carving in Nepal.
You opened Himalaya Restaurant about 5-6 years ago with the intention of bringing a new palate to the Thai people. How has the restaurant evolved over time?
I started it when I was still working as journalist. My intention was to introduce Nepali and Himalayan food and culture to Thai people because, during that time, a lot of people asked me about Nepal (specially when there was news of Nepal). To promote Nepali culture, from time to time we organized events and festivals at the restaurant and my friends in the media helped with promotion by writing about them. We have also improved the restaurant’s decorations in order to make it have a more Himalayan atmosphere. Gradually, Himalaya Restaurant has become the center for Nepal and Himalaya lovers in Bangkok.
What kind of food do you serve?
We are not specific to any one country but we serve a large verity of dishes from countries and the Himalayan region, including Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan and northern India.
What is the house specialty?
Our specialty is unique food dishes from the Himalayan regions that you can’t find in other restaurants in Bangkok. In a way, alongside the food, our decorations also provide a complete Himalayan experience. When you enter the restaurant compound you will feel like you are really in the Himalaya, when actually you are in the middle of crowded Bangkok.
Where is your chef from?
Our chef is, of course, from Nepal.
Apart from chiya, Nepalese tea, you also have a good collection of wines…
Beside the Masala tea, which is highlight of our restaurant, we also serve a verity of alcoholic beverages. Beer and wine are on our menu list. We serve both Thai wine and wine from around the world…
What events do you organize at Himalaya Restaurant?
We organized many kind of events including parties, gatherings, embassy events, weddings, talks, tourism promotion and information events, and of course we celebrate regional festivals during the festive season.
Where is the restaurant located and what are the operating hours?
Himalaya Restaurant is located in the business hub of Bangkok on Sukhumvit 31, just beside Sawasdee Mansion. You can easily find us in Google Maps by simply typing “Himalaya Bangkok.” We’re open every day from 11am to 11:30pm. Follow us on Facebook to get a feel of what the restaurant is like and to keep track (and join) of our events.
Here’s the amazing atmosphere at Himalaya Restaurant in Bangkok:
