Himalayan wild yak — Restaurant in Brambleton

FEB.2023 UPDATE 4/5 stars: Went back for a quick bite after seeing a movie (this place really is in a prime spot for business, can't deny that), sat at the bar, and ordered the Spicy Pork entrée, Garlic Naan, and the Yak Butter Tea. Each was tasty, especially the naan and Yak Butter Tea (I almost considered buying another cup). The pork was more spice than flavor, in my opinion, but still good. I'm not sure what else it needed, but I felt it needed just a little more of something to give it extra zing. They also gave me this free appetizer, consisting of a ring of fried dough on a plate which, paired with the provided side, was tasty, if nothing else. I liked the meal a little better this time than my last visit, but still think there are better restaurants out there. Added new pics below.

ORIGINAL REVIEW 3/5 stars: Been curious about this place for a while. Beautiful interior but empty when I walked in (Monday afternoon). Tried the Yak Stew ($21), Garlic Naan ($3.50), Roti ($3), Yak Butter Tea ($5), and Gulab Jamun ($5), with a 22% tip.

Yak Stew: Everything was well presented, the server was attentive and, overall, I liked my choices just fine. The Yak Stew came in a small bowl and was good, but I think it could've had a bit more salt maybe? Perhaps an additional kick of spice, too. Good but a little on the bland side. The yak meat itself could've also been slightly more tender. The only side it comes with is a bowl of plain white rice, also a tad bland, which could have benefited from some butter and maybe saffron. Generally I liked the Yak Stew dish, but don't think it's flavoring warranted the $21 price tag; it did not meet my expectations, given that it's a namesake dish and considering the decor of the restaurant. 3/5 stars.

Garlic Naan & Roti: The Garlic Naan (and Roti) have to be ordered separately, and both were also, unfortunately, slightly dull in flavor. I think they, too, could have benefitted from a bit more butter, the Roti especially. Texture was soft, but the flavoring needed a little extra. 3/5 stars.

Yak Butter Tea: The Yak Butter Tea was great! Definitely recommend getting that (and be careful, it's piping hot). I admit I did think privately to myself that they put all the flavor in this drink and not enough in the main course, but this is just my opinion, of course. Good to sip after your meal. 5/5 stars.

Gulab Jamun: The Gulab Jamun was also pretty good. The yogurt had an interesting flavor that I wish I was more savvy in pinpointing for you, but I recommend it. The little doughballs themselves were satisfying and paired well with the yogurt and Yak Butter Tea. 4/5 stars.

Verdict? Overall, I've been dying to try this restaurant for a while, and it was good, if not a little underwhelming in flavor quality for some of the staple dishes. Blunt opinion, but I think they could lower the prices--relative to quality--by maybe a buck (or two for the Yak Stew), but it looks like they spent a lot on location and presentation, as the restaurant definitely catches the eye. 3/5...

So, I came here with family. It was my parent's anniversary -- certainly a momentous occasion to celebrate. I had heard of the Yak restaurant, and seen it at many a passing glance. Decided to finally bite the bullet and try it out, and see if the hype was justified or not.

Location is prime -- Himalayan Yak is at the heart of the Brambleton Plaza. Lots of green grass, open space, and the nearby Brambleton Park within walking distance, is a solid place to go dog-walking or just admire the scenery at.

The Yak serves traditional Nepalese/Himalayan food.

Seated inside. The cocktails menu is attached. For drinks, I had the Smoky Old Fashioned, which was aged bourbon maple; we also had the Himalayan Mule, which is a bit on the sweeter side, and tastes like margarita.

My drink, the Ol' Smoky, came in a steamed decanter as pictured. It was a novel experience when lifting it, similar to unwrapping a gift. I enjoyed the taste, which was deep, rich, and aged. It was a sharp and distinguished taste. I would recommend sipping it alongside a dish, perhaps after spooning (and swallowing) a bite -- that way, it elevates the taste and leaves a rich, rather tantalizing buzz in your mouth, which heightens appreciation and if nothing else, makes things more interesting.

For entrees, our table had the Pork Belly, and the Yak Biriyana.

The donut-shaped bread arrived first, and was on the house. A complimentary appetizer -- similar to free bread at some sit-down American steakhouses, for comparison. It was pure bread though, slightly sweetened -- and came with a pickled, spicy sauce for dipping purposes. It tasted rather spot on, and was good for the price (nothing).

The Pork Belly arrived next, perfectly caramelized and slightly sweet-tasting. It came with some fatty meat on it, and I had to cut part of that (the pure fat) out, as I'm not a fan of packing on weight if it can be avoided. I still consumed too much fat by myself, though. I ultimately preferred the pork belly variant that most Korean BBQ spots have, though.

Lastly came the Yak Biriyani. Lot of meat, good solid protein. Consistently less fat than the Pork Belly, which is props to it. On the downside, there was not a whole lotta great taste going for it, and it rather tasted like goat to be perfectly honest. However, alongside the rice it was good, and was filling at the least. Still a solid hitter, but far from a home run.

On a closing note, be sure to check the portions on the dishes. An altogether common mistake is to order one dish for each person in the party. Instead, be sure to check with the serving person about how many each dish feeds, so that you have a good idea going into it.

All in all, decent food, and generous portions. I am rating up slightly due to the location, convenience, quality of service, and also the fact that it was a special occasion which was handled altogether well.

I recommend stopping by if you find yourself in Brambleton or the nearby area, and need some authentic (Nepalese and Yak) cuisine to whet...

GREAT FOOD BUT OVERCHARGED US ON SITE!!!!!!!!!!! On 10Nov24 my party of (about 45) and I went to Himalayan Yak for Dinner. This was a reunion party that was organized and confirmed with the restaurant well ahead of time. So they are aware of the number of people and reason for attending. They confirmed to accommodate our large group size. Note: we were scattered around the tables in the restaurant, so we did not have a room or special designated area.

The food overall was really great and would recommend! The service (service staff) was really great, the servers kept the food coming upon request and were really nice!

But the issue arrived when it came towards payment. Per our organizer, originally the restaurant had quoted us $50 per person which then increased to $60 a day before. We agreed since they were supporting our large group size, and we also want to support our community's business.

After the dinner was over we were suddenly charge $75 per person. Upon questioning the sudden reason for this change during payment, the restaurant owner, stated that our party was "loud" and this caused other customers to leave.

We cannot confirm if the other customers had issue with us or they actually did leave due to us being loud. It is definitely possible that due to our large group size, we were noisy compared to the rest of the customers in the restaurant. With such a large party concentrated in a restaurant we will generate more noise.

However, I am super disappointed about this sudden price jump. As someone from part of the community trying to support/grow Nepali business, I believe this was not fair. If there were upfront to us that noise level can charge us extra we would have either chose another venue or been more aware. The last minute price change blindsided us and was very unprofessional. We were not rowdy and crazy we were having fun, laughing, and conversating, like any other customers. Yes it is our responsibility of customer to not cause destruction, and have table manners, but it is also the responsibility of the restaurant to know that large group= more noise and cater us as customers and other customers accordioning. Or the owner should have just refused us due to large group size if more noise was a concern for them.

Moving forward I would advise that the restaurant be upfront about the price for larger groups, and noise levels. Or simply just refuse such a large party or have the restaurant logistically accommodate a large group size, and the noise it will generate. Its highly unprofessional when a restaurant owner "punishes" us with higher payment for being "loud" after confirming the raised quoted price ($50 to $60) the day before the reunion.

Hopefully this will be a learning for the restaurant to communicate and accommodate their customers better, and be honest in pricing and pricing reasons. Also I hope that Nepali business treats Nepali customers equally and not price gouge. We as Nepali customers want to support...