I seem to be a spree. A reader recommendation spree in fact. I treasure each and every reader I have and when they take the time out to recommend a place to eat to me I take it seriously. When I was recommended the Himalayan Char Grill from reader Audrey after posting about a particularly good Lamb Shank at Fort Denison, I put it in the moleskine. My trusty, reliable little black book not full of phone numbers of the opposite sex but phone numbers and addresses of restaurants I want to visit.
It’s housed inside a small, brightly lit shopping centre and on this Sunday night we take our seat and peruse the menu with M and the boys. We know the Lamb Shanks are a no brainer – on the menu there are two lots of Lamb Shanks: a single shank with potatoes (Aloo Shank) for $15.90 and a double serve of Lamb Shanks without potatoes for $23.90. Goat curry is also a must have as others haven’t tried it. We also try the Wagyu beef and some chicken wings and order some roti along with rice to help soak up all of that meaty goodness.
Mango Lassi $4
Starting off with mango lassis, they’re thick but not particularly mangoey. They pour these from premade lassi bottles in the fridge into a glass packed with ice.
Entree: Chargrilled Wagyu beef and cumin potatoes (serves 2) $19.90
The chef’s speciality, the Wagyu beef arrives on top of delicious cumin spiced potatoes. The beef is lightly pink in the centre and cut into strips and is deliciously char grilled and soft and tender. I could imagine eating the whole thing for my main and being very happy.
Himali Wings $11.90 for 5
The chicken wings arrive and they’re said to be coated in a chickpea batter and then deep fried. They taste like regular fried chicken wings from a takeaway shop – not that that’s a terrible thing but there’s nothing particularly Himalayan tasting or unusual about them.
Goat curry $17.90
The usually vegetarian S comes around and eagery spoons some onto his plate whilst the meat loving In is a little more reticent. The goat curry is delicious and aromatic and full flavoured with the meat being incredibly soft.
Lamb shanks $23.90
The lamb shanks arrive as two meaty shanks covered in a rich, tomato based gravy. They fall off the bone and are sweet and deliciously meaty and are as good as you’d ever want a shank to be. And when I think no-one is looking, I pick up the bone and start nibbling at it – it simply begs to be nibbled on. There’s no delicate way to nibble on one of those gigantic shank bones and at that moment the waiter comes up to our table and asks how everything is and laughs when he sees me grappling with the dinosour sized bone.
Roti $9.00 for 3
The roti here is similar tasting to Naan rather than a Malaysian roti but it’s thinner than a regular Indian naan. Still, it does a great job of soaking up the delicious sauces.
We discuss where to buy goat meat whilst chewing on the Minties that come with the bill. We leave and walk past their grocery store next door where we spy a sign that advertises “Goat Meat”. Question asked and answered!
So tell me Dear Reader, what is the most unsual food you’ve ever eaten? 
And because it’s Hump Day that means it’s Wallpaper Wednesday! Today’s wallpaper features a Winter favourite: Chestnuts!
For instructions on how to install Wallpapers or to see past Wallpapers, click here.
Himalayan Char Grill
Shop 18 Crows Nest Plaza 103-111 Willoughby Rd, Crows Nest, NSW
Tel: +61 (02) 9966 5540
Opening hours
Lunch : Monday to Saturday
Dinner: 7 nights 5.30 onward
http://www.himalayanchargrill.com.au
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41 Comments | Add your own
I tried a goat meat and jackfruit curry when we were visiting Vancouver B.C. earlier this year which I thought was rather unusual. And please don’t hate me but I’ve eaten whale jerky before too =/
And if my husband were answering this he would probably say grilled sparrow
How many people do you take when you go out to eat? That’s a lot of food for even four people… @_@
Wooo lamb shanks looks very yummy! Bear with my lack of geographic knowledge, Himalayan cooking is just like Indian/Nepalese cuisine..? I have no idea what it’s like as Himalayan range goes across south asia and middle east. lol
I’ve already gotten used to it and love it now, but Vegemite is still one of the unusual food I’ve ever come across! LOL
I can’t say I’ve tasted goat, but I’m curious as to how many restaurants in Sydney has it on their menu? I should say though that the wagyu beef looks soooo delectable!
I love how Crows Nest is just full of good food. I still haven’t tried half the restaurants in the area. The lamb shanks look lovely, good work on nibbling on the bone – it would have been a shame not to!
We had Cock’s Comb stew at St John’s London. A cold cow nose salad in Le Nord, Lyon.
AC Butchery in Liechhardt do a good marinated goat.
Goats are the best animals – smart and delicious
I wonder if Himalayan cuisine is similar to Nepalese… Mustangs in the Crows Nest is great. I have had consistently enjoyable meals there.
I had alligator once. It was breaded and deep fried so it just tasted like fishy chicken tenders.
I was thinking of lamb shank for weeks, instead I got delicious pork belly which I was thinking last month. Khe pork belly was great in Restaurant 1871 in Kiama.
Goat meat is best grilled and paired with sweet soy sauce and coriander. Indonesian cook great goat satay especially these mince goat meat wrapped with fat and then grilled. Sadly, it is nowhere in Sydney. It’s in a famous goat satay stall in my hometown in Indonesia. If only I can re-make it in here.. mmm ..
I have had Guinea Pig and seaweed in Peru. Delicious – both! I had Kudu in Namibia.
Hmm, might buy some Goat meat and make a curry. Re: Wallpaper picture, Lorraine do you have any recipes using Chestnuts, having bought a 5kg bag, we’d like a change from roasted chestnuts?
Sounds like all the meat was wonderfully tender! A thick lassi is better than a thin one. It’s disappointing when they’re not very mangoey though. I like a bit of yoghurt tang too.
those lamb shanks do look good. how do they compare with fort denison?
wow, it’s great you have such a good connection with readers. I wish I had more readers around my area to give me recommendations, too!
The goat curry looks really awesome! Hmm…weirdest food I’ve tried is boiled live octopus! And fried frog’s legs…and silkworm puppae (BLERGH!!!)
I’ve had frogs legs – tasted like chicken, and really I’d rather have chicken as you get more meat! I’m sure goat is used in Italian and Greek cooking too, so I’d guess butchers near where there is a concentration of those ethnicities may have goat.
I love that you have a Little Black Book of restaurants!
As a vegetarian I haven’t had too many unusual foods. Hmmm…perhaps shark steak when I was a kid? One of the only meats I’d consider eating again as it’s the least fishy-tasting fish there is. (I would eat seafood if not for the lingering fishiness, which really bugs me.)
Goat meat is great in a curry. However, since its a relatively lean meat (compared to lamb) you need to make sure it doesn’t come out dry and stringy.
Most Halal butchers sell goat meat I’ve noticed.
Oh and the best mango lassi I have ever had is at Nilgiri’s in Crows Nest. Thick and full of mangoey goodness with a sprinkling of toasted pistachio slivers for colour and crunchiness.
I do need a good PR person. Are you up for the job?
I’ll feed you fried chicken and all sorts of fattening, oversized Texas foods!
Give me a good lamb shank any day! It’s a great that you get so many recommendations because you are *my* source of restaurant recs!
I was shocked last night to see pre-packed goat meat on sale at Coles at Randwick !!
My partner’s from Ghana and their favourite meat is goat meat! I think most Africans do love goat. You can buy goat meat from any Arab meat shops and the Miracle Supermarket in Chatswood’s Mandarin Centre also sell it.
To be honest, I’m not a fan of goat meat, or lamb but they sure look good in your post! 
i’ve been here once after reading on someone else’s blog – nice place, but the food was warm, not hot like how i usually like my food to be, otherwise their food was good..
most unsual food would probably be crocrodile – that’s quite normal..
too many restaurants, too little time. That’s my problem with crow’s nest. I haven’t been to this place but I must say the lamb shanks look good!
The lamb shank sounds really good…:)
Ooh, the food looks beautiful! Hehe good work nibbling at that bone. I’m proud of ya
The goat curry catches my fancy – it looks delicious!
I read through this entry and found myself craving for mutton roghan josh and buttery naan. Given the cold and rainy weather we’re having here in Manila today, it’ll be a welcome source of warmth and spice.
(But on the subject of lassi: I don’t mind if it’s thin so long as I can taste both the fruit and the yogurt.)
Best lamb shanks eh? Big call! They did look tasty though. Such a mistake to read this post when I am starving hungry and at least a few hours away from eating.
The weirdest thing I’ve eaten? I guess most Asian things are “weird” to other cultures. Balut, deep fried meal worms, crocodile, snake – all part of Asian cuisine.
How about meat pie with jam on toast? I was a growing teen with multiple cravings and I decided to kill all cravings at once. Mistake.
But are they the best lamb shanks in Sydney?
Most unusual food I’ve eaten? I can’t say that I’ve been ridiculously adventurous. I really enjoyed the alpaca in Peru though. It was taaaaaaaaasty.
maybe dog food? the canned kind. hehe.
yay gluten free curries, will have to put this on The List.
I love goat meat curry. It’s absolutely delicious.
The picture of the foods look wonderful
Those lamb shanks do look very good, perfect for the cold weather at the moment. Weirdest thing I’ve ever eaten is meal worms in a savoury pudding in Macau and meal worms stirfried in a dish in China. They tasted very much like dried oysters and as my family kept reminding me, protein is protein!
Hi Kathy-Wow whale jerky? :O What was that like? And was the goat meat and jackfruit together in the curry? Interesting!
Hi Amy-Well it’s different for every outing. There were 5 people!
Hi Yes-I think you’re right! At least from a taste perspective
Oooh really! I always compare it to Natto-don’t tell me you like that? 
Hi Trisha-I don’t know if many do although I know the Goat Meat restaurant in Marrickville does
It was so gorgeous!
Hi Steph-It has so many places to eat doesn’t it! I know, I swore after a few times resisting it that I would always gnaw on the bone
Hi Simon-Oh wow, what was that like? I’ve never seen that on the menu. And wow, a cold cow nose salad? Amazing stuff! I’d love to know what that was like!
Hi Mr. Taste-Ha couldn’t ask for better?
Hi Darcie-yes I think it’s the same/similar
Oooh thanks for the recommendation! I’ve had crocodile in the same way and yes I agree with it tasting like fishy chicken tenders! 
Hi Lilia-Thanks for the recommendation! Ah what a shame you can get it here. It sounds amazing!
Hi Big M-Were they together in a dish or separately? What is Kudu? I’ve never heard of it!
Hi Matilda-Great idea! I do, I have marron glaces and chestnut cakes (links are here: puree, cake and marron glaces)
Hi Arwen-It was which is the way I like it
I don’t mind as long as they are mangoey. I’ve liked both thinner and thicker ones because of the flavour 
Hi Simon-Hmmm well I liked these ones but my husband liked the ones at Fort Denison. So hard to say! One gives you an amazing view and can be had for lunch while the other can be had for dinner.
Hi Sophia-It is!
Aww what a shame but you have lots of readers around the world! Wow, boiled LIVE octopus? I don’t know if I could cope with that. I like frog’s legs but silworm puppae? That would definitely test me! 
Hi Megan-Yes they don’t have much meat on them do they. Ahh that’s good to know!
Hi anna-Haha I need to!
Ahh have you tried sashimi or sushi (or is that too much for a vegetarian?). I think super fresh fish like sushi and sashimi doesn’t have that extreme fishiness 
Hi shants-Yes I agree! I guess that’s why it works out so nicely in a curry with all of that lovely sauce
Good to know! Ooh I’m planning to go there one day! Will make sure that we order it 
Hi Blond Duck-Haha deal!
Hi Belle-Haha cool! And that way it all works out in the end!
Hi BD-Oh wow, really? :O I would be totally shocked too! Will look out for it at my local Coles in Neutral Bay!
Hi Min Ai-Oh cool! Wow it sounds like there are lots of countries that like goat meat. I really like what I’ve tried although I don’t know how I’d go cooking it!
Hi isLa-Oh interesting! Warm food is definitely not how food should be served. Crocodile is quite nice but I don’t see it a lot on menus!
Hi Ellie-Haha yes they definitely pack them in there!
Hi Alexandra-It was!
Hi Betty-Haha I had to! Too many regrets not nibbling the bone
Hi Cakelaw-It was definitely a delicious curry!
Hi Midge-Yes it’s so good on a cold and rainy night isn’t it! Yes I have to agree, the fruit and yogurt taste has to be clear in the lassi
Hi Forager-Yes it’s a big call isn’t it! But they are very good. Oh wow, you’ve eaten much more unusual stuff than me!
Haha at your DIY everything but the sink meal 
Hi jess-Hmmm I don’t know if I can say that definitively. After all I haven’t tried every lamb shank here
But they are good! 
Alpaca? Wow, what was it like? 
Hi holly-Haha really?
When you were a kid? Someone I knew told me that all kids ate dog food. Makes me thankful for not having a dog when I was little!
Hi ArtemisIII-It’s so yummy yet low in fat
Thankyou so much! 
Hi Moya-Bravo to you!
Worms are one thing that I can’t stand to look at so I don’t think I could eat them but I admire anyone that could! 
mmmm…mango lassi. and wow, those saucy dishes look particularly scrumptious, even the curry, which has never really floated my boat. neat place.
omg! now u make me crave for some good curries. rofl
weirdest thing i’ve ever eaten would be the fried larvae when i was at thailand. i was really young back then and my dad tricked me into eating it, saying it was some crackers. eww!!!! :S
btw, u should try l’etoile at paddington. it’s a french bistro owned by manu feildel and the meal i had was utterly delicious
This food sounds familiar to me, coming from the border of India. i have one of those little decorations ( something like that) in my house. The goat meat looks delicious & is on eof my fav. the roti of the indian subcontinent is very different from the Asian ones, tho they are called the same.
unusual food? i am not very adventurous:-)
Hi grace-Yes I remember reading that you don’t really go for curry. Perhaps a goat one might convince you otherwise?
Hi ange-Hehe sorry! Aww no, what a naughty dad! Was it crunchy like a cracker? I should, it’s one of those places in my little black book!
Thanks for the rec!
Hi Soma-Ah very cool ! I wonder what you would think of the food here
Yes I’ve noticed that with roti, sometimes it’s like naan and sometimes it’s very buttery and layered. Although I like both so I’m happy either way 
I love your blog and reading Sydney food blogs generally but can’t help wondering – why do you think there are so many food bloggers with an Asian background (I am half Chinese myself, so please dont take this the wrong way)? Just wondering – have you ever discussed this with your fellow bloggers?
can’t ever go wrong with a good lamb shank! i am rather taken with the goat meat curry though… how interesting! is it game-y in taste at all?
Wow…I think you read my mind, just the other day I was talking about lamb shanks and how much I could solely base my diet on them :p and now you show me this..Definantely going!
Hi Craig-Thankyou so much!
Hmm I don’t know, but it’s something definitely Sydney based. The other states don’t seem to have this. We’ve discussed it but don’t know why it’s a Sydney centric thing.
Hi M-this one wasn’t very gamey-it does remind me on lamb but not with that super strong smell
Hi Joseph-It is definitely lamb shank weather isn’t it! Wonderful, I hope you like it!
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