Jimbu Thakali, in Gurugram, serves thakali cuisine from Nepal beyond momos
In Gurugram, the Jimbu Thakali restaurant offers a menu focused on the flavors of the Thakali community of Nepal, with ingredients brought from Mustang.
“Thakali food has balanced spices that have different achar and chutney,”
Thakali cuisine is gaining popularity in Delhi-NCR, but it still lives in the shadow of momo and thukpa. At Jimbu Thakali, the focus is more specific: a menu built around the flavors of the Thakali community, where Himalayan spices, fermented ingredients, dried meats, and a variety of achar and chutneys take center stage.
For founder and CEO Vivek Man Sherchan, preserving that character requires as much attention to the origin of the ingredients as to their preparation. Timur, jimbu, and gundruk come from Mustang, a mountainous region of Nepal, and that focus is reflected throughout the menu, from thakali thali and Timur chicken to sukuti sadheko, where dried meat and spices add a distinctive touch.
Timur, a Himalayan spice with citrus notes and a tingling sensation, is a staple of the cuisine. Sherchan assures that Mustang's Timur is "completely different from the local Timur." More than an intense heat, what stands out is the aroma released when combined with meat, masala, and other ingredients.
The thali is all about variety. Achar and chutneys contribute acidic, spicy, and fermented notes that are felt between bites, and gundruk, fermented leafy greens, adds a tangy touch that distinguishes it from the fresh garnishes of Indian thalis. "Thakali food is characterized by a perfect balance of spices, with different achar and chutneys," Sherchan explains.
The decor, inspired by Bhaktapur, includes Newari woodwork, brass objects, and artwork inspired by thangkas. The shop recreates the aesthetic of old Nepal without presenting it as antique: "The objects aren't 200 years old. They're images," says Sherchan.
The restaurant recently obtained its liquor license and serves Nepalese-inspired cocktails, including the Titaura Martini. According to Sherchan, small thakali restaurants are already opening in areas like Mehrauli and Safdarjung, and Gurugram needed "a good Nepalese brand" in the National Capital Region. He believes that thakali will be the next big thing in Delhi-NCR's culinary scene.