Gurgaon has restaurants for almost every mood, but every once in a while, a place births that makes you realise you have been eating the same five things on repeat. Jimbu Thakali, the recently opened Nepali restaurant at M3M 65th Avenue, Sector 65, is one such place. The Kathmandu-born restaurant has brought Thakali and Newari flavours to one of Gurgaon’s busiest hangout spots, and the result is a meal that is oh-so-addictive, but hits home. So, I went in curious, and came out thinking about Jimbu Aloo.
A Little Bit Of Nepal In The Middle Of Gurgaon
The location could not be easier. M3M 65th Avenue is already one of those Gurgaon places where people seem to have decided that every evening should involve food, photographs and one unnecessarily long conversation over coffee.
The entrance of Jimbu Thakali has beautiful white-and-blue interiors, warm lighting and a very easy-on-the-eyes aesthetic that makes you want to take out your phone before you have even found your table. Inside, the restaurant becomes warmer and earthier. There’s traditional detailing and wooden elements inside. And then there are the people!
The waiters and management are constantly smiling, checking in and genuinely looking out for you. It almost feels like somebody has painted smiley faces all over the restaurant. More importantly, they actually know the food. So if you are looking at the menu thinking, I recognise only three words here, you are in safe hands. They will guide you through it without making you feel like you have failed a Nepali cuisine entrance exam.
Fries, Sukuti And The Nacho Heaven
We started with the Kanch Yamba Fries, homemade buckwheat fries that are essentially French fries’ much more earthy, desi cousin. They are crunchy and light, but do not expect the familiar potato flavour. That is the whole point. They make for a lovely appetiser, especially if you want something that feels familiar in form but completely different in flavour.
Then came the Mutton Sukuti Fried. We were warned that this one requires an acquired taste, and honestly, I appreciated the warning. Sukuti is dehydrated meat, and this version had a smoky, almost burnt quality to it. Except it was the good kind of burnt!
Then came the Timmur Chicken, the chef’s special made with chicken and Szechuan pepper. It has that peppery and a slightly numbing kick that gives the chicken a distinctly different personality. If you like a little Chinese-inspired drama in your chicken, order this.
But the actual star of the appetiser course was the Buckwheat Thakali Jimbu Nachos.
I need to disclose something before reviewing these; I am a nacho paglu. A serious one! So naturally, I was excited. What I was not prepared for was just how good these were.
The homemade buckwheat chips come with kidney beans, melted cheese and greens, giving you the crunch, cheesiness and general chaos of classic nachos while still tasting completely different. They are filling and somehow earthy at the same time. The portion is also massive, which means this is one dish you can comfortably share. Although, personally, I would recommend pretending you cannot.
The Momo Moment: Mutton Jhol Momo
Then came the Mutton Jhol Momo. Before we ordered them, the staff told us that after trying these, we might forget every momo we had eaten before.
I thought that was a bold claim, and then the momos came.
They were juicy. Properly and irresponsibly juicy! The filling was so succulent that the jhol literally ended up dripping onto our hands. So yes, the warning was dramatic, but it was not an exaggeration.
The Jimbu Chicken Thali Is Basically A Hug On A Plate
At this point, we were already full. Which, obviously, meant it was time for a thali. We ordered the Jimbu Chicken Set, and this was the part of the meal that felt the most like home.
The thali comes loaded with rice, chicken curry, black lentil dal, dahi, seasonal saag, Jimbu Aloo, salad, tomato chutney, radish pickle, Ghundruk Sandeko and fried bitter gourd, alongside papad. The chicken curry had the oh-so-delightful comfort of home-cooked food, but with a distinctly Nepali character. The radish pickle was another little burst of flavour that I kept going back to.
And then there was the Jimbu Aloo. These were finished almost immediately. I did not wait for rice and I did not wait for a proper thali bite. I simply kept picking them up and eating them straight from the plate.
Dessert: The Chimichangas Cheesecake Is A Beautiful Mess
They say dessert is the climax of a meal. The Chimichangas Cheese Cake took that responsibility very seriously.
It is a deep-fried tortilla stuffed with cream cheese, rolled in cinnamon sugar, served with vanilla ice cream and topped with caramel sauce. Essentially, someone looked at cheesecake and thought, What if we made this considerably more chaotic?
The result is ridiculously creamy, crisp on the outside, soft inside and perfectly sweet. The cream keeps spilling everywhere, the cinnamon sugar adds a lovely crunch, and the vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce make the whole thing even more delicious.
I genuinely felt like I needed a bath afterwards because I had managed to get cream everywhere.
Would I do it again? Absolutely.
Also Read: 10 Best Places For Basque Cheesecake In Bangalore For Cheesecake Paglus
Jimbu Thakali is the kind of restaurant where I would recommend not playing it safe. Let the staff guide you, order the things whose names you cannot pronounce and come hungry. Because somewhere between the Jhol Momo, Jimbu Aloo and a very chaotic cheesecake, you might just discover your new comfort food.
Cover Image Courtesy: Mahi Adlakha
FAQs
Where is Jimbu Thakali located in Gurgaon?
Jimbu Thakali is located at M3M 65th Avenue in Sector 65, Gurgaon.
What kind of food does Jimbu Thakali serve?
Jimbu Thakali specialises in Nepali cuisine, particularly Thakali and Newari flavours.