Note: This article was written before the COVID-19 pandemic. Sherpa Kitchen is accepting take-out orders from those local to Burlington. Orders can be made by calling (802) 881-0550.
“Are you ready to put your order in, or do you want some time?” The server asks me, as soon as she approaches my table. We both laugh, since she and I both know exactly what I’ll be ordering. I tell her I will have the usual, and she smiles as she goes to put my order in.
Having only lived in Burlington since the beginning of the school year, I surely have put in my time to make sure I am a recognized face at Sherpa Kitchen, located a block-and-a-half from the iconic Church St. Marketplace at 119 College Street. With its cozy feel and slightly off-the-beaten-path vibes, Sherpa Kitchen has quickly and easily become my favorite restaurant downtown, and one I have converted all my friends to loving as much as I do.
Open since May 2012, Sherpa Kitchen is the only Himalayan and Nepalese restaurant in Burlington, and represents a cuisine many are unfamiliar with. It’s less than twenty seats makes for a small, intimate, and welcoming experience. The servers are friendly, personable, and warm, the food is prepared quickly (and deliciously), and the check won’t make your wallet cry (like other Burlington restaurants).
My recommendation for first time diners would be to go for lunch, served from 11:00 to 2:30, Monday through Saturday. Sherpa Kitchen offers a special lunch menu, in which customers can pick a drink, appetizer and entree for $9.99 plus tax. This is a crazy deal, considering that one entree at dinner time will cost around $13 alone. For a college student on a budget, this is a great way to get a full meal without breaking the bank and gives you an opportunity to try a few different items as well.
My go-to order is a Himalayan iced tea, which is a cold iced chai-esque beverage, but without any milk, Vegetable Pakora for my appetizer – lightly battered and fried onions, carrots, and other vegetables, served with a parsley sauce and tamarind sauce, and Chicken Tikka Masala, prepared spicy, for my entree – a delicately spiced, flavorful curry with chicken and mushrooms, served with rice and papadam, a thin, crispy and flaky mix between a flatbread and a cracker. This is probably their most popular dish, as evidenced by how many orders of it I see coming out of the kitchen each time I am there. You also cannot go wrong ordering any of their Mo Mo, which are steamed dumplings served with a tomato sauce, filled with either vegetables, beef or chicken. The vegetable mo mos are my favorite; they’re slightly spicy, but finished with the sweet tomato sauce- making for the perfect beginning to any dish, shareable, or as an entree by themselves.
Sherpa Kitchen also boasts a large number of vegetarian options, which is great for those that do not eat meat. For appetizers, there are vegetable momos, as I mentioned previously, pakora, vegetable samosa, lentil soup, beet salad and more. There is a vegetable stew, vegetable chow mein, and 5 vegetarian curries to choose from!
The best part of Sherpa Kitchen? Besides the friendly staff, quick preparation time and delicious food? Appetizers range from $3.50 to $6.00 each, no entree is more than $14.00 and desserts are $4.50 and under! Not only can you leave feeling full and satisfied, but you are also able to treat yourself without feeling guilty of the cost.
Next time you’re looking to go out to eat downtown, consider switching things up from your typical ramen or pizza place and check out Sherpa Kitchen! I promise you will not regret it.