Om Nomz Hero Note to Self: In 30 years, a Tibet food place in your neighborhood will be the new sign of gentrification
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| Open Kitchen |
I know absolutely nothing about the Tibet Nepal region. I know that Brad Pitt apparently spent a few years there and that if I want to ever trek the Everest region, its a hell of a flight and tickets start at a grand. Any food nerd knows that the Jackson Heights area of Queens has a growing and sizable Nepalese/Tibetian community and tasty food is to be found. One of these restaurants is Phayul Restuarant.
Thankfully, with a bit of advance reading, I knew where to find Phayul and future tip for first timers, just look up. Phayul is located on the second floor and there is not much signage to be found ground level. Also the bright person I am, I decide to trek out to Queens on one of the coldest weekends so I am not in the mood to play Lara Croft here and search for it. Even going up to the restaurant, you are going to have doubts and there is a slight shadiness to it but do not fret and look at the bright side, there is a hair salon adjacent to the restaurant so if you are not hungry, perhaps a trim might be in order.
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| Butter Tea |
It is a small space, maybe 6 tables in all and the kitchen, which is open about the same size as the eating area and basically eating in a New York apartment. Especially in this weather, the first thing you should get, and imperative is a butter tea. Do that even before you look over the menu, because I am pretty sure the heat was not on so butter tea is a necessity and I guess fitting given Tibet/Nepal can get ridiculously cold and plus you can brag to your friends that no doubt you got an "authentic" experience. Butter tea has no herbal qualities to it and it is what it sounds like, a tea of butter. I am unsure if yak butter is used but its a buttery hot liquid that is slightly salty given it a savoriness to it and is addictive, having you craving for more. Actual food after the jump!
