Norbu is part of Downtown Lancaster’s vibrant restaurant scene. Specializing in Bhutanese and Nepali cuisine, the restaurant, which opened in May 2021, is tucked into a space along North Christian Street, between Penn Square and Binns Park/Ewell Plaza, prompting owner Sanya Norbu to say, “We’re a hidden gem.” 

Prior to opening Norbu in Lancaster, Sanya and her husband, Tenzin Norbu, operated Himalayan restaurants in Carlisle and New Cumberland. Born and raised in Bhutan, Tenzin’s heritage – his mother is Nepali, while his father is Bhutanese – inspired the restaurants’ menus. As for Sanya, she was born in New York and was raised in Lancaster. Returning to New York to work, she met and married Tenzin. Wanting to start a family and open a restaurant, the couple moved to Lancaster in 2016. “At that time there wasn’t a Nepali restaurant in Lancaster. We couldn’t find a location that we liked, and an opportunity came up in New Cumberland. So, we opened our first restaurant there,” Sanya explains.

Menu items include (clockwise from top right):
Kathmandu Fry (protein dipped in seasoned chickpea batter and fried. It’s accompanied by citrus slaw and rice).
Cauliflower Datshi (cauliflower in a cheese sauce and served with rice).
Traditional Nepali Dumpling Soup: dumplings and a sesame-garlic-ginger-enhanced tomato broth.

When the North Christian Street space in Lancaster became available, the couple was excited to bring their restaurant here only to have the pandemic delay the opening. Sanya says they were thrilled to finally open in 2021. 

When guests step into Norbu, they’re transported to another place courtesy of its traditional Bhutanese décor. Sanya notes that Tenzin chose the warm and inviting color scheme. Norbu seats about 60, plus there’s a small outdoor space that can accommodate up to 10 people. While seating is mostly tables and a banquette, an area with traditional seating at low tables creates an authentic dining experience. 

The menu is built around Tenzin’s family recipes. The couple work with local farmers to source as many ingredients as possible. Rice had been sourced from Bhutan, but according to Sanya, supply chain issues have prompted a switch to jasmine rice.    

One of the menu’s more popular items is Datshi – Bhutan’s signature cheese stew. The menu describes Datshi as “a warm, gently spiced stew made with a blend of aged and smoked cheeses.” Rich in flavor yet surprisingly light, the dish is finished with garlic, chilies and a choice of hearty or veggie add-ins such as pork shoulder, chicken, shrimp, cauliflower and potatoes. Sanya reports that the Pak Sha (pork shoulder) and the vegetarian Shamu (shiitake mushroom) are the most traditional Bhutanese variety of Datshi. 

For someone not familiar with Bhutanese or Nepali cuisine, Sanya recommends either the Sweet N Sticky (inspired by sweet & sour chicken – choice of chickpea-battered protein fried until golden and tossed in a sticky-sweet tangy glaze) or Kathmandu (chickpea-battered protein fried until golden and topped with fresh citrus slaw).

Staff can also guide guests with menu selections. “Our staff is really well-versed in the menu and the flavors in each dish. Generally, we try to find out the flavors that a guest likes and make recommendations based on that,” Sanya notes.

In addition to menu items, Norbu also offers a lunch buffet every Tuesday and Thursday, and a brunch buffet the first Sunday of the month. “We create special items for the buffet with our flavors. It’s an opportunity to be creative, and if an item on the buffet is popular, we’ll offer it as one of our specials,” Sanya explains.    

Norbu’s beverage menu includes some traditional items such as Himalayan milk tea, a semi-sweet spiced tea; Himalayan black tea, unsweetened and spiced with ginger and cardamon; Nepali chai; and Lassi, a yogurt-based drink mixed with fruit. Teas may be served hot or cold. 

Norbu does not serve alcoholic beverages, but guests may BYOB (there is no corkage fee).

Desserts include Desi (saffron rice with butter and raisins) and Chugo Mago (fried cheese drenched in honey, butter, sugar and saffron).

Norbu is located at 38 North Christian Street, Lancaster. Lunch hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-1:45 p.m. Dinner hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 5-8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5-9 p.m. Sunday hours are 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Kitchen closes 30 minutes before restaurant closing. Take-out available. Reservations are accepted for parties of 5 or more. Reservations are available via email: norbulancaster@gmail.com. Reservations are not accepted during certain holidays, regardless of party size: check the restaurant’s social media for more info. 717-208-7293, Norbulancaster.netlify.app