JACKSON HEIGHTS, N.Y. — Himalayan Yak Restaurant has donated $5,000 to the Government of Nepal’s Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund to support flood relief efforts in Nepal after partnering with Nepal Run USA to raise money through buffet sales in Jackson Heights, organizers said.
The restaurant, located at 72-20 Roosevelt Ave., raised $4,070 through buffet purchases made by runners, customers and other community members. Himalayan Yak covered all food and preparation costs, allowing the full amount collected through buffet sales to go toward relief efforts.
The restaurant contributed an additional $930 from its own funds, bringing the total donation to $5,000.
Tsomo Dasel, owner of Himalayan Yak, said the contribution was intended to show solidarity with people affected by the flooding in Nepal.
“We could make this small contribution during this difficult time in Nepal,” Dasel said. “We just want to spread the message that we are with Nepal during this time.”
Founded in 2004, Himalayan Yak describes itself as New York City’s first Nepali restaurant. The Jackson Heights restaurant has become a longtime part of the neighborhood’s Himalayan food and cultural scene, serving dishes from Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan and India.
Its menu includes Nepali favorites such as momo, sekuwa, thali and wai wai sandeko, as well as Tibetan noodle dishes, Bhutanese specialties and Indian curries. The restaurant also features yak dishes and says it sources fresh yak meat from a farm during the summer.
Himalayan Yak is also known for its live music and full bar, making it a popular gathering place for community members and groups in Jackson Heights. The restaurant advertises live music seven nights a week, along with private dining and weekend buffet service.
The buffet sales brought together runners, restaurant patrons and members of the Nepali-American community in Jackson Heights, one of the centers of New York City’s Nepali and Himalayan diaspora.
The initiative was organized in partnership with Nepal Run USA as part of a broader community response to the flooding and related disasters in Nepal. Nepali-American organizations, businesses and individuals across the United States have been organizing relief efforts for affected communities.
The contribution comes as Nepali communities in New York and across the United States continue to mobilize financial support for people affected by the disaster.
Dining and Cooking