Just a minute’s walk from Yokosuka Naval Base’s Womble Gate, a popular Nepalese-Indian restaurant offers a home to American sailors and local Japanese with its tasty fare and casual atmosphere.

Gorkha Palace is also a favorite spot for my family when we’re craving delicious, flavorful curries and fluffy naan bread served fresh daily.

During lunch hours, between 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the restaurant offers great deals for a quick bite. Diners can enjoy curry sets including a salad, drink and naan or rice, that are plentiful but not too heavy and cost between 860 yen to 1,490 yen (about $6 to $10).

On our last visit, my wife and I entered the stylish restaurant and were greeted by staff in traditional Nepalese attire. The vibrant décor and attentive staff lend to the incredible atmosphere Gorkha Palace has maintained for the last 10 years.

Other diners there seemed at home at Gorkha Palace, entering to immediately pour themselves a soup du jour from the self-service area and heading to their usual table. The staff even knew their regulars’ orders, making sure their curries were to each guest’s desired level of spiciness.

Though we do visit often, we’ve not reached the status of a regular. Nevertheless, the server treated us as if we were there for lunch every day anyway.

I was hungry, so I ordered the Gorkha Lunch Set for 1,490 yen (about $10). This set came with generous servings of two curries of choice, soup, salad, chicken tikka (boneless chicken chunks marinated in yogurt and spices), saffron rice, and seekh kabab (ground beef skewers). My curry selections were chicken and dal (lentil).

My wife, with a smaller appetite, ordered the Lady’s Lunch set for 1,290 yen. The set came with two small curries of choice, naan, salad, and chicken tikka. An ice cream of the day is also included for dessert. For her curries, she chose chicken curry and tofu masala. During our visit the soup of the day was egg drop soup.

To drink, we ordered a lassi and an orange juice for 150 yen each.

While we waited for our meals to be served, we chatted with owner Wosti Loknath, who said he named the restaurant after his birthplace and the old Nepalese capital. According to Loknath, Gorkha Palace’s Nepalese and Indian cooks use more than 60 different spices from the mountains of India and Nepal to cook the signature dishes on the menu.

“We ensure that in every dish is also made with local fresh vegetables from Miura Peninsula,” Loknath said.

Our orders arrived piping hot and fresh to our table. With every spoonful of the flavorful curry, we could taste Loknath’s commitment to serving dishes made with local produce and the quality of the spices and recipes used for every dish.

The chicken was so tender it practically melted in my mouth. The dal curry had a rich flavor and was so silky that I would even recommend it to someone even if they’re not a big lentil fan. It was that good. My chicken tikka was exquisitely flavorful with a tender yet meaty texture.

My wife’s tofu masala featured a melting texture of tofu and tender chicken with a delicately sweet curry sauce. My wife doesn’t usually like spicy food, but she finished it all as it was mild and the aroma was delicious.

It was easy to see why this place would be the go-to spot for base employees and locals looking for a tasty lunch or dinner at reasonable prices.

Besides their lunchtime deals, Gorkha Palace also offers a senior citizen’s menu, children’s menu, a wide variety of a la carte specialties like mixed grilled meat plates, lamb chops and desserts. It even offers Thai and Indonesian dishes. The restaurant also offers a full-service bar, serving up Indian and Nepalese beers like Kingfisher, Nepal Ice and Gorkha, and whiskey, sake and wine, making it a great place for dinner, too.

Don’t miss out on Gorkha Palace and sample tasty Nepalese-Indian cuisine in a warm atmosphere, and you will see why a lot of American sailors and Japanese locals treat it as a home away from home.

Gorkha Palace

• Hours: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

• Address: Junesu Yokosuka 1F, 1-21 Otaki Cho, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture (One minute walk from Yokosuka Naval Base’s Womble Gate)

• Website

• Tel.: 046-874-8528

Yokota Air Base

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