And although the owners "kept the menu as authentic as possible," some foods prevalent in Tibet--yak meat, for example--are hard to find in Massachusetts.

The restaurateurs substitute such exotic and hard-to-find foreign foods with fresh foods common to Massachusetts, offering beef, chicken and tofu in place of yak.

The cuisine offered is uniquely Tibetan, with influences from Indian and Chinese cuisine.

Dishes such assho-kho kha-tsa(curried potatoes with fresh herbs) anddreysil(Tibetan rice pudding) are especially popular, according to Palsang.

And the best item on the menu?

"Whatever they try, they like it," says a smiling Palsang.

Palsang, with co-owner Gyanor Tsewang, opened the restaurant on Feb. 14 of this year.

Tsewang, an entrepreneur based in Katmandu, also owns a Tibetan restaurant in Salt Lake City, Utah, and plans to open a Tibetan restaurant in Moscow later this month.

The House of Tibet Kitchen is located at 235 Holland St., a 10-minute walk from the Davis Square T stop.