Image: AI illustration of Nepali-style chicken seekh kebab. The restaurant’s plating may vary.

ʻAiea has a new Indian and Nepali restaurant, and it is already drawing a crowd at Westridge Shopping Center.

Everest Grill opened its second location on the second floor of the center, in the former Jessica's Kitchen space, Aloha State Daily reported on Nov. 12.

The first restaurant opened in January at 46-138 Kahuhipa St. in Kāneʻohe, in the former Kogi Aina space.

A Honolulu Star-Advertiser review published Nov. 11 said the ʻAiea spot opened last week and was packed enough on an early visit that diners faced an hour wait.

The new kitchen is at 98-150 Kaonohi St., Suite B-213, and is in a soft opening, with hours listed as 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Owner Atam Shahi told Aloha State Daily the ʻAiea dining room is about the same size as the Kāneʻohe original.

"Kāneʻohe is a little bigger," he said. "The layout is the same (as when Jessica's Kitchen was here); we just had to decorate (the interior)."

The menu is mostly the same as Kāneʻohe, with momo and other appetizers, tandoor and grill specials, chicken, lamb, shrimp and vegetarian curries, housemade naan, biryani and desserts.

The ʻAiea location also has a few exclusive dishes: dal soup, a lentil soup served with rice; chicken seekh kebab, minced chicken skewers served on a sizzling platter with green chutney; and chicken chili, a sweet-and-sour curry with bell peppers and onions.

Shahi said dal soup is more popular in India, while chicken chili is popular in Nepal.

Popular starters include chicken chili momo for $14.99, which Shahi described as deep-fried momo tossed in chili sauce with bell peppers and onions, and steamed chicken momo for $13.99.

Other favorites include samosa chaat for $10.99, tandoori chicken for $19.99 and saag paneer for $17.99.

Chicken tikka masala and butter chicken, both $19.99, are bestsellers, but Shahi said he always recommends Dhaniya chicken curry, a cilantro-based Nepali curry with tomato sauce, also $19.99.

"I always recommend Dhaniya chicken, and everybody likes it," he told Aloha State Daily.

Biryani, with basmati rice cooked with spices and gravy, is offered with vegetables, chicken, lamb or shrimp, and Shahi said chicken and lamb are the most popular.

Housemade naan is available a la carte, including garlic naan for $4.99 and garlic cheese naan for $6.99, and meals can finish with mango or pista kulfi for $5.99 or a mango lassi for $4.99.

Aloha State Daily lists the ʻAiea phone number as (808) 600-5200, and both outlets point diners to Instagram at @everestgrill.