Restaurant Shambala

Hidden in the heart

Although Shambala has been in Ljubljana since 2009, its Asian cuisine is new enough that in old Ljubljana it is hidden in the hearts of all who begin and end their journey in Shambala’s garden. Shambala isn’t a typical Asian restaurant of the kind that can be found on the corner of every tourist city, even though they might not be as beautiful as Ljubljana.

Shambala isn’t just slightly away from the Ljubljanica river, albeit very close, but it’s also a perfect distance from Asia. Hence, the red Thai curry is very spicy, thanks to the homemade mixture of herbs and spices; the Japanese vegetable tempura is crispy enough that it’s a favourite among those wanting something quick before heading to, or from, a concert. The tasting menu can include up to 7 courses, therefore Shambala is the best seat to be had for a concert in the nearby Krizanke open-air theatre.

Asian restaurants are characterised by having too many dishes that are too similar to each other, therefore choosing what to have proves difficult, but that’s not the case at Shambala. Regular guests found their favourite long ago, the inquisitive browse through the list of new dishes and tourists wonder how well Slovenian wines pair with Asian food.