The humble dumpling comes in many shapes and sizes across the world. You’ve got pierogis in Poland. Gyoza in Japan. Pelmeni in Russia. Chicken ‘n dumplings in the good old US of A. Just to name a few.
(A couple fellow bloggers said empanadas are also considered dumplings. Quite a hot take if you ask me!)
There’s one type of delectable dumpling that’s a staple in the Himalayan countries, and a type of dumpling you may not have heard of: momo.
Momo are little pockets of joy that start with a simple dough made from flour, water, and salt. Then, they are filled with whatever the chef has a taste for. Minced meat with garlic, herbs, and onion is a traditional option, as is a veggie mix. Various condiments and sauces are served on the side, and voila! You’ve got an amazing meal!
I first noshed on momo in Jackson Heights, Queens— a neighborhood familiarly known as the “Little Himalayas.” (Get the scoop on my momo crawl HERE!) I was immediatley hooked.
But what would the momo scene be like in Nepal?! We decided to go on a crawl in the neighborhood we were staying in, Thamel.
Let’s dive into our Thamel momo crawl!
Stop 1: Aambo Momo
The Vibe:
Aambo Momo is a mega popular spot for momo in Kathmandu, and there are few locales around the city. We pulled into their Thamel spot to kick off the Thamel momo crawl. The restaurant is truly a hole-in-the-wall with just a few bar stools lined along the the sides. It was packed with locals, which is always a good sign.
The Momo:
There were 3 types of momo on offer. While pork seemed to be the momo of choice among fellow diners, we went with the vegetarian option.
The dough was ultra light and thin. And the cabbage filling was flavorful and well seasoned with an almost juicy quality. What set these momo over the edge was the trio of sauces on the side. There was a mild sauce, medium sauce, and jar of straight up chili flakes. When combined, they created the perfect level of heat to liven up each bite.
The Price:
The bowl of momo set up back 150NPR/$1.72 USD. HOLY FRUGAL!
Stop 2: Yangling Tibetan Restaurant
The Vibe:
Yangling Tibetan Restaurant is what you call “no-frills.” The upstairs dining area has basic tables and chairs with harsh lighting and minimal decor— a great sign that it’s authentic, local, and fairly priced.
The Momo:
The menu had an extensive range of Tibetan dishes, including plenty of momo options. We wanted to try kothey momo, which is pan fried. But accidentally ordered deep fried.
Deep fried anything tends to taste goods, and these momo were no exception. The outside was light and crispy with a nice crunch, and the dipping sauce had a lovely zing of ginger. I can’t say the cabbage filling was too inspiring, but we ate them all nevertheless.
I can’t say these are the best momo in Kathmandu. They were missing that extra something something. However, the menu looked quite interesting, and we ended up going back the next night.
The chili and kothey momo were both excellent. As was the thukpa soup, which is a classic Tibetan dish. A can’t-miss spot in Thamel!
The Price:
The plate of 10 momo rang in at 300 NPR/ $2.16 USD.
Stop 3: Thamel Momo Hut
The Vibe:
The third and final stop on our Thamel momo crawl was Thamel Momo Hut. This joint was by far the trendiest with dim lighting and plenty of cozy seats.
The Momo:
There were loads of unique momo options on offer, so we decided to go with a tasting platter. It had 4 types of momo cooked 4 different ways, including peanut and paneer (fried), palak paneer (steamed), mushroom (kothey), and garlic cheese (chili). They were all delicious, with my favorite being the mushroom.
The Price:
The platter set us back 549NPR/$3.69USD, making it the most expensive stop of the crawl. But hey, that’s still a pretty good deal if you ask me!
This Thamel momo crawl was a total success!
We ate tasty momo, and it was for less than $5USD per person. Now that’s frugal!
