Nepalese Momos in JH

[Dave_G]

On 74th Street, right by where the stairs from 7 train come down there was a Pizza/Fried Food/Greasy Burger joint. It's a guilty pleasure sort of place that I stopped in about once a year or so.

Well that is all gone now (no great loss) and replacing it is an Indian/Nepalese place that I learned has been there a couple months now. You can't really tell the change from the outside. Their windows still seem to be filled with the same colorful/friable foods they had before. But inside there is long window with Indian steam table fare, and then toward the back of the place is the Momo man.

For those who don't know, the momo is the Tibetan/Nepalese version of the Chinese dumpling. I've had momos before at Tibetan Yak restaurant and had been unimpressed. They were boiled (maybe steamed) to the point where the dumpling skin (pasta) was dissolved and falling apart and the contents were a bit bland, which I've heard is how the Tibetan version is supposed to be. I've also heard that the Nepalese version was spicier, so I decided to give it another shot at this place. I'm glad I did. I tried the chicken version. The momos were perfectly boiled so the skin was cooked but still firm. As I'd heard the filling was nice and spicy. It was served with a sweet chili sauce that went perfectly with dumplings, and mostly broth soup which was nothing great, but it did work well for cleansing the palette between bites. They also have a beef and a vegetarian that I'll try next time.

[bigjeff]

yeah this is a funny place (internet cafe?) and I stopped by during closing time and had a coupla beef momos. wanted something really different, and basically, it was like chinese dumpling filling, in a fried shell kinda like an empanada. but the filling shrank during the cooking so it was basically a ball of meat bouncing around inside the shell. good beefy flavor, and I liked the hot sauce that came with but other than that, it was aight. I bought a ting mom because it looked like those chinese scallion buns that are in a pinwheel shape, and, while a bit bland, it had a nice flavor, sort of homestyle. the place also has all kinds of chaat and puris, but it didn't look very fresh.

[welle]

There is a Chinese buffet on Roosevelt ave. and 62nd, they have changed hands and now sport a new awning advertising 'Himalayan' food. The food seems to be almost the same, but they've added momos - both fried and steamed. I tried both, both are good but prefered fried ones better. The takeout price is very cheap $4.5/lb. for dinner.

[Joe MacBu]

I find the only edible items at the Chinese buffet to be the momos and the green beans. Everything else seems like gross American-Chinese, but I'm not really into that cuisine. Not worth the $10 sit down buffet price.

The momos (available with beef or potato) are just okay, specially since they're not cooked to order. They have fresher and tastier versions at the Nepali/Japanese places in Sunnyside.

It's disingenuous to advertise themselves as Himalayan food, since only the momos and a tripe dish are Himalayan (and Tibetan, not Nepali). Hopefully they're in a transitional stage and will have more real Himalayan food.

[Brian S]

I saw this on the way to Sripraphai this afternoon and was hoping to be the first to post about it... but I waited too late. There are a lot of new Nepali places. There's even a southern Indian restaurant run by Nepalis, at 40-03 73 Street near Om Tibet. It has pictures of the Himalayas and even a few Nepali dishes along with the masala dosas and Goan curries. It's very cheap too.

[PAL]

I checked out these chicken momos this afternoon. They were well made, properly steamed, but the filling wasn't spicy. The hot sauce served in the containers, though, was really great. If I could get my hands on some, I'd put in on everything--there was something unique about it. I'd say, the momos are worth a trip from midtown Manhattan or elsewhere in Queens, but I came from Brooklyn, and though I'm always happy to make the trip, I don't think everyone would think it's worth the effort.

But the neighborhood just gets more and more interesting--this is sure to change once the coffeehouses and subsequent French Bistros arrive. But for now, I mean really...where else can you find Tibetan, Nepalese, Vietnamese, Burmese, Indian, Indian-Chinese, Argentinian, Colombian, Mexican, Ecuadorian, Indonesian, Thai, and Peruvian food, and visit a Latin-speaking drag/gay bar, all within a five minute walk?

[Brian S]

"where else can you find Tibetan, Nepalese, Vietnamese, Burmese, Indian, Indian-Chinese, Argentinian, Colombian, Mexican, Ecuadorian, Indonesian, Thai, and Peruvian food, and visit a Latin-speaking drag/gay bar, all within a five minute walk?"

This is why, whenever tourists post that they want a "typical New York dining experience" I recommend that they go to Jackson Heights.

[Xiao Yang]

It's a lot cheaper than Tavern on the Green, too ;-)

[Brian S]

and better food!

[Polecat]

"where else can you find Tibetan, Nepalese, Vietnamese, Burmese, Indian, Indian-Chinese, Argentinian, Colombian, Mexican, Ecuadorian, Indonesian, Thai, and Peruvian food, and visit a Latin-speaking drag/gay bar, all within a five minute walk?"

Right on. Don't forget: Cuban, Korean and Phillipino . Malaysian and Taiwanese are just one subway stop away as well.
P.

[Woodside Al]

With the recent political troubles in Nepal the number of Nepalis immigrating into the neighborhood is on a definite rise. My downstairs neighbors are from there and just arrived in the U.S. less than 2 years ago. It was they who hipped me to the momos place next to the movie theater in Jackson Heights. I found their momos to be pretty good and almost exactly like the ones I had in Nepali places in the Kathmandu valley, which are almost dead ringers for Japanese gyoza - except for the fillings. They aren't supposed to be very spicy, as most Nepali food is not spicy. I also liked the nighttime chaat bar, which was very friendly and tasty, if a little generic.

[Joe MacBu]

Momos don't necessarily have to be spicy (though they do usually contain some chili, ginger, garlic, onion). However, it is usually (in Kathmandu and in my parents' home) accompanied by a spicy sauce made of fire-roasted tomatoes, garlic, chili peppers, cilanto and timmoor (the Nepali version of Sichuan peppercorn). Unfortunately, most of the Nepali restaurants don't serve this sauce, which I find to be a great disservice.

Personally, I prefer my momos thick-skinned and shaped like a beggar's purse, rather than a crescent.

[PAL]

And all this time I'd assumed you were Irish :-)

The hot sauce at this momo place probably did contain that Nepali version of Sichuan peppercorn. There was something very interesting in there.

[Joe MacBu]

I do live in Woodside, so maybe honorary Irish?

Well, I had to check these places out tonight.
First, I went to the place by the movie theater (K-2 cafe) and was ignored for a good 5 minutes. I tried to find out what sort of sauce they provided with the momos, but they didn't understand my question (despite asking in English and Nepali). Then they ignored me again, so I left and headed to the other momo place with the all the fried stuff near the entrance.

This place (in the back of Merit Kabab Palace) only had beef momos remaining. When I inquired about the sauce, the friendly lady told me that it was made with chili peppers and timmoor, but no tomato. The momos could have been fresher (they were in the steamer too long and the meat was not as moist as it should have been). The sauce did contain Sichuan pepper, and while a decent version, could have been made much better. It needs more salt, some garlic and ginger, and the peppercorns should have been pulverized (but were left whole). There's a good recipe in the relatively new "Taste of Nepal" cookbook if someone wants me to post it on the appropriate board.

I wish someone would open a stellar momo cart, instead of hiding out at the back of these restaurants.

[Xiao Yang]

Or Scottish, like Toddish McWong...

http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/

Haggis momos, perhaps?

[Mike V]

Dave: Just steps away at 73-19 73rd Road is an interesting place that sells Momo's. I've been to this place many times for the fantastic large $5.00 salad which is made to order. The salad consists of chick peas, potatoes, onion and other items and lots of spices. I plan to try the Momo on a future visit. It's called the Internet Cafe. They also have a very spicy cucumber salad ($3) which is good.

[Brian S]

That's the place I was talking about in my reply above. I will edit it. It's on 37th Road.

[missmasala]

I went to that place a couple of weeks ago and I have to say i wasn't that impressed. had the pani puri. she used the crisp, pre-fried puris that you can buy by the bag (as do most places) and they were stale. you can get better at rajhbog or some other place that does chat.

i also had the steamed (boiled?)chicken dumplings. I had high expectations as the woman behind that counter looked tibetan or nepali and so i was hoping for momos, but these dumplings didn't resemble the momos i've had at tibetan run places in north india or in nepal. They seemed more like chinese potstickers. they were okay. the filling was nice, but the skin i found a little thick, and at $5 for 8, too expensive.

[Brian S]

I've never actually eaten there, but I did eat next door at Kabab King because of what you said. Check out my review. http://www.chowhound.com/topics/448517

[Brian S]

Thanks for this. In reference to the place cited below by Mike V on 37th Road, I always notice this place since 3 years ago it used to house Tabaq, my favorite Indo-Pakistani restaurant. In an attempt to broaden their customer base, this place also serves Bombay-style chaat. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaat

[Xiao Yang]

Thanks for the tip, I'm looking forward to checking it out.

FWIW, there's a momo group on Facebook called mo:mo with lots of pics!

[Silverjay]

I wasn't aware of anything other than fried momo, which is what I was served when I stayed in Tibetan guest houses in the Himalayas. They were sort of like samosas. The most common type I came across were apple.

[Joe MacBu]

In Nepal, momos are steamed or pan fried then steamed. I've never seen them boiled though.

Thanks for the tip. Do they have other Nepali items?

[Dave_G]

You're right--they are steamed. I tried the beef version today. It was good but I like the chicken better. The other Nepali items they have listed on their menu (Under Nepali and Tibetan advertisers) are:

Achaar
Bhatmash and Chiura
Aalu Dam
Beef Choila
Shabhalay
Shamayabajee
Ting Momo (which is steamed bread and not a dumpling)