Nepalđłđ” We hit this momo shop TWICE in 3 days!
Wandering around Kathmanduâs Durbar Square, Iâd been wary of tourist traps⊠until we turned into that steam-filled alley behind the square. This momo shop is like a magnet hidden in the hustleâhooked us into two visits in three days, and on our last day, we even detoured with our suitcases đ§ł 5 minutes before heading to the airport, clutching a hot basket as we ran. After all, a spot packed with locals (and zero tourists) doesnât lie about flavor. đ The âlocal codeâ in Durbar Squareâs back alley: Follow the schoolkids The address is tucked in the alley near Durbar Squareâs back entrance (check Figure 3 below for details!). After exploring the squareâs temples, follow the crowdâschoolkids in uniforms đ©đ, housewives with bamboo baskets đ§șâand youâll catch the warm scent of âdumplings mixed with turmericâ wafting down the lane. Thatâs your spot. The shopâs tiny, like a neighborâs kitchen: four or five polished wooden tables, a handwritten Nepali menu peeling at the edges on the wall. The stove sits right by the door, steam hissing upward âïž, carrying the doughy aroma of momos through the alley. First visit coincided with school let-outâkids in blue uniforms crowded the door, waving coins and yelling âChicken!â Housewives chatted with the auntie behind the counter like old friends. No one was taking photos; everyone was just shoveling food. That ânot viral but belovedâ vibe? Instantly reassuring. đ„ Chicken momo: The juice explosion? Pure magic Hands down the best momo I had in Nepal. Fresh from the steamer, plump white dumplings packed the basket, skins so thin they were almost translucentâyou could see the pink chicken filling wobble inside. Blow on one, take a biteâand sizzle: juice bursts in your mouth đŠ. The chickenâs minced fine, mixed with chopped cilantro and local cumin, so fresh itâs practically sweet, no gaminess. The skinâs soft but chewy, with a hint of wheat. Dip it in their secret chili sauce (mildly spicy, tangy, made with roasted tomatoes and local chilies, I think), and the sour-spicy-savory hit is addictive đ€€. Six per basket? Barely enoughâwe ordered a second before finishing the first. đ„ Must-order yogurt: Tangy enough to make you squint (and perfect for cutting richness) Thought momos were peak, then the auntie set down this bowl of yogurt: thick, snowy white in a earthenware dish, with a thin layer of cream on top. She smiled and asked, âHoney?â A scoop of local wildflower honey swirled in, and sweet-tartness tangled like a firework đ in my mouth. Itâs bold tangyânot the cloying kind from supermarkets, but a bright, fermented sharpness balanced by honey đ. Pair it with momos? Chefâs kiss. The sauceâs spice, momoâs savoriness, yogurtâs tangâthree layers that kept us full but never heavy. Watched an old man at the next table, spooning yogurt between momo bites, grinning like he was tasting treasure đ°. đœïž Order anythingâyou canât go wrong (locals know best) Tried beef momos đ„© and veggie (potato + pea) đ„ tooâboth amazing. Beefâs richer, meaty and hearty, great for bold flavor lovers. Veggieâs creamy with potato, crisp with peas, light but satisfyingâlike a âNepali dumpling with sorbetâ combo when paired with yogurt. Even the fries hide genius: thick wedges, crispy outside, fluffy inside like mashed potatoes, dusted with salt and curry powder đ¶ïž. Kids love the âmomo + fries + yogurtâ setâunder 10 RMB and filling, no wonder the place floods with blue uniforms after school. On our last day in Kathmandu, dragging suitcases past the alley, we saw the auntie lifting a steamer lidâsteam and scent billowing out. Couldnât resist. She noticed our luggage, grinned, and plopped extra honey on top: âFor the roadâsweet journey!â Biting into a warm momo on the way to the airport, juice dribbling down my chin, I got why I couldnât stop thinking about it. Great foodâs never just about tasteâitâs the unforced warmth đ, hidden in the everyday bustle. If youâre at Durbar Squareâgo. This flavor? Youâll kick yourself for missing it đ. đ Location: Alley near Durbar Squareâs back entrance (check Figure 3, follow the local crowd!) # momo #Nepal #NepaliFood #NepalTravel #NepalTrekking #KathmanduFood #momo