12 Varieties of Momo - Have You Tried Them All?

Momo, the word itself can make any Nepali salivate, such is the savour of this food which basically is Nepal’s version of dumpling. Forget the plain, bland and boring Dal, Bhat, Tarkari and Achar because momo, our favorite go to snacks is slowly becoming a staple food in Nepali food culture, and why not?

Momo in Nepal is found in every other cafe’s and restaurants and not only that, it is cheap and yum! This traditional delicacy were initially made in a round shape with meat and vegetable stuffing but now, you can find various kind and types of momo in different shape, size and stuffing. Momo is usually served with a dipping sauce, locally called achar and are made with tomato as a base ingredient.

Before we go into the various kinds of momo, here is a video we did with Chirstine of GRRL TRAVELER in which we go on a momo hunt in the streets and back alleys of Kathmandu.

Here is the list of various types and kinds of momo.

1. Steamed Momo#

Usually, the momos are steamed and are found in every other restaurants and cafe’s in Nepal. These scrumptious juicy momos are filled with minced veggies or meat and are put in dumpling steamer. Everest momo, Sandar momo and Magic momo are few of the most popular momo places in Kathmandu.

2. Kothey Momo#

Kothey momo are half fried and half steamed momo which are made in an elongated shape. The filling can be either veg or various kinds of meat; chicken, buff and pork are mostly available.

3. Chilly Momo#

Commonly known as C. momo is your regular momo dipped in a hot and spicy sauce. If you are willing to try something hot and spicy then, C. momo is your best answer. Try this once; we bet you won’t regret it. Okay, you may, but that will solely depend upon your ability to consume spicy things.

4. Fried and Steam-fried Momo#

These crunchy version of momos are made by deep frying the momo or frying after steaming the momo. Although, a bit oily, the taste will totally make you forget about your health-conscious thoughts.

5. Jhol Momo#

Jhol basically means liquid or having a liquid-like consistency, and Jhol momos are the momos that are drowned in a bowl full of sauce called jhol achar. The sauce or jhol achar is thin in texture and have a bit of a hot, spicy and tangy twist. We believe, Le Trio and GG Machhan are two of the best places to have Jhol Momo in Kathmandu valley.

6. Open Momo#

Ghangri Sui Mai, the pioneer of open momo is one of the most preferred places for momo fanatics. The momo wraps have four openings which make it easier to pour their famous assortment of distinctive momo sauce.

7. Tandoori Momo#

This lip-smacking combo of momo and tandoori is one to watch out for. It has a rich texture, and your taste bud will definitely drool over it. You can eat these at Best Food Cafe at Gwarko, near B&B hospital.

8. Green Momo#

Remember hating spinach as a kid? Well, hate no more! The dough for this spinach or green momos is made of spinach blended with flour and kneaded with the water from the spinach. Hence, the name and the color of the spinach. These momos are now available at many places but Alice restaurant at Gairidhara have one of the best green momos in K-town.

9. Buckwheat (Phaphar) Momo#

Available at Alice restaurant in Gairidhara, this momo can be a safe pick for the health conscious folks as the buckwheat momo packs in more protein and nutrients than its regular counterpart momos. The texture of this momo is incredibly light and is very tasty. Remember to eat them piping hot, as they tend to be a bit dry when they get cold.

10. Paneer/Khuwa/Cheese Momo#

The dough of the momo is stuffed with either Paneer, Khuwa or Cheese and is served with achar. Although, it sounds a bit unusual, consuming dairy product in the form of momo is always an option.

11. Fish Momo#

Served at The Bakery Cafe, fish momo have an unusual flavor and are unusually light than of the regular momo; perhaps that explains the white meat. Nevertheless, it’s a must try for everyone.

12) Dhapu Momo#

These giant momos are a bigger version of a regular momo. Some refer to them as Tibetan MoMo, and they are a close version of Chinese Da Pao. As big as child’s fist, they as good as other types. The thickness of dough is not something many people are used to, but hey, it is filling and tastes great. Such momos are more commonly available in places with many of ethnic Tibetans, hence the name, probably.

Momos in Nepal are the real deal since people are hooked to its taste, and its availability is something you can never question. You can go, grab a plate or even two from your favorite place or have it delivered to you at your doorstep with the help of Foodmandu. Also, if you want to learn how to make momos while you are in Kathmandu, Social Tours runs a fabulous momo cooking class in Kathmandu, which includes shopping, prepping, cooking and eating experience all rolled in one.