NEPAL 🇳🇵
A couple weeks after last year's Momo Crawl victory, I figured it was at least worth giving NBG a shot. When on this block, I usually walked up the stairs to lovely Phayul, a door or two down. But I ordered the momos to go, enjoyed them, and basically forgot to come back again to try more.
This year they became the first back to back winners of the prestigious award, a return visit to try more was needed. The upstairs of the tiny shop was packed on this second trip, making me think I had no chance of eating this night, but seeing my dismay one of the women here cheerily ushered me to the basement.
It is here that the real joy of the restaurant happens. A woman sits making momos by the hundreds behind a half wall as mostly men gather to play games, drink tea, and sometimes eat full meals. It has a community center feel to it rather than a proper restaurant, but do not let that discourage you for the kitchen is very talented.
You will see many eating sel roti ($1.50 each, above), a rice flour donut that is only the slightest bit sweet from sugar. The ring is handmade so each has a slightly different shape and size after being deep fried. The crisp exterior hides a soft, chewy enjoyable center.
A bowl of their chicken jhol momos ($8, above) is almost a must, and ordered on the last two occasions over the plain (non-soup) momos. The soup (jhol) here is subtly spicy and complex. Take an order to go and the spice level rises overnight in your fridge. While waiting for your order, or perhaps on your way out, don't miss the opportunity to watch these being made in large batches by the woman mentioned earlier.
Goat sukuti is a good order here, both as a thali ($15, above) and on its own ($13, below), which brings a larger portion of just the meat. The thali is as always a good way to experience South Asian cuisine, a pile of soft basmati rice surrounded by portions of everything to mix with it like dahl, a couple types of achaar (pickles), greens, and a couple spicy agents. The best, and proper way to do this is with your hands, mixing all the elements of different bites in the center.
To raise your spice levels for the evening, try the eye, forehead, and mouth-watering chicken choila ($11, below), a plate of enjoyable fire. These dense cubes are guaranteed to be enjoyed by even your most spice-craving friends.
I do not live in Jackson Heights, but am often around trying to get hungry again between meals. The basement here would be a great place to burn off an hour or two with some of their milky tea, watching the Nepali community vibes and maybe reading a book.
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