During the beginning of the 2000s, my step-father told me, “One day momo will sell as much as phuchka is sold in Kolkata.” Now that he is no more, I can’t tell him that he was absolutely right! The list of places to try the best momos in Kolkata will walk you through the journey of how this dish gained popularity.

India not only shares borders with Tibet but also has a significant population of people who are of Tibetan origin. And they’ve shared their best of culinary delights with us. Momo originates from Tibet and it gained prominence with time.

Over the last decade, a plate of momo became the go-to evening snack for residents of Kolkata. Since North Bengal and Sikkim are home to Tibetan people, the prominence of Tibetan delights grew rapidly in Kolkata too. More so due to our exquisite indulgence in Indianized Chinese dishes due to the prominence of Chinatown in the City of Joy.

Places to have the best momos in Kolkata

For starters, let us rectify, that what we call “momos” is momo.

Yes! We don’t use the ‘s’ at the end of the four-letter word. While most people pronounce the dish as momos, it is incorrect.

Now that we’ve got the vocab right, let me help you navigate the best momo places nearby:

1. Denzong Kitchen

If I have to use the term “best,” it would mean one and only. So, if you ask me to share the name of the only momo place in Kolkata that you must try, I would say Denzong Kitchen.

Denzong Kitchen began with a tiny shop in Bijoygarh and within 10 years they branched out with 7 more branches. I have been eating momo in Denzong from the time they sold six Chicken Momo for Rs. 40, and now that they’ve priced it at Rs. 160, they’re still my favorite!

I have been an ardent Denzong fan since 2014 because they’ve been able to bring authenticity at the most affordable price. They made this possible by hiring people who belong to the Nepali community, as they are the ones who know the recipes best.

One plate of steam momo bursts inside your mouth if you can pop the whole thing at once like we eat phuchka. The taste feels out of the world and you’re onto the next one, and then another.

Apart from momo, we love Chicken Sha Phaley, Hakka Noodles, Dragon Chicken, Chicken Shyapta, and Fried Momo.

While there are many outlets of Denzong Kitchen in Kolkata, I’d recommend the Bhowanipore outlet near Indira Cinema and the Golf Green outlet near 234 Bus Stand.

2. Yeti – The Himalayan Kitchen

Located on Park Street beside Raasta Kolkata, Yeti is one of the best places to try Tibetan cuisine in Kolkata. It is also moderately pricey compared to a place like Denzong, and Zomato suggests a cost of two Rs. 1700.

The non-veg momo in varieties of chicken, mutton, and pork options cost Rs. 355. When I went to Yeti, I tried Kothey momo because it gives you the best of both worlds (fried and steamed mix). I also tried the non-veg platter which was a plate full of starters with different types of meat. But one of the recommendations to try here would be Sha Datchi. It is a Bhutanese cheese and meat curry served with Tingmo.

3. Lepcha’s

If you’re looking for the best momos in Kolkata based on its size, it has got to be the ones served at Lepcha’s. It is a newly opened eatery with roadside seating arrangements set up on Purna Das Road.

I recently went here with my husband and we couldn’t finish two of the dishes we had ordered. One was a plate of Steam Momo worth Rs. 210 and one bowl of Chicken Jhol Momo was Rs. 240. Both of them had five pieces each, but their sizes were as big as two momos from Denzong!

I hadn’t tried Jhol Momo before this one, but I wasn’t expecting a big bowl full of curry with momos dipped inside. The jhol (curry) tasted light and perfectly accompanied the steamed momos that were soaking inside.

If you’re visiting alone, I’d recommend you order not more than one item at a time. The quantity served is more than what you’d expect, and that’s when you might have to pack some as takeout.

4. Rinchen’s Momo

Rinchen Wangdi Bhutia became a household name in Kolkata after his cooking videos went viral. As a young boy who hails from North Bengal, Rinchen moved to Kolkata and shared Nepali recipes through his Instagram handle @vlogginkitchen. He gained prominence due to his cooking videos, Hindi accent, and unique positioning as a Nepali living in Kolkata.

Rinchen began a cloud kitchen from his home and went viral because of his rose momos. With his success, he was able to start his restaurant brand named Rinchen’s Momo. His first outlet opened in Entally, and he is all set to start another near Lake Market.

I haven’t yet tried Rinchen’s Momo, but I have had friends and relatives order in his specialties. Rinchen adds an authentic flavor to what he sells, making us crave original Tibetan food that is a must-try!

5. Momo I Am

Momo I Am began with a small shop near Lords More that had wacky interiors and amazing Tibetan food. Asian food lovers were often torn between going to Denzong Kitchen in Bijoygarh as Momo I Am was also nearby. But when considering pricing, Momo I Am was always on the higher end.

Momo I Am is better in terms of quality and has a diverse menu. They serve delectable Boas, and their succulent Pork Boas are simply out of the world! They serve a Momo Platter that includes fried and steamed momo with different meat options. You can also try Bhutanese Pan-fried Datshi Momos and stir-fried chilly Momos.

The biggest outlet of Momo I Am is in Salt Lake Sector 5. But if you’re in South Kolkata, you can try it at their Golpark or Lake Gardens outlet.

6. Hamro Momo

Hamro Momo is one of the oldest momo places in Kolkata serving warm fried and steamed delicious since 1988. It is a small place nestled near Elgin Road and sells veg, chicken, and pork options priced between Rs. 145 and Rs. 210. You can also order Chinese items like noodles, fried rice, and sides cooked in different sauces.

7. Momo Plaza

Due to the hype of Momo Plaza, content creator MostlySane tried momos here when she visited Kolkata. She believes Kolkata is the closest region when considering places like Sikkim and North Bengal, where she could find authentic momo. And rightly so, it is also the reason why you will find some of the best places to eat momo exclusively in Kolkata.

Momo Plaza is also located in Eglin Road, and is famous for momo and pork starters. The cost starts from Rs. 125 and onwards. With a rating of 3.4 out of 5 on Zomato, the place hasn’t been able to upgrade itself compared to its contemporaries.

8. Tibetan Delight

Tibetan Delight is a tiny and dimly lit restaurant on Elgin Road with a reputation for selling the tastiest momo. You can try steamed, fried, pan-fried, and vegetable momo here. The most recommended item is pork pan-friend momo which is made with Schezwan sauce. Note that it is spicy and not for the faint-hearted! The cost is reasonable and lingers between Rs. 80 and Rs. 150 depending on the type of momo you like.

9. Exide Momo stall

When looking for the best roadside momos stall, you have to try the one at Exide More. Located at the corner of the street that turns towards Rabindra Sadan metro, you will find a momo stall crowded at all times. This place sells one of the cheapest yet tastiest momos in Kolkata. For a plate of Rs. 50, you will get six pieces of steamed momo and a bowl of soup. They don’t have a lot of options on the menu. They only serve veg and non-vegetarian momo in either steamed or fried variants.

10. 8B Momo stall

Another roadside momo stall to swear by is located near Jadavpur University, near the 8B bus stand. You will get scrumptious momo sold piping hot with a bowl of chicken soup.

They have recently started selling mayonnaise along with red sauce as condiments. The price of one plate veg momo is Rs. 50 for five pieces and college goers always love snacking here. We had chicken momo that cost Rs. 70 for five pieces at this stall called Jeny Momo.

11. The Blue Poppy Thakali

Doma Wang, the Tibetan chef and restauranteur is a part of the family-run business that owns The Blue Poppy Thakali. Known as the Momo Queen of Kolkata, people flock to this restaurant to try to best momos in Kolkata vouching for her expertise.

The Blue Poppy Thakali is a part of Sikkim House on Middleton Street. The moment you enter the restaurant, you will feel like you’ve stepped into the Sikkimese vibe. From seating arrangements that are centered around the floor to the bamboo baskets full of warm white delicacies, this is quite an experience.

12. Pou Chong Ming Dimsum

Pou Chong comes right after Denzong in terms of both authentic taste and pricing. They are one of the few places that serve eight pieces of momo instead of the regular five or six. But what makes them the most special is their sauces. They don’t just add them as condiments but also sell bottles of sauces that are exclusively made by them.

Pou Chong products are to order in, as their outlet facilitates takeaway. While you can eat outside, it might feel inconvenient as it is similar to eating roadside. Don’t miss out on the deep-fried fish balls and chicken wanton when ordering from Pou Chong. Pork lovers also swear by their Pork Bao and Dry Chili Pork.

13. Wow! Momo

When searching for the “nearest momo shop near me,” you’re bound to find an outlet of Wow! Momo in Kolkata. The brand began from a small shop in Tollygunge, and currently has over 650 outlets in 35 cities.

When the momo frenzy was growing in Kolkata and every other lane had a roadside stall, Wow! Momo began with one mission – the brand wanted to sell momo hygienically. It was the first brand to commercialize momo as a mainstream food item while maintaining quality standards.

Wow! Momo has always been on the pricier end, selling one plate of Chicken Steam Momo for around Rs. 250 for six pieces. But they are tasty and have attractive variants like Himalayan Momo, Darjeeling Momo, and Momo Burger which attracted consumers who weren’t well-versed with the authentic Tibetan dish.

14. Asian Flare

This is another incredible place to order Asian food is this one. Available across two branches located in Sector 5 and Kasba, Asian Flare caters to both north and south Kolkata residents. You don’t just get your regular momo, but also a mix of Asian delights that range from Yakitori from Japan to Pad Thai from Thailand. So, when ordering from this place, don’t just order momo but also try other Asian items of your choice. Trust me! The food here is really good and comparatively affordable.

15. Bliss

Nestled in a tiny place at Hindustan Park with average ambiance and seating arrangements, you’d be surprised how tasty their momos are! They are known for steamed, fried, and pan-fried chicken momo but that’s not all they’re good at. You can also order soup, Hakka noodles, and sides to have a full-course meal. My mother loves Bliss, and every time we go out for momo, this is the place we visit.

Conclusion

Currently, momo isn’t just dear to people in Kolkata, but to other metro cities like Delhi and Mumbai as well. We found a great deal of momo stalls in Jaipur too, but North Indian momo recipes are altered according to their palate.

North Indian momo places serve with mayonnaise and tomato ketchup because the red sauce recipe hasn’t reached them yet! Well, the premium momo places do try to retain the authentic version of selling momo with perfect condiments. But you won’t find the real flavors from most roadside stalls.

If you ever plan to visit North Bengal, even the tiniest restaurants in Darjeeling will serve you momo that tastes out of the world. We had one such experience on our way to Gangtok, and were simply blown away!