What: A restaurant and ‘momo factory’ near Borough Market. Under a railway arch on the edge of the Borough Yards Development, Eat Momo has a fast casual set up offering a selection of (the eponymous) Nepalese dumplings alongside a handful of supporting items.
Who: The brand is the creation of sisters Trishna and Dipa Chamling, who were brought up in Nepal. Their father Drip has put together a playlist of traditional Nepalese folk songs to accompany the dining experience.
The food: Steamed to order on portable induction stoves, momos include pork (pork mince with ginger and spring onion); vegetable (white cabbage and soya chunks); and paneer (seasonal greens, carrot and paneer). Most of the momos cost £7 for five and £13 for a ‘full’ portion of 10 and are served with a powerful chilli pickle and a milder tomato achar which is essentially a spicy tomato sauce. Other menu items include a Nepalese pickled salad called aalu ko achar that involves potato, cucumber, carrot, red onion, peanuts, sesame and nigella seeds; and dalmot, a puffed snack mix made with besan flour, peanuts, fried lentils and ajwain.
To drink: Beverages include a selection of high quality packaged soft drinks and two homemade iced teas made with either white or green Nepalese tea.
The vibe: Billed as a ‘bright, no-frills canteen’ the Eat Momo’s interior is a collaboration between architect Roberta Colombo and the Chamling sisters. Located at the entrance to Stone Cutters Lane near the river, it is said to embody their values of ‘minimalism and simplicity, providing a dynamic contrast to its vibrant location in Borough Yards’. Design features include polished concrete floors, exposed brickwork, Formica tables, wooden stools, a takeaway hatch to the side of the building and walls emblazoned with Eat Momo’s distinctive ‘onemoremomo’ branding.
And another thing: Made with a dozen or so deft folds, Eat Momo’s dumplings are a little larger and heartier than the Cantonese-style dumplings that dominate the UK restaurant and takeaway scene. “Unlike other Asian dumplings, in Nepal, Momo are the star of the meal,” Trishna says. “The brilliance of the dish lies in its simplicity. They represent home comforts.”
1 Bank End, London SE1 9BU