Monkey temples and momos

Until recently there was only one reason to go to Swyambu, now there are two. The next time you go visit the famed Monkey Temple make sure you include eating at Momo To Go: Monkey Town in your plans. There are three most excellent reasons to stop by this little one roomed nook—the momos, the dapao, and the taipao. All in the ‘dumpling’ family, it’s like being introduced to momos, the father of momos, and the grandfather of momos. Yes, they’re all lovely delicacies stuffed with delicious meats (or vegetables) and then steamed, but each has its own distinct characteristics. The momo comes in the tried and tested Tibetian style which we all know and love. The dapao is an item that I have only seen in a select few restaurants in Kathmandu, it is considerably larger than momos with a thicker layer of dough. And finally, the taipao is an item that is new to me—even larger than dapao it has half a boiled egg inside and comes with a side of buttery garlic soup. Yum. Each dish is available in veg, chicken, pork, or buff and you can choose to have it steamed, kothey, or fried. The price of the items vary depending on the filling and how you want your dish prepared but given the most expensive item on the menu is a staggering Rs 120, you won’t have to reach too deep into your pockets when it’s time to pay the bill. The only real difficulty you’ll have at Momo To Go is deciding how much of what to get—which is all the more reason why the half-plate option is so appealing. Get a mix of different meats prepared in different ways and taste the difference. To keep the foods even more exciting there are three aachars which add to the already incredible food items. If you don’t have high tolerance for too much piro there’s the mild but tasty momo-cha type of achaar, if you’re bolder there’s the ground red chilli paste, and if you like to add fire with flavour to your food, you can opt for the fried and diced dried chillies. All three have won my highest approval. If stuffed and steamed is not your preferred food, there are options of Sausage and Alu Dum—yes, the menu is rather limited but given the eatery is only a month old, there is much time for the menu to expand. But in the meantime, go there, get a plate (or two) of momos, and get them while they’re hot because depending on the time of day you might be hard pressed to find a seat—or worse, the momos will be sold out.