I think there is a lot left to be desired here. I had a party of 7 with a reservation, but they could not seat us until 15 minutes after our reservation time. This is due partly to another party ahead of us not leaving promptly, but I think the restaurant could have been ready ahead of us as well. I will admit that I enjoyed the ambiance - it had nice low lighting with contemporary decor which made a nice dinner spot. The service in terms of both the waiters and kitchen did not feel timely either. It took a while for drinks to arrive and there were barely any water refills in general. We ordered four different dishes on our side of the table and they were somewhat bland. The vegetable momos definitely need some kind of sauce since they were lacking in flavor. We also got a curry chicken thigh, beef noodles, and butter tofu. I think only the beef noodles had a good enough flavor profile and kick to them. I was also surprised that the portion sizes weren't close to what you would expect for the price. I think with so many good south Asian spots in the area, it's hard to recommend Martsa. I might consider coming back if I learn that there is a particular dish that I am missing out on. read more

Good service here, ambience is decent and food is tasty but overall 3.5 stars overall. read more

Martsa On Elm - Eggplant and tofu - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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I visited Martsa on Elm on a Sunday evening around 5:30. There were lots of open tables, though when we left around 6:30 it was starting to fill up. Ambiance is only noteworthy for being a little cold. Other than that, comfortable. We split the South Brinjal Curry and the Tofu Delight, both with rice. The portions were the perfect size I thought - big enough to fill you up without being overwhelming. Both dishes were very tasty. Veggies tasted fresh and the sauces were very flavorful. The only reason I'm giving four stars instead of five was that both dishes were a little greasy for my liking. That being said, I would definitely come back to try more of the menu. I loved how extensive their vegetarian menu was. read more

Martsa On Elm - Tofu delight - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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The spicy pumpkin curry and tingmo are absolutely stellar at this rare find Tibetan restaurant. Service is laid back, a tad slow, so if you're in a rush, get takeout. The vegetable soup is tangy and delicious, and honey ginger lime tea satisfyingly comforting. Highly recommend! read more

Martsa On Elm - Interior - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I stopped by in a group of 5 on a Friday evening. We waited less than 10 minutes for a table. Throughout our meal and even toward closing time there were consistently groups of people waiting at the door. This seems like a very popular place! None of us had been here before so we decided to try a number of items from their menu. We started with their steamed beef momos and fried chicken momos ($11 for 8). The momos came with a very mild tomato-based dipping sauce and some pickled vegetables. The momo skin on the steamed momos was a little too tacky for my taste, but crisped up really well when fried. Both fillings were flavorful and moist. I would get the momos again. We initially wanted the chocho with chicken but they gave us the chili chicken ($17.50) instead. This ended up working out well because I really enjoyed this dish! The breading on the chicken clung onto the sauce and the chicken was tender. Some of the peppers had a bit of a kick to them. I liked how the sauce was not too sweet. We also tried their goat curry ($19.75) and shamday ($18.25). The spices in the curry were not super strong, although both curries tasted fresh. I was disappointed by the goat and beef in both dishes, which were extremely dry. We had a few bowls of rice in addition to an order of their tingmo ($4 for 2) to soak up the curry. Lastly, we got the crispy eggplant with tofu ($15.75). The flavor of this dish was very mild-- the highlight of this dish was the super crispy breading on the eggplant and tofu. Relative to other restaurants I've dined at, the service for this spot was pretty slow. I didn't see many staff working and as I had mentioned before, the restaurant was completely full with a line out the door. I imagine that the food would come faster on a less busy night. Overall, I would come back for their fried momos and chili chicken. I would also be interested in trying their noodle dishes, but would pass on everything else I ordered this time. read more

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Really enjoyed my most recent visit to Martsa! I got the spicy pork achar with a side of aloo parantha, and it was EXCELLENT. Very flavorful, great texture, just yum. The best of pork belly, potato, and spices. And the parantha was great too. I also had the chicken momos, which were less good but still nice. Place has a good vibe and is clearly popular. Always a good choice when in Davis square! read more

Martsa On Elm - Spicy pork Achar - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Got here around 5:15 on a Sunday and was seated immediately. I had the chai and spicy fish curry and shared the beef Momos and the Chola Bhatura with my friends. The best part was the momos which were the thinnest skinned momos I've had. However, the rest of the meal was just fine. The fish curry was just spicy with no other real flavor. I had a bite of my partner's sweet and spicy twice cooked pork belly with peppers and that was decent. The Chola Bhatura (which my friend had recommended us get) had some hard to chew bread so I was a little disappointed but the filling was good. The chai was a little watery for my liking as well. read more

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The restaurant was bigger than I expected, so there was enough seating for us to get a table without a reservation. The ambiance is okay, but I found out the portion sizes were small for the price, and the flavor was not as amazing as I wanted it to be. read more

Martsa On Elm - Shamday, White Rice, Spicy Creamy Chicken - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Came on a Tuesday night and was able to snag a table. The waitress was so very friendly and helped us decide what to order. The food was very good! Didn't take pictures of most dishes but we tried the mughlai chicken (very tender meat with delicious sauce), shamday (very tender beef as well), the aloo parantha (crispy with a tasty filling and large enough to serve two), and some momos. My favorite dish by fair was the spicy honey garlic shrimp! The shrimp was lightly breaded and so crispy- paired super well with the sauce and different veggies. I really recommend this place, and would go out of my way to eat here again! read more

Martsa On Elm - Chai - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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I love this place. I go there any time I am in the area. The momos are grest and I love the curry dishes. It is an exquisite taste that I thoroughly enjoy. read more

I came here with a small group of friends and was blown away with the food and ambiance. I really enjoyed the fried rice and Momos. They have an extensive menu that was vegetarian friendly. The service was also fast and the staff were friendly. read more

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A wide selection of Himalayan food. Loved the momos. Also recommend the ginger lemonade.

Nice atmosphere with dimmed lighting, comfortable seating and clean tables. Great service and delicious food. I'll definitely be back for more dishes. read more

Martsa On Elm - Red curry of tofu, pumpkin and pineapple. - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Hoooooly shit. If you've ever wanted Indian spicing on American-style Chinese food, this place is a dream come true. Fairly affordable, too. Very fresh quality and vegan friendly. read more

Go for steamed Momos rather than fried. The aloo parathna bread was served, hot and stuffed with just the right amount of potatoes and spices. The fiery pork belly had some zing to it, but was definitely not fiery. Lassi was average. Food was served quickly. Service was prompt and attentive. The vibe was very hipster. I think I'd try other locations for Indian food before repeating. read more

Food is delicious but they will take FOREVER to serve you, even when there's only a few tables full, it's really odd

ne of the Worst Dining Experiences I've Ever Had I rarely write reviews like this, but I feel obligated to share just how appalling my experience was at this Tibetan restaurant today. From the moment I walked in, I should have trusted my gut and turned around. The menu literally had mold on it -- not just dirty or worn, but visibly moldy. That should've been the red flag. Unfortunately, I gave the place a chance, and I deeply regret it. I ordered the Beef Thukpa noodle soup, described as a comforting bowl of ground beef, scallions, and cilantro. What I received was a bowl of oil -- I'm not exaggerating when I say there was over an inch of oil floating on top. It was completely inedible -- like spooning hot oil straight into your mouth. This was the first time in my life I've ever sent a dish back at a restaurant. Not only was it brought back to me again after I said I didn't want it -- it came back a third time. It felt like I was being forced to take something I clearly explained I couldn't eat. To make matters worse, the service was virtually nonexistent, and when I firmly declined the dish a final time, the server still told me I had to pay for it-- despite the fact that it was clearly not edible by any reasonable standard. I truly wish I had taken a picture of both the soup and the moldy menu. I have never been so disgusted in a restaurant setting. Between the unsafe presentation, complete lack of service, and refusal to take responsibility, this was hands-down the most unpleasant dining experience I've ever had. Avoid this place at all costs. read more

My brother and I were quite impressed by the ambiance, service and, of course, food here. And the bill, as well. High quality to price ratio. We started with fried beef momos. Not bad at all, but the steamed would have been better. We also had an aloo paratha, a fluffy, flaky flatbread with a spicy potato filling. Quite good, and not as bland as other aloo parathas I've tried. The spice is there, but not overdone. Then we had Shamday, a traditional Tibetan beef and potato stew in a rich meaty sauce, and Shakampa, a Bhutanese dish made of dried beef. Both were perfect. The Shakampa was assertively spicy but not ridiculous. We ate the meal with bhatura, the Tibetan equivalent of naan, and with Tibetan tea with butter and salt, which was surprisingly quite pleasant. Ambiance was clean and comfortable, and service was on point. Looking forward to coming back again. read more

I think this spot is thoroughly average. Tried the momo, chicken qorma and the pumpkin curry. The momo was fine - not particularly flavorful, but definitely decent. There was a lot of dough compared to the filling. The chicken qorma (pictured) was definitely not doing well. It was too salty and also swimming in oil. Not too appetizing to look at. The winner was the pumpkin curry. If I ever came back, this is what I would get! read more

Martsa On Elm - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Came here on a Saturday evening and we only had to wait a few minutes to get seated which was good. The space was pretty full by the time we got there at around 7, but tables were freeing up when we were leaving. It never got too loud or rowdy which was nice - made for a pleasant meal overall. Their menu had a good variety of food and made it hard to choose, but we settled on 2 apps and 2 entrees to share for 2 of us. Our waiter was nice enough when taking our orders, but seemed to forget about my mango lassi as I had to remind someone to get it for me after our starters had come out. The pumpkin balls were interesting and tasty while the momos were a little disappointing - they broke very easily and were soggy in a bad way despite being steamed. Nonetheless, we'd probably get the pumpkin balls again as they were unique enough and the sauce they came with was delicious. Both entrees, the pork belly and chicken, we got were very delicious. I loved the spice associated with both and would love to eat them again if I ever came back. The portion however left a lot to be desired for the price so I found them to be a little expensive and not worth their cost. Overall, I'm glad I got to try this spot after passing it so many times in Davis, but I probably wouldn't come back if it were my choice of somewhere to eat. Delicious food, okay service, poor pricing. read more

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This was so much better than I thought; it is now on my I have to come back here and try more tasty things. I loved the wine selection, but the food is the star, as it should be. We ate the "matsa" for the first time, and I will get it every time. I was being vegan at the time of my visit, and I had plenty to choose from. Service was laid back and inexperienced, but we weren't in a rush, and as they got busy more people joined the service crew, so I saw it running ticky-booh by the time we left. The decor and atmosphere are definitely an Asian chic vibe. Dark, quiet, and with a little romance in the air. I think next time I will book two hours for dinner and not be so picky. Enjoy! read more

Martsa On Elm - Matsa - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I recently went to Martsa for the first time in a while and it's even better than I remember! I just wanted to put in a plug for my love the chicken thenthuk (spicy). It's so flavorful, savory, and spicy with tender tender chicken and thin chewy handpulled noodles. Probably one of my favorite broths in the world. We also tried a few things we hadn't tried before. The fish curry has good flavor but I didn't love the texture of the cod fillet. The roti is thin and chewy but a bit dry since it doesn't have much fat. The fiery pork belly has a very savory punch of flavor with very tender meat. Apparently the lamb squash is amazing. The steamed beef momos were delicious! They had delightfully chewy (what seems like handmade) skin with juicy flavorful beef inside. It comes with 8 and I would gladly eat it all myself. While I do want to try more menu items, I cannot resist the pull of the spicy chicken thenthuk. It's probably my favorite dish in this area, maybe ever. I hope to eat it for many years to come :) read more

Martsa on Elm has been here for three years, with their last location serving for five. My partner and I came here to try Tibetan food for the first time. I had momos before, but from Nepalese and other Asian restaurants so I wanted to see if theres any difference. If you don't know what they are, momos are steamed dumplings filled with veggies or meat. These are as good as the other great momos I've tried. I also wanted to try out other well known tibetan food. From my research: butter tea, shapalay, and thukpa. The butter tea was definitely interesting. It is used widely in Tibet and is drank by older folks in ceremony. The hint of butter adds richness to the tea which is savory. It's not something I would order again as i found it overwhelming, but it is worth a try. Shapalay is meat filled fried pastry. It's filling and delicious. The pastry is crunchy and the meat is flavorful. Lastly, thukpa is a noodle soup that can come with meat or tofu. The noodles are kind of like pho noodles but thicker. I loved the texture and flavor. I might come back for it again. I had beef for all the meals and i noticed they used the same style of meat throughout. The meat you see in the soup is the same being used in the momos and shapalay. It was very filling indeed. Overall, the ambiance is amazing, theres authentic decor throughout the walls. It made me feel like I'm in a foreign area. The food was delicious and t service was great and accommodating. read more

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For appetizers, we ordered: 1. Shapalay 2. Veggie Momo 3. Beef Momo 4. We something else but I think they forgot. ‍ For the main dish, we ordered... 1. Crispy Eggplant and Tofu 2. Pumpkin Curry 3. Chicken Masala 4. Chicken Chili For Appetizers, the Shapalay was the best. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Beef Momo came in second and then the veggie Momo. They were all very good. I would come back for the Shapalay. Crispy Eggplant and Tofu was hands down our favorite. It kind of reminds me of the dessert candied sweet potatoes at those Korean take on Chinese food Restaurants. The outer skin has this light and thin layer of candied crispiness and the center is soft and lightly gooey. The veggies had the same coating of the delicious sauce that they used for the eggplant. Whatever, just order it! Pumpkin Curry was good but deceptively spicy. Be careful of the singular chili bits. I didn't taste the spice but the unfortunate party member who bit into the chili did. A lot of water was needed. The Chicken Masala was good . The Chicken Chili was nice because it was different than what we expected. If you're looking for something somewhat unique, this was it. Overall, we had a great time and meal. The waitress was kind. I would go again! read more

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One of the best restaurants in Boston. The Shakampa is elite as hell. Pumpkin balls, momo, thenthuk all also elite. Vibes are good - not a lively spot per se but better sit down section than most similar joints. Service fast and always friendly. Love it read more

Though the food looked good, the service was awful. We were sat next to a cold window that was wide open whilst other tables were free. Waited for 30 minutes and couldn't even get my drink, meanwhile all other tables around us got food. Would not recommend to anyone. read more

I can't say this enough. This is THE BEST Tibetan/Bhutanese restaurant I have ever been to in North America. This restaurant is good enough to be *worth a trip to Boston*. It's also, in my opinion, one of Boston's best restaurants right now. They are also very vegetarian-friendly. Here are some of the things we tried (all vegetarian) that I would all HIGHLY recommend: - Tibetan salted yak butter tea - Tingmo - Dhartsay Mushrooms - Mughlai Tofu - South brinjal curry Will definitely be back. Please give them more business. This place is far better than the other Tibetan place in Central Square. read more

1. The food at Martsa is great 2. I really wish the owners would take the time to update *something* (social media, voicemail, etc) when they decide to close randomly. The problem with Martsa is the stars and moon have to align perfectly for them to be open. I get that stuff happens and it's your store. That's great! Just don't make me slog halfway across town to figure out if you're really open or just really busy. If this hadn't happened more than a handful of times, I'd let it alone. I know you know how to use Facebook and instagram. Be polite to your customers, let us know when you're closed with something other than a sign taped to your window! Also, get a better credit card machine! Yours often takes 10 minutes + to process a transaction. Which means if you have multiple tickets queued up - sometimes we have to wait 30+ minutes just to leave! read more

My family and I loved our experience at Martsa On Elm!!! We went on a Saturday night around 6:30-7pm and got in with no problem. I don't think they take reservations. *Note it did get quite busy around 8:30-9pm and people were waiting. The food is outstanding. I've never been to a Tibetan restaurant before so I didn't totally know what to expect. We ordered 1. beef momos (10/10 I loved the cabbage and sauce they came with) 2. lamb squash (11/10 my favorite) 3. cashew chicken (10/10 fresh and flavorful) 4. spicy beef noodles (cannot rate because so spicy!! I can't handle spice my family loved it) 5. Tibetan tea *I didn't love the traditional butter tea but I am so glad I was able to try it here. I would one thousand percent come again. The interior is dim and the decor is stunning. I cringe at saying "vibey"...but that's what it was (in the best way). Service was pretty good, except we got our check at the end without any prompting--and we wanted to order tea. I think our waitress was a bit stressed and potentially irritated with us but I would not dock a star for it. Can't wait to return! I recommend it if you're in the Davis Sq area and looking for a unique and delicious dinner. read more

Okay a much needed review update here. I hadn't been to Martsa since they moved locations and got a liquor license (beer/wine). Met a friend here for dinner the other night cause she loves it so I figured I'd give them a second chance after being underwhelmed on a previous visit. My friend swears my their soup specifically so I tried a veggie lentil soup. It was super flavorful and packed full of tasty veggies. We also split steamed Momos and the potato balls. Omg the potato balls. They were the perfect combination of rich, flavorful, soft on the inside, crisp on the outside, and drizzled with a tasty sauce with just a touch of heat. I really liked that the veggie momos were stuffed with spinach or chard or some kind of hearty greens instead of just cabbage like so many places. It was also a good quantity of dumplings for the price. We split a bottle of Chianti which was quite good and not too expensive. All the wines were by the bottle though so you have to either drink beer or commit to a full bottle fyi. Staff was friendly but never made us feel rushed. On a Wednesday night there were several other parties eating but plenty of open tables so no wait. Unfortunately they don't offer desserts but a short walk to JP Licks really wrapped the evening up well. I'll definitely return. read more

Food: great! The spicy beef noodles must try! Service: 7/10. On average. Ambiance: great! The music is really good! But no Wi-Fi! read more

Without exaggeration, this was the best restaurant meal of my life. I seriously felt like Ego from Ratatouille when I first bit into the Crispy Eggplant and Tofu dish, flashbacks to my childhood and all. The ambiance inside the restaurant is so beautiful and warm, the serving staff was all so friendly (plus gave great recommendations), prices are honestly very reasonable ($12 dishes), even the restrooms were nice. For my vegans out there, there are seriously SO MANY options it's actual heaven. Dishes we ordered:Crispy Eggplant and Tofu: 11/10. I never give out 11s, but this was seriously so freaking delicious. The sweet sauce hit so hard and the eggplant was the perfect balance between crispy and soft. Would recommend getting it with rice. Vegetable Momos: 10/10. First time having moms and ooooh they were so good. The onion/chili/red pepper sauce that pairs with it is so delicious. The momos themselves were warm, filling, and was a good-portion size. Really perfect appetizer. Curry Noodle Soup: 8.5/10. Super solid curry noodle dish. Got better as we continued to drink it, honestly thought the overall pairing of these three items was perfect -- noodle soup on a cold night was great. Noodles themselves I thought could've been a bit more bouncy / different textured. Only downside is that the wait time on the food was pretty long, but honestly is understandable given the quality of the food. Will be coming back here as often as possible. read more

Martsa On Elm - Crispy Eggplant and Tofu, Curry Noodle Soup - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

What a gem! This Tibetan restaurant has won my heart with its delicious cuisine and warm atmosphere. The Chicken Momo is a must-try, and the Aloo Paratha with chutney is my absolute favorite - crispy, flavorful, and addictive! My friends swear by the Beef Momo, which they say is the best they've ever had. Service is fine, bit slow I would say but I've always been there around busy time. The interior is beautifully designed, If you're looking for a unique and tasty dining experience, look no further! read more

Martsa On Elm is one of my favorite places to get food in Davis Square! The staff is always super kind and helpful, and their new location has plenty of space and nice ambiance. My favorite dish is the beef thukpa, it's a noodle soup with a beef broth that is rich in flavor, perfectly seasoned ground beef, and topped with scallions and cilantro. Recently Martsa changed the type of noodles they use which aren't as good as the OG ones but the soup is still amazing. It's a must-try!! The mughlai chicken is another must-try. Tender grilled boneless chicken pieces in a creamy cashew curried tomato sauce, it sort of has a tikka masala vibe going on but with slightly different nuances and consistency. Paired with some rice this one is a go-to! I always get an order of the steamed chicken momo as well. These dumplings are big and tasty! The tomato salsa and (very spicy) hot sauce these are served with really tie in this appetizer perfectly. I've also had a handful of other dishes from Martsa and they all have ranged from good to excellent. I think they are currently closed but should be opening again in the coming weeks, I miss them dearly and can't wait to eat here again. read more

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Great place for Davis Square Indian food cravings. Highly recommend the mughlai chicken and shabhale. Pumpkin curry, pumpkin balls, and momos are also pretty good! read more

Martsa On Elm - Mughlai Chicken - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Martsa is so cozy, the momos and manchurian curry are my favorite, very flavorful, especially with the tomato chutney they give for the momos! Highly recommend! read more

Martsa On Elm - Vegetable Momo, Pumpkin Curry, Manchurian, Curried Potato - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

The best food I've had on the east coast. Excellent everything. Friendly service, amazing atmosphere. Great chai.

6/16/20 Update: So glad Martsa is back! I was missing this place so much during quarantine. They've updated their menu and they're currently cash only until their card machine works again! I really enjoyed the food here! It was my first time having Nepali food and I very much enjoyed it! We had the lamb, bok choy,and the parantha! Everything was great! Only taking off one star because the waiter looked like he hated his life but otherwise will definitely comeback! I would love to explore more Nepali food! read more

Martsa On Elm - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Loved it here and can't wait to go back. The atmosphere was warm, inviting. It looked like most tables were booked up but we could still have a conversation. And the food!!! So good. Honey ginger shrimp! Gyathuk Choco (noodles and veggies)! Beef and spinach (with a kick)! Loved every bite! In fact, I'm going back tonight. read more

The service is fine but the food makes up for it*!! Love the pumpkin curry, momo vegetable, pumpkin balls, eggplant coconut. read more