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    Tawa Food

    4.3 (92 reviews)
    InexpensiveHimalayan/Nepalese
    Closed 9:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Tawa Food Photos

    TAWA FOOD ATMOSPHERE

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    Chicken Thali
    Joanna H.

    Homey and comforting food that fills you up. A small restaurant with just two tables but people of all walks of life come here for a quick warm meal. Their thali is delicious!

    Goat thali - yummmmmm!
    Annabelle C.

    So delicious! I walked in and asked what meat thai's they had, and I ordered the goat thali. It came quickly and the flavors were WOW. I've tried many Thai's in the neighborhood, and this is the best one I've had. I'm excited to go back again.

    Veggie thali
    Mahmood S.

    5/5 because Its my personal favorite place to eat thali in the area This place does nothing but serve good food It's not cool It's not insta worthy Not a place for a date Not a place to hang out Just good food The space has no design to it, it's basically a kitchen with three tables you can eat on The menu is pretty big considering the space but most of the items use the same base ingredients so it's not hard to follow The food arrived really quickly - not much cooking involved really The place isn't spotless clean - not organized in the normal sense either but I feel comfortable here The quality that you get is way above average for the price you'll pay, a solid place for a thali with friends or alone It's somewhere I'd go often to but is a bit far so I'm not a regular the food is spiced without being spicy, very flavorful and they are super generous with the rice and soup It's not fancy and doesn't try to be The food just works, like the fluorescent tube lights on the ceiling, it's not pretty but does a great job

    Rama S.

    As a Nepali, this place absolutely reminds me of a great dinner at my Grandparents house :). I always get thali which is a combination platter. EVERYTHING is Delicious. Tashi and another person are very friendly and offer us tea, so typical Nepali hospitality. The variations of acchar ("pickles") for lack of better comparison, is delicious. If any non-Nepali people want to be adventurous then I suggest you try bitter groud achar (Karela ko achar) which is also a part of combination platter. It is one thing I love here. Also gundruk ko achar (fermented and dried Nepali spinach pickle). Yum! I never miss this place when I am in the area. O also try sel roti! Rice fried bread! So delicious! I was so excited that I forgot to take before pic. But here is after :)

    Najwa G.

    Truly a hole in the wall. I stumbled upon this place after discovering that Lhasa was closed. Unfortunately momos were sold out because it was a holiday but another customer told me that the thalis are what they're known for. I would take a ridiculous amount of time to order anything so I just had what the other customer was having (no shame to play it safe). First on the hospitality. The people who work here are so sweet. Seriously. It makes me feel at home and I'm not even Nepalese. The customer (also Nepalese) told me what to mix with what and what everything was. I know this sounds so hokey but that truly makes a difference when you're trying another cultures food for the first time. Now on the food...so darn good. I think I surprised myself at how much I can eat today but there are more serious problems in the world lol. I got the beef thali and the beef was so tender and marinated well. It was also nice to see that the daal was thick- no one likes watery daal. One of my favorite parts of the meals was the pickled items. I have no idea what they're called but it is the yellow paste next to the cucumber and the orange thing (I think radish) next to the spinach in the pic posted. It was nice to alternate between this and the spicier curries. My favorite part of the meal hands down was the roti. You can see the lady in the back rolling them and making them fresh. I'm not sure if it cost extra but if it did it would be max 50 cents more based on how much I paid at the end. You know roti is good when you can enjoy it just as much plain. Definitely go if you're in the areas, I know I'll be back to try the momos.

    Veggie thali. A little different from how it used to be a year ago, but just as good, if not better!
    Lily J.

    Tawa is still my favorite restaurant in New York City. As you might have seen in the Tips I've written, we endured a long (6+ month) period during which Tawa was undergoing construction. We usually ventured out every week anyway, in hopes of happening upon some indication that it would reopen soon. Finally it's back, seemingly for good, and better than ever. Oddly, not much about the restaurant seems to have changed. The decor is still as hole-in-the-wall as it's always been. The management appears different, which I don't mind since the service has definitely improved. We get pretty much the same thing every time, two vegetarian thalis and a plate of momo, but after the thalis we're usually pretty full because of the many kindly offered refills. (For the unfamiliar, thali is a meal format that consists of a variety of small dishes with different flavors, meant to be eaten together. At Tawa, the thali typically includes daal, vegetable sambar, rice, an assortment of achar (pickled vegetables and sauces), and either yogurt or a meat of your choice. It's beautifully plated and never fails to excite, since dishes are prepared a little differently every day.) If you've still got space after your meal, look for stacks of sel roti along the walls. They're super crispy, chewy, lightly sweetened brown donuts made with rice flour. Pair one with a cup of hot tea and you've got a perfect little dessert. Seating is still incredibly limited, but this place is a hidden gem, so it's not usually crowded. But if it is, be aware that sharing a table with a different group is standard practice here. When we walk in late (around 8-10 PM), we're often the only table being served. As mentioned in the previous review, don't come here with a group larger than 4 unless you want to sit apart or order take-out (but then you won't get the refills!) Don't forget to bring cash!

    Beef dhendo
    Benjamin R.

    This place is small and glorious. How does such a tiny kitchen produce such delicious food in big quantities? I had the chicken momos, which, unlike Tibetan momos carries a bit more spice (like Indian food). Then the beef dhendo. Dhendo is a porridge/playdough like substance made from millet and I really don't know what else -- but it is blackish in colour and a tasty starch that absorbs other flavors. The beef was "dry" on purpose -- very spicy -- but the kind of spiciness that makes you want more and more once the initial heat has dissipated. One of the workers was on a quick snack break and I asked him what he was eating. The owners were gracious enough to give me a sample -- and by sample I mean appetizer portion at least! This one dish oddly did not seem Nepali at all. It is basically similar to farina/cream of wheat that is thick and rolled into balls with raisins, sugar and spices that would be quite familiar to a western palate. All in all, fantastic meal for a low price.

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    16 years ago

    They've started to add vegetarian dishes to the menu... it's about time! The pakora curry is superb.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Tawa Food

    When will they open again? They haven't been open the last couple times I passed by. They also aren't answering their phone :/

    They are open now. Go get your fix :)

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    Ngatso Cafe - Almond croissant and cortado

    Ngatso Cafe

    4.7(15 reviews)
    0.4 miWoodside

    Just found this spot near us and it has NO competition in the Sunnyside area! In fact, the love and…read morecare put into this little shop rivals top contending coffee shops in other areas as well. Every little thing about this place simply makes me smile. I decided to just sit for a few minutes and soak it all in before starting my work. I love the mini Tibetan merchandise corner, the lived-in feeling that the "prayer flag" wall gives, and I'll leave the rest for you to discover on your own. Shockingly I wasn't a big fan of the salted butter latte, which I thought would be right up my alley. The espresso was actually great, but it was a little TOO salty and buttery. I feel like that one is partially on me... This coffee shop has my highest recommendations! The owner and our barista were both wonderful to talk to and I look forward to seeing them again!

    Their strawberry matcha might be in my top three in New York. The ratio of matcha, strawberry, &…read moremilk was a great ratio, and it wasn't overly sweet like the other strawberry matchas I've had. The iced Americano was solid too if you need a good option for your coffee fix. I also tried the momo dumplings & they were decent overall. It was slightly on the mushy side, but still tasted great. The space itself is pretty big with plenty of seating. There aren't many outlets though, so I'd recommend charging your laptop beforehand if you're planning to get some work done. The drinks also took a little while to come out, so service tends to be on the slower side. If you have some time & in the area, I definitely recommend checking this place out!

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    Ngatso Cafe
    Ngatso Cafe - Tsampa parfait

    Tsampa parfait

    Ngatso Cafe - Butter tea an butter coffee

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    Butter tea an butter coffee

    Momo Crave

    Momo Crave

    4.4(310 reviews)
    0.1 miWoodside
    $$
    Catering service
    Vegetarian friendly

    Yessss! Momos of every flavor, cooking style and filling…read morehere, yum! Met up with friends here for dinner on a freezing winter weekend evening. The store was on the emptier side probably given the weather outside, with only about a third of their 30 or so seats taken. Seating is first come first serve, no formal waiter service, you order at the counter and they bring the food when it's ready. Staff were helpful in explaining what each item was, the protein options (a choice of chicken or beef for each), and level of spiciness (not too spicy though the accompanying sauces had a kick). We ordered-- - Kothey momo $9.99: selected the beef filling, this was a lightly pan-fried dumpling with a thin dough wrapper and savory minced beef filling. Served with a medium spicy dipping sauce. Good! - Thai soup momo $12.99: came in a curry broth with vegetables, my friend ordered the chicken momos and they came piping hot in the soup. Tasty and warm comfort food for a very cold evening. - Chili momo $11.99: deep fried and served with a tangy sweet and sour chili sauce, peppers and onions, my friend ordered the beef version. The spice level on the chili sauce was pretty mild. Yummy. - Samosa chaat momo $11.99: sprinkled with diced tomato, onion, cilantro doused with green chutney and sitting in a shallow bed of yogurt sauce, these deep fried momo were so flavorful. - Tandoori momo $11.99: I'm not sure if these were baked in a tandoori oven but they were sure seasoned with spices to taste like it , and delicious! Tender and juicy chicken filling. - Sandeko momo $11.99: another deep fried momo (this time I asked for beef) topped with a chunky sauce of soybeans, tomato and onion, filled with minced meat. This was another tasty plate! All the momos we ordered came with 8 pieces, while some of the basic flavors come with a couple more pieces. A single plate is a moderate amount of food for a meal though we ended up ordering six different types to share and try. Each stood out in a different way and I'd heartily recommend all. If there was just one critique it was since it was so cold that night (in the teens Fahrenheit) and no outside wind door that whenever a new customer or delivery pickup driver came in, a rush of freezing cold air also came in. It was quite chilly inside the restaurant for that reason and I had to eat with my jacket on. However that didn't detract from the tasty momos, and I'll certainly be back!

    Ambiance (5/5): The layout is very open, casual, and seat yourself. 2 tables available outside for…read moreoutdoor dining. The facilities were clean, bathroom also available. Service (N/A): You order at the front kiosk and then they bring out the order to your table. Tandoori Momo (4/5): The momo itself was a little on the cold side. However, the flavors of the tandoori flavor was coated on the outside of the shell and accompanied with the green sauce and white sauce. It was such a unique flavor to your standard momo taste. I would love to come back to try the other flavors.

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    Momo Crave
    Momo Crave
    Momo Crave

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    Himalayan Yak

    Himalayan Yak

    3.8(763 reviews)
    0.1 miElmhurst
    $$

    Another stop on my first Jackson Heights food tour. This Nepalese spot offers Nepali foot,…read moreBhutanese food, Tibetan food, and Indian food. The food types are similar but offer different spice/flavor profiles. They have a large section of noodles, soup, and rice. A veggie section with various combos of cauliflower, potatoes, onion, bamboo, blackened peas, mustard greens, and spices. Some of the Indian dishes: paneer butter masala, palak paneer, chicken tikka masala. Some of the appetizers include crispy tofu, fried soybeans, a Nepali snack platter with marinated meat, goat, beef tripe, sliced beef tongue, fried jerky, duck. They also have a momo section. We had their famous chicken lollipops (essentially fried chicken) and it was crispy and spicy (in a good way). We also had sadeko (marinated or tossed) bacon, which was rich and tender. I had one of their Nepali cocktails, which was pleasantly spicy (the chatpata aam, made with tequila, spicy chatpatey syrup, and mango puree). Service was attentive. Inside is cozy, lots of dark wood and colorful flags. They also often have entertainment in the evening, so I would love to return to hear some live music while trying more Nepali cuisine.

    From you enter the door you are greeted by friendly staff. Luckily for me, my party was here and…read moreeasy to spot. A were a large group celebrating our friends birthday. The place isn't huge but it is a good size and was able to accommodate us. There were many appetizers on the table that were very delish. A hit for me were the seasoned potatoes, Aloo Dum (dry). I ordered the Shogo Ngopa and decided to go with tingmo instead of the white rice. Trying something new! Also ordered a mango lassie. Food came out fresh, warm and delicious. The tingmo reminded me to a steamed bun with out the filling but with layers. Everything was good. Everyone was friendly and kept our water glasses filled. At 9pm there was live music which was a nice treat. They even sang happy birthday to our friend. Nice place and will definitely try again!

    Photos
    Himalayan Yak
    Himalayan Yak - Sap thak

    Sap thak

    Himalayan Yak

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    Faarzi Himalayan Bar & Grill

    Faarzi Himalayan Bar & Grill

    4.6(21 reviews)
    1.1 miElmhurst

    I've walked past this place a few times and was intrigued so I decided to give it a try…read more It has a beautiful, well decorated interior and was kept warm and cozy on a snowy day. They provide complimentary popcorn, which is well seasoned and rich with ghee. I was seated in a chair that was very low to the ground. While outfitted with comfy cushions, I was not sure what the proper was to sit on this chair was and I was too embarrassed to ask. My best guess is that it's meant to be a criss cross applesauce type situation, but I had on wet snow boots and didn't particularly want to do that. This isn't a complaint, but just something to consider for anyone with mobility concerns who might be considering visiting. There are some normal style chairs in the front of the restaurant that I'm sure I would have been switched to had I requested as such. Anyway, onto the food. I ordered the "Lahana Ko Faarzi Bhoj" which arrived on a large round platter with a variety of different dishes. I am very new to this type of food, and most of it was completely unfamiliar to me, which was very exciting. The grain at the center of this platter is "chiura," a rice product which has been pounded flat and dried. It has a light and crunchy texture, and pairs well with the thinner, wet curries it was served with as it really soaks up the liquid and expands in size. I've never had this before and it was very interesting to try. The platter comes with two bowls of warm curry, one with black eyed peas and maybe some potato and the other was darker with meat which I preferred. Both were rich and deep in flavor, but the darker one (pictured on the right) was so savory and well balanced- definitely my favorite part of the meal. They both have some heat to them, the kind that builds at the back of the palette throughout the meal, but none of this food was excessively spicy. The main plate has a ring of various cold dishes around the edge, all of which were unfamiliar to me so I can't necessarily identify them. My favorites were the pieces of well seasoned dark meat chicken and the deep fried egg in the center, but it also included some pickled elements, some ground meat and a small skewer, which I found to be quite tough. I really enjoyed trying new, interesting food in such a beautiful space. The servers were kind and there are many other items on the menu that I'm interested to try. I feel lucky to have this place nearby.

    Come for happy hour and vibes: the drinks and atmosphere at Faarzi are unusual in the neighborhood,…read morewhere few restaurants of its ilk have a full cocktail program. This is such a fun spot; don't be deterred by the Irish-pub-resembling exterior, the interior is delightful decorated with Himalayan touches, with bar or table seating. I've happened to come by a few nights when there's live music playing, and the crowd has clearly been there for the performance, but if you want to talk to your tablemates, you might want to come a bit earlier in the evening. I appreciated the creativity and the cuisine-specificity of the cocktails, and the bartenders are super friendly. The food is there as a nice accompaniment to the drinks, but if you're looking for a Himalayan meal experience and no drinks, I'd probably point you elsewhere in the Jackson Heights neighborhood up Broadway. I prefer Faarzi to Kasthamandap or UpTop in Jackson Heights/Elmhurst, but all three can provide similar live music/fun vibes/cocktail experiences.

    Photos
    Faarzi Himalayan Bar & Grill - Decor and details are so nice in here

    Decor and details are so nice in here

    Faarzi Himalayan Bar & Grill - Mushroom Thakali Set

    Mushroom Thakali Set

    Faarzi Himalayan Bar & Grill - Menu

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    Menu

    Kasthamandap - fish fry

    Kasthamandap

    4.6(49 reviews)
    0.3 miWoodside

    Ambiance (5/5): The inside in incredibly ornate and transport you to another culture. The walls are…read moredecked out, there's a stage in the front, the TV plays scenic views of Nepal. Light ethnic music playing in the background. It was very serene and immersive. Large establishment that can also seat large parties. Service (4/5): We were the only patrons in the restaurant at 3p. The food took much longer than expected to come out (maybe like 30min). Beef momos (kothey style) (5/5): It was worth the wait!! The skin was a nice chew with a crunchy bite mixed in. The stuffing was wonderfully flavored and balanced. The sauces were basically unneeded! We went on a self guided momo food crawl and we had this spot last - it was unanimously chosen as the best momo we had all day (out of 5 in the neighborhood!)

    Bit more than a year ago my wife spotted this restaurant on a bus through to LGA. We finally had…read morethe chance to give it a shot just yesterday. Day before a blizzard, always is a great time for good eats. Aside from ourselves there was only 1 other couple, but again it's mid day before a blizzard. The restaurant is decorated perfect IMHO. Without being anything over the top I felt it was a very nice balance of dark, old, new and modern - where needed. I really liked the feel and the space. The food - finally my first momo platter. Again being a vegetarian it's hard to come by. It was insanely good. Nothing like ordering "dumplings" if U ask me. But so much more wholesome dough, filling, and fresh herbs. And the 2 sauces were intensely different from any other condiment I've ever had. We also ordered an amazing black tea with honey lemon ginger - my fav. And paneer chilli, and aloo timur. Both just as great with no oily, greasy, saltiness to it and fresh herbs and spices. At the end we caught up with some small talk with the young woman who served us and said bye til we come here again - debility for the jhol momo and the brunch platters next.

    Photos
    Kasthamandap - Decor

    Decor

    Kasthamandap - Momo plater

    Momo plater

    Kasthamandap - Decor

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    Decor

    Bajeko Sekuwa - Rice

    Bajeko Sekuwa

    4.3(164 reviews)
    1.4 miSunnyside
    $$

    This Himalayan restaurant is on Queens Blvd near Sunny side, I pass it on my drive home so back…read morein August there was a parking spot out front so I parked and went in! This was early afternoon so it was pretty empty the owner was very nice he suggested Kothey Momo Goat which was tender and very well seasoned, then we had Butter Chicken Marsala also delicious ! We got a Curry Lamb. & Samosa's too for a friend to try and Of course we ordered garlic naan ! The mango lassie is perfection ! So if you're in the area drop in Manoji May be there with kind attentive service !

    I got a takeout and I was really disappointed with the chicken choila. The dish was extremely bland…read moreand tasted mostly like chili oil with very little depth of flavor. Instead of being smoky or well-seasoned like a proper choila should be, it felt like an oil-heavy plate with minimal balance. It ended up being more greasy than flavorful. For the price, the portion and quality don't justify the cost. I expected bold, fresh spices and char-grilled flavor, but what I got was flat and oily. I actually enjoyed my homemade meal more than this takeout. A renowned establishment like Bajeko Sekuwa should honestly do better. The reputation sets a high expectation, and this dish didn't come close to meeting it. Unfortunately, I wouldn't order this again.

    Photos
    Bajeko Sekuwa - View of the dining room

    View of the dining room

    Bajeko Sekuwa - Best food I've ever had!! 10/10

    Best food I've ever had!! 10/10

    Bajeko Sekuwa - Barahsinghe Beer

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    Barahsinghe Beer

    Tawa Food - himalayan - Updated May 2026

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