Decent South Asian and Nepalese place with surprisingly a karaoke night! The bara is a fried pancake of sorts, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The dipping sauce was good as well, possibly a mint-like flavor. The pork momos were really good too, with nice crimping on the skin and decent fillings inside. The chicken vindaloo was decent, though I might have liked more specificity to the flavoring of the vindaloo. The potatoes were nicely textured. The chicken bites were a bit large, they could have been chopped up a bit. The gorkhali khasi (a goat curry) was fairly decent with tender nice pieces. The flavoring was oversalted and again could have used a tad more definition. The bone-in aspect was appreciated as it held the flavor of the meat. The bhindi masala (okra) was fairly successful with a solid infusion of flavor into the okra. The dish was overall too oily though and some steps need to be taken to minimize the oil. All in all quite enjoyable! read more

This was a very pretty restaurant. We arrived from Texas in the middle of the day and practically had the place to ourselves. There were many things to choose from, but because of the time of day, we chose three appetizers and one drink each to start our vaca. All items were delicious, but our favorite was the chili pork. Our drinks were perfect as well. The service was polite, informative, and expedient. I loved the decor inside. There was also some seating outside, but we were craving some AC and quiet. All around, and excellent experience. read more

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Dinner at Zomsa was a treat for all the senses. (If you're wondering about touch, the booths and seats were comfortable, and the rest rooms were very clean). That logo displayed on the sidewalk outside from an overhead light was pretty cool, a nice way for people to notice it if looking down (like if you were glued to your phone, lol). Then there was that first whiff of aromas as you walk in, the enjoyable music in the background, and the overall friendliness and hospitality of the staff. And of course the food and drinks. Among the wide varieties of drinks offered, we tried their crafted cocktails. These were beautiful to look at and delicious to sip. To maximize the variety of food options, we went for several appetizers and then one entree split among us, plus delicious garlic naan. As always, momos first, this time the steamed lamb. The flavor was amazing. Their momos also have a little dimple at the top, perfect for a dollop of the sauce. But beware the chutney - while equally delicious, you get an unexpected burst of heat at the end. Tasty goodness continued with the spiced wings and the chicken saag, served with ample rice. I noticed an emphasis on reservations on their website, and after seeing how quickly the restaurant filled up only a few minutes after we arrived - on a Thursday - I can see that reservations are definitely be a very good thing on busier nights. read more

Zomsa - A cool greeting as you walk in - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

Amazing Nepal spot in Arlington! Their deco is cute and staffs are very nice. We got jhol momo with pork, veggie momo and chowmein in cold rainy day. They were delicious and I can't wait to go back! They also forgot to give us mango lassi but they were generous enough that they gave us one more for being sorry read more

Zomsa - Jhol MO:MO Chowmein - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

Didn't have a ton to eat here, but everything I had was delicious. Service was attentive, warm, and friendly, which added to the great experience. The restaurant was comfy; there was an electric fireplace on the wall which made the room feel homey. We got fried pork momos, which were delicious and juicy. I was interested in trying the C-style, but we had a non-spice eater at the table. I got the pork chili from the appetizer menu and garlic naan for my meal, and my companions got the chow mein and sekuwa. The chow mein looked standard and sekewa was grilled chicken served with puffed rice (looked like rice krispies). Everyone was happy with their meals, but I especially loved mine. There were slices of pork belly in a flavorful sauce with tomatoes, onions, and bell peppers. Note that the pork belly still has the skin on it (which I personally love). My only complaint was at medium, the food seemed mild, but I'll be clearer of my spice preferences next time. I would definitely come back specifically for the pork chili! read more

First time trying Nepalese food. This story tells us why some cuisines aren't popular (in China)... Papad: A complimentary crispy snack served before the meal. A combination of the texture of Mexican tortilla chips and the flavor of Indonesian shrimp chips. As someone whose ancestors migrated to Indonesia (half Hakka), I've eaten shrimp chips since childhood, so it felt instantly familiar. The condiments were tamarind sauce and pickled onions. The former was rich, thick, and refreshingly sweet and sour, strangely reminiscent of Cantonese roast goose with plum sauce, a perfect match for the crispy snack; the latter also had a predominantly sweet and sour tomato flavor, but the subsequent strange taste and spiciness of the paprika was too much for a Cantonese person like me. Mango Lassi: Absolutely delicious!!! Lassi is Nepalese yogurt, with a very smooth and delicate texture; the sweetness of the mango was naturally rich and not overpowering, not masking the rich sourness of the yogurt itself. Writing this review, I finally understood why I loved it--it's basically a yogurt version of Hongkongese mango pomelo sago... Mo:mo (Steamed) - Pork: Nepalese version of xiaolongbao小籠包 (soup dumplings). The filling had a moderate concentration of spices, allowing you to taste the meat's natural flavor; however, the skin near the bottom had cracks, so there were no soup. The dipping sauce, Achar, was interesting, with the sweet and sour taste of tomatoes, the spiciness of garlic and ginger, and a hint of nuts, making it overall refreshing. However, what might be hard for Chinese people to understand is that steamed buns are supposed to be eaten fresh out of the pot, so why was the dipping sauce cold? Reheating it at home with the sauce made it much more palatable. Nepali Thaali - Goat: The standard vegetarian option included lentil soup (Dal), curried potato and cauliflower (Tarkari), stir-fried vegetables (Saag), pickled radish cubes (Achaar), long-grain rice (Bhat), ghee, and a slice each of white radish, carrot, and cucumber, plus an extra serving of goat curry. In short, it was a bunch of spice paste with rice. I won't judge whether it was good or bad; I just really didn't like it. The spices were extremely complex and intense; towards the end, I even felt dizzy and questioned my existence, completely disoriented by what I was eating--it felt so strange, like something that shouldn't exist on Earth... The Dal seemed to use more mung beans than lentils, with a slightly burnt and bitter aftertaste; both vegetables in the Tarkari were overcooked, but the curry itself was rather weak and bland; the Saag seemed to use mustard greens, similar to stir-fried greens in Chinese cuisine but on the oilier side, with dried chilies that only added aroma, not spiciness. The curried goat meat, however, was quite good, savory and rich, the meat's flavor finally making it taste less like herbs. Muttering to myself: Each has its own beauty, let's all appreciate beauty together... read more

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I had a delicious lunch here yesterday! I took myself out to lunch and when I walked into Zomsa, it felt like a meditative space, with relaxing instrumental music in the background. The dining area looks more high end than the menu prices would suggest, which is a nice touch. I started with the veggie samosas with tamarind sauce--perfect. Exactly the right consistency and they gave me a good amount of tamarind sauce. My entree was the c-style chicken momos, which came in a super flavorful sauce with red & green peppers and onions. It was just first rate. I took half home and air fried them to warm them, and they were still great. Note they also have mango lassi, but I went with traditional tea instead. My server was quite present and altogether, it felt like a relaxed lunch that I very much enjoyed! I also got parking directly in front of the restaurant, so bonus points for that. read more

Food was delicious! I recommend the momo c dumplings. Didn't realize there would be so many dumplings in a serving!

For several months I walked by this new restaurant in Arlington Center and gazed longingly through the windows I've now been to Zomsa twice. The cocktails are phenomenal. (Might I suggest the chai martini?) I have eaten the simple steamed Momos and the chicken korma and both were delicious, but especially the korma dish. The chicken was tender, and the creamy sauce was perfectly spiced and balanced. The service is fine. Not overly attentive but nearby when you need them. A stand out is the bartender who is extremely friendly and provides excellent service as well as conversation. Perhaps the best part about Zomsa is the ambience. The entryway is a bit small and you have to walk through the bar to get to the dining room, but the dining room is beautifully decorated. Definitely not a minimalist interior and I would love to host a dinner party in their private room off the bar. I am thinking of doing that for my 50th in five years. read more

Zomsa - Finally here - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

Food and drinks were both incredible. I got the Kamasutra and Chicken tikka masala both phenomenal. The menu cocktails are very well crafted. read more

I meant to post this review some time ago. The Owner is a Gem. Had gotten delivery and not enough Tamarind Sauce was included. I called to express my feelings and the owner asked me to choose 2 dishes on the house. He delivered them to me with extra Tamarind Sauce and that Ladies and Gentlemen was the most exemplary Customer Service I have ever experienced. By the way! They DON'T SKIMP on the meat in their delicious dishes. Definitely get the Byriani! read more

Second time here, and it's going to be a regular spot! Lamb momos, a street dish (chatpate) that is super cilantro heavy (yum!), Gurkhali Kukhura chicken was amazing, as was the pashaari naan and mango lassi. Service was attentive, but well paced (everything didn't come together), and the ambience was lovely (easy enough to talk, even though it was busy-- no loud music). read more

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Best wings ever staff funny and welcoming karoke and tvs great food and cocktails outdoor seating

I didn't have any expectations going into Zomsa, but I left a convert. Zomsa has some amazing flavors and textures, and I can't wait for my next visit. We got everything medium spice, which already had a good kick. The entrees came with rice, so it ended up being more than enough carbs. Amazing, would absolutely get again - Gorkhali kukhura ($19) - This chicken dish was incredible. The chicken was so tender and the sauce was thick and so flavorful. Great, would get again - Fried chicken momo ($13) - Perfectly crunchy on the outside and tasty chicken filling on the inside. - Laccha paratha ($5) - Buttery layered bread, what's not to like? Good, might get again - Chana masala ($17) - Honestly my mouth hadn't fully recovered from the spice in the biryani when eating this, but I thought it was quite flavorful and good. - Shrimp biryani ($19) - This dish had a lot of tomato and spice flavor, but not as many shrimp (maybe 6 total). The shrimp were good, though! Wouldn't get again - Chicken thukpa ($15) - Unfortunately this was pretty bland. It tasted better with spicy sauce, though! We also got the mango lassi ($5) which was pretty standard and was a nice complement to the highly spiced foods. The service was good and the interior of the restaurant is elegant and spacious. I'm looking forward to my next visit! read more

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Fantastic new addition to Arlington food scene. Delicious food ( highly recommend Nepali Thali, momos and tandoori lamb) , great craft cocktails and friendly staff and owner. Nice ambiance and they have bar with always smiling bartender Raj, and separate space for private parties. Come and give them a try. read more

Zomsa - Bartender Raj - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

I live nearby so this is our neighborhood Chinese restaurant. We love it!!!' Friendly staff, great food

I went to culinary school. I ordered the Tikka masala and the laccha paratha. The bread looked well executed and had an interesting pull-a-part texture but lacked the flavor that would convince me to get it again. Consider adding more dahi for the tanginess. The Tikka masala had a satisfying portion of chicken, and it has a very interesting and unique flavor, and didn't feel overly creamy, however it was completely overpowered by the level of sweetness. It was also covered in oil as you can see in the picture. A few pieces of chicken were overcooked and chewy (make sure to cut the pieces into the same size so they cook evenly, the overcooked pieces were the ones cut into thinner strips. read more

Zomsa - Laccha paratha - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

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Tried Zomsa today for the first time. Owner & Staff were polite, knowledgeable and friendly. Ambiance was great minus a crying child . The food was sooooo delicious and flavorful. We will be going back soon! read more

Zomsa - Tandoori chicken and lamb! - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

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We celebrated my mother's birthday there yesterday. The food is amazing, the staff are so nice, and they brought her a delicious piece of cake to celebrate. read more

This place has the best Karaoke in town! For some reason Zomsa doesn't show up in results for Karaoke and I don't know why. It's the best Karaoke in Arlington! The food is also great. For anyone who remembers Shanghai Village, the food is just as good as the previous owners of the place. Their steamed mo-mo is my favorite. But special mention should go to the ethnic buffalo dish. It tastes like nothing else I've tasted! read more

Amazing vibe and authentic food. Service is great. Always come here on special occasions. Their momos are the best. Also love the samosa and pakora!!! read more

Zomsa - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

Delicious food, nice ambiance. The place was packed, so we had to wait but the host brought out some poppa dom for us to munch on, and we had a drink in the waiting area. read more

Delicious food, extremely friendly staff. The momos were great as was the thali. The naan with potatoes was good and I loved my leftovers!

Food was great. Lamb vindaloo, momo, and the gorkhali were all excellent. The spice mix in the gorkhali was interesting in a good way.

I've been here twice now and each time the food was delicious. I ordered the same thing both times because it was so good: goat curry with an assortment of other accompaniments. And their version of chai. Yummy pappadams and dipping sauces come as complimentary offerings. hoping to explore more of the menu! read more

Delicious delicious food. They need to sell a side of just the onions that are served on the plate with the tandoori chicken! Kebab was excellent. Very kind and thoughtful employees - just felt like they appreciated us being there. Absolutely looking forward to going back. read more

Literally the worst service ! ! The food was uninspiring, and then the taken was very long. The design of the restaurant was good read more

This is a new restaurant in Arlington and this was our first visit. The cuisine is Nepalese/Indian. We live in Boston and came to town to visit family. There were four of us for lunch on a Sunday. We sampled of a variety of dishes: chowmein, sheekh kebab, samos chaat, and steamed Mo-Mo. All were very fresh and delicious. The presentations were artistic. Some of the food was a bit spicy for one of us. If you are sensitive to spicy foods, safer to order 'mild' or ask the waitstaff for recommendations. The staff are very polite, soft spoken, and knowledgeable about the menu. You may get a chance to meet the owner, Prem. He is a warm and kind-hearted soul and a gentleman. read more

Food was bland and not true. Indo, chinese had stomach problems after eating and the service will subpar.

Zomsa is my favorite Southeast Asian spot in the Boston metro area, and second to my all-time favorite in Bernal Heights, San Francisco. I highly recommend Momo (both steamed and C-Style), as well as the Butter Chicken - we ordered a bunch of other dishes who's names escape me at the moment. HIGHLY recommend! The staff and service was fantastic as well, although they also have excellent take-out. read more

No frill in my reviews... people just want to know what's up! Appetizer: Mo-Mo Pork Dumplings - thin dumpling skins and great flavor inside. Simple taste enriched with a more complex sauce that totally complements the dumpling's flavor! Main Dishes: Daal Bhat Nepali Thali with Dry Meat (Buffalo) and unknown name curry with sweet potato and potatoes. Both excellent meals if you want a platter of variety. The spinach was a tad salty but everything else was very flavorful. The dry meat or buffalo had a smokiness to it that made my mouth water after each bite. Drink: Kamasutra - whiskey/bourbon raspberry based cocktail. Tasted like a whiskey sour. Wife doesn't like sweet so she asked for less sweetness and the bartender got it just right! Overall: A winning restaurant in Arlington. So jelly of this town for all the great eats, now a Nepalese/Himalayan resto!! I'll be back with backup of friends to order more delicious meals! Prem, owner/Manager was very hospitable and his staff really cared about our experience. Nicest people providing a meal not to be forgotten! read more

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Fabulous local restaurant with a large, diverse menu and consistently warm service! One of my go tos for a quick sit down lunch!

Greatest south asian food ever... must try food in Arlington.. they have great drinks too! Excellent service!

Have since been back 2 other times!! Food never disappoints and the service is great. One of our favorite spots in town for sure.

I loved it!! The staff are the sweetest most welcoming people, the food was top notch! There was a very talented musician playing and he added to the total experience!!! i loved the music that Dylan Millis chose!! This was my first time and it certainly will not be my last!! read more

Very nice restaurant. I don't live locally but I am always happy to drive here for delicious food and great cocktails. Very friendly stuff!! Raj is the best cocktail maker!!! Will be back soon!!! read more

Relatively new restaurant in town. Great food, lovely ambience and kind service. Butter chicken was by far our favorite! Also fried potato appetizer was wonderful. We ate inside but they did have a few outside tables. read more

Great ambiance, service and tasty food in this new Nepalese restaurant. The achar for the momos is what like--great acid. We will be frequent visitors. read more

This was my first time to have Nepali food. It is quite similar to Indian food but has some subtle differences. At least for me, it is more spicy. We had Daal Bhat Nepali Thaali with Sukuti and mixed fried rice. Again this was my first time to try Sukuti (dry Buffalo meat) which is very chewy (Actually I was warned). Next time I will choose some other meat. Mixed fried rice was excellent, and I love it! read more

Food is delicious. We love the momos. Decor is elegant. I love watching the television showing Tibet and Mongolia and not sure what else. I am sure it is beautiful country. The wait staff are helpful and kind. read more