KATHMANDU: Pittsburgh is starting to reap the rewards in the form of Nepali restaurants. Namaste Momo Corner is just one of a few spots that have sprouted up along Route 51 in Brentwood’s strip malls in Pittsburgh’s South Hills of the United States.
Namaste Momo Corner is fast-causal, unassuming, and very accessible to those who aren’t familiar with Nepali food. Momo, or dumplings, are the eponymous item, and some are very similar to Chinese pot-stickers. Except, Namaste Momo Corner has several varieties, with different fillings and different styles.
On a recent trip, I ordered the C-momo dumplings with pork fillings, the chicken chow mein, and the samosa chaat.
The Nepali cuisine at Namaste was a pleasant combination of Indian and Chinese comfort foods, each containing noticeable similarities to the Asian staples, but distinct enough to recognize the dishes as uniquely Nepali.
The C-momo dumplings (the C stands for chili) were spicy, a bit sweet, and filled with a moist and flavorful pork filling. They look and taste similar to Chinese pot-sticker dumplings, but with a different blend of spices in the meat, and are covered in a spicy and subtle sweet chili sauce with just a hint of turmeric. No need for dipping, just dive right in.
The chicken chow mein looks similar to what one might expect from a Chinese-American joint, but it was more spicy than Chinese style and had a nice black-pepper kick to balance out the marinated chicken and sweet noodles. Very easy to eat quickly in large quantities.
Lastly, the samosa chaat was basically an open-faced fried dumpling, covered in chickpea curry. It’s comforting in the same way that biscuits and gravy is comforting, except it’s loaded with Asian flavors.
The samosa was fried to crispy perfection, and stuffed with savory-spiced potato fillings. All around, it was a chaat masala curry sauce with chickpeas, tamarind chutney, and a thick yogurt. This was Namaste’s dish that most resembled Indian flavors, but it was sweeter and less spicy than dishes from the South Asian country.
And this is where Namaste Momo Corner really excels. The dishes are both surprising, yet familiar, and they are a balance between both Indian and Chinese cuisine. Which honestly makes sense since both Nepal and Bhutan straddle the two countries in the Himalyan Mountains.
Nepali cousine is a perfect fit for Pittsburgh. Where Indian-American food is typically heavy on the spice and heat, Namaste offers slightly sweeter varieties of its popular dishes. Where Chinese-American can be a bit sweet, Namaste provides a bit more spice to balance out offerings like dumplings and chow mein.
(with inputs from pghcitypaper.com)
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