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Fomo Momo Brings North Indian Street Food To the East Village
December 13, 2024, 1:05.10 am ET

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Photos: Michael Tulipan

When Ankita Nagpal and Impreet Sodhi first met in New York, their bond was immediate—primarily because of their shared love for food. Both originally from India, they found common ground in the flavors and aromas of momos, a popular street food that marries dumplings with bold Indian spices. Despite their careers in tech, the duo couldn’t shake their passion for the street snacks that reminded them of home, so they decided to share it with the world.

The journey began in 2021 when they launched a pop-up at Smorgasburg. After perfecting their recipes, they rolled out a food truck in Jersey City in 2023. Now, they’ve opened their first brick-and-mortar spot in Manhattan’s East Village, a cozy space where customers can dive into the delicious, spicy-filled momos they’ve come to love.

At Fomo Momo (located at 85 1st Ave), Momos come either steamed or fried with 3 filling options: vegetables, paneer (cheese) or chicken, enjoyed plain with a chutney for dipping or in one of a variety of preparations like Schezwan with an Indo-Chinese condiment with red chilies; Makhani butter chicken sauce; Tandoori, marinated in spicy yogurt with ginger and garlic, then finished in a tandoor oven for a smoky flavor; Afghani (creamy marinade with cilantro); Achari (yogurt with spices and Indian pickled mango), and more.

Aside from their signature momos, the menu features five sandwiches unique to the NYC location are offered for the first time: Crispy Chicken Sandwich; Crispy Paneer Sandwich; Butter Chicken Sandwich; Paneer Makhani Sandwich; and Vada Pav, a popular Mumbai vegan sandwich. All come with cilantro chutney and crunchy onions, plus tandoori mayonnaise or butter chicken gravy - and all can be made into rice bowls. There are vegan and vegetarian snacks ($5-10) like the plant-based chaap soy nuggets (a popular South Asian meat substitute – and delicious!) in different styles; tandoori paneer fingers, spring rolls, samosas and masala fries.

Drinks include housemade Masala and Rose Lemonade, Chai, and Indian sodas like the rose-flavored cola Thumbs Up (the national soda of India) and lemon-lime Limca. The small but colorful space offers seating for up to 12 guests and features neon signage, tea kettle motif wallpaper and large backlit PVC food truck graphic with two Indian women enjoying momos on top of the hood referencing the food truck origin of the restaurant.

Fomo Momo is open Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday from 4 PM to 11 PM, with extended hours on Friday and Saturday until 1 AM, perfect for late-night cravings. Whether you’re a momo lover or a newbie to this Indian snack, Fomo Momo is a place that delivers big flavor with a touch of nostalgia.



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