Food & DrinkKathmandu
A 1960s Kathmandu momo institution near Durbar Square, famous for buff momo in signature jhol.
About this place
Summary
Narayan Dai ko Momo is one of Kathmandu's oldest and best-loved momo joints, serving buff momo in a signature jhol since the 1960s. A small, busy, no-frills spot that locals return to for nostalgia as much as the food.
Why we picked it
It is a genuine Kathmandu momo institution — a recipe handed down for sixty years and a local rite of passage, not a tourist invention.
Good for
Momo lovers, old-city food walks, budget eaters, and anyone wanting a classic local bite.
Skip if
Skip if you want a calm sit-down meal, a big vegetarian menu, or polished surroundings.
Editorial guide
The buff momo in jhol — dumplings in a tangy sesame-peanut-soybean soup with chili. Cheese-and-veg momo are available, but the buff in jhol is the reason to come.
Tight, busy, and unpretentious — this is old-school Kathmandu momo, not ambience. There are a few branches; the original Masangalli spot near Durbar Square is small and easy to miss.
Confirm which branch you are heading to, as hours differ. The vegetarian range is limited. Best slotted into an old-city walk around Basantapur.
Best for
Good in
Appears in
A late-morning walk through Kathmandu's old city, eating as you go: the Durbar Square, a classic momo stop, the market lanes of Indra Chowk and Ason, and a garden bakery to finish.
“It turns the old city into a meal — the best way to taste Kathmandu while walking its most historic streets.”
