Quick answer

Momo are filled dumplings enjoyed across Nepal. At The Great Kathmandu, our menu serves six with minced lamb, chicken or a vegan filling, alongside tomato chutney. They sit among our Nepalese starters and can take more than 20 minutes to prepare, so they are best ordered with a little time to spare.

Menu name
Mo:Mo
Choice
Minced lamb, chicken or vegan filling
Portion
Six dumplings with tomato chutney
Preparation
The menu notes that preparation may exceed 20 minutes
Dine-in price
£11.95 at publication; check the current menu before visiting

What is momo?

Momo are dumplings with a savoury filling. Nepal Tourism Board describes steamed or fried momo as one of Nepal's most popular snacks. Fillings, shapes and accompanying sauces vary between kitchens, regions and families, which is why a plate of momo can be familiar in form but distinctive in flavour.

A Nepal Academy of Science and Technology handbook documents common steamed forms with a wheat-flour wrapper and seasoned filling, including both round and crescent shapes. Nepal Tourism Board’s heritage-cuisine book says momo are thought to have travelled from Tibet through Newari traders; that is a carefully qualified food-history account, not proof of one uncontested point of invention.

Our current menu uses the spelling “Mo:Mo” and places the dish among the starters. The menu description is intentionally practical: six Nepalese dumplings, a choice of three fillings, and tomato chutney.

One plate, three filling choices and tomato chutney: the menu keeps the description deliberately simple.

How does The Great Kathmandu serve momo?

Choose minced lamb, chicken or a vegan filling. Every serving contains six dumplings and comes with tomato chutney. Because the menu warns that preparation can take more than 20 minutes, it is worth ordering early if momo are part of a larger meal.

We do not use this guide to promise a preparation method that the current menu does not specify. If you would like to know how a particular serving is prepared, ask the team when ordering.

Is there a vegan momo option?

Yes. The dine-in menu lists a vegan filling alongside minced lamb and chicken. Please still tell the team about allergies or dietary requirements before ordering so they can give current kitchen guidance.

What else can I order to explore Nepalese flavours?

Elsewhere on the menu, Kathmandu Choila is described as a dry traditional Nepalese chicken or lamb dish with Nepalese herbs and spices. Kathmandu Bhotowan is a medium-hot dry chicken or lamb dish, while vegetarian Aloo Tama combines potato and bamboo shoots in a traditional Nepalese style.

These dishes are not versions of momo; they simply offer different routes through the Nepalese side of the menu. Check heat labels and speak with the team if you would like help building a sharing order.

Common questions about momo

Are momo always steamed?

No. Institutional sources document steamed, fried and soup-based variations. The current restaurant menu does not state the cooking method for its Mo:Mo, so ask the team about a particular serving.

Are momo wrappers made with wheat?

Common documented versions use wheat flour, but diners with allergies must check the restaurant’s current ingredients and cross-contact guidance rather than relying on a general description.

How many momo are in an order?

The current dine-in menu lists six dumplings, served with tomato chutney.

Can I order vegan momo?

Yes. A vegan filling is listed alongside minced lamb and chicken; please still tell the team about allergies or other dietary requirements.

Source notes

Reviewed 19 September 2026. Where this guide mentions our restaurant, details are checked against the current dine-in menu. Wider cultural, historical and ingredient claims are checked against the cited sources below. How we research and correct our guides.