THE PLACE: A small little nook just steps away from the hub-bub of Roosevelt Avenue, Om Wok is a gem of a Tibetan restaurant with a welcoming staff and a faint smell of incense. It’s a cozy little spot and one that seems a bit off-the-beaten path of the other more popular momo spots in the neighborhood.
THE MENU: While the momos are what many come here for, the menu is rather extensive with a myriad of dishes from the Himalayas, India, Thailand and China. I was excited to find Ema Datshi, the national dish of Bhutan, on the menu. I made a version of this once on my international cooking video series, but this was the first time I got to try the spicy cheese and pepper dish the way it was supposed to be made.
THE DISH: But I can’t hide the fact that I was here for the famous Steamed Momos – in fact, I was here on the early side and while they don’t normally serve these dumplings for breakfast, they allowed me to order them. I went with the chicken momos, which were maybe not the most traditional (that would be yak which is not on the menu), but it was what I craved this early. My first bite, drizzled with the two sauces tinted with shades of orange and red, was spectacular. The thick wrappers revealed an incredibly juicy filling and tons of flavor. I’ve slowly worked my way through the well-known momos in the neighborhood (partly as research for my Jackson Heights Food Tour) and these are very high on the list and not to be missed. Price: $13.19
| OM WOK |
| 78-14 Roosevelt Avenue (at 78th Street), Jackson Heights, Queens (929) 615-2827 |
| omwokmenu.com |
