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Momo Crawl Returning to Jackson Heights for 8th Year This Sunday

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Sept. 11, 2019 By Shane O’Brien

A food festival dedicated to the Tibetan and Nepalese dumpling, called “the Momo,” will return to Jackson Heights this weekend.

The annual Momo Crawl is set to take place for the eighth successive year this Sunday, Sept. 15 and will begin at 1 p.m. at Diversity Plaza. The crawl goes until 5 p.m. and more than 1,000 people are expected to attend.

Participants can taste momos from 26 Tibetan, Nepali and South-Asian restaurants scattered throughout Jackson Heights. Attendees will be provided with a guide–or “passport”–that will note the restaurants that are part of the crawl and their location.

“Passports” for the event cost $10 and can be purchased online or can be picked up at Diversity Plaza after 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. Participants will only have to pay $1 for a momo.

Momos are Himalayan dumplings that consist of a meat or vegetable filling and come with a spicy sauce on the side. They vary in taste, largely based on the regional background of the chef.

Nepali Momos, for example, are known to be spicy, while Tibetan Momos are renowned for their flavorful meats. Each region in Tibet and Nepal also has a specific way of cooking Momos and each chef has a unique recipe.

The Momo Crawl is being organized by non-profit Students for a Free Tibet, a group that advocates for Tibetan independence. The event aims to raise money for the group’s advocacy work and highlight the cuisine and culture of Jackson Heights. The group also wants to promote immigrant businesses in Jackson Heights.

This year’s event also features a companion app, called the Momo App. The App provides information about the Momo Crawl and is available to download in the App Store and Google Play. The App also provides information about every eatery that sells momos in New York City.

For more information on the event, click here