Momo Crawl Returning to Jackson Heights This Sunday, 1,700 Tickets Already Sold

An annual food crawl dedicated to the Tibetan and Nepalese dumpling, called “the Momo,” will return to Jackson Heights Sunday. Participants at the 2019 crawl, pictured. (Photo: Students for a Free Tibet Facebook page)

Sept. 16, 2022 By Michael Dorgan

An annual food crawl dedicated to the Tibetan and Nepalese dumpling, called “the Momo,” will return to Jackson Heights Sunday – and organizers are expecting a big turnout.

The event, called the “Momo Crawl,” will run from noon until 5 p.m. on Sept. 18 at Diversity Plaza. Nearly 1,700 tickets for the event have already been sold with hundreds more expected to be snapped up in the next two days, organizers say.

Participants can taste momos from more than 30 Tibetan, Nepali and South-Asian restaurants scattered throughout Jackson Heights. The crawl will also feature music and dance performances from Nepali and Tibetan artists and musicians.

The Momo Crawl, which was first established in 2012, 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.

Ticketholders will be provided with a guide–or “passport”–that will note the restaurants that are part of the crawl and their location.

Tickets for the crawl cost $10 and can be purchased online. Participants will only have to pay $1 for a momo and will also be able to vote for their favorite 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 region where the chef is from.

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.

Several elected officials will take part in the event Sunday, including State Sen. Jessica Ramos and Councilmembers Shekar Krishnan and Julie Won, according to the organizers.

The crawl will also feature music and dance performances from Nepali and Tibetan artists and musicians (Photo: Students for a Free Tibet Facebook page)