Thousands Drawn to Jackson Heights Momo Crawl
Freshly prepared momos are served to customers during the 14th annual Momo Crawl in Jackson Heights, Queens, on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. Photo: Deepak Pariyar/NepYork
JACKSON HEIGHTS, Queens, New York — Thousands of food lovers, community members, and visitors crowded Jackson Heights on Sunday for the 14th annual Momo Crawl and Block Party, turning Diversity Plaza and nearby streets into a celebration of Himalayan food, culture, and neighborhood small businesses.
More than 2,000 Momo Crawl passports were sold online before the event, and hundreds more were sold in person on Sunday, according to organizers. The strong turnout brought thousands of people to Diversity Plaza and 37th Road between 74th and 75th streets.
The event began at noon and featured more than 30 Tibetan, Nepali, and other Himalayan restaurants and vendors. Passport holders could visit participating businesses, purchase individual momos for $1, and vote for their favorite vendor in the Momo Championship Belt competition.
Regular passports cost $15. A limited-edition $60 passport, which included express-line access at select vendors, a Momo Crawl T-shirt, and a traditional Tibetan scarf (a khatag), sold out before the event. The first 100 crawlers also received a free khatag.
For Binita Tamang, a participant, the gathering was both enjoyable and meaningful.
“The atmosphere is really fun,” Tamang said. “I can see everyone participating. People from all communities and countries have come.” She added that the popular dumpling served as a cultural bridge for the Nepali community. “Momo is also a Nepali food. Through this food, I feel we are able to showcase our culture. At the same time, it is a big opportunity for small businesses.”
Restaurant owners agreed that the large turnout introduced their food to new customers and created a significant business opportunity.
Mohan Baruwal, owner of Namaste Tasi Delek Restaurant & Bar, said participation in the crawl had been encouraging. “It has been very good so far,” Baruwal said. “This year has great potential, and things are going very well. We are happy.” Baruwal added that the event benefits Nepali momo businesses in two ways: by promoting the food and culture, and by generating direct sales. “It is an opportunity to do business for Nepali momo businesses. It helps make people aware of momo, and it is also business. It is both.”
Before the event, Namaste Tasi Delek announced that it would donate 10% of its Momo Crawl sales to flood relief efforts in Nepal.
Yamuna Shrestha, owner of Nepali Bhanchha Ghar, noted that the Momo Crawl creates a busy, festive atmosphere for participating restaurants. “We are too busy to serve, and it’s a great opportunity for business,” Shrestha said, describing the steady flow of customers during the event.
Nepali Bhanchha Ghar is a five-time Momo Crawl champion, having won the annual Jackson Heights competition more times than any other participating restaurant, according to the restaurant’s publicized record. Its status as a perennial champion made it one of the event’s most closely watched vendors as attendees cast their ballots.
Gyanu Thapa Magar, owner of Gorkhali Nepali Restaurant, said the packed streets and steady demand kept her team busy. “The atmosphere is very good. It is packed,” Thapa Magar said. “We have been extremely busy, and it has been very good.” She noted that the event gave her restaurant a chance to introduce its food to diners who had not previously visited: “It is very good for business because new customers come. That makes us very happy.”
The annual event also included entertainment and cultural performances by local artists and community groups. For vendors and attendees alike, the Momo Crawl showcased momo as both a beloved Himalayan dish and a vibrant way to share Nepali and Tibetan culture with New York’s diverse communities.