Darjeeling Kitchen & Café
Tibetan restaurant · Long Island City
31-12 36th Ave, Long Island City, NY 11106
Highlights
Tibetan & Nepali homestyle cooking, famous for jhol momos & chai
Tibetan & Nepali homestyle cooking, famous for jhol momos & chai
"If you’re looking for momos in Queens, Jackson Heights is typically the answer. But at this family-run spot serving Tibetan and Himalayan food, you’ll find some perfect specimens. Start with the momos submerged in a thick orange broth strewn with bits of cashew and peanut. This all-day café also does an incredible take on the Sherpa soup rildok with non-traditional fufu dumplings, as well as a handful of other sub-$20 dishes like stir-fried beef and a Nepali thali with a wreath of vegetable sides." - neha talreja, bryan kim, hannah albertine, sonal shah, molly fitzpatrick
"A halal Tibetan and Himalayan kitchen that excels at momos and lesser-known specialties; a memorable rildok — a spicy tomato-and-cheese dumpling soup — is made here with blue cheese instead of the more typical yak cheese, producing a spicy, sweat-inducing bowl that proved especially satisfying on a summer night." - Melissa McCart
"At this 12-table spot in LIC, the staff treats like you like a cousin, no more than once removed. The place has a friendly, DIY feel, with a Taylor Swift planter in the window, a model train on display, and a brief selection of Tibetan and Himalayan dishes—a few of which transcend the casual neighborhood setting. Speckled with chili and dusted with cilantro, Darjeeling Kitchen & Café's take on the Sherpa soup rildok is smoothie-thick, with just enough heat to sustain a mild tingle. The donut-shaped dumplings bobbing in the center are traditionally made with pounded potato—but not here. According to one server, that process is too labor-intensive for this family-run restaurant with a first-time head chef referred to as “Auntie.” Instead, they use fufu. The result? A mochi-like product light as marshmallow fluff. video credit: Kate Previte photo credit: Kate Previte photo credit: Kate Previte Pause Unmute There’s not just fufu in the rildok. There’s also blue cheese. And if you’re wondering why the jhol momo broth is so coarse and crunchy, the answer is cashews, soybeans, and peanuts. This small, halal, all-day operation doesn’t let its size hold it back. Whether you order a Nepali thali with a wreath of thoughtful sides or stick to the various, flawlessly crimped momos, ask for every housemade hot sauce. Even standard offerings, like the blistered beef pies, reach new heights when dunked in a saucer of obliterated Thai green chili. Food Rundown Rildok This dish makes Darjeeling Kitchen & Café a destination restaurant. Here, this traditional Sherpa soup gets just enough non-traditional blue cheese to give a subtle twang. The end product is rich and warming, with plenty of those sticky fufu dumplings. photo credit: Kate Previte Steamed Momo The momos at Darjeeling Kitchen & Café are on par with what you’ll find in the momo-heavy neighborhood of Jackson Heights. What sets them apart is the slightly spicy turmeric sauce, thick as mustard, that comes on the side. photo credit: Kate Previte Jhol Momo After the rildok, your next priority should be the johl momos. With its abundance of chopped nuts, the soup is thick enough to spread on toast. photo credit: Kate Previte Nepali Thali A nice and relatively light meal, with lots of little sides that compete for your attention. Alongside your choice of meat, you’ll get juicy stir-fried greens, a variety of pickled vegetables, bitter melon fried in chickpea batter, and more. photo credit: Kate Previte Shaptak Of the four mains, this is the most protein-forward option, but it’s also our least favorite. The thin planks of eye round seem to lose most of their moisture in the cooking process. You should know, however, that the beef pairs wonderfully with the steaming hot tingmo on the side. photo credit: Kate Previte" - Bryan Kim
"In the northeast corner of Long Island City, Darjeeling Kitchen & Café is a halal, women-owned spot serving Tibetan and Himalayan food. They have a variety of fried and steamed momos, as well Tibetan-style beef patties, thukpa with a broth simmered over 24 hours, and a Himalayan breakfast platter—all cooked by a mother from Darjeeling." - will hartman, bryan kim
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Kateryn Kim
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