Momo Mero: A taste of the Himalayas in the heart of Dhaka

On 31 December 2023, Mosi Uddin Ahmed Shezan rolled out a humble food cart on the streets of Dhanmondi, carrying with him a spark ignited during his travels in Nepal. 

Moved by the country's vibrant street food culture, Shezan envisioned bringing the same energy of Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Nagarkot—fresh, healthy, and affordable momos—to the heart of Dhaka.

That's how Momo Mero—playfully meaning "My momos"—was born; not just as a food venture, but as a flavourful dream.

Teaming up with co-founders Zinia Afrose Neeti, Abdullah Al Tamim, and Tamim Ur Rashid, the cart was launched as an experiment. The public response quickly turned that experiment into a success story. By 1 October, 2024, Momo Mero had evolved into a full-fledged restaurant—proving that big things can, indeed, start small.

The restaurant is located on the 4th floor of Navana GH Heights, Satmasjid Road, and leans towards a more minimalist décor with a simple seating that keeps the space open and relaxed. The dominantly red and wooden backdrop adds a sense of cosiness and warmth. 

Additionally, the walls and ceilings are adorned with details such as lanterns, hand-crafted wall hangings, paintings, and decorative items, reflecting Nepal's rich cultural heritage. 

The price range for a meal at Momo Mero is between Tk 200 to Tk 500, making it accessible for most. 

Momo Mero has overtime expanded its menu to include full Nepali thalis, offering a wholesome taste of traditional Nepalese cuisine. However, they don't claim to serve 100% authentic Nepalese cuisine just yet. 

According to Shezan, the menu will soon shift to fully represent traditional Nepali cuisine. At present, they serve a mix of Nepali, Bhutanese, and Tibetan dishes, referred to as Tri Himalayan food. 

Nepali jhol momo  

This dish comes with five pieces of momos, each soft and generously filled with a juicy, well-seasoned stuffing. They had that warm, comforting feel you look for in a good plate of momos. However, the jhol, in my opinion, was quite bland and watery, lacking the usual punch of garlic, spice, or tangy-ness that makes jhol momo special.

It didn't add much to the gastronomic experience. The momos carried the dish on their own, but the jhol definitely needed more depth. With a stronger, well-seasoned broth, this could've been a solid hit.

Price Tk 250

Tandoori momo

This one was easily my favourite out of all three I tasted.

The tandoori masala on the coating gave the momos a fantastic flavour, with just a slight hint of heat that really enhanced the taste. It had a perfect balance of spice that is pleasing to the average Bangladeshi palate. This is definitely a must-try dish from the menu.

Price Tk 240

Momo alfredo

Served on a sizzling plate, this dish features five deep-fried momos topped with creamy Alfredo sauce and chopped veggies. My friend really liked it, but I wasn't quite as convinced. 

The blend of the rich Alfredo sauce and the veggies threw me off a bit as  it didn't quite come together in a way that worked for my taste. The momos themselves were fine, but the combination just didn't hit the mark for me. It's definitely worth trying if you're into unique flavour combos, though.

Price: Tk 320

Sefale cone (2 pieces)

If you're only going to try one thing, make sure it's this! The cone is made from a crispy, golden tortilla wrap, stuffed with juicy, flavourful minced chicken, and topped with a generous layer of melted cheese that adds just the right amount of creaminess. 

The flavours are bold, and even though it's not technically Mexican, It's meaty, cheesy, crunchy, and absolutely delicious. Make sure you eat it immediately while it's served hot, because once the cheese cools down, it loses that creamy texture and the whole dish won't taste the same.

It comes with a mayo-like dip, but honestly, you won't need them because these cones are packed with so much flavour on their own. 

Price: Tk 280

Chaffee

Currently, the only beverage available at Momo Mero, apart from soft drinks and water, is the chaffee, a unique blend of chai and coffee, served cold with chunks of honeycomb as garnish. 

It's an iced drink, but you'll need to give it a good stir to get an even taste.The coffee flavour is very subtle, almost too subtle for my liking and I wouldn't have noticed it at all if it weren't in the name. 

The drink felt a little too watery and overly sweet for my liking, and without a proper coffee kick, it leaned more towards an iced milk tea. Still, it remains one of their most popular items, alongside the shefale cone.

Price: Tk150