Just when it seems as though the Indian enclave centering on 6th Street at First Avenue has breathed its last restaurant, along comes a new eatery from the subcontinent to fill the void.
The newest comer goes by the name of Fomo Momo, the second word designating a class of dumplings popular as a street food in Northern India. In fact, the momos served at the new outpost got their start in a popular Jersey City food truck of the same name run by its two female founders, Ankita Nagpal and Impreet Sodhi. In the late 1990s, momos crossed the border from Tibet and became a popular street food in Northern India where the founders grew up. (The two women originally met in New York City and first launched a pop-up at Smorgasburg after developing and testing their own recipes, which infuse Indian flavors into the dumplings.)
Momos ($11 to $20 for 6 to 12 pieces) come either steamed or fried with three filling options: vegetable, paneer (cheese), or chicken. The dumplings may be enjoyed plain with a chutney for dipping or in one of a variety of preparations like Schezwan (sparked with an Indo-Chinese condiment fashioned from red chilis); Makhani (served in a butter chicken sauce); or Tandoori (marinated in spicy yogurt with ginger and garlic and finished in the oven for a smoky flavor).
Beverages include a housemade masala and rose-flavored lemonade, chai, and Indian sodas.
The small but colorful space offers seating for up to 12 guests and features neon signage, tea kettle motif wallpaper and a large backlit PVC food truck graphic with two Indian women enjoying momos on top of the hood.
Fomo Momo, 85 First Avenue (bet 5th and 6th Sts).
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