Nepali Bhanchha Ghar

When you eat at Nepali Bhanchha Ghar, you'll notice that every table has one thing in common: stacks of sel roti. The kitchen fries these sweet and salty dough crowns to order using soda bottles to pour rings of batter into hot oil, and if you don’t want to bite into one after watching steam waft from its center, we suggest you look inward for answers. Welcome to Nepali Bhanchha Ghar, where burning your mouth with sel roti and stuffing yourself with Nepali food as if you're a human duffle bag are both standard practices.

photo credit: Noah Devereaux

This restaurant lives right by the Roosevelt Avenue Subway station in Jackson Heights, an area notorious for delicious Nepali food. While we recommend grabbing some quick momos from Phayul or AMDO Kitchen nearby, we consistently send people to Nepali Bhanchha Ghar first for a sit-down Nepali meal. Make sure to order their jhol momo, a big bowl of spicy sesame-and-tomato broth with momos floating in it.

Come with a group and sit in the full-service dining room upstairs. They also have a downstairs seating area, though it’s often rented out for parties and weddings. Once you eat here, you’ll understand why someone might want to rent that basement for all of their family and friends to rage in.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Noah Devereaux

Sel Roti

We understand that the circular shape of this fried rice flour treat might make you want to place this atop your head like a crown and demand tribute from your friends. But resist the urge to do anything but tear this thing apart. The bubbly texture of the outside stays crisp with ghee while the inside remains piping hot, soft, and sweet. Dip a piece into the spicy chutney for one of the best bites you’ll have all year.

photo credit: Noah Devereaux

Jhol Momo

As much as we love the restaurant’s sel roti, this spicy soup is the one thing you can’t leave Nepali Bhanchha Ghar without. Choose any variety of steamed, crescent-shaped momo, and it'll come floating in a soup base, which is thick and spicy. We usually go with beef, since its saltiness goes well with the tomato and sesame-based broth.

Thali

If you’re looking for a well-rounded meal without spending more than $15, get a thali with your choice of curry, plus soup, lentils, pickles, chutney, and steamed rice or mashed buckwheat dhindo. This doesn't stand out as much as the jhol momo, but the vegetarian version is still satisfying.

photo credit: Noah Devereaux

Momos

Get them steamed and soft, or fried and crispy. Either way, the hot sauce in the middle of the plate is a necessary addition to every bite.