Zomsa - Restaurant in El Cerrito - 10558 San Pablo Ave, USA

Long overdue review. I have been a regular at Zomsa since they opened and have seen them grow. The food here is mouth watering and very close to what we actually get in Nepal. If you are here- definitely try out the Nepalese items they offer like sukuti, choila and of course momos. For momos I’ve tried the buff jhol momos- which were juicy, the meat was so tender and cooked to perfection. I have a lot of complains with restaurants serving over cooked momos. The sauce (jhol) is definitely one of the finest in bay area. We also tried their pork chilly which was again very good but on the spicier side (as the name suggests) but they do ask you for your spice level and we tried medium. We would go for mild next time on the pork chilly. The service is fast, the wait staffs are really attentive, knowledgeable and super nice. We went on a Sunday afternoon and it was not so loud. Perfect ambiance. The complex has amole of parking spots as well. If you are in the area definitely go for their momos and if you are on a little adventurous mood- go for the other authentic spicy Nepalese items.

Want to travel but no time to take a flight? Come to Zomsa and experience an authentic Nepalese cuisine! It’s our first time here but the owner was really helpful and friendly and recommended a few traditional dishes. They all taste great with rich flavors and made from fresh produce. We can see that the owner was really passionate about the food, and that is a key sign for outstanding restaurants.

Hands down the best Nepali restaurant we tried so far in the bay area. We got buff jhol momo (top pick), chicken steam momo, chicken choila bento, syabale, pork chowmein and sukuti bento. I feel like sukuti bento could be better but everything else was super authentic. Would recommend!

Prices don’t reflect the food quality, other restaurants with similar food are MUCH better and to be honest the service here is less than welcoming. Our server (or owner) was constantly hanging out with his friends smoking cigarettes with what seemed to be his friends in front. He was definitely not concerned about our experience and every time he came back inside we’d get blasted with smoke, I like to support local businesses but this one I will not!

An impressive array of vegan options (4/5 Green Stars) I would highly recommend trying out this Himalayan restaurant in El Cerrito. There are plenty of options for vegans and vegetarians and the quality every item we ordered was very high. I’ve had versions of each dish before but was impressed with Zomsa’s versions and rate Zomsa as one of the best Himalayan restaurants around. The Aloo Tikki (crispy potato cake with mint and tamarind sauces – vegan, $6) was a great start. The Vegetarian Jhol Momos (dumplings filled with kale, butternut squash, mushrooms, and spices, served in a sauce made from cashews and peanuts – vegan, $14) were really good. Often vegetarian dumplings have forgettable fillings, but I found these momos to be very thoughtfully made and satisfying. The Vegetable Thakali Thali was a great combination of several items that each added to the meal (veg curry, lentil soup, pickled daikon, sautéed mustard greens, and a papad – vegan, $17). Impressed by how satisfying these vegan dishes were – you wouldn’t even notice that the entire meal was plant-based. I’m giving Zomsa 4 out of 5 Green Stars for social and environmental impact, for these reasons: • Even though there are several meat dishes, I was impressed by how much of the menu is not just vegetarian but vegan. More than a dozen main courses are vegan, along with several appetizers. Adopting a plant-based diet is the top thing you can do to mitigate climate change and deforestation, besides avoiding animal cruelty and the negative impact of the meat industry on society. • Local beer is available on draft, mitigating packaging and transportation impacts. • The restaurant used to emphasize the use of organic ingredients, but I suspect that the prices became too high to sustain this in El Cerrito. Appreciate the effort though and hope that they still use some organic ingredients, when possible.

"Zomsa restaurant deserves a resounding five-star rating for its incredible Nepali cuisine. The sukuti bento box is a true standout, with tender and flavorful dried meat that melts in your mouth. The momo, a Nepali dumpling delicacy, is simply exceptional, filled with a perfect blend of spices and served with a delightful dipping sauce. The chowmin, a classic stir-fried noodle dish, is packed with savory goodness and generous portions of vegetables and protein. Every bite is a burst of authentic flavors that transport you to the heart of Nepal. Zomsa restaurant is a must-visit for anyone craving an unforgettable Nepali food experience."

So, I will preface this by saying that I don't know what authentic Nepalese food tastes like so my 3 start rating is probably just personal taste buds' preference. The pakora were wonderful. I didn't care for the sauce that came with the momos, and the chow mein seemed to have spaghetti noodles which was odd to me. I prefer the Chinese style noodles in that dish. Bummer too because I love Nepalese chow mein usually. it was a miss for us, but I am glad we tried it and definitely encourage you to try for yourself.

Great food with excellent customer service. Would highly recommend to get delicious Nepalese cuisine.