The quaint new eatery is the latest addition to the Chop Chop laneway-dining precinct in Surfers Paradise and is the handiwork of Nepalese native Hem Kadel. Sprawling out onto the Orchid Avenue end of Chop Chop (next to Ramen Danbo), Kathmandu Momo House is, as its name suggests, very much about momos – that is, traditional Nepalese dumplings. These tasty morsels are a street-style delicacy and are being recreated here on the Gold Coast with the same intriguing spices and flavours found in depths of Nepal. Each of the momos are made from scratch by hand throughout the day – they are filled with either chicken, buffalo mince or mixed vegetables and are served steamed, fried or in a soup (known as ‘johl’).

While the momos are a must-try, the menu here extends further into the flavour-packed cuisine, with dishes like Nepalese-style chowmein noodles, and traditional choyla chicken, which is marinated in spices and finished off with mustard oil and fenugreek seeds. There’s also sekuwa lamb, marinated overnight in roasted cumin and cooked in a charcoal oven, and punchy buffalo sukuti, a dry dish of buffalo meat sauteed in Nepalese spices served with roasted soya beans and (very) spicy sauce. Unless you’re well-versed on Nepal’s national dishes, there’s a fair chance the menu may seem overwhelming on first glance – but that’s the fun part. This is as authentic as it gets, so grab a stool (note – it’s a very casual affair) and let the Kathmandu Momo House team guide you through their native cuisine. Be sure to test out a Nepal-brewed Sherpa Beer while you’re there.