You’ve probably passed by the Liberty gas station going down route 50 in Chantilly and noticed the signs for Krispy Krunchy Chicken and Hunt Brothers Pizza. It’s easy to miss the other banner posted on the building that says “Momo,” spelled with round dumplings in place of the letter ‘o.’ All of the international eats are served at one counter, so it’s possible to get Cajun-style chicken cracklings alongside your traditional Nepali samay baji.
The latter dish is a collection of mostly vegetarian dishes that run from mild potatoes (aloo saadeko) and soybean salad (bhatmas saadeko) to chicken choila, a gingery stew so spicy that my dining companion referred to it as a “medical emergency.” It’s all made with care by members of the team that until late last year also owned Everest Kitchen in Ashburn. But Everest Momo Plus is no new kid on the block. The small menu of traditional Nepali fare has been gaining traction for three years. Most diners are still there for the fried chicken, but each day the kitchen staff arrives around 7 a.m. to start making momos, which usually sell out by the end of the day.
Obviously, many locals caught onto the quality of the dumplings before I did. But I’m glad that I’ve finally joined the party. I tried the steamed chicken momos, but they also appear on the menu in chile-sauce-coated and vegetarian iterations. At first bite, their thin, slippery coating gives way to an aromatic collection of spices that provide more than enough flavor on their own. But they also come with both a creamy tomato-based chutney and an intensely spicy hot sauce. At $9.99 for 10 dumplings, it’s one of the best bargain meals I’ve found in NoVA. I finished with my mouth and lips tingling, carrying the satisfaction of a meal well-spent for the rest of the evening.
43673 John Mosby Hwy., Chantilly
Feature image by Alice Levitt
For more reviews, subscribe to our twice-weekly Food newsletter.
