Honolulu is not the first city that comes to mind for Nepali food, and that is exactly why this list is worth writing. Oahu's Nepali community is small, but the kitchens here take momo seriously — steamed, jhol, chili and sizzling — and several of them are run by Nepali families who have been cooking in Honolulu for years. We spent the day adding ten new Honolulu listings to the directory, and these are the seven restaurants from that batch, from a second-story Kaimuki dining room to a Pearlridge food-court counter. Every place below is described honestly: most are Indian and Nepalese kitchens rather than Nepali-only ones, and the Nepali dishes on each menu are named so you know what to order.
1. Himalayan Kitchen — Kaimuki, Honolulu
A second-story Kaimuki spot, family-run since around 2010, with lanai seating and a menu that leans into the Nepali side: six steamed chicken momos with tomato dipping sauce, thukpa, Nepali dal fry, chicken and lamb chow chow, and Everest sekuwa. Note the hours before you go — dinner is the main event most days, with a lunch thali window on Sundays, Fridays and Saturdays, and the kitchen is closed on Tuesdays. Find it in the directory at https://meetnepali.com/businesses/himalayan-kitchen-honolulu and check the hours there before visiting.
2. Namaste Indian & Nepalese Cuisine — Ala Moana, Honolulu
Opened in August 2024 on the Waikiki doorstep, this is the one to pick for jhol momo — chicken momos in a sesame-tomato broth for $12.99. The rest of the menu runs through dhaniya chicken curry, lamb coconut curry and chicken tikka masala, finishing with pista kulfi. Validated parking behind the building helps. See https://meetnepali.com/businesses/namaste-indian-nepalese-cuisine-honolulu for its full directory listing.
3. Spice Up, House of Indian Cuisine — Honolulu
A small eight-table, women-owned room on South King Street, and a good first stop if you want to compare momo styles in one sitting: chicken momo, vegetable momo, and C-momo, the chili-tossed version. Butter chicken, lamb rogan josh and garlic naan round it out. Closed Tuesdays. Its directory page is https://meetnepali.com/businesses/spice-up-house-of-indian-cuisine-honolulu with hours and details.
4. Everest Grill — Kaneohe
Windward Oahu's only Indian-and-Nepali spot, opened in early 2026. Chicken momo comes steamed, chili or jhol-style, alongside vegetable momo, butter chicken, tikka masala and biryani. If you live on the Windward side, this is the local option — no need to cross the Pali for a momo fix. Details at https://meetnepali.com/businesses/everest-grill-nepali-indian-cuisine-kaneohe in the directory.
5. Cafe Maharani — Honolulu
Family-run since 2000 and dinner-only, every day from 5 to 9 PM. The momo here is six pieces of chicken with a housemade tomato dipping sauce, and the Nepali dal fry and Nepali-style thali are the other orders to know. BYOB, no reservations required. Its listing is https://meetnepali.com/businesses/cafe-maharani-honolulu for address and hours.
6. Tadka Indian Cuisine — McCully, Honolulu
Chef Ganesh Shrestha cooks from his Nepali heritage — momo from his childhood in Nepal — and the menu shows it: steamed chicken and vegetable momo, sizzling chicken momo, and chicken jhol momo in an olena-rich broth, plus pani puri, biryani and garlic naan. Closed Wednesdays. See https://meetnepali.com/businesses/tadka-indian-cuisine-honolulu for the full listing.
7. Lasoon — Pearlridge, Aiea
The fast-service counter in this list, on the second floor at Pearlridge Center. Chicken momo (six pieces, $8.95) with a combo plate, butter chicken, lamb curry, saag paneer and garlic naan. This is the Pearlridge location — Lasoon also runs a UH Manoa counter, but that is a separate spot. Its page is https://meetnepali.com/businesses/lasoon-aiea in the directory.
Beyond the restaurants
Two more Honolulu additions are worth knowing. Spice Indian Mart on Kalakaua Avenue is the Nepali and Indian grocery run by the same family as Spice Up — the place to stock up on Nepalese pickles, spices and specialty drinks, listed at https://meetnepali.com/businesses/spice-indian-mart-honolulu for hours and directions. And the Society of Nepalese in Hawaii (SNEHA), founded in 2007, is the community org behind Honolulu's Nepali New Year celebrations and Nepali language and culture education, at https://meetnepali.com/businesses/society-of-nepalese-in-hawaii-sneha-honolulu in the directory. The Ria Money Transfer counter at Keeaumoku Street is the remittance route for sending money to Nepal, listed at https://meetnepali.com/businesses/ria-money-transfer-honolulu with its hours.
Closing
Seven restaurants, one grocery, one community org, one remittance counter — that is the honest shape of Nepali Honolulu right now, and it is a good one. If you have eaten at any of these, which momo style won you over — steamed, jhol, chili, or sizzling? Tell us in the directory listing or in the community groups.
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