The Momo Crawl is Queens at its absolute best: 30-plus Tibetan, Nepali, and Himalayan kitchens dishing $1 dumplings around Diversity Plaza while the whole neighborhood turns out to crown a champion. Fourteen years in, it has grown from a local meetup into NYC's biggest Himalayan food festival, with live music and dance all afternoon. Come hungry, vote for the Momo Championship Belt, and let 37th Road do the rest.
What to expect
A packed pedestrian plaza with steam rising from dozens of momo stands and a full afternoon of Himalayan music and dance from the main stage. Expect real crowds at peak hours and momos in every style — steamed, fried, in jhol broth — for a dollar apiece. Ballots in hand, crawlers eat their way to a verdict before the 4:30 PM voting cutoff.
Good to know
- You need a Momo Crawl Passport to eat: $15 regular, $60 limited edition with skip-the-line access — buy online in advance to ensure entry
- Bring small bills — momos are $1 each, paid in cash directly to vendors
- First 100 passport pickups get a free traditional Tibetan khatag scarf
- Voting for the Momo Championship Belt closes at 4:30 PM
- Skip driving: the 7, E, F, M, or R to Jackson Heights–Roosevelt Ave/74th St exits right onto the plaza
Planning Sep 12–13, 2026 in NYC?
This list keeps changing as events are verified. We'll send you the final version the Thursday before — and you can unsubscribe right after if that's all you need.
Common questions
Is the Momo Crawl free?
Wandering the plaza and catching the performances costs nothing, but to sample the $1 momos you must buy an official Momo Crawl Passport — $15 regular or $60 limited edition. All proceeds go to Students for a Free Tibet.
Do I need cash?
Yes. Passports are sold online, but individual momos are paid directly to vendors in cash — bring plenty of $1 and $5 bills to keep the lines moving.
How do I get there?
Take the 7, E, F, M, or R train to Jackson Heights–Roosevelt Ave/74th St; Diversity Plaza is right outside the station exit. Driving and parking near the festival is close to impossible.
How does the Momo Championship Belt work?
Every passport comes with an official ballot to vote for your favorite vendor. Voting closes at 4:30 PM and the winning kitchen takes home the belt.
