Zomsa

Everything we ordered was fresh and worth the wait. Had authentic Nepali taste. They have nice place to for dine in too.

Always good vibe, very friendly people. It’s a hangout spot. Owner dai is very nice. We tend to over eat all the time. Clean plates. Items could considered as average price compared to the area and parking. They have expanded their veggie and vegan lists too. Will always come back for more.

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.

The food is very good - very flavorful yet easy to digest. The mutton and chicken curries are great, and so are the thalis (both veg and non veg).

Really good food, oh my gosh, would go again for the chicken tikka masala, chow mein, and the kulfi!

"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."

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

R H

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.

tenzin norphel

I had the Pork Thali and it was absolutely delicious—it instantly reminded me of Nepal and the mountains. The flavors are so authentic, and you can really feel the love in the food since it’s a family-run business. I highly recommend the Chicken Thali, Goat Thali, and Pork Thali. Each one is a complete and satisfying meal with rice, meat, lentil soup, pickle, ghee, and more. I’ve been visiting this restaurant for the past few years, and every time I come here, it feels so good. They also have a bar license, so it’s a great place to enjoy drinks along with food and starters. The Bento Box is one of the best starters here—it comes with meat and sides, and pairs perfectly with drinks. I’ll definitely be back to try more dishes!

Qiqing Li

amazing food Good service. Everything was perfect! I recommend it to everyone!

Aayushi Trivedi

A charming spot serving authentic Nepali comfort food. Their jhol momos are hands down the best I’ve ever had.

Junir Dhakal

Dining at Zomsa was an absolute delight! The Laphing was wonderfully spicy and tangy, a great way to kick off the meal. The Wai Wai Chatptey was a lovely surprise, mixing crunchy textures with savory flavors that kept me coming back for more. Both the Chicken Jhol Momo and Buff Jhol Momo were comforting and flavorful, with a broth that was rich and aromatic. The Sukuti Bento Box was a fantastic mix of tastes and textures, making for a very satisfying meal. Each dish showcased the quality and authenticity Zomsa prides itself on, making it a must-visit for anyone looking to explore Tibetan and Nepalese cuisine.

Eluv Shrestha

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.

BeIng jhr

The food and ambience is amazing here. Love the spicy timur chhop on Laphing, sukuti bento box tastes great with crunchy sukuti and aalu ko achhar. Must have the thakali thali set with lots of ghee.

Isha Poudel

This is hands down best Nepali restaurant I've visited in a while. As a Nepali, I would recommend this 100% to anyone who's craving for some authentic Nepali flavors. Laphing, Shabhaley, Chicken chhoila set and Aloo Phinghsa were all on point.

Sunita Sherpa

Loved the authentic Nepali Khaja set. Super clean and welcoming. Highly recommended👍

gideon ubaldo

Really good food, oh my gosh, would go again for the chicken tikka masala, chow mein, and the kulfi!

Prajwol Sharma

You’re missing out guys. Try this place and you’ll be back here everytime. The chicken choila and goat sekuwa bento box are one of a kind. Tara dai is the best. Along side awesome food you will also be in the presence of a down to earth nepalese dude who will take you down the memory lane.

Sabin Bhandari

Everything we ordered was fresh and worth the wait. Had authentic Nepali taste. They have nice place to for dine in too.

ALIL BHANDARI

Always good vibe, very friendly people. It’s a hangout spot. Owner dai is very nice. We tend to over eat all the time. Clean plates. Items could considered as average price compared to the area and parking. They have expanded their veggie and vegan lists too. Will always come back for more.

James K

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.

Debojyoti Ghosh

The food is very good - very flavorful yet easy to digest. The mutton and chicken curries are great, and so are the thalis (both veg and non veg).

bijay Gurung

"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."

Suraj Sharma

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

A typical Nepali sukuti khaja set was really delicious with enough portion for the individual and I would definitely recommend those are seeking for the buff sukuti and thank you the owner and server for the well hospitality…..

Mahendra Gharti

A typical Nepali sukuti khaja set was really delicious with enough portion for the individual and I would definitely recommend those are seeking for the buff sukuti and thank you the owner and server for the well hospitality…..

Good place for authentic Nepali food.

Srijana Mukhia

Good place for authentic Nepali food.

Zomsa used to be our go to-place when in the area! But the recent visit left bad taste in all aspects. Looks like the management need to step up their game. For the price, quality and the service, there are many more Nepalese/Himalayan options nearby. Very disappointed with the service ! Didn’t bother to check on the food or water refills. The place was not even busy when we arrived. Food was average at its best. Goat sekuwa was totally different from what we had last time. Wouldn’t even call it sekuwa-pretty much looked like sauted goat curry with nothing but tiny pieces of bones! Laphing and Chatpatey were the only dishes we enjoyed! Jhol of MOMO was good too, MOMO not so much! Overall, a fairly disappointing experience at what used to be one of our favorite restaurants!

N B

Zomsa used to be our go to-place when in the area! But the recent visit left bad taste in all aspects. Looks like the management need to step up their game. For the price, quality and the service, there are many more Nepalese/Himalayan options nearby. Very disappointed with the service ! Didn’t bother to check on the food or water refills. The place was not even busy when we arrived. Food was average at its best. Goat sekuwa was totally different from what we had last time. Wouldn’t even call it sekuwa-pretty much looked like sauted goat curry with nothing but tiny pieces of bones! Laphing and Chatpatey were the only dishes we enjoyed! Jhol of MOMO was good too, MOMO not so much! Overall, a fairly disappointing experience at what used to be one of our favorite restaurants!