Zomsa offers a truly authentic Nepali dining experience, combining high-quality cuisine with a warm, family-oriented atmosphere. The owner's traditional approach to greeting and serving guests is a highlight, creating a welcoming and culturally rich environment. Meals are served in a timely manner, which is much appreciated for family gatherings. The Khashi ko Bhutton Set and Khashi ko Sukuti Set are standout dishes. The Buff Jhol Momo also offers a pleasant and decent flavor profile. While the initial service is excellent, the overall experience could be further elevated by improving the attentiveness to table maintenance. More prompt clearing of empty plates once guests have finished their meal would enhance the comfort of the dining space. A wonderful destination for those seeking genuine Nepali flavors and a friendly atmosphere. read more

Zomsa - Family dinner; Khashi sukuti set, momo, Khashi ko Bhutun - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - El Cerrito, California

This spot is super yummy and on the rotation for Nepalese & Himalayan food in the area ~ kiddo approved too. Small and clean, nestled in the corner of the El Cerrito Shopping Center off San Pablo, you'll find Zomsa. We stopped in early on a Friday night and over the course of our meal, several families and a few date night couples came through. We didn't go with an appetizer this time, rather ordered our mains right away to make kiddo bedtime: Butter Chicken, Palak Paneer, Cheese Naan, Garlic Naan, Mango Lassi for the kiddo, and beers for the parents. FYI, I noticed Zomsa now serves hard alcohol for those wanting a little extra kick! We've also ordered momos here before and the chowmein. Everything is extremely solid, fresh, flavorful, and just overall, comforting. To note, several veggie/vegan options here, shrimp dishes, and also for meat eaters: chicken, pork, buffalo, goat, beef, lamb. Service is typically always quick and efficient, and you can tell there is a lot of heart and soul in their cooking. A few seating options outside. The menu seems to be expanding since our last visit, so that's exciting to see. Pricing is fair and parking available in the shopping center. read more

I had lunch with a friend I really good butter chicken , fast service ... my friend , glutein free, had a rice dish that was curry flavored... huge portion! she enjoyed! read more

This is a Nepali Approved place!!! I've been there several times. It's a family-owned place & the vibe is great. I usually order the chicken choila set (bento box) and laphing. Both are a MUST if you go there. Their laphing can be really spicy, so give them a heads up beforehand. Chicken choila set is rich in flavor and gives a sneak peek into Nepalese taste. I ordered Nepali-style chicken (kukhura ko masu) once, and it was good. Reminded me of home. The quantity is great as well. I ordered waiwai chatpatey as well - it was great. Their shabhale/shyabhale is okay-ish. I wouldn't recommend it. Their ambience and service are great. If you have a dog, you can sit outside. read more

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Low key Himalayan place. The lunch specials are good value and the food is palatable. The service is attentive. Will try the momo next time. read more

Great food. Owner Prem and his daughter Manjila are very welcoming and very friendly. Their chicken thali is the best. You won't find a Nepalese restaurant around the area this good. Sukuti and their other snacks are greatly natural flavored, no MSG or other artificial flavor to taste food good. So food tastes like prepared at home. Will always come here for Nepalese dish. read more

Zomsa - Chicken Thakali Thali, mutton Goat Thakali Thali - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - El Cerrito, California

I've passed by this area so many times and have no idea how I missed this place. it's truly a hidden gem and seriously underrated. This is easily some of the best vegan food I've had in the Bay Area. The service is outstanding attentive, and genuinely welcoming. As for the food, I don't even know where to begin. Everything was fresh, full of flavor, and served hot, which made it clear that it was all freshly prepared. We ordered a variety of dishes and loved every single one. Many people recommend Wai Wai, but it's not vegan. Thankfully, our server suggested the Aloo Nimki instead--it had great flavor, though it's served cold, which wasn't my personal favorite. On the other hand, the Aloo Tikki (potato cakes) were incredible, flavorful, and highly recommended! I also had the Tofu Bento, which was fantastic, and the plain naan (yes, it's vegan!) was unbelievably soft and delicious. I've been here twice already and fully intend to keep coming back until I've tried every vegan option on the menu. If you're vegan--or even just curious--this place is absolutely worth checking out. read more

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The food service was extremely slow. It took a while for my order to be put in as well as to be served. The dish arrived lukewarm at best and it felt as if it was just microwaved. The taste was bland and the staff were not very friendly. I would not come here again due to service and food quality. There are better restaurants around. read more

Food is MEDIOCRE at best not good at all not worth the ONE HOUR wait for service the server was super rude and disrespectful I don't recommend it to anyone and everyone eating here is loud and unsanitary. (EDIT I THINK THIS WAS A POISONING ATTEMPT NO WAY FOOD THIS BAD IS ALLOWED TO BE SERVED) read more

If you serve the hungry people even they pay , that's a real service in life. If you serve the delicious food with respect n politely than what you want in life? I see in my life it's a 3 star , 5 star n 7 stars hotel but why we can't give more than 5 star on Yelp ? If possible to give by star I will like to give more than 5 star. Every visit same test same service with smile n word , I will recommend to visit once.Thats my personal experience but its up to you read more

We were in hunt to find good Nepali restaurants to cater for our wedding. After trying six Nepali restaurants in the Bay Area, we picked Zomsa. They had perfect level of spicy and awesome chicken chili and momo. We asked them to add little less oil in the food and it was perfect. We had a lot of leftovers after the wedding but food stayed good for long time. We are so happy that we went to zomsa especially since my mom loved their food and she is very picky. Every people who attended the wedding had at least one favorite food so we were happy overall. read more

Super delicious Laphing with pure hotness. Loved the wai wai chatpatwy as well. The top notch taste was the Chicken Jhol momo. The jhol was very falvorful & tasted the most authentic . Despite the small space the space is cozy.I tried ordering a takeout but the guy infront asked us to dine in and told was food taste great when its hot . No wonder he was spot on. Great food & friendly people . Will sure be back again to enjoy more dishes next time. read more

For was very fresh and tasty. Yet were able to adjust spice levels as requested. The service was friendly and thoughtful. This is a great place for couples and small groups. read more

SO GOOD! If you like Tikka masala, you must go here, best tikka masala I've had (and have had quite a few).

Gosh their Jhol Momo!! As a Jhol Momo junkie who has tried it in several places, I will declare the Zomsa Jhol Momo the best I have had in the bay. I truly haven't tried much else because I have always gone back and eaten the JM...and if I'm hungry I have ordered another one because it's so good. I know this ain't normal behavior. I will sign up for therapy after I finish this round of JM. read more

Simple and best ! Authentic Nepali test ! Run by family, feels like family. I never miss it whenever I am driving by or close by the place !

Great authentic Nepali food and unbelievable taste. Owner and his entire family is very friendly and hospitable. Highly recommend them. Worth the drive and money. read more

Zomsa - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - El Cerrito, California

This place was stellar! Truly. (It helped that the owners name is Tara, which is Nepali for star.) The best Nepali food I've ever had (and I've tried Neplai food at various locales in the US). Zomsa is a mom-and-pop restaurant, run by the family. Tara and his two kids are omnipresent, and the mom is back in the kitchen doing much of the cooking. The menu has all manner of Nepali dishes, both vegetarian and otherwise. When we arrived at the place, we were greeted immediately by Tara, who prepared a table for us. After sitting for a brief moment, my friend decided she'd be more comfortable sitting outside, so Tara moved us, all smiles and with nary a complaint. We ordered the Chicken Choila Bento Box, which is a chicken appetizer in a compartmentalized small box (reminiscent of the bento box you might find in a Japanese restaurant), with plenty of very spicy chicken, complemented by a sour chutney, pounded rice, a crunchy bean mix of some sort, and curried potatoes. It was delicious. Tara had warned us that the chicken was quite spicy, which I knew I'd be happy with, but my friend was concerned that it would be too spicy for her. Tara talked with his wife, and Tara and his daughter told us that they were able to make it a little less spicy for us. What a nice gesture! What we got was delicious, and just the right amount of spice for both of us. For our main dishes, which we shared, we ordered the Kukhura Ko Masu, a chicken curry (with bones) and the Vegetable Tikka Masala. The former was fantastic! We both enjoyed the Masala as well, which was on the sweeter side. We observed a couple at a neighboring table getting the Thakali Thali, which is served on a large platter. It looked quite good, and I'm seriously considering getting that next time. (Tara talked it up too.) I talked with the couple at the neighboring table for a little bit, one of whom had been talking with Tara in Nepali. When he was out of earshot I asked about her impression of the place. She told me she felt it was the best Nepali food in the area. (As it turns out, there are a number of Himalayan/Nepali food places in the vicinity.) That's quite a complement, especially from someone who herself is Nepali. If you have an opportunity, try Zomsa. You will enjoy the food, I have no doubt. read more

I met Toni at this Nepalese Himalayan restaurant for lunch, Lori and Rinky were unable to join us. There were tables inside; we decided that the day was warm enough that we could eat comfortably outside. There is some parking available in the strip mall small lot. We ordered buffalo momos with a peanut and cashew sauce, vegetable pakoras with two dipping sauces, and chow mein with chicken. It had been years and years since I had buffalo meat. I was a bit hesitant to try this filling. Much to my delight I really liked the taste. The peanut and cashew sauce was thin and mild with not a lot of taste. I was expecting a thicker and richer tasting sauce. I wasn't disappointed, I did enjoy the taste. I was just surprised. The vegetable pakoras were great: they were hot, fresh, and crispy Even though I was full, we had over-ordered, I tried the chow mein. The chicken slices were barbequed I enjoyed the taste. I took some home and had it the next day. As I expected, it was better at the restaurant. Nepalese/Himalayan restaurants are popping up in West Contra County. This one is very good I especially enjoyed the momos. I will be coming back; they have several interesting-sounding dishes on the menu that I would like to try. The people who own the restaurant are warm and friendly. read more

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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. read more

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Our family really enjoys Zomsa. II'm new to Nepalese and Himalayan dishes and have enjoyed trying new foods and liking them! The dishes are tasty! The staff is courteous and respectful. We enjoyed the vegetarian dishes and the meat dishes. Give it a try! read more

We got out of the habit of going out to eat during the pandemic, and have only recently gotten back to regularly supporting our local eateries - and Zomsa is definitely near or at the very top of the list of our favorites! Each one of their dishes is entirely unique, and even the ones that might sound like standard Indian restaurant fare (such as the tofu saag we had tonight) are very unusual (and delicious) in their hands. We especially appreciate some of the distinctive cold appetizers, such as Wai Wai Chattpatey or Aloo Nimki (the Aloo Nimki we had tonight was to die for, perfectly spiced). They also have an extremely extensive vegetarian menu, with lots of vegan offerings - definitely a plus for us)! read more

Great food, a bit pricier compared to other Nepalese places in the area but quality of food seams to be decent.

The ambiance exuded warmth and charm, creating the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable dining experience. From the cozy seating to the subtle Nepali accents, every detail was thoughtfully curated to transport diners to the heart of Nepal. Highly Recommended Nepali Restaurant in El Cerrito. Everything was so delicious. Wai wai chatpate is highly recommended. read more

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Really great food - piping hot all the way from El Cerrito to Alameda! Enjoyed the goat curry - super flavorful sauce and the meat was braised nicely. The buffalo momo was addictive and super generous. Definitely ask for more of the spicy cumin sauce! The Nepali bento box is good but not sure if it's worth the price tag - it's mainly potatoes and sautéed veggies. Although I think it added texture and variety to the meal. Almost like a Korean banchan. Always on the lookout for a fully organic restaurant when I don't feel like cooking, a plus that it's fresh, flavorful and has grass fed meats from Richmond. Z fits the bill and is available through Caviar to Alameda! read more

Zomsa - Buff Momo - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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Love the momos at zomsa - esp the bison! Great place. Nice people. Authentic food. The real deal.

AMAZING FOOD.... servers are so kind. Their chai tea is to die for. I also love that rice is not an extra charge. Authentic Napalese food. We go here every month!! read more

I love love love the food here. This place is so yummy. I've been going once every two weeks or so. The service is also great. The son of the owner is often working and a very kind soul. It also feels like a community spot with many local Nepalese folks showing up. I get the vegan Tali plate and every item is a taste delight. read more

Damn this place is good, and has got better post-COVID. My wife was out so went alone and had an utterly superb meal. There are a lot of good Indian restaurants popping up from the continent in El Cerrito and Zomsa's a classic. You can tell a good restaurant when it's where locals eat and this is a community place, people value it. The staff are lovely and take it seriously. Love the momos, always will and went for them during lockdown, but now I can eat in the restaurant the Thakali Thali is absolutely superb. Excellent mustard greens and just don't eat the chili - eye-wateringly hot. With the TT you get rice, curry, and special vegetables with an epic tomato sauce. Plus great lentil soup. It used to be that you'd buy a pint next door and bring it in, but the license has been issued and they have a good beer selection. Still unsold on US beer but they bought out a taster to see what you'd like and have good brews. I'm now sitting in bed and my stomach wants to cuddle me all night. read more

Zomsa - Oh goodness yes. - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - El Cerrito, California

Due to the pandemic, I will be removing criteria that I had added to my reviews: restaurant ambiance and mood, staff, wait time, etc. This review will only focus on the dish. Quick Summary: - Hefty and hearty portions - The chow mein has a spicy kick to it - Due to delivery, some of the items that are crispy and nice served on the spot will be moist - Felt the huge melancholy of the restaurant mood, when eating new dishes we aren't familiar of; there was a dish we weren't sure how to eat it but there is no staff to ask these questions It was dinnertime and we ordered four dishes: chicken Jhol momo, vegetable pakora, chow mein, and the chicken Thakali Thali. I have tried a Himalayan restaurant a while back and the food experience as so pleasant, so I wanted to discover more. Due to the delivery, the crispier items such as the pakora and the papad became moist by the steam of the hot dishes. This is the unfortunate part about delivery with fried items, so I won't mark this as a negative. Despite the moistness, my favorite was the vegetable pakora. If this were served hot, each morsel would have been crunched. There were still some remnant left of the crispiness because it was easy to cut with my chopsticks. I dipped these in three of the sauces, the green, orange, and dark brown one. I thought the green one was spicy, and the orange had had a nice saucy taste to it. I liked the dark brown one too, it was a sauce flavor I have't tried before. It was a mixture of mostly sweet with a subtle sourness. The color looks like soy sauce but it tastes much different. I also liked the chicken jhol momo. The skin is soft but thick and the chicken inside was juicy. I ordered the one with the cashew and peanut sauce. To my surprise, the sauce was light. I was expecting a stronger peanut taste, but because it didn't I was pretty pleased. I ate about three of these since I shared them with the family, and they will pull the weight down in the stomach. With these, and the pakora, I felt content full. The chow mein was delicious too. The taste isn't like the chow mein I eat at Chinese restaurants; the flavor tasted rounded. Unlike the typical chow mein dishes, I didn't get a pungent flavored ingredient like ginger or garlic. This was a good balance with the heftier momo and pakora. A note to add, this dish contains a spicy pepper that was quite spicy for me. Finally, we had the chicken Thakali Thali. This was the first time we tried this dish, and it was these moments when we wished we ate at the restaurant. It arrived in four separate containers: one a bento box with pickled vegetables and a papad, rice, and lentil soup. We weren't sure how to eat this, and if we were at the restaurant we could have asked the staff. In the end, we ate the pickles in between eating rice and the other dishes. read more

Zomsa - Chicken Thakali Thali, chicken jhol momo, chow mein (not seen is the vegetable pakora) - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - El Cerrito, California

Nice little place. I must say I really enjoyed their wai-wai chatpatey. It was the most delicious plate from all the things we tried there. Staff was friendly and service was quick. Did not like the buff momo. read more

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This place is awesome. Specially the Nepali goat thali is so delicious and it has authentic taste. The staffs are so nice, friendly and welcoming. The restaurant was clean and quiet as well. And the prices of the food were also reasonable. Highly recommended. Will be returning back soon read more

Good food but one momo dish was lukewarm and the service was lacking had to remind them of our drink and they didn't know about the menu/food ingredients a disturbed woman with luggage who talked to herself waited for her drink order inside and a staff member or owner talked loudly on the phone outside and then chose to sit next to us and talked loudly on the speakerphone which made us leave immediately in the middle of our meal because of the terrible atmosphere read more

Gosh, this strip mall location must have some kind of flexible revolving door policy because it was Thai about a year ago, then it was Chinese, and now it's Nepalese. The unexpected culinary tour of Asia feels a little more settled in the Himalayas now because the new owners invested a bit more on the decor as well as the quality of the menu. Funny thing is that there are at least a half-dozen Nepalese restaurants in the immediate area, most quite good, so they definitely have a challenge in standing out in such a crowded field. I'm glad to report this is a solid entry from my two visits here. The first was with Jamie W. after a long day traipsing in San Francisco and climaxing with a Queen sing-along at Oracle Park. I suggested coming here for a light dinner where we shared the $13.95 Chicken Thakali Thali which was served authentically on a hammered copper bowl for the chicken parts in curry sauce (photo: http://bit.ly/2MDou2Y), a bowl for the dal (lentil soup) (photo: http://bit.ly/2LfF2L4), and a separate plate for the vegetables, rice, papad, sautéed mustard leaf, and daikon pickle (photo: http://bit.ly/2MEBxBg). It was quite a feast even for the two of us, and I knew I would need to come back sometime to give them the true litmus test. How good are there momos? Well. I came back this evening to find out. I decided I was worth a $10.95 order of the Vegetarian Momos (photo: http://bit.ly/2MHGclF). Eight of them wrapped stuffed with cheese and minced vegetables and wrapped in a spinach dough well steamed with a slight chew, my preference as I don't like it when they all apart too fast. It came with a spicy dipping sauce that I didn't even ask what it was made of because they already passed my required momo test. FOOD - 4 stars...well-turned Nepalese dishes in an area that offers quite a few good Nepalese dishes AMBIANCE - 4 stars...easily the nicest interior achieved in here SERVICE - 4 stars...definitely with a smile TOTAL - 4 stars...OK, this one may survive and stop the revolving door RELATED - In the mood for South Asian fare? Here's a collection of places I've tried and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2LeIEx5 read more

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Great food. Great service. I visited with a Nepalese friend & he guided us right . We tried tofu chilli ( 5star ) ,jhol momo ( 5 star) , thakAli thali ( 5stars ) , bodi tama ( must try my fav of the day) . I really wish there was some roti or naan with thali . What made it better experience better was hostess Ansu, and the owner Tara was very warm & hospitable. Thank you . I would say must try food if you live close by. . read more

Zomsa - a bowl of food and a plate of rice - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - El Cerrito, California

I had quite the interaction with the server here, who claimed to also be the manager/owner. Anyhow, when I walked in with my service dog, he began to ridicule me, scoffing and saying it's a "dog in a restaurant." We waited for over 10 minutes before our order was taken, and we were the only customers inside. The only outside seating was being taken by an employee on a phone call. Upon leaving the restaurant, three employees gathered around the register and made it clear that they were discussing us again by staring and pointing at my dog. With that being said, the food was alright. The Tikka sauce was on the sweeter side, and the Thai iced tea was very rich. Sadly, we will not be coming back due to the poor customer service. I totally understand that it's been difficult for business owners since things reopened after covid (being a former server for 10 years) but the blatant disrespect here was appalling. read more

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I got so excited when I heard a new place that serves momos opened up nearby, so the husband, my 2 kids, and the father-in-law came here for lunch on a Sunday. We were seated promptly, and had no issues with the service. We ordered the following - Samosas - my favorite thing I tried here. An order comes with 2 great sized samosas, with a red (sweet-ish) sauce and a green (chimichurri?) sauce (more herb-y). Both sauces were great separate or alone, and it went so well with the crispy, stuffed samosas. I'd definitely get this again and again. Stuffed with potato and other great veggies, flavored well, not at all too dry, especially considering the sauce. Yum! Spicy Chicken Wings - we ordered 2 orders of these, mainly for the FIL because he's on a keto diet. He enjoyed them more or less, and I tried one of them. I didn't really find it spicy, though it looked very spicy based on the amount of sauce/flavor over these wings. They came with a side of ranch. Veggie Momos - beautiful, green, looked very good (spinach dough, cheese and seasonal vegetables, served with sauce). Some of them looked a bit understuffed, and the skin was inconsistent on them. There were some where it was mostly skin, more on the thick side, and others were more proportioned. The veggies in here were some mushrooms and some herbs.. mint? basil? I wasn't too sure, but that was overpowering the whole momo for me. The sauce had some flavor, which really helped the overly herbyness of the momo. Kukhuru Ko Masu (Nepali style chicken curry, served with rice) - I was really excited for this dish since I really like curry, but there wasn't much flavor to this. The curry was super liquidy, very oily, thinner than Thai curry. The chicken had bone in there (didn't mind this at all), but it was so dry. I couldn't eat more than half a piece of it, so my awesome husband did me a favor and practically finished this dish. Chow Mein - for the kids. They ate most of it. If we come back, we'd try something different, but we'd get the samosas again. read more

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Zomsa takes over Azn Bistro's space. interior undergoing upgrading to accompany more patrons. (open evenings only on weekdays). offerings: appetizers, momos, lunch entrees, dinner entrees eats: thakali thali(11.95) -chicken drumstick had many bone fragments, meat tender but bland flavor infused into accompanying sauce. -lentil soup had complex flavor, thick broth -also had raw vegetabes, rice, papad(indian fried wafer), sauteed mustard leaf. -surprisingly fulfilling with bold aromatic flavors from herbs, spices, etc. 4.5 stars - too salty for me. notes: -parking lot not big enough. -some spaces along right perimeter had "high tech parking only towing."signs posted in front of spaces. *waitess unaware of parking restrictions in lot. noticed high tech business in adjacent lot. -many patrons are native speakers, a good sign. . read more

Best papadam and pakora you will ever have in your life! Authentic, perfectly seasoned main dishes! Mellow, casual, friendly atmosphere. My husband has picked up takeout from here a dozen times, but we ate at the actual restaurant this time. Recently remodeled with a simple, casual, minimalist look. The place is clean as a whistle throughout, with courteous, attentive, yet low key staff. Go to app - the vegetable pakora fresh from the fryer is outrageously good. If you get it for takeout, they put it in a bag so it doesn't get soggy, but you can give it a quick heat-up in the oven if needed. All of our main courses arrived piping hot, just like they do with takeout, as they use containers that keep the heat in. We always get the mixed vegetable curry. This understated dish is superb. It's not curry like you think. It's tomato based, but it's more like a broth. No coconut milk, just great flavor, and tender veggies. Tried the chana saag today, great flavors, and as always, not overly seasoned, not oversalted. The papadam - I could write a book about it. I've never had it this fresh, this thin and crispy. What a delight. The last great revelation was the vibe. Having never walked in before, I just felt relaxed being there. The staff were all so kind, but not overly solicitous. Someone, maybe the manager, checked to see if we needed anything. The chef even came out at one point to ask about something, since I have allergies. I took a picture of my husband at his seat between two trees, with the name of the restaurant above. The waiter explained that "Zomsa" means a place where people gather with beloved family and friends. Indeed. The staff seems like a happy, mellow family, not only did we feel welcome, we really enjoyed each other's company while we were there. read more

Zomsa - Best seat in the house, ask about why it's so special. - Himalayan/Nepalese Near Me - El Cerrito, California

Mary and I had lunch here today. We had intended to go to Sushi Matsu across the street but hadn't checked their hours and arrived to find them closed. When I checked on Yelp after I got home it appears they serve only dinner on Tuesdays, opening at 5:00. We'll have to remember that. I drove us over to the strip mall that houses Zompsa and parked. Mary checked Katana-Ya, which is a couple of storefronts down, but they were closed today too, so we went to Zomsa. We walked in and were greeted and told to choose any table so we chose a 4 top well away from the front door. The space is spare but peaceful, the pace is slow. We both felt very comfortable w/ the pace and the ambiance. We were given menus and both decided on a Thakali thali, an authentic Nepali platter w/ a choice of meats. We both chose lamb. The thali came w/ half a papadum, white rice, a stack of raw vegetables that included a large slice of cucumber, a large slice of carrot and a very large slice of daikon radish, which was surprisingly sweet. There were also potatoes that were cold in temperature and hot in spice, as well as another vegetable, maybe cauliflower, maybe something else, that was similarly cold in temperature and hot in spice. Mary, whose spice tolerance is similar to mine, discovered this and so I was warned and didn't try them. On the platter was a pile of a sliced green, leafy vegetable that I didn't recognize, but which we both liked. I ordered Masala chai to drink and Mary had a mango lassi. Our server was gentle and helpful. It took a while for the food to come out, but as I said, we were comfortable w/ the pace. Mary was a bit surprised that there was no ice in her lassi but liked the taste. When the thalis were brought we both were pleased w/ the variety. Our server explained what was on the platter. There was also a bowl of soup w/ lentils and beans that we both liked, although I took a few spoonfuls of mine and stopped because I wanted to have room for the rest of my food. The lamb, along w/ its sauce, came in a smallish bowl the size of the soup bowl. I put the lamb and sauce atop the rice. It was tasty, although the lamb was in fairly big pieces and some of them were a bit tough. i finished most of the food on my thali, aside from the spicy stuff, which I left, as I did the soup the soup. Mary took a small amount of her rice, lamb and green vegetable to go home, as well as my soup, w/ my blessing. It was a good lunch in good company. read more