Tsampa

212 E 9TH St, Btwn 2nd & 3rd Ave, 212.614.3226

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Cost per person: $30
"YGWYPF" factor: 8.0/10 (you get what you pay for)
Food: 9/10
ambiance: 7/10

Great Tibetan hangout place. Unlike some other Tibetan places, this is not vegetarian - an important factor for me, since if I am eating out, I'd rather not be munching veggies!

Soma and I hit this place after our trip to the Buddhist monastery, Chuang Yen, in Carmel, NY, so we were definitely in the mood for Tibetan. Also, we were famished, since the monastery's kitchen was closed for the winter. Since then, we've been here a couple of times, and loved it.

All the momos I tried were excellent. Instead of the appetizers, take one of the momos in the entree section for a better portion size - we tried the Cha Sha Momo Chicken and Scallion Dumpling with Greens served with Hot Garlic Sauce and liked it. Also liked were Spicy Chicken Saute with Basil served with Rice, Gyathuk Ngopa Baked Noodle with Garlic-Ginger & Topped with Chicken & Vegetables and Tibetan Curry Chicken marinated In Herbs, Cooked with Potatoes served with Rice.

Food is fresh and light - you won't go home like you do from an Indian buffet. Pass on the desert, though - the Tsampa Dessert Traditional Tibetan Roasted Ground Barley, Fluffed w/ Yogurt & Honey, & Accented w/ Dried Cranberries tasted worse than my morning bowl of unflavored instant oatmeal cooked in water.