Meet Dechhen Sherpa of MoMoMandu

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dechhen Sherpa.

Hi Dechhen, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
For me and my family, momo has always been more than food—it’s something we go back to again and again, whether as a snack, lunch, or dinner. In Nepal, momo is a day-to-day favorite, but it also brings people together during special moments. It carries comfort, joy, and a sense of home.

When I moved from New York to North Carolina, I missed the connection of good Nepali food—especially momo—in the Raleigh area. As my little one started school, I found myself with more free time and wanted to do something meaningful with it. That’s when I began perfecting my momo recipe. After testing it with friends and within the Nepali community, the response was overwhelmingly positive, inspiring us to gear up for something bigger—MoMoMandu. Once my brother and sister were onboard with expansion, what began as a small frozen dumpling venture soon grew into a food truck.

Every step of the way challenges that we encountered has reminded us why we started: to share authentic Nepali food with our new community. While our journey began with the beloved momo, we’ve since added popular Nepali street and comfort foods—like Chowmein, Chicken Chilly, and Aloo Dum—to our menu, providing more options while staying true to the authentic flavors that define our food. We are proud to be the probably only authentic Nepali kitchen in town, bringing a true taste of Nepal to the Triangle.

With no formal culinary training, just passion and persistence, MoMoMandu has grown step by step. While we made few rookie mistakes at the beginning, what inspires us the most are the positive reviews and feedback we’ve received since the beginning—they remind us every day to keep striving to serve the best quality food to our community. Along the way, we’ve been humbled to receive recognition, including Best Food Truck – Maggy Awards 2025 by Cary Magazine.

MoMoMandu is our way of keeping a beloved part of our nepali culture alive—and sharing it with the Triangle, one MoMo at a time.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Our journey hasn’t always been smooth, and we’ve faced our fair share of challenges along the way. Right before our very first opening day, the truck broke down and was not functional. We had to tow the food truck to the venue, which left us with no time to prepare for the day. Despite these obstacles, a large turnout from the Nepali community showed up, and we had to improvise on the spot to serve all our guests and make it happen.

In the beginning, we also made a few rookie mistakes: our team, many working in the food industry for the first time, got overwhelmed with large orders, and we weren’t fully prepared to manage big crowds. Each challenge taught us valuable lessons in preparation, teamwork, and staying calm under pressure. We often reflect where we can improve and keep on moving forward. Over time, we learned how to streamline operations, manage crowds, and consistently deliver high-quality, authentic Nepali food. The overwhelmingly positive response from our community continues to inspire us every day to serve the best MoMo and Nepali dishes possible.

Because of some of these challenges, we had to lose some of the point in our google reviews, but we are working hard to make every customer satisfy with the quality of food.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
MoMoMandu is a food truck bringing authentic Nepali flavors to Raleigh, North Carolina. We specialize in traditional MoMo—Nepalese dumplings—made from scratch using recipes inspired by childhood memories and family traditions. Each MoMo is carefully hand-packed, blast-chilled, and cooked fresh on our food truck to ensure every bite bursts with flavor.

What sets us apart is our commitment to authenticity and quality. Unlike typical fast-food dumplings, our MoMo are crafted with fresh, locally sourced ingredients and seasoned with the same care and attention you’d find in a Nepali home kitchen. We are proud to have created a menu that is approachable for newcomers but deeply satisfying for anyone familiar with Nepali cuisine.

Brand-wise, we take pride in offering a genuine cultural experience, not just a meal. From the warm, vibrant service on our truck to the aroma of freshly steamed MoMo, every part of our brand tells a story of Nepalese heritage and hospitality.

Our goal is for everyone who visits MoMoMandu to walk away with a memorable culinary experience. We want readers to know that whether you’re stopping by for a quick bite or ordering for a family gathering, MoMoMandu delivers authenticity, flavor, and care in every dish.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Luck has definitely played a role in both our personal journey and the growth of MoMoMandu, in ways both challenging and rewarding. On the “bad luck” side, our very first opening day was a true test: the truck broke down just before the event, leaving us with no time to prepare, and we had to tow it to the venue to serve a large turnout from the Nepali community. That day could have gone completely wrong, but we improvised and made it happen, which taught us resilience and resourcefulness.

On the “good luck” side, we’ve been fortunate to have such a supportive community. Without their support, we would not be where we are today. Even our leaders from our community help us do all the paperwork for our business. The overwhelmingly positive response from our Nepali community and local customers encouraged us to grow, first from a small frozen dumpling venture into a full-fledged food truck. Recognition like the Best Food Truck – Maggy Awards 2025 is another stroke of luck, but it comes on the heels of hard work and persistence.

Overall, I think luck is always a mix of timing, opportunity, and preparation. We’ve had our share of challenges, but being ready to adapt, learning from mistakes, and having a supportive community has turned those moments into opportunities that helped MoMoMandu thrive.

Pricing:

• We often hear from our customers that our prices are fair, though occasionally some feel we may be slightly higher—a sentiment that is sometimes reflected in a few of our Google reviews. We want to reassure everyone that we do our best to keep prices reasonable while maintaining the quality and authentic taste of every dish we prepare. Our motto is simple: we don’t want our customers’ money to go to waste. If someone doesn’t enjoy their meal, we are happy to provide a refund—because ensuring our clients are satisfied is always our top priority.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.momomandunc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momomandunc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momomandu
• Twitter: https://x.com/momomandunc
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ncmomomandu