While in Kathmandu | Our Story
A portal to Nepal in the heart of Queens
Since 2012, While in Kathmandu has brought the flavors of Nepal to Seneca Avenue in Ridgewood — a traditional chiya pasal, tea shop, and gathering place rooted in a neighborhood that felt right at home.
The space that transports you
Step through the ornately carved wooden door and you're somewhere else — brick walls, amber pendant light, Nepalese artifacts, and a kitchen tucked inside a traditional hut. Unlike anywhere else in New York.
The food
Water buffalo momos in fiery chili broth, sekuwa skewers off the grill, dry masala wings with a devoted following, and a buckwheat pancake that caught the New York Times' attention. Every dish tells you something real about Nepal.
A family kitchen, then and now
A family operation from day one — cash-only, no-frills, every ounce of energy on the plate. When demand outgrew the dining room, the family didn't move; they expanded into the backyard.
Ridgewood's own
On the Brooklyn-Queens border, a neighborhood of working artists and longtime locals. While in Kathmandu became its own because the cooking is honest and the welcome is real.
Beyond Ridgewood
In 2022 the family opened a second location in Glen Cove, Long Island — bringing Nepali cuisine to a community that had little access to it before. One kitchen philosophy: cook with care, share it generously.