Phayul
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2nd Fl
Jackson Heights, NY 11372
(718) 424-1869
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37-65 74th St
2nd Fl
Jackson Heights, NY 11372 - Phone number (718) 424-1869
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“My favorite combination is the veggie Momos to start and then shak trak and bok choi on the side.” in 47 reviews
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“One dollar can give you a nice warm cup of yak butter tea, lightly salted tea with yak butter (has a nice umami to it).” in 36 reviews
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“The beef shak trak is a nice balance of veggies, tender meat, and garlic and beef thenthuk will hit the spot if you are looking for noodle soup.” in 13 reviews
I would never expect a little gem in the wall would taste as good as this place. The food was seasoned very well and the one woman show of a waitress did an amazing job tending to all the tables she had.
We ordered their baby bok choy, half portion of fried meat momo's and another half portion of the veggie fried momo's. My friend ordered the veggie lhasa fried noodles and I had their pork and pepper dish.
All of the dishes were phenomenal. If you are in the neighborhood and want some good home cooked dishes, please come here!
Food: I ate at this place a while ago so I don't really know what I ordered. My dish was a mix of vegetables and a few meat which kind of ticked me off because I'm a grown girl who needs like an actual filling meal. Like bruh, give me the MEAT. The sauce was pretty tasty though which I would have gladly wanted if I had rice. Cry... I was really on a tight budget that day so I was pretty sad that I couldn't even buy rice as a side which I considered kind of dumb/smart. My friend ordered an appetizer of beef dumplings which were pretty considered. The skin was not tough, not fragile. It was just the right texture and the insides were pretty brothy too. The lassi was also pretty good; it was creamy and tasted natural.
Service: the service was pretty ok. The waiter was nice, but she didn't really do anything memorable for me. But hey, at least she was nice so that's a thumbs up.
Place: even though the entrance creeped me out in which my friends and I thought that I chose the wrong place, its actually pretty homey and nice inside the restaurant. The place was small yet there was still enough space to sit, eat, and relax.
Recommendations: If you want to try this place out, lol first don't get intimidated at the entrance{ also, try to keep your eyes open. it's easy to miss} , and then just go in and enjoy. Later on, as my friends and I ate, I saw more natives eating around us so I'm guessing for them, its just right. Maybe I'm just not a fan of Himalayan/Nepalese or maybe I should give it another go when I'm around. If you want to try this place out, I would recommend bringing like around 4 people there so that it won't be cramped. And also, I don't think there was an AC there because I remember sweating like crazy. So if I were you, don't go on a really hot day and if u can handle the heat, well then damn. Then you're good lol.
One of my favorite restaurants to go in Jackson Heights.
My friends and I have been there a lot of times and we always order the same dishes every.single.time.
1. Alu momo
2. Lhasa fried noodles
3. Sliced pork belly
4. Alu dum
5. Tingmo
Call it a habit or whatsoever but we absolutely love those five dishes although I'm not sure if tingmo is considered a dish.. Hmm.
The alu momo mixed with the chili oil they have..... I can rest in peace after eating that.
The tingmo goes well with the sliced pork belly too.
Their butter tea is not bad either.
I'm not sure about their other dishes because like I said, we always order the SAME thing every time we go there. I'm not complaining though. Hehe.
I've pretty much lived my whole life in Woodside/Jackson Heights and have always neglected to try traditional Tibetan food.
Til I finally got recommendations to come HERE by my Tibetan co-workers and to try tradition Tibetan style dumplings.. MOMOS!
After trying their steamed beef momos, I think I came back 3-4 times in 2 weeks for them. One of the times I actually sat in with my girlfriend for dinner!
Beef Momos ($6/8) if you've ever had soup dumplings, this is sort of like it. The meat is a little tough and the dough is a little thicker but not in an unpleasant way. The little soup that it spews after the first bite is just packed with flavor! God I wish it had more soup in it!
Spicy Beef Tongue ($9)
This dish was solid. I love Mexican style beef tongue so this wasn't that much different. I do wish the pieces of tongue were thicker and more tender. Then it would probably be a go-to dish!
Service is good! It was the same woman working all 4 times I went there lol. When we did dine in, service was still awesome, despite her having to handle bussing and waiting 10 tables and working the cash register.
This was my first experience with Tibetan/Himalayan food, and I'm glad that it was at a place that felt so authentic and homey. That being said, I did enjoy the food, but I wasn't *too* impressed.
This restaurant is easy to miss and it looks a bit sketchy since it's located at the top of some darkly-lot stairs next to a threading place. It's small inside and the decor isn't amazing, but I do think their dishes give you a real taste of Tibet.
What we had...
- Beef Momos: good for a quick snack. They're similar to Chinese dumplings, with meat inside and a thick dumpling wrapper.
- Beef Shak Tak & Beef Tongue Shak Tak: or at least I believe they were both the same dish, because they were very similar. They had good flavors, and you can tell them how mild or spicy that you want it. Portion size was relatively small, but the prices are very affordable.
- Mango Lassi: my first experience with this l, and I did like! Subtle mango flavor, and very creamy
Outstanding momos! We got the beef steamed and fried. Both types were packed with flavor and filling! Definitely must try. We also orders a beef noodle dish that had some clear broth. It also was really good. Gem hidden on 2nd floor.
Ranajoy recommended this place, since we were all about trying some new cuisine on this trip to the city. I'd never had Himalayan/Tibetan food before. Ooh boy, good choice!
Super small restaurant space above a street store. We were surprised how crowded this joint was for 3pm on a Monday. Luckily, we were able to get a table relatively quickly.
It took awhile to get our food - everything is made to order! I picked an appetizer of Tsak Sha Dang Laphing - I don't like anything with a similar texture to Jello. Ranajoy and Stephen loved it, so they scarfed it down. I ate some of Stephen's Thenthuk with beef. After trying a spoonful, I couldn't put it down. It was a fantastic trade-off! Wide, good-textured noodles. Spinach (?) leaves and sliced meatBeef noodle soup for the soul!
Main dish: Tsak Sha Dang Ka Sha Ngoe Ma - Beef with Mushrooms. The lady was so nice and more than willing to add green pepper to the dish. So many thick mushroom slices - cloud nine! The beef was also thin and tender.
I was stoked to try the Tibetan Tea. Yep. Tea flavored with salt and butter, as opposed to the first thought of milk and sugar. It was a wonderful creamy butter taste. Faint hints of the salt - just the right amount. I'm glad I got the chance to partake in true Tibetan culture!!
Up the stairs into a suitable clean dining room with an incredibly friendly staff. The service was casual but attentive and the food was exceptional. YOU SHOULD GO!
Phayul gets stars for its feels; you can almost think you were in some local joint in Tibet after you go up some stairs to find it on the second floor. Dark chairs and tables are on one side, while the cooks make your meal behind the counter on the other. Unfortunately, the momos I had here confirms my suspicion that when trying cuisines that seem to be heavy on the meat dishes, vegetarian choices are not always the best. I wanted a quick snack and was disappointed by my momo, which didn't reflect the raves from the Yelp reviews. The meat eaters I noticed had plates of steaming, white skinned fresh looking momos that looked fresh and delicious. My vegetable momos came out warm, with the thick skin that looked like it had been sitting around and re-steamed, and not too successfully. The gathered portion of the skin chewy and hard inside, at the gathered dough parts like pasta that hadn't been cooked to the core, and the entire wrap had a slight greyish tinge, like buns that had been made in advance. The momo inside was a potato mix, with some pieces of spinach and shavings of carrot. It reminded me of samosas, but without the curry, and wasn't steaming hot either. With the mix of vinegar(you can request it), and chili and pepper sauces and soy, it was okay, but not an experience I'd try again.
To be fair to Phayul, everyone else seemed to be enjoying their dishes, including the hot, steaming momos they received. They seemed to be locals who knew their cuisine. I just think the vegetable momo isn't a frequently requested dish, and probably is something they make well in advance and refrigerate, to steam when needed. The momos are filling. I had intended to snack and to go over to Resobox to eat some sushi and ramen but found out I was full. Service here is affable.
So I've been wanting to try Tibetan food for quite some time now, and finally got the chance to thanks to a little package with a big broad appetite.
First, Phayul is located on 74th Street, not 37th Road. 2nd floor, next to a hair salon. The decor was plain Jane, with about 6 4-toppers. You sit on the right, they cook in an open kitchen to your left. Like most asian restuarants, the waitress/hostess immediately greeted us and took our order when we were ready.
First rule of eating somewhere unknown, make sure you get something safe. So we ordered steamed Beef Momo $6 (extra large dumplings), Lhasa Fried Noodles with chicken $8, and Butter Tea $1each.
The Butter tea...what can I say...it tasted like butter salt and hot water. Not a favorite of mine, but she enjoyed it.
Next came out the Lhasa Fried Noodles. It came out in a nice sized bowl, which the hot peppers being very noticable. I must say this is one of my favorite stir fried I've had in quite some time. It had a nice kick to it. My spice level is that of siracha with the seeds, and this was one step above it. Just right. The Butter tea actually helped with the spice when it was too much, so not a total lost.
The Momo came last bc it was made to order. Now that I think about it, we could've asked to put whatever we wanted in it since it was made on spot. Foe next time. The beef was flavorful l, but I wish there was more liquid in it, like a soup dumpling. We did eye hustle the people next to us, which had the fried version. Looked really good, but the steamed version was what we wanted. Not too heavy, not too light.
NO TAX! $16 for dinner?! Can't beat that. I will definitely be back to this spot or the next Tibetan spot I find.
We never noticed this place because it's located on the second floor. Even though the address is on 74th street, you have to walk to 37th road to find the stairs to go up. It's really close to the subway station.
The food here is amazing! Absolutely delicious! We wanted to order the vegetable momo but our waitress said they were out of that so we ended up getting the chicken momo. We also ordered the Chele Katsa (Fried spicy beef tongue), Phaksha Siphen Ngoenm (Sliced pork with leek & green pepper), the chicken chili, & two orders of white rice. The portion of the white rice is huge! Everything we ordered was just really good. Tons of flavor! We can't even pick which one we like best. The chicken momo is juicy. The meat inside is thick & flavorful.
The place is small. The kitchen is open. You can see how your food is being prepared. The service was good. Can't really say much about the service other than our waitress, she was pretty polite.
All total, the bill came out to about $39. It was definitely worth it. Amazing food & we were stuffed!
This place is definitely worth visiting. We will definitely go back for sure!
** CASH ONLY **
Favorite Himalayan spot in Jackson Heights. Best beef Momos I've had in my life! The Thenthuk soup I swear is healing.
Everything is made fresh in house - I love the small intimate setting, watching the chefs make it.
I only recently discovered Jackson Heights along with its diverse array of food options, and Phayul is a place I have fallen in love with. This hole in the wall place does not have the best decor, but the food more than makes up for it.
Before coming to Phayul, make sure you have cash, as this is a cash only restaurant. Additionally, it is located on the second floor and shares the same entrance (a very small one) as a beauty salon, so make sure you keep your eyes open and don't miss it. I have been seated right away every time I have gone, but since it is a very small restaurant (7-8 tables total), you may have to wait a little bit if you are coming during peak hours. But trust me, the food and super reasonable prices (pretty much every item on the menu is under $10) is well worth any wait.
Alright, now let's get to the food. My favorite thing on the menu so far would have to be the Shak Trak, which is a beef stir fry mixed with hot peppers and a tomatoey sauce. It sounds simple, but is so flavorful. The beef is perfectly tender and the tanginess of the sauce pairs perfectly with the spiciness of the hot peppers. I always order a Tingmo (a steamed flour bun) and use it to soak up every drop of the sauce. The two pair so well together.
Aside from the Shak Trak, I also really enjoy the Beef Thenthuk, which is a noodle soup dish made with hand pulled wide noodles along with a variety of veggies (i consider potatoes veggies so...). The soup is very flavorful and extremely soothing on a cold winter day. The momos (steamed or fried dumplings) are also delicious. You can get veggie, chicken, or beef momos and they come in plates of 8 momos each, so the portion is pretty good as well.
With all of these dishes, if you would like to add an extra kick, put some of the chili oil that is pre-set on each table. It is literally just chili flakes heated in hot oil with some sesame seeds, but it adds such a great kick and aroma to your food.
Lastly, if you feel like trying something really different, get the butter tea. It is tea mixed with rich butter along with some salt. Yes, I said salt. This is a very traditional drink in Tibetan culture and is actually quite tasty. It is served steaming hot, so be careful to not burn your mouth. The creamy butter goes very well with the tea and warms you right up.
I will definitely be coming to Phayul many more times in the future and can't wait to try every single other item on their menu.
Quarterly I lead a group of friends to different areas of the city, using our expanded numbers to eat through part of one of New York's amazing food enclaves. Recently we came to Jackson Heights, specifically to look into the growing numbers of Nepalese and Tibetan restaurants in the area.
Phayul was our first stop, and as a way of showing the difference between the filament lamps and exposed brick of our neighborhood eateries in Brooklyn and Manhattan, it was perfect. To get to the restaurant you pass a salon and navigate a narrow twisting staircase. A colorful pieces of drapery separates the restaurant from the public part of the building, but the lack of waiting area meant that my party spilled halfway down the stairs.
We were going elsewhere for momo, so I took advantage of the large menu at Phayul to try some dishes not always available at Tibetan restaurants. We ate shoo chaste and shook sit sit ngoe ma, both variations and potatoes and peppers with a strong spice attached. We had laphing, cold mung bean noodles related to dishes that come from Northeast China. We also sampled a piece of tingmo, the fluffy Tibetan bread served with proteins.
By the end of the meal, I was dealing with requests for butter tea. Despite my protestations that butter tea is awful and very much lives up to its odious reputation, a pot was ordered. Perhaps it was the ambience or the fact that true yak butter isn't available in Queens, but some members of my party actually seemed to enjoy it.
Phayul is a really interesting restaurant with well prepared food, flavors I'd never tasted and overall just a really fun experience. Their location on the second floor on the corner of the street next to what bills itself as a Himalayan hair parlor only adds to the feeling that you're no longer in Kansas (where I'm from).
Beef Shak Trak (beef with vegetables in a sauce, lots of garlic), a nice chicken side dish with vegetables, the name of which I can't recall was accompanied by a cup of salty butter tea (an acquired taste--interesting, but I'd pass next time--not a criticism) and an order of veggie momos. Two types of hot sauce are on every table, both red. One is clearly strongly laced with fresh garlic, the other pure heat with oil and peppers. Both go nice on the momos whose outer skins here are thicker than I would have guessed.
For a Yelper that loves different food experiences this was a real treat and a stop here is highly recommended. I took the F train from the Lower East Side of Manhattan direct here (takes about 30 minutes) and have to say it was well worth the effort. I have an idea there are many more flavors to try here and had there been more room I would have definitely gone for the aromatic cheese soup which I hear is quite the experience. Another time. If you like adventure dining, this place is highly recommended. Just don't expect white table cloths and fancy trappings.
My first trip to Jackson Heights ever. Special thanks for my NY friends for taking me to new interesting places to eat.
Phayul was our first stop. Hidden as it is located on the 2nd floor. I did not know what to expect but the menu looked interesting and I was hungry.
Beef Thenthuk ($6.99) was so tasty. But I have this weakness of chewy hand made noodles and spicy broth.
I still did not believe I would have enjoyed Tsak Sha Chu Rul ($3.99) which is a Tibetan Beef and Cheese soup. Maybe the sweetness of daikon and the spiciness of chili balanced out the "cheese'? It was something I would order again and eat that whole bowl by myself!
Vegetable Momo ($4.99) was ok. but Tibetan Butter Tea ($1) definitely not my cup of tea.
Love the family vibe of Phayul and higher recommend if you looking for some home style Tibetan food.
The food is amazing. I have been coming here for more than 2 years, and the food hasn't disappointed me yet. Usually, I have some dumpling soup which is incredible, fried momo's, spicy potato dish, tried few other dishes. For some reason, I feel this is winter food, and that's the time I visit the establishment the most.
Don't expect a fancy place, neither good service. Just come for an excellent food.
Came here with high expectations from all the raving yelp reviews (which rarely disappoint) but sadly we found Phayal pretty disappointing. Momo's are basically the Himalayan/Nepalese version of Chinese dumplings but not as juicy, tender or flavorful. We had the beef momos and they were just okay. The Thenthunk or hand pulled noodles were too soft and the broth was quite bland. The shak trak was a dish of fried beef and red onions in a mild spicy sauce. It was good but not anything that commands my return and smaller than we were expecting. The butter tea is interesting as I've never had tea that was buttery and salty. I would say that out of everything the butter tea is the must-try item here.
If you're not careful you might just walk right past Phayul as it is a second floor walk up (so not wheel chair/extremely elderly friendly) and the awning right above the door is of a salon.
The place is small so expect to wait if you come during meal times.
We got veggie Momos and veggie noodles from here. The veggie Momos were filled with just mash potatoes with a very meh flavor and had a super thick exterior coating, I couldn't even finish one. Compared to The vegetarian Momos I've had at other places had shredded cabbage and carrots and tofu as a filling these were 0/5. The noodles were 4 out of 5 but the Momos were such a disappointment.
You know how there are restaurants that are famous in the area that have been "discovered" by the outsiders and food blogs? Phayul is not one of them. You could find those restaurants across the street.
Phayul is where the locals (the local Tibetans) go. The restaurant door is hidden (on the side of the building) and you have to take a flight of stairs to find this secret place. The restaurant does exist! And it's a gem.
The food is legit. We didn't get much (three people to share food) but we did get enough to sample what they offer. And I would like to go back to try more!
On the Table:
Tsak Sha Momo- Small beef dumplings. Add sauce to reach your flavor and spice level liking. The dough is thick.
Beef Thenthuk- Hand drawn noodle soup with vegetables. This is a heart warming comfort style soup. Perfect for cold days. The noodles is this soup are the shaved kind.
Jasha Dang Sipoen Ngoema- Chicken with green pepper. This dish will wake you up. It is truly extra spicy as described on the menu. You will have to eat this dish with rice or steamed dumplings to counteract the spice. Otherwise there might be tears. Amazing!
Other dishes I would be curious to try are the spicy beef tongue appetizer and more entrees such as the Shoko Phing Sha (beef with potato, vermicelli). I'm a lover of meat, starch, and spice and everything on the menu sounds enticing.
Warning: On the day we went, it was extremely cold inside. The heater might have been broken so we never took off our Winter jackets. But the food was super hot and fresh. The temperature will be the last thing on your mind. Just pretend you're eating in the Himalayas!
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I would never expect a little gem in the wall would taste as good as this place. The food was seasoned very well and the one woman show of a waitress did an amazing job tending to all the tables she had.
We ordered their baby bok choy, half portion of fried meat momo's and another half portion of the veggie fried momo's. My friend ordered the veggie lhasa fried noodles and I had their pork and pepper dish.
All of the dishes were phenomenal. If you are in the neighborhood and want some good home cooked dishes, please come here! -
- Elaine E.
- Bronx, NY
- 36 friends
- 25 reviews
Food: I ate at this place a while ago so I don't really know what I ordered. My dish was a mix of vegetables and a few meat which kind of ticked me off because I'm a grown girl who needs like an actual filling meal. Like bruh, give me the MEAT. The sauce was pretty tasty though which I would have gladly wanted if I had rice. Cry... I was really on a tight budget that day so I was pretty sad that I couldn't even buy rice as a side which I considered kind of dumb/smart. My friend ordered an appetizer of beef dumplings which were pretty considered. The skin was not tough, not fragile. It was just the right texture and the insides were pretty brothy too. The lassi was also pretty good; it was creamy and tasted natural.
Service: the service was pretty ok. The waiter was nice, but she didn't really do anything memorable for me. But hey, at least she was nice so that's a thumbs up.
Place: even though the entrance creeped me out in which my friends and I thought that I chose the wrong place, its actually pretty homey and nice inside the restaurant. The place was small yet there was still enough space to sit, eat, and relax.
Recommendations: If you want to try this place out, lol first don't get intimidated at the entrance{ also, try to keep your eyes open. it's easy to miss} , and then just go in and enjoy. Later on, as my friends and I ate, I saw more natives eating around us so I'm guessing for them, its just right. Maybe I'm just not a fan of Himalayan/Nepalese or maybe I should give it another go when I'm around. If you want to try this place out, I would recommend bringing like around 4 people there so that it won't be cramped. And also, I don't think there was an AC there because I remember sweating like crazy. So if I were you, don't go on a really hot day and if u can handle the heat, well then damn. Then you're good lol. -
- Jeni G.
- RIDGEWOOD, NY
- 23 friends
- 6 reviews
One of my favorite restaurants to go in Jackson Heights.
My friends and I have been there a lot of times and we always order the same dishes every.single.time.
1. Alu momo
2. Lhasa fried noodles
3. Sliced pork belly
4. Alu dum
5. Tingmo
Call it a habit or whatsoever but we absolutely love those five dishes although I'm not sure if tingmo is considered a dish.. Hmm.
The alu momo mixed with the chili oil they have..... I can rest in peace after eating that.
The tingmo goes well with the sliced pork belly too.
Their butter tea is not bad either.
I'm not sure about their other dishes because like I said, we always order the SAME thing every time we go there. I'm not complaining though. Hehe. -
I've pretty much lived my whole life in Woodside/Jackson Heights and have always neglected to try traditional Tibetan food.
Til I finally got recommendations to come HERE by my Tibetan co-workers and to try tradition Tibetan style dumplings.. MOMOS!
After trying their steamed beef momos, I think I came back 3-4 times in 2 weeks for them. One of the times I actually sat in with my girlfriend for dinner!
Beef Momos ($6/8) if you've ever had soup dumplings, this is sort of like it. The meat is a little tough and the dough is a little thicker but not in an unpleasant way. The little soup that it spews after the first bite is just packed with flavor! God I wish it had more soup in it!
Spicy Beef Tongue ($9)
This dish was solid. I love Mexican style beef tongue so this wasn't that much different. I do wish the pieces of tongue were thicker and more tender. Then it would probably be a go-to dish!
Service is good! It was the same woman working all 4 times I went there lol. When we did dine in, service was still awesome, despite her having to handle bussing and waiting 10 tables and working the cash register. -
- Michelle B.
- Brooklyn, NY
- 220 friends
- 278 reviews
- Elite ’16
This was my first experience with Tibetan/Himalayan food, and I'm glad that it was at a place that felt so authentic and homey. That being said, I did enjoy the food, but I wasn't *too* impressed.
This restaurant is easy to miss and it looks a bit sketchy since it's located at the top of some darkly-lot stairs next to a threading place. It's small inside and the decor isn't amazing, but I do think their dishes give you a real taste of Tibet.
What we had...
- Beef Momos: good for a quick snack. They're similar to Chinese dumplings, with meat inside and a thick dumpling wrapper.
- Beef Shak Tak & Beef Tongue Shak Tak: or at least I believe they were both the same dish, because they were very similar. They had good flavors, and you can tell them how mild or spicy that you want it. Portion size was relatively small, but the prices are very affordable.
- Mango Lassi: my first experience with this l, and I did like! Subtle mango flavor, and very creamy -
- Bruce W.
- New York, NY
- 31 friends
- 46 reviews
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Ranajoy recommended this place, since we were all about trying some new cuisine on this trip to the city. I'd never had Himalayan/Tibetan food before. Ooh boy, good choice!
Super small restaurant space above a street store. We were surprised how crowded this joint was for 3pm on a Monday. Luckily, we were able to get a table relatively quickly.
It took awhile to get our food - everything is made to order! I picked an appetizer of Tsak Sha Dang Laphing - I don't like anything with a similar texture to Jello. Ranajoy and Stephen loved it, so they scarfed it down. I ate some of Stephen's Thenthuk with beef. After trying a spoonful, I couldn't put it down. It was a fantastic trade-off! Wide, good-textured noodles. Spinach (?) leaves and sliced meatBeef noodle soup for the soul!
Main dish: Tsak Sha Dang Ka Sha Ngoe Ma - Beef with Mushrooms. The lady was so nice and more than willing to add green pepper to the dish. So many thick mushroom slices - cloud nine! The beef was also thin and tender.
I was stoked to try the Tibetan Tea. Yep. Tea flavored with salt and butter, as opposed to the first thought of milk and sugar. It was a wonderful creamy butter taste. Faint hints of the salt - just the right amount. I'm glad I got the chance to partake in true Tibetan culture!! -
- T W.
- Brooklyn, NY
- 25 friends
- 38 reviews
Up the stairs into a suitable clean dining room with an incredibly friendly staff. The service was casual but attentive and the food was exceptional. YOU SHOULD GO!
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Phayul gets stars for its feels; you can almost think you were in some local joint in Tibet after you go up some stairs to find it on the second floor. Dark chairs and tables are on one side, while the cooks make your meal behind the counter on the other. Unfortunately, the momos I had here confirms my suspicion that when trying cuisines that seem to be heavy on the meat dishes, vegetarian choices are not always the best. I wanted a quick snack and was disappointed by my momo, which didn't reflect the raves from the Yelp reviews. The meat eaters I noticed had plates of steaming, white skinned fresh looking momos that looked fresh and delicious. My vegetable momos came out warm, with the thick skin that looked like it had been sitting around and re-steamed, and not too successfully. The gathered portion of the skin chewy and hard inside, at the gathered dough parts like pasta that hadn't been cooked to the core, and the entire wrap had a slight greyish tinge, like buns that had been made in advance. The momo inside was a potato mix, with some pieces of spinach and shavings of carrot. It reminded me of samosas, but without the curry, and wasn't steaming hot either. With the mix of vinegar(you can request it), and chili and pepper sauces and soy, it was okay, but not an experience I'd try again.
To be fair to Phayul, everyone else seemed to be enjoying their dishes, including the hot, steaming momos they received. They seemed to be locals who knew their cuisine. I just think the vegetable momo isn't a frequently requested dish, and probably is something they make well in advance and refrigerate, to steam when needed. The momos are filling. I had intended to snack and to go over to Resobox to eat some sushi and ramen but found out I was full. Service here is affable. -
- James N.
- Brooklyn, NY
- 36 friends
- 7 reviews
So I've been wanting to try Tibetan food for quite some time now, and finally got the chance to thanks to a little package with a big broad appetite.
First, Phayul is located on 74th Street, not 37th Road. 2nd floor, next to a hair salon. The decor was plain Jane, with about 6 4-toppers. You sit on the right, they cook in an open kitchen to your left. Like most asian restuarants, the waitress/hostess immediately greeted us and took our order when we were ready.
First rule of eating somewhere unknown, make sure you get something safe. So we ordered steamed Beef Momo $6 (extra large dumplings), Lhasa Fried Noodles with chicken $8, and Butter Tea $1each.
The Butter tea...what can I say...it tasted like butter salt and hot water. Not a favorite of mine, but she enjoyed it.
Next came out the Lhasa Fried Noodles. It came out in a nice sized bowl, which the hot peppers being very noticable. I must say this is one of my favorite stir fried I've had in quite some time. It had a nice kick to it. My spice level is that of siracha with the seeds, and this was one step above it. Just right. The Butter tea actually helped with the spice when it was too much, so not a total lost.
The Momo came last bc it was made to order. Now that I think about it, we could've asked to put whatever we wanted in it since it was made on spot. Foe next time. The beef was flavorful l, but I wish there was more liquid in it, like a soup dumpling. We did eye hustle the people next to us, which had the fried version. Looked really good, but the steamed version was what we wanted. Not too heavy, not too light.
NO TAX! $16 for dinner?! Can't beat that. I will definitely be back to this spot or the next Tibetan spot I find. -
- Mr F G And Ms M S.
- Flushing, NY
- 659 friends
- 1035 reviews
We never noticed this place because it's located on the second floor. Even though the address is on 74th street, you have to walk to 37th road to find the stairs to go up. It's really close to the subway station.
The food here is amazing! Absolutely delicious! We wanted to order the vegetable momo but our waitress said they were out of that so we ended up getting the chicken momo. We also ordered the Chele Katsa (Fried spicy beef tongue), Phaksha Siphen Ngoenm (Sliced pork with leek & green pepper), the chicken chili, & two orders of white rice. The portion of the white rice is huge! Everything we ordered was just really good. Tons of flavor! We can't even pick which one we like best. The chicken momo is juicy. The meat inside is thick & flavorful.
The place is small. The kitchen is open. You can see how your food is being prepared. The service was good. Can't really say much about the service other than our waitress, she was pretty polite.
All total, the bill came out to about $39. It was definitely worth it. Amazing food & we were stuffed!
This place is definitely worth visiting. We will definitely go back for sure!
** CASH ONLY ** -
- Coryn N.
- New York, NY
- 0 friends
- 2 reviews
Favorite Himalayan spot in Jackson Heights. Best beef Momos I've had in my life! The Thenthuk soup I swear is healing.
Everything is made fresh in house - I love the small intimate setting, watching the chefs make it. -
- Yixuan M.
- Flatiron, Manhattan, NY
- 37 friends
- 10 reviews
I only recently discovered Jackson Heights along with its diverse array of food options, and Phayul is a place I have fallen in love with. This hole in the wall place does not have the best decor, but the food more than makes up for it.
Before coming to Phayul, make sure you have cash, as this is a cash only restaurant. Additionally, it is located on the second floor and shares the same entrance (a very small one) as a beauty salon, so make sure you keep your eyes open and don't miss it. I have been seated right away every time I have gone, but since it is a very small restaurant (7-8 tables total), you may have to wait a little bit if you are coming during peak hours. But trust me, the food and super reasonable prices (pretty much every item on the menu is under $10) is well worth any wait.
Alright, now let's get to the food. My favorite thing on the menu so far would have to be the Shak Trak, which is a beef stir fry mixed with hot peppers and a tomatoey sauce. It sounds simple, but is so flavorful. The beef is perfectly tender and the tanginess of the sauce pairs perfectly with the spiciness of the hot peppers. I always order a Tingmo (a steamed flour bun) and use it to soak up every drop of the sauce. The two pair so well together.
Aside from the Shak Trak, I also really enjoy the Beef Thenthuk, which is a noodle soup dish made with hand pulled wide noodles along with a variety of veggies (i consider potatoes veggies so...). The soup is very flavorful and extremely soothing on a cold winter day. The momos (steamed or fried dumplings) are also delicious. You can get veggie, chicken, or beef momos and they come in plates of 8 momos each, so the portion is pretty good as well.
With all of these dishes, if you would like to add an extra kick, put some of the chili oil that is pre-set on each table. It is literally just chili flakes heated in hot oil with some sesame seeds, but it adds such a great kick and aroma to your food.
Lastly, if you feel like trying something really different, get the butter tea. It is tea mixed with rich butter along with some salt. Yes, I said salt. This is a very traditional drink in Tibetan culture and is actually quite tasty. It is served steaming hot, so be careful to not burn your mouth. The creamy butter goes very well with the tea and warms you right up.
I will definitely be coming to Phayul many more times in the future and can't wait to try every single other item on their menu. -
Quarterly I lead a group of friends to different areas of the city, using our expanded numbers to eat through part of one of New York's amazing food enclaves. Recently we came to Jackson Heights, specifically to look into the growing numbers of Nepalese and Tibetan restaurants in the area.
Phayul was our first stop, and as a way of showing the difference between the filament lamps and exposed brick of our neighborhood eateries in Brooklyn and Manhattan, it was perfect. To get to the restaurant you pass a salon and navigate a narrow twisting staircase. A colorful pieces of drapery separates the restaurant from the public part of the building, but the lack of waiting area meant that my party spilled halfway down the stairs.
We were going elsewhere for momo, so I took advantage of the large menu at Phayul to try some dishes not always available at Tibetan restaurants. We ate shoo chaste and shook sit sit ngoe ma, both variations and potatoes and peppers with a strong spice attached. We had laphing, cold mung bean noodles related to dishes that come from Northeast China. We also sampled a piece of tingmo, the fluffy Tibetan bread served with proteins.
By the end of the meal, I was dealing with requests for butter tea. Despite my protestations that butter tea is awful and very much lives up to its odious reputation, a pot was ordered. Perhaps it was the ambience or the fact that true yak butter isn't available in Queens, but some members of my party actually seemed to enjoy it. -
Phayul is a really interesting restaurant with well prepared food, flavors I'd never tasted and overall just a really fun experience. Their location on the second floor on the corner of the street next to what bills itself as a Himalayan hair parlor only adds to the feeling that you're no longer in Kansas (where I'm from).
Beef Shak Trak (beef with vegetables in a sauce, lots of garlic), a nice chicken side dish with vegetables, the name of which I can't recall was accompanied by a cup of salty butter tea (an acquired taste--interesting, but I'd pass next time--not a criticism) and an order of veggie momos. Two types of hot sauce are on every table, both red. One is clearly strongly laced with fresh garlic, the other pure heat with oil and peppers. Both go nice on the momos whose outer skins here are thicker than I would have guessed.
For a Yelper that loves different food experiences this was a real treat and a stop here is highly recommended. I took the F train from the Lower East Side of Manhattan direct here (takes about 30 minutes) and have to say it was well worth the effort. I have an idea there are many more flavors to try here and had there been more room I would have definitely gone for the aromatic cheese soup which I hear is quite the experience. Another time. If you like adventure dining, this place is highly recommended. Just don't expect white table cloths and fancy trappings. -
- Jennifer K.
- Markham, Canada
- 82 friends
- 5470 reviews
- Elite ’16
My first trip to Jackson Heights ever. Special thanks for my NY friends for taking me to new interesting places to eat.
Phayul was our first stop. Hidden as it is located on the 2nd floor. I did not know what to expect but the menu looked interesting and I was hungry.
Beef Thenthuk ($6.99) was so tasty. But I have this weakness of chewy hand made noodles and spicy broth.
I still did not believe I would have enjoyed Tsak Sha Chu Rul ($3.99) which is a Tibetan Beef and Cheese soup. Maybe the sweetness of daikon and the spiciness of chili balanced out the "cheese'? It was something I would order again and eat that whole bowl by myself!
Vegetable Momo ($4.99) was ok. but Tibetan Butter Tea ($1) definitely not my cup of tea.
Love the family vibe of Phayul and higher recommend if you looking for some home style Tibetan food. -
- Vanja B.
- Rego Park, NY
- 0 friends
- 24 reviews
The food is amazing. I have been coming here for more than 2 years, and the food hasn't disappointed me yet. Usually, I have some dumpling soup which is incredible, fried momo's, spicy potato dish, tried few other dishes. For some reason, I feel this is winter food, and that's the time I visit the establishment the most.
Don't expect a fancy place, neither good service. Just come for an excellent food. -
Came here with high expectations from all the raving yelp reviews (which rarely disappoint) but sadly we found Phayal pretty disappointing. Momo's are basically the Himalayan/Nepalese version of Chinese dumplings but not as juicy, tender or flavorful. We had the beef momos and they were just okay. The Thenthunk or hand pulled noodles were too soft and the broth was quite bland. The shak trak was a dish of fried beef and red onions in a mild spicy sauce. It was good but not anything that commands my return and smaller than we were expecting. The butter tea is interesting as I've never had tea that was buttery and salty. I would say that out of everything the butter tea is the must-try item here.
If you're not careful you might just walk right past Phayul as it is a second floor walk up (so not wheel chair/extremely elderly friendly) and the awning right above the door is of a salon.
The place is small so expect to wait if you come during meal times. -
- Joy C.
- Cambridge, MA
- 1 friend
- 15 reviews
We got veggie Momos and veggie noodles from here. The veggie Momos were filled with just mash potatoes with a very meh flavor and had a super thick exterior coating, I couldn't even finish one. Compared to The vegetarian Momos I've had at other places had shredded cabbage and carrots and tofu as a filling these were 0/5. The noodles were 4 out of 5 but the Momos were such a disappointment.
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You know how there are restaurants that are famous in the area that have been "discovered" by the outsiders and food blogs? Phayul is not one of them. You could find those restaurants across the street.
Phayul is where the locals (the local Tibetans) go. The restaurant door is hidden (on the side of the building) and you have to take a flight of stairs to find this secret place. The restaurant does exist! And it's a gem.
The food is legit. We didn't get much (three people to share food) but we did get enough to sample what they offer. And I would like to go back to try more!
On the Table:
Tsak Sha Momo- Small beef dumplings. Add sauce to reach your flavor and spice level liking. The dough is thick.
Beef Thenthuk- Hand drawn noodle soup with vegetables. This is a heart warming comfort style soup. Perfect for cold days. The noodles is this soup are the shaved kind.
Jasha Dang Sipoen Ngoema- Chicken with green pepper. This dish will wake you up. It is truly extra spicy as described on the menu. You will have to eat this dish with rice or steamed dumplings to counteract the spice. Otherwise there might be tears. Amazing!
Other dishes I would be curious to try are the spicy beef tongue appetizer and more entrees such as the Shoko Phing Sha (beef with potato, vermicelli). I'm a lover of meat, starch, and spice and everything on the menu sounds enticing.
Warning: On the day we went, it was extremely cold inside. The heater might have been broken so we never took off our Winter jackets. But the food was super hot and fresh. The temperature will be the last thing on your mind. Just pretend you're eating in the Himalayas!
Business info summary
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- Today
- 10:30 am - 10:30 pm Closed now
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$
- Price range
- Under $10
Menu
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