Bristol Eating Better: Momo Bar  

In the first of a new series spotlighting Bristol Eating Better Award holders, Nicola Deschamps shines a light on Bristol Eating Better Gold holder, Momo Bar in St Nicholas Market. If you run a food business in Bristol, find out how to sign up for certification. 

Momo Bar specialises in authentic Tibetan dumplings, known as momos. Located in the historic glass arcade of Bristol’s popular St Nicholas Market, this family-run eatery serves homemade momos with vegetable pickles and chilli sauce every week from Monday to Friday, 11am to 3.30pm, and on Saturday from 11am to 5pm. It also offers frozen momo packs for customers to enjoy at home.  

Owner Ugyen Choephell is passionate about sharing his love for Tibet’s national dish, using recipes that have been passed down through generations in his family. In Tibet, eating dumplings is a social event, with family members contributing to the dumpling-making process, from chopping and cooking vegetables to folding, shaping, pinching the dough and finally filling and steaming the dumplings.  

Traditionally, momos are made with yak meat mixed with onions, wrapped in wheat dough and steamed. This cooking method gives Tibetan dumplings their unique flavour and texture.

Committed to using local independent suppliers and supporting the local economy, Momo Bar uses chicken, beef, cheddar cheese and vegetables to create its popular meat momos, as well as its vegetarian and vegan momos.   

Ugyen is passionate about Tibetan cuisine and introducing his culture, bringing people together through a shared culinary experience. The phrase ‘Be adventurous’ is displayed above the food counter at Momo Bar. This principle is central to the business and serves as an invitation for customers to step outside their culinary comfort zones, encouraging them to explore and try new dishes.  

The dumplings are so loved that customers travel from as far as Swindon and Weston-super-Mare to buy them. Ugyen credits their enthusiasm for his dumplings to the fresh, tasty ingredients, unique steaming process, excellent customer service and positive vibes. 

Since 2022, Momo Bar has held the Bristol Eating Better Gold Award thanks to its commitment to promoting healthier eating, minimising food waste, reducing packaging and supporting the local economy. This recognition has boosted the family’s confidence in their food and business practices and helped to promote the business and further build their customers’ trust.  

In response to growing consumer demand for healthier and sustainable food choices, the Bristol Eating Better Award (BEBA) scheme supports and rewards local businesses and school and early years caterers and providers that offer healthier food options and promote food and environmental sustainability. The Bristol Eating Better Business Award recognises food businesses such as restaurants, cafés, takeaways, market stalls and adult social care settings.

Moving forward, the plan is to offer wholesale frozen momo packs to local businesses, especially restaurants.  For more information on Momo Bar, contact info@momo-bar.co.uk.  

If you are involved in a food business, find out more information about how to sign up for an award and how other companies have benefited, at the Bristol Eating Better Award website.

To stay updated on future events, job opportunities and news, don’t forget to sign up for the Bristol Good Food Update at bristolgoodfood.org/newsletter. 

Nicola Deschamps is a registered nutritionist, author, and editor: targeteditorial.co.uk. Momo Bar photos by Jane Choephell.