Meet Nischal Basnet | Food Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nischal Basnet and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nischal, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Starting Himalaya’s Momo came from a mix of personal passion, cultural connection, and seeing a real gap in the market.

As someone with a Nepali background, momo were always more than just food to me they represent comfort, community, and a big part of our culture. I noticed that while cuisines like Chinese, Thai, and Korean food had become mainstream in California, authentic Nepali-style momo and Himalayan street food were still relatively underrepresented, especially in a fast-casual format.

At the same time, I saw changing customer trends:
-people are looking for bold flavors
-street-food style dining is growing rapidly
-there’s increasing demand for halal options and unique comfort foods
-customers are more open to trying international cuisines

I wanted to build something that combined:

-authentic Himalayan flavors
-modern fast-casual convenience
-visually appealing food
-and a strong brand identity people could remember

The food truck was the starting point because it allowed us to test the concept directly with customers, build a loyal community, and understand what people loved most before moving toward a physical location and larger expansion plans.

Long term, the vision has always been bigger than just selling momo. The goal is to build a scalable Himalayan fast-casual brand that introduces Nepali and Himalayan cuisine to a wider audience while creating something modern, approachable, and commercially sustainable.

What should our readers know about your business?
Building Himalaya’s Momo has been a journey driven by culture, passion, resilience, and the vision of introducing authentic Himalayan flavors to a wider audience in a modern and approachable way. What started as an idea rooted in family traditions and street food culture gradually turned into a growing food business focused on bringing high-quality Nepali and Himalayan cuisine to the community.

What sets Himalaya’s Momo apart is that we are not just selling food ,we are sharing a cultural experience. From our momo to our sauces and flavors, we focus on authenticity while also creating a modern fast-casual experience that appeals to both South Asian customers and people trying Himalayan food for the first time. We take pride in creating food that feels comforting, flavorful, and memorable.

One of the things we are most proud of is building a loyal customer base organically from the ground up. Starting with a food truck allowed us to connect directly with customers, understand what people loved, and continuously improve. Seeing customers return, bring their friends and family, and support us through word of mouth has been one of the most rewarding parts of the journey.

The journey definitely was not easy. Like many small businesses, we faced challenges including long hours, operational pressures, financial risks, learning the restaurant industry firsthand, and balancing consistency while growing. There were moments that tested our patience and resilience, but we kept moving forward by staying adaptable, listening to customer feedback, and focusing on continuous improvement rather than perfection.

A huge part of overcoming those challenges came from the people around me. My wife, parents, brothers, and business partners played an important role in supporting the vision from the beginning. Building something from the ground up requires teamwork, trust, and sacrifice, and I’m grateful to have people around me who genuinely believed in what we were creating.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that consistency and persistence matter more than overnight success. Building a brand takes time, and every challenge teaches you something valuable about leadership, operations, customer service, and staying patient during difficult phases. I’ve also learned the importance of community. Small businesses grow because of people who support, share, and believe in them.

What I want the world to know about Himalaya’s Momo is that our brand represents more than just food. It represents culture, family, hard work, and the dream of building something meaningful from the ground up. We want to continue introducing Himalayan cuisine to new audiences while creating a brand that people genuinely connect with and remember.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting for a week, I’d want them to experience a mix of Los Angeles culture, food, nightlife, scenic drives, and hidden local gems not just the typical tourist spots. I’d probably build the trip around good food, good conversations, and experiences that feel uniquely Southern California.

The trip would definitely start with introducing them to Himalayan and Nepali food at Himalaya’s Momo because that’s such a big part of my story and culture. From there, I’d mix the week with beach days, city life, nature, and late-night food spots.

A perfect LA week for me would include:

-Watching the sunset at Santa Monica Pier or Malibu
-Late-night drives through Hollywood Hills
-Visiting Griffith Observatory for the city view
-Exploring Downtown LA arts and food scene
-Trying Korean BBQ in Koreatown
-Visiting Little Tokyo and different street food spots
-Hiking around Runyon Canyon or Vasquez Rocks
-Spending a relaxing day around Santa Barbara or Laguna Beach
-Catching live music, rooftop lounges, or comedy clubs at night

Food-wise, I’d want them to experience how diverse LA really is. One of the best things about this city is that you can experience cuisines from all over the world within a short drive. We’d probably go from Nepali momo to tacos, Korean BBQ, ramen, Mediterranean food, and classic California brunch spots all within the same week.

I’d also want them to experience the entrepreneurial and creative energy of LA. One thing I love about this area is that you constantly meet people chasing big dreams whether it’s in entertainment, food, tech, fitness, fashion, or business. There’s a certain ambition and creativity here that feels motivating and inspiring.

At the same time, I’d also show them the quieter side of Southern California scenic drives, mountain views, beach sunsets, coffee shops, and the slower moments that make the city feel personal beyond the fast-paced image people usually see online.

More than anything, I’d want the trip to feel authentic, memorable, and full of experiences that bring people together through food, culture, conversations, and shared moments.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would definitely dedicate my shoutout to my family, my wife, my parents, my business partners, and especially my brothers who have been there since the very beginning of the journey of building Himalaya’s Momo. Starting a business comes with a lot of uncertainty, long hours, sacrifices, and challenges behind the scenes, and having people who genuinely believed in the vision made all the difference.

My wife has been one of my biggest sources of support and encouragement throughout the journey. From the stressful moments to the exciting milestones, her belief in me and the business kept me motivated to continue pushing forward.

I’m also incredibly grateful to my parents for their constant support, values, and encouragement. A lot of the inspiration behind Himalaya’s Momo comes from family, culture, and the food traditions I grew up around.

I also want to recognize my business partners for their trust, teamwork, and shared commitment to growing the brand. Building something from the ground up takes collaboration, patience, and resilience, and I’m grateful to have people around me who share the same passion and vision.

My brothers played a huge role from day one helping with setup, operations, problem-solving, and supporting the business however they could. Their willingness to step in during difficult moments helped turn the idea into something real.

Lastly, a huge shoutout to our customers and local community who supported us from the early food truck days. Every visit, recommendation, social media share, and returning customer helped us grow organically and motivated us to keep building.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/himalayas.momo?utm_source=qr