I am not know for being anything remotely zen like (quite the opposite) in manner and thus a cafe next to a Buddhist Centre is probably the last place people (who know me) would expect to find me.

My first attempt at eating at this place was a very unzen like abject failure. I was second in the queue behind quite possibly the most indecisive person on the planet (probably the known Universe), who after “mmmmmming” about a menu with 3 (arguably 4, I suppose) items on it for what felt like 28 bazillion light years then decided on a bulk takeaway (presumably so they could “mmmmmmmmm” for another 28 billion light years as to whether to have them for dinner tonight or maybe leave it till lunch tomorrow or the next day or maybe next month, year, decade, eon or quite possibly have them with a Pan Galatic Gargle Blaster at Milliways, the Restaurant at the End of the Universe by the time they decided and then should they have one or maybe two or three and what plate to use or maybe a bowl) that completely denuded the place’s stock of what I actually wanted in the form of their momos (with no more due in for a week).

By this stage I was exuding potentially lethal levels of bad karma, with laser beams about to explode out of my eyes and steam coming out of my ears, so passed on the non momo soup options left on the miniscule menu and vowed to come back another day (after I had hunted down the “Ditherer Supreme“) for their momos.

I am probably being a tad unfair, but the menu wasn’t exactly War and Peace.

I returned a week latter and thankfully the momos were back in stock, with a lady busily at work making them up. The price were, at first blush, very reasonable with 6 working out at just over £1.32 each.

Patience seems to be a central theme in Buddhism ( the offical religion of Tibet) and it is something I sorely lack (see above) and you may have thought the 14 minute wait I was told it would take to cook the momos (so not ready in a momo) would have set me off again.

Well actually, I was in a much more zen like mood on my second visit and thus was happy to wait for my order of 6 momos whilst sipping a chai tea (£3.00).

Whilst the chai was from a bag and without milk, I rather enjoyed it in this form and focused on the flowers on the table (well actually my emails) as I waited for my momos.

When they arrived, the momos were a very robust portion for the £7.95 price tag,

On ordering, I was asked if I would like the traditional Tibetan sauce or soy (or both). I opted for the Tibetan one, thinking when in “Lhasa” and all.

This transpired to be a mix of tomato (I was curious as to when tomato’s got to Tibet – as late as the 20th century it seems), onion, garlic and coriander with just a hint of chilli heat.

This was OK, if a tad rustic/raw tasting/ slightly indifferent salsa-esque, and I think in hindsight soy would have been the much better option.

As for the momos, the steaming gave the casing a sort of bouncy texture (but not rubbery or claggy), with just a touch of pleasing chew. 

Each one came with a cabbage leaf sort of attached

which in theory would allow fingers to be used to transport it to the gob. I tried this (despite the server warning me they were likely too hot to do so) and predictably they were too hot to do it. I thus resorted to cutlery.

The filling was a mix of mushroom, cabbage and other assorted veg, with garlic, ginger  and coriander,

I would say the the umami of the mushrooms was the most dominate flavour (hence my view that the soy may have been the better option re a dipping sauce), but for vegan stuff it was very tasty (with good level of seasoning).

The surrounding salad of coriander and grated carrot was OK, but was crying out for a dressing (sorely lacking) to have been applied.

All in all rather pleasant, minor quibble aside, and very filling for the quite diminutive price tag.

As the momos were vegan and the soups veggie,  I did wonder about the “cheese” on the soups so asked if it was vegan (i.e. not actually cheese). They said can do either proper cheese or vegan (so not cheese) cheese.

The verdict

Despite my rather unzen internalised (barely) temper tantrum on my first visit, I rather enjoyed my second go at this place. The momos are really good, being both tasty and filling and the place does have a rather calming (even on a short tempered twxt like me) effect.

Good value option for something a bit different in Canton. Easy to miss it as it is just past where the main drag seems to end West of the Co-op,  but it is worth an amble down a bit further to get to this place. Parking seems to be pretty easy with there (in my experience) always spaces in Glamorgan Street carpark (probably more so going forward  with Cardiff Council’s genuis idea for dessimating small retail and hospitality businesses) if you can’t park on the road.

Might not be a post next week as off to Poland and work likely busy in the run up so may not get time to venture out. We shall see how the week pans out (my OCD does rather hate to miss a week)

The details

Address: 248 Cowbridge Road East, Canton, Cardiff, CF5 1GZ

Website: Can’t find one

Opening hours:

Mon. – Fri. – 10.30 – 14.30