KATHMANDU, Nov 6: New York City’s newly elected mayor, Zohar Mamdani, marked his first day after a historic victory by indulging in Nepali cuisine Mo:Mo, garnering interest among Nepalis at home and abroad alike.
The 34-year-old Mamdani, who made history as New York’s first Muslim, first South Asian, and youngest mayor in more than a century, visited the Nepali restaurant Laliguras Bistro, a popular restaurant in Jackson Heights, Queens with Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) on Wednesday.
Photos shared on his official X account showed the mayor-elect enjoying momo, fried potatoes, chow mein and milk tea — a post that quickly went viral among South Asian and Nepali communities online.
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“First busy day as mayor-elect: interviews in the morning, transition announcements and meetings. More on all of this tomorrow. But one of the highlights was lunch with my Congresswoman Cortez at Laliguras Bistro in Jackson Heights,” Mamdani wrote on X.
The eatery, known for its homestyle Nepali dishes, has since seen a surge in attention.
Mamdani’s choice of a local immigrant-run restaurant reflects the multicultural identity of Jackson Heights — one of New York’s most diverse neighborhoods — and signals the mayor-elect’s continued connection to grassroots communities that powered his campaign.
A progressive Democrat and self-described democratic socialist, Mamdani defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa in Tuesday’s election, defying predictions and a high-profile campaign push by former President Donald Trump, who had backed Sliwa.
His landmark win has been celebrated across the world, especially among South Asian and African diaspora communities. Born in Kampala, Uganda, to Indian parents, Mamdani moved to New York as a child and rose to prominence as a community organizer and state assembly member before his mayoral run.
The viral photos of him enjoying momo — offer a symbolic glimpse of the inclusive, working-class image he hopes to project as he prepares to take office on January 1, 2026.
