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Aama Nepalese Cuisine | Calgary’s Best New Restaurants 2024

Tucked in a small commercial plaza overlooking the Foothills on the western edge of Cochrane, Aama Nepalese Cuisine offers an elevated dining experience that is worth the trek. Aama, which means “mother” in Nepalese, a nod to chef Gyanendra Sharma’s beloved late mother, had quietly opened its doors in the summer of 2022. But it wasn’t until the following year that word spread about Sharma’s thoughtfully curated menu, that takes diners on a culinary journey of traditional dishes from across Nepal.

Eat Momos at Aama Nepalese Cuisine

Opened in August 2022, this popular Nepalese restaurant has since established itself as a go-to dining destination. Led by chef Gyanendra Sharma, the kitchen serves tempting dishes like braised lamb ribs, traditional Nepali meal platters known as thali, several kinds of momos (Tibetan dumplings) and more, in its colourful and welcoming dining room.

Aama's Nepalese Cuisine to celebrate first annual Aama's Momo Festival on Aug. 27

Aama Nepalese Cuisine plans to serve up a special and delicious celebration for the community with their inaugural Momo Festival on Aug. 27.

From noon to 4 p.m., residents are invited to Mountain Ridge Plaza in Heritage Hills for family festivities and the chance to taste their famous Nepalese dumplings, better known as momos.

Owners of Aama’s, chef Gyanendra, better known as Chef G, and Tara Poudel said the event will feature activities for kids, live music, door prizes, and most importantly the delicious momos that Aama’s is best known for.

Alberta on the Plate

We are elated to share that "Aama Nepalese Cuisines" has been featured as a special highlight on "Alberta on the Plate," a province-wide celebration of the exceptional local bounty found throughout Alberta. This prestigious recognition further solidifies our commitment to showcasing the vibrant flavors of Nepal while supporting the local agricultural industry.

"Alberta on the Plate" organizes a ten-day dine-around festival, which serves as the anchor event, highlighting local restaurants and products. By connecting consumers to agriculture through the restaurant industry, this initiative builds upon the conversation initiated by initiatives like Alberta Open Farm Days.

We are humbled and grateful for the recognition bestowed upon us by "Alberta on the Plate," and we welcome everyone to join us at "Aama Nepalese Cuisines" to savor the authentic flavors of Nepal while supporting our local food economy.

Cochrane Eagle

Cochrane Tourism joined hands with Aama Nepalese cuisine to contribute to the array of team-building options available in the town. As part of the initiative, Aama offers a unique cultural dining experience that allows teams to embark on a culinary journey to Nepal without leaving Cochrane. With a five-course immersive tasting experience, participants can indulge in new flavors and experiences while immersing themselves in the rich cultural heritage of Nepal. Aama's co-owner, Tara Poudel, emphasizes the hands-on and fun nature of the experience, which includes storytelling, dancing, and a chance to learn a few new dance steps. By providing an authentic and engaging dining experience, Aama Nepalese cuisine adds a touch of cultural enrichment to the team-building offerings promoted by Cochrane Tourism.

Mornings with Sue & Andy

In a recent episode titled "Savour Calgary Magazine - spring edition," Aama Nepalese Cuisine received a special mention that has captured the attention of food enthusiasts across the city. During the podcast, Camie Leard, the editor of Savor Calgary Magazine, joined the hosts to discuss the latest edition of the magazine and to highlight some extraordinary culinary experiences. Among the standout dishes mentioned was our very own Yak Momo, a traditional Nepalese dumpling made with yak meat.

Camie shared her personal delight in tasting our Yak Momo and couldn't help but express her admiration for its delicious flavors. She marveled at the fact that we bring the authentic taste of the Himalayas to Calgary, offering our customers a unique opportunity to savor the exquisite flavors of Nepalese cuisine right here in Cochrane.

Listen To The Podcast

Calgary Herald

For a transformed space of a different flavour, fans of Nepalese food should make the trek to Cochrane to try Aama, a new restaurant on the far west side of town. Aama is run by Gyanendra Banjara Sharma and Tara Poudel, originally partners in the also excellent Calgary Momo House. The couple decided to strike out on their own and chose Cochrane as a location since the mountains reminded them of Nepal. Despite being in a shopping complex on the edge of the foothills, Aama is warm and welcoming, decorated in bright colours and pictures of Nepalese landscapes.

Sharma was the opening chef at Momo House and his food at Aama is just as good, though he’s doing a few things differently. There are still plenty of momo dumplings on the menu ($13.50 to $17.50 depending on the filling), but it presents a wider range of regional Nepalese foods, offering specialties like crispy tempura vegetable fritters known as tarua ($14) that are often served to Nepalese kids as an after-school snack, plus a delicious roasted eggplant dish with avocado and the house tomato sauce ($16).

Why Go

Join us for an authentic Nepalese experience. Our food is made with home-style traditional techniques with recipes passed down through generations. Bringing Nepal to Cochrane and Calgary, being situated close to the Rocky mountains is similar to Nepal's Himalayan mountains.

What's Great

iOwned and run by red seal Chef G and his wife Tara, we pride ourselves on cooking simple, nourishing, and traditional Nepalese meals. In an attempt to bridge the gap between Calgary and Nepal, chef G travelled back to his home country to research and learn more about his cultural cuisine by connecting with family and different regions of Nepal. From that he developed a menu that not only serves the most authentic flavours but carries symbolism from Nepalese culture.

Local Tip:

Check out our curated bar menu with signature cocktails, local beer, wine, and spirits.

Cochrane Tourism

Get ready to experience authentic Nepalese flavours, at Aama Nepalese Cuisine, now open in Heritage Hills! All foodies are welcome to join and take a dive into the aroma of Nepalese delicacies while sipping your favourite beverages It all started when Chef Gyanendra, popularly known as Chef G came across the fact that Calgary is not an avid server of Nepalese food. In an attempt to bridge that gap he travelled to Nepal, to research and learn more about his roots, to curate a menu that not only serves the most authentic flavours but also carries symbolism from Nepalese culture. For the name, Chef G wanted to honour his beloved late mother, thereby calling the place Aama Nepalese Cuisine where “Aama” means mother. They look forward to providing you with an unforgettable dining experience at Aama Nepalese Cuisine. Please do stop by.

23 july 2022

Aama Nepalese Cuisine will be delivering to Bearspaw very soon !
Meet Chef Gyanendra (Chef G) and Tara Poudel Born and raised in Nepal, they cannot wait to share their passion for freshly prepared meals, authentic recipes and humble service with you and to become part of the Bearspaw and Cochrane community.

Cochrane Today

01 Oct 2022

My third and final “Hidden Gem” in Cochrane I want to share with Eagle readers is Aama Nepalese Cuisine. This restaurant has recently opened and is located at the intersection of Horse Creek Road and Highway 1A. My third and final “Hidden Gem” in Cochrane I want to share with Eagle readers is Aama Nepalese Cuisine. This restaurant has recently opened and is located at the intersection of Horse Creek Road and Highway 1A. Sue and I celebrated our most recent wedding anniversary on Sept. 11 and we decided to reserve a table for that evening. It was great that we could stroll up to the restaurant from where we live in West Terrace Rise. Entering the establishment, we were struck by the beautiful décor and art on the walls. Sitting down, we met the owners Tara and Gyanendra and learned a little bit about them.

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