Martsa On Elm

243 Elm St, Somerville, MA 02144, United States
+1 617-666-0660
$$$ Tibetan restaurant
(588 Reviews)
Price Range $20–30

Martsa On Elm is a Tibetan restaurant tucked into Somerville’s Elm Street, offering a laid-back spot to explore Himalayan flavors that aren’t often found in the local dining scene. The atmosphere is relaxed and unpretentious—service moves at a comfortable pace, making it a good choice for those who want to settle in and savor their meal rather than rush through it. If you’re pressed for time, takeout might be the better way to go.

The menu highlights a variety of hearty, spice-forward dishes that showcase Tibetan and neighboring Indian influences. Standouts include their traditional momos, available steamed or fried, which locals seem to return for repeatedly. The meat options like spicy pork achar and fiery pork belly, as well as lamb curries with creamy coconut, offer a satisfying range for those who enjoy bold, warming flavors. Vegetarians will find robust choices too, like vegetable momos, tofu chilli, and flavorful soups such as the thenthuk beef noodle soup (though the beef broth leans on the spicy side).

Martsa On Elm’s vibe suits evenings or relaxed weekend meals, where the casual setting complements dishes that invite sharing and savoring. It’s a spot where the food’s spice level is definitely not shy—so spice lovers will feel right at home. The house-made Tibetan tea, along with refreshing drinks like ginger lemonade and honey ginger lime tea, help mellow the heat and add a local touch.

Locals and visitors looking for something off the typical restaurant circuit will appreciate Martsa On Elm’s authentic approach. It’s the kind of place you come back to explore the menu more deeply, especially if you’re interested in regional Tibetan and Himalayan specialties that extend beyond the standard fare. Expect a cozy neighborhood experience rather than polished fine dining—good for a meal that feels honest and homey.

Highlights
Has fast service
Has great tea selection
Popular for
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Good for solo dining
What they serve
Serves alcohol
Serves beer
Serves comfort food
Serves healthy options
Serves small plates
Serves spirits
Serves vegan dishes
Serves vegetarian dishes
Serves wine
Best for
Serves lunch
Serves dinner
Serves dessert
Has seating
Accessibility
Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
Has wheelchair-accessible seating
Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
Parking
Paid parking lot
Paid street parking

Openings Hours

Checking

Monday

Closed

Tuesday

5:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Wednesday

5:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Thursday

5:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Friday

5:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Saturday

5:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Sunday

5:00 AM - 9:00 PM

588 Reviews
Gabe Abrams

26 Dec 2025

The spicy pumpkin curry and tingmo are absolutely stellar at this rare find Tibetan restaurant. Service is laid back, a tad slow, so if you’re in a rush, get takeout. The vegetable soup is tangy and delicious, and honey ginger lime tea satisfyingly comforting. Highly recommend!

Shraddha Reddy

19 Nov 2025

Tried this new place, with pleasant vibe! Loved the ambiance and really enjoyed every dish especially spicy chicken thukpa , lamb curry with bhatura! Will visit again n try more varieties!

Hassaan Khan

28 Oct 2025

I'm giving them 4 for service. Feel like service is really important. Their food is really spicy and nobody came to refill water :( That said, flavors are really good. We got spicy chicken curry, chicken with bell peppers, momos. Their momos are really good, make sure you get steamed. Their roti also feels like home. Traditional and tasty.

Shalini Manchikalapudi

18 Oct 2025

Everything was fresh and flavorful—loved the variety, especially gyathuk chocho, crispy spring rolls, steamed and fried veg momos, chocho with veggies, spicy chocho with tofu, and the ginger lemonade that balanced it all with a light, refreshing touch!

Gelek Tshering

11 Oct 2025

i’m bhutanese so i think you can trust my opinion. the food was soo delicious. the spicy vegetable masala was soo flavorful and actually had a spicy kick. the ting mo is a lovely fluffy texture. my friend got the pineapple chicken which was also superb. you NEED to try this place. highly recommended.

Matthew Broussard

23 Sep 2025

We ordered the chicken and veggie steamed momos, the beef and veggie thukpa, and the lamb squash. The momos were okay but the thukpa was very tasty and spicy. The lamb was delicious! We ate it with Roti and it paired nicely. I tried the Tibetan tea and it was great! Very unique and quite salty. The staff was super friendly and the atmosphere was extremely cozy. Would definitely recommend and will be returning!

Robin Mathew

23 Sep 2025

I had thukpa years ago and I was so happy to see a Tibetan place near my apartment. Pro tip: Take the Thukpa with just 1 meat if you want to eat more items since it’s big. My partner had the Ginger Honey lime tea and she really liked it. We had the Tingmo (which is like a bun) and the Bhale which like a roti. The bhale was really good and the Tingmo with the Shamday (Beef curry) was really good! The prices were very reasonable and we didn’t have to wait for a table at all.

Palmer Berry

21 Sep 2025

Really excited my partner and I finally got to t try Martsa - we’ve somehow come on days when it has been unexpectedly closed. Everything we got was really good - I’d highly recommend the Vegetable Manchurian! The texture of the croquettes was really unique with the garlic sauce. We got the Aloo Tikki Chaat for our starter and it was great - it had a crispy exterior that had a nice crunch even with the sauce! The Tofu in Red Curry was also great because, even with the pineapple flavour, it still tasted very balanced and not too sweet. The pumpkin was really nice as well - I think the texture and flavour worked well with the tofu and pineapple. I really appreciated the range and variety of vegetarian dishes here - my partner is vegetarian (I am not) so we often get vegetarian dishes when we go out to try as much as possible. Overall a great experience - I will note the service is a bit on the slow side but not bad. The food is fantastic - we’ll definitely be back to try more!

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