New York City has a new face in City Hall, and he started his first day as Mayor-elect in style over a steaming plate of momo, aloo dum and more.
Zohran Mamdani, who made history as the city’s first Muslim and Indian-origin mayor, didn’t dive straight into meetings or media briefings. Instead, he found time to savor a Nepalese lunch at Laliguras Bistro in Jackson Heights, joined by none other than US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
The setting was casual, but the conversation was anything but. Over plates of momo, chilli chicken, aloo dum, and tingmo, Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez discussed the “need for generational change” in the Democratic Party, a theme that has defined Mamdani’s rise.
The Mayor-elect took to X to share a glimpse of the lunch, writing, “A busy first day as your Mayor-elect: early morning interviews, transition announcements, and meetings. More to say on all of it tomorrow. But a highlight was lunch with my Congresswoman @AOC at Laliguras Bistro in Jackson Heights.”
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A busy first day as your Mayor-elect: early morning interviews, transition announcements and meetings. More to say on all of it tomorrow.
But a highlight was lunch with my Congresswoman @AOC at Laliguras Bistro in Jackson Heights. pic.x.com/vKWpNyrI09
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) November 6, 2025
Foodies everywhere are buzzing and it’s all thanks to a plate of humble aloo dum. Social media lit up as people shared recipes, photos, and their own culinary takes. BongMom Cookbook captured the mood perfectly on Instagram noting how a familiar comfort food suddenly feels special when someone in power, like NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, sits down to enjoy it.
Of course, it wasn’t her recipe on the plate, but the moment still made the humble aloo dum feel like it had reached mayoral status.
Ocasio-Cortez, in turn, praised the meeting: “It was an honor to break bread with our Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani over some of the best momos Jackson Heights has to offer. From childcare to rent, New York should be affordable and safe for working families. Let’s get to work!”
Mamdani’s first day reflected both the gravity of his win and his approachable style. He is not only the youngest mayor in over a century but also a symbol of change for a city grappling with affordability and inequality. The Mayor-elect’s victory was hard-fought. He overcame political heavyweights including former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa.