A method is presented for forming a nanosheet metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) structure. The method includes forming a heteroepitaxial film stack including at least one sacrificial layer and at least one channel layer, patterning the heteroepitaxial film stack, forming a dummy gate stack with sidewall spacers, and forming a cladded or embedded epitaxial source/drain material along the patterned heteroepitaxial film stack sidewalls. The method further includes removing the dummy gate stack, partially removing the at least one sacrificial layer, and forming a replacement gate stack.