Eating in Tibet is always a concern for travelers who don’t know what to expect from such an exotic region. However it is important that you eat a healthy diet while traveling in Tibet to fortify you against the high altitude and cold temperatures. You also want to avoid getting ill from lack of nutrition or contaminated food of Tibet so that you don’t have to seek medical care while there. For this reason you should choose Tibetan restaurants carefully and stick to light meals. Don’t eat the street foods, especially ice-cream sold on the streets in Lhasa which could have been defrosted and refreeze several times.
Traditional Tibetan food is quite basic, relying on barley and yak products. Common traditional cuisine in Tibet includes tsampa, a blend of roasted barley, yak butter and tea mixed to form dough. There are also momos, steamed dumplings stuffed with meat or vegetables and thugpa, noodle stew. If you can try to taste some of the fresh yak milk yogurt. Wash it all down with the traditional Tibetan tea made with yak butter milk and salt.
Tibetan Restaurants
You will have the largest selection of cuisine in Lhasa where there are restaurants serving traditional cuisine. Most Tibetan restaurants serve traditional Chinese foods like spicy Sichuan dishes. Stick to cooked foods like stir fried dishes for safety reasons. Most restaurants are safe to eat in but always look for the ones which have the fastest turn over and are full of satisfied customers. These restaurants usually have the best food. Avoid dirty, hole-in-the-wall type places.
Guesthouses and hotels often provide food for their guests and there are sometimes Western-style breakfast menus as well as the regular Chinese breakfast of dumplings, boiled eggs, hot vegetables and rice pudding. There are plenty of vegetarian options in Tibet including vegetables, green beans, noodles and tofu.
What to Drink in Tibet
Tibetan tea is usually offered to tourists at some point of their visit. You should be aware that Tibetan tea is unlike the tea you drink at home and is made with yak butter milk, salt and tea leaves. Your Tibetan host will keep refilling your empty cup as a sign of respect so unless you love Tibetan tea rather just take a few sips to taste it instead of trying to drain the cup. Alternatively you could ask for hot water or sweat tea. Remember to only drink bottled water or boiled water.
Tap water is not recommended for Westerners although you can use it to brush your teeth. The best thing to do is buy bottled water; bring purification tablets or if there is no other choice drink only boiled water. As there is no recycling in Tibet please be mindful of not leaving plastic bottles around.
Related reading: Tibet Travel Safety Tips to keep You Healthy and Safe in Tibet
Lhasa Restaurants: Recommended Tibetan Restaurants serving Tibetan, Nepalese and Indian food.
Tibetan Family Kitchen
Ranked #1 on Trip advisor the Tibetan Family Kitchen is a vegetarian-friendly Asian restaurant in Lhasa open from 10am to 10pm and serving traditional dishes like tsampa; yak momos; fried yak noodles and ginger lemon tea. It is a cozy family-run place with a homey feel. There is an open kitchen so you can watch your meal being prepared and know that it is fresh and made in a clean kitchen. They also offer cooking classes. The restaurant is slightly off the street and up a flight of stairs; you need to walk through the family courtyard to reach it.
Dunya Restaurant
One of the best Tibetan restaurants to eat in Lhasa, it is run by a Dutch man and serves European and Asian food and wine. They make some Chinese dishes; veggie burgers; yak burgers; lasagna and pizza. They have salads and bread made on the premises. By Tibetan standards the prices are not cheap but for foreign visitors the prices are reasonable. This place makes a great change from traditional Tibetan restaurants and they even sell cigars! You can meet up with fellow travelers at the Music Bar across the road.
Related reading: Tibetan Customs and Taboos Worth Knowing before Visiting Tibet
Yak Hotel Restaurant
Within the Yak Hotel there is a roof top Tibetan restaurant with views of Potala Palace. Together with great photos you can also find reasonably satisfying food here. They serve momos and other traditional dishes. The service isn’t great but the view will make the wait more enjoyable than the food!
Snowland Restaurant
The Snowland Restaurant has a good selection of Asian and Chinese cuisine. There are reasonable prices and a relaxed atmosphere. On the menu are dishes like yak and potato stew; Tibetan tea; yak curry; chicken butter masala; cakes; vegetarian biyarini; momos; yak steak; noodles and even spicy yak pizza and French fries. There are discounts after 9pm at night.
New Mandala Restaurant
With views of the Jokhang Temple and situated on Barkhor Street, this is a well located Tibetan restaurant. They have an open-air covered rooftop where you can relax and watch the world go by while you enjoy their Indian food.
Summit Café
Located in the Shambala Hotel this Tibetan restaurant in Lhasa is run by an American and serves Continental style cuisine. On the menu are a range of coffees; cakes and ice-creams. This is about as close to Starbucks as you will get in Tibet. They have comfortable chairs, computers available and free WiFi.
Recommended Lhasa tours:
Shigatse Restaurants
Shigatse Wordo Kitchen
Rated #1 on Trip Advisor’s list of Shigatse restaurants this authentic Tibetan eatery serves delicious food but is pricey by Tibetan standards.
On the menu are local dishes like momos and yak ribs as well as more familiar cuisine including a leg of lamb. There are several vegetarian options. The only part of the menu which is in English is the set menu intended to feed 7+ people. These menus start at about ¥300 and include many dishes. They also serve home brewed beer! Take a look at the small museum of Tibetan artifacts upstairs.
Songtsen Restaurant
#2 on Trip Advisor is this excellent Tibetan restaurant. It is vegetarian-friendly and serves a selection of Indian, Asian, Tibetan, European and Nepali. It is centrally located close to the Tashilunpo Monastery. On the menu are dishes like momos, butter chicken masala, chicken tikka, yak spring roll, shapaley meat pancakes, fried rice, pizza and salads. You can get Tibetan beer and wine here.
