Tibet travel guide

Dining in Lhasa

Lhasa has food for every taste: Tibetan, Sichuan, Nepali, Indian, Muslim, Western and more. Most restaurants for visitors are around the Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Beijing East Road and the Potala Palace.

Tibetan Traditional Restaurants

Crazy Yak Saloon — on Beijing East Road. Tibetan decoration, yak meat dishes, and an evening Tibetan song and dance show.
Snow-Deity Palace Tibetan Restaurant — just west of Potala Palace Square. Tibetan dishes such as fried mutton ribs and steamed meat buns.
Pentoc Tibetan Restaurant — in a lane off Beijing East Road. Home-made momos, thukpa (noodle soup), shemdre (rice with potato and meat curry), butter tea and chang. English menu.
Kagui Nongmo Sakhang — in the old town. Tibetan and Chinese dishes, from curried potatoes to sweet-and-sour ribs. Very friendly staff.

Sichuan Cuisine

Sichuan restaurants are everywhere in Lhasa. They are cheap, quick and good, but ask for “bu la” (not spicy) or “wei la” (a little spicy) if you don’t like hot food. Many have picture menus.

Western-Style Restaurants

Snowland Restaurant — on Mentsikhang Road, in the Snowland Hotel. Western, Tibetan and Nepali food at fair prices. Good curries, pizza and cakes.
Tashi Restaurant — a long-time traveller favourite with friendly English-speaking staff. Try the bobi: flatbread with fried vegetables or meat and cream cheese.
Namtso Restaurant — Western dishes such as vegetarian lasagne and yak burgers, with seating outside on sunny days. English menu.

Muslim & Xinjiang Food

Muslim noodle houses — all over Lhasa, especially around the Lhasa Grand Mosque near Barkhor. Hand-pulled noodles, lamb dishes and Muslim tea.
Lanqing Qingzhen Restaurant — known for “da pan ji” (big plate chicken with potatoes and peppers) and fried noodles. Picture menu.
Holy Land Vegetarian Restaurant — a Buddhist vegetarian restaurant with English and picture menus and a calm, simple atmosphere.

Nepalese & Indian

New Mandala Restaurant — on Barkhor Street, with views over the street from the first floor and roof. Nepali, Indian and Western food. English menu.
Makye Ame — on the southeast corner of Barkhor Street, in a yellow building. Named after a love poem by the 6th Dalai Lama. Tibetan, Nepali and Western food, and a rooftop with views over Barkhor.

Night market tip: Lhasa’s night markets sell cheap street food, from Tibetan sausages and momos to lamb skewers. See our guide to night markets in Lhasa.

Please note: restaurants in Lhasa open and close often. Your guide can recommend what is good right now.