Lhasa Restaurants

One of the best ways to understand a place usually refers to its history, people and culture. For foodies, it's to eat your way through it. Combined with the essence of Tibetan food and nearby regional cuisines, Lhasa offers a broad spectrum of food choices for travelers. Here are 10 of the best Lhasa restaurants that will help you just do that. You may check the comprehensive info from gourmets and have a try.

1. Lhasa Kitchen - Specializing in Nepali, Indian and Tibetan Dishes

Lhasa Kitchen(拉萨厨房) is located just opposite the square of Jokhang Temple. It is owned by a local Tibetan, the restaurant has a strong Tibetan-style atmosphere. When dining in this restaurant, you can enjoy the bustling Jokhang Temple Square with crowds of people and prostrates of devout believers.

Lhasa Kitchen provides authentic Nepali, Indian and Tibetan meals, allowing you to enjoy three flavors in the same restaurant. The waiters in the restaurant can speak English fluently, the sanitary conditions are excellent, and the environment is quiet.  Moreover, the prices are not overpriced like other restaurants in scenic spots, with an average consumption of 50-80 CNY per person.

At Lhasa Kitchen, you can taste authentic Tibetan food and feel the essence of Nepali and Indian cooking, while admiring the lively scene of Jokhang Temple Square. The food is delicious and the price is affordable.

Recommended dishes: Biani Rice, Tsampa Soup, Crispy Beef Patty, Yogurt
Special diet: Vegetarian-Friendly, Vegan Option
Consumption per person: CNY 59
Tel: +86 891 634 8855
Address: No.3 Minchi Khang East Road, Lhasa (藏医院路4路雪域商场3楼)

2. Tibetan Family Kitchen - Tibetan Private Cuisine

Tibetan Family Kitchen(更潘藏家厨房) is a typical Tibetan private kitchen restaurant located right at the entrance of Jokhang Temple, which is very convenient for tourists. It's in a red and yellow independent building. Flags flutter on the exterior walls, and there is an outdoor dining area on the roof where afternoon tea is served.

The interior decoration is colorful, with exquisite paintings hanging on the walls and wooden windows. The entire restaurant exudes an ancient and unique atmosphere, which is very popular among foreign tourists. The main part of the restaurant is located on the second floor, and visitors need to climb old-fash wooden stairs to reach the dining area. Going inside feels like entering a Tibetan home.

The specialty of this restaurant is the variety of dishes and the fusion of various cuisine styles. They fuse Tibetan potato pancakes with cheese for a French dish, and yak meat with onions for a sizzling Sichuan dish. Home-cooked food, mix and innovation are the biggest features of this private kitchen, bringing you a unique gourmet experience.

Recommended dishes: Potato Cakes, Yak Momo, Butter Tea, Yogurt Rice
Special diet: Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten-Free Options
Consumption per person: CNY 82
Tel: +86 138 8901 5053
Address: Bakhor South Street, Chengguan district | Beside Langsai Shopping Mall, Lhasa (八廓南街琅赛商场旁)

3. Namaste - Genuine Nepalese Food

Namaste(娜玛瑟德餐厅) is a specialty restaurant focusing on Nepali style. Its name, Namaste, means "hello" in Nepali, and just like this friendly greeting, the restaurant welcomes every guest with warm and cordial service. It's located on Yutuo Road next to Jokhang Temple, a little bit hard to find. You may ask your tour guide to take you there.

The restaurant is run by Nepalese, and the boss and waiters are all from Nepal, providing you with authentic Nepalese food. The dishes here combine the characteristics of Indian and Nepali food, with curry, chicken, cheese and other ingredients as the main elements. You can taste a variety of Nepali dishes, feel the collision and fusion of different cultures, and let your taste buds dance in the interweaving of spices.

The decoration style is a very national and very warm color. It also provides decent vegetarian options.

Recommended dishes: Chicken Tandoori Set, Nepali Sweet Tea, Mushroom Masala, Vegetable  Pakoda
Special diet: Vegetarian-Friendly, Vegan Option
Consumption per person: CNY 72
Tel: +86 891 632 4669
Address: 30 ZhuFeng WeiYe 2 Floor, Yu Tuo Road, ChengGuan District, Lhasa (宇拓路30号珠峰伟业2层)

4. Makye Ame - Famous for a Love Story

Makye Ame(玛吉阿米亚餐吧) is located on Barkhor Street and is an ancient Tibetan-style two-story wooden building. This restaurant mainly serves Tibetan, Western and Nepalese food, but what it sells is not just delicious food, it also tells a beautiful story. In the history of Tibet, the Sixth Dalai Lama(Tsangyang Gyatso) escaped from the Potala Palace when he was young and came to this yellow house to meet his beloved girl Makye Ame.

Although the restaurant's dishes don't have many outstanding features, it exudes a strong humanistic atmosphere. You can enjoy the collection of love songs and poems by the Sixth Dalai Lama Tsangyang Gyatso, and feel the excitement of his youth and his yearning for free and beautiful love. Makye Ame Restaurant has become a must-visit place for tourists with its unique historical background and emotional story.

If you can sit next to the window, it is an excellent photography point for both the outdoor Barkhor streetscape and indoor colorful interiors; a stack of guestbooks is also very eye-catching, and the various texts on it tell stories.

Recommended dishes: Tibetan Sweet Milk Tea, Tibetan Grilled Natural Mushrooms, Stone Roast Beef, Yogurt Cake
Special diet: Vegetarian-Friendly, Vegan Option
Consumption per person: CNY 79
Tel: +86 891 632 8608
Address: Barkhor Street Southeast DianXinJu Opposite, Lhasa (东孜苏路与八廓街交叉口)

5. Dunya Restaurant - Authentic Western Restaurant

Dunya Restaurant(顿尼亚餐厅·酒吧) is next to the Yak Hotel, a very convenient and cozy place to stay. Many foreign tourists who come to Lhasa know DUNYA, perhaps because the name means "the whole world", and the owners Fred and Chris really traveled all over the world and finally stayed in Lhasa to start a business. This is a bar that belongs to the "world".

You can have a nice lunch or dinner with a lot of choices. It offers both Western and Nepalese. The first floor is decorated with traditional Tibetan furniture and the second floor is decorated in Western style. The terrace on the second floor is open and has a great view.

It's also a great place to go for a beer or a coffee and hang out, and free WiFi is available. Dunya also belongs to a place for international backpackers. Staffs all speak English and the service is efficient. It is usually full of tourists, so it's not the place to visit if you want a local feel.

Recommended dishes: Western Steak, Fruit and Vegetable Salad, Nepalese Curry Set, Chicken Masala
Consumption per person: CNY 75
Tel: +86 891 633 3374
Address: 100 Beijing Dong Lu, Lhasa(北京东路100号亚宾馆隔壁)

6. House of Shambhala Restaurant - Strong Tibetan Style

House of Shambhala Restaurant(卓玛拉宫餐厅), a Tibetan restaurant hidden deep in an alley in the Jokhang Temple neighborhood, is a niche but popular restaurant in Lhasa among foreign tourists. The dining environment is elegant, and its decoration is full of Tibetan elements. Warm lights are matched with red walls and old objects. Exquisite thangkas are hung on the walls, plus some old Tibetan photos and paintings. The features cannot be missed.

This restaurant combines Nepali and Tibetan food cultures, allowing you to experience the dining of two regions at one time. The food here is delicious, and we recommend the Tibetan pizza and Nepali hand-picked rice.

You can see the snow-capped mountains from the rooftop on the top floor, which is quiet in the bustle. The sweet tea here is very similar to the sweet tea from India and Nepal, and it tastes great. You can also drink Tibetan beer here and look out at the Himalayas, which will make you feel wonderful.

Recommended dishes: Pizza No. 33, Beef Curry, Vegetarian Meatballs, Nepalese Cheese Buns
Consumption per person: CNY 90
Tel: +86 136 589 01952
Address: Jiri Second Lane, Chengguan District(城关区吉日二巷7号）

7. Snowland Restaurant - Tibetan Flavor

Snowland Restaurant(雪域餐厅) is located near the Jokhang Temple and is one of the most popular Tibetan restaurants in Lhasa. The environment here is nice, like a bar, with many photos and message posts, which is a common style in Lhasa. This restaurant not only has the most Tibetan-style decoration style but also has delicious food, especially Tibetan specialties. In addition to Tibetan food, they also provide Nepali, Western and Chinese food. The waiters are very special and occasionally sing, which makes people feel like they are on the prairie.

The steaks at Snowland Restaurant are tasty and delicious. Yogurt with honey or sugar tastes awesome. Yogurt cakes are sour and special, but many young people are obsessed with them.

Recommended specialties include hand-picked yak meat, butter tea, sesame grilled lamb chops, sweet tea, ginseng fruit rice, etc. Nepalese fruit chicken rice is also highly recommended.

Recommended dishes: Fried Lamb Chops, Yogurt Cake, Fried Potato Buns, Sweet Tea
Special diet: Vegetarian-Friendly, Vegan Options
Consumption per person: CNY 76
Tel: +86 891 633 7323
Address: 1/F, No.8 Zangyiyuan Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa(藏医院路8号1楼)

8. Gangki Restaurant - Welcomed Tibetan Restaurant

Gangki restaurant(刚吉餐厅) is close to Lhasa's busiest and most occupied Barkhor Street. The facade of the restaurant is quite small and it is easy to miss but it has a superb location. After entering, directly go upstairs. On the 2nd floor, it's suddenly enlightened and you can see a big terrace facing Jokhang Square. This restaurant provides authentic Tibetan and Indian dishes like Potato bun, lamb chops, butter cake, curry meatball soup, etc., tasty and delicious. After visiting Jokhang Temple, you may feel tired and Gangki Restaurant is just the perfect place to have a cup of sweet tea/Butter Milk Tea, lean on the balcony railings, overlook the entire Jokhang Temple Square, and see pilgrims. The terrace is the best viewing spot for facing the Jokhang Temple Square, and the scenery is excellent at sunset.

Recommended dishes: Potato Buns, Lamp Chops, Butter Tea, Sweet Tea, Tibetan noodles
Consumption per person: CNY 60
Tel: +86 891 632 8263
Address: ZangYiYuan Road DaZhaoSi Nearby, Lhasa(丹杰林路与宇拓路交叉口西北角)

9. Summit Cafe - Most Popular Cafe

Summit Coffee(顶峰咖啡店) is conveniently located, right next to Barkhor Street and the main road, and the entrance is in the alley next to it. The environment is elegant and quiet, the decoration style is modern, the chairs are soft, and you can sunbathe outside. You can use the computers here for free or connect to the WIFI inside. It’s also a great place to rest, read, talk or just daze. Here you can enjoy delicious lattes, teas and desserts, with a refreshing taste but not sticky, making it the best choice for afternoon tea or breakfast. It is recommended as a cafe for European and American travelers looking for the taste of their hometown. Here you can drink authentic Irish coffee and eat authentic carrot cake.

Recommended dishes: Chocolate mocha, Caramel macchiato, Tiramisu cake, Carrot cake
Consumption per person:  CNY 60
Tel: +86 891 691 3884
Address: No.1 Danjielin Road, Lhasa(丹杰林路1号香巴拉酒店内）

10. Guang Ming Gang Qiong Sweet Teahouse - Local's Favorite Teahouse

Guang Ming Gang Qiong Sweet Teahouse(光明港琼甜茶馆) on Barkhor Street is the first choice for locals to drink tea and chat. It is the most famous and the oldest sweet teahouse in Lhasa. Visitors can experience the pleasant lifestyle of Tibetans by drinking tea, eating noodles, playing cards, and chatting. Follow the endless stream of Tibetans into the teahouse, pull out all the change and put it on the table, then go to the disinfection cabinet to find a cup, wait for the waiter to come to add tea to your cup, and after filling in, they will take the money, give back change if necessary. This is the most local place in Lhasa to enjoy the leisure life of the Lhasa people. The specialties are Sweet tea, Tibetan noodles, and beef noodles.

Recommended dishes: Tibetan Milk Tea, Sweet Tea, Tibetan noodles, Butter Tea
Consumption per person: CNY 8
Address: Opposite to Shambhala Hotel, Tibet Hospital Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa (丹杰林路香巴拉酒店斜对面)