Nestled in the harsh environment of the Himalayas, Tibet has a millenary culinary tradition that creatively uses key ingredients to make a variety of foods. Most dishes are filling and warm — a requirement for surviving high up in the mountains.
Political and geographic conditions have made it difficult for Tibetan gastronomy to expand around the world in the way Chinese and Indian food have. But you can still find it in the United States if you know where to look.
Head to these delicious Tibetan restaurants, ranked by both customer reviews and our editorial input.
10. Nomad Tibetan Restaurant
Location: Berkeley, California
Rating: 29 (based on TripAdvisor reviews)
A beloved jaunt owned by a Tibetan couple, Nomad is laid-back and cozy. People come from other places in the Bay Area to bite into the restaurant's momos — dumplings from the Himalayan region — stuffed with a variety of meats and vegetables.
Tibetan prayer flags hang overhead, and a painting of the mountain range decorates part of the wall. The restaurant is small, so a line often forms outside of it. But the food will warm up your soul while being kind to your pockets.
9. Phayul
Location: New York, New York
Rating: 36.4
Phayul is recognized in the Michelin Guide as a Bib Gourmand restaurant, a category awarded to affordable places with delicious food. You'll find a dedicated Tibetan menu that has momos, fried lamb ribs and traditional butter tea, which we highly recommend trying.
But the stars of the show are the noodle soups, which you can get with different proteins and vegetables.
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8. Momo Tibetan Restaurant
Location: Amherst, Massachusetts
Rating: 43.8
It's difficult to find Tibetan food even in big cities, so you wouldn't expect a town like Amherst to have it in its dining repertoire. But that's the beauty of college towns. If you're in the area, swing by Momo Tibetan Restaurant.
The menu here highlights Tibetan cuisine, of course, but also offers some Chinese flavors from adjacent regions. People rave about the shogok katsa appetizer, made with spicy sauteed potatoes. As a main course, go with the gonneu, a delicious stir-fried egg dish with mushrooms and peppers.
7. Himalayan Grill & Bar
Location: Flagstaff, Arizona
Rating: 46.2
Himalayan Grill & Bar serves food from Tibet, Nepal and Northern India. While unassuming, the decor transports you to the mountains.
Since Indian and Nepalese food are easier to come across, we suggest you take the opportunity to try the chicken chau chau, a Tibetan noodle dish that pairs chicken with fragrant herbs and stir-fried vegetables.
6. Anyetsang's Little Tibet
Location: Bloomington, Indiana
Rating: 46.6
Home to a Tibetan Mongol Buddhist Cultural Center, Bloomington is a great place to learn about Tibetan culture. Anyetsang's Little Tibet has been open since 1998 and specializes in food from Tibet, Thailand and India.
The menu is conveniently organized by regional specialties. And you already know we'll encourage you to look exclusively at the Tibetan section. Try kham amdo thugpa, a hearty and comforting stew with noodles and vegetables. And don't leave without tasting a Tibetan dessert like dre-si and losar.
5. Tibet Nepal House
Location: Pasadena, California
Rating: 46.6
You'd think Los Angeles would have every type of food in the world, but Tibetan food is rare, even here. Rare, but not inexistent. And everyone in the city agrees that the place to scratch a Himalayan food itch is Tibet Nepal House.
As the name suggests, the restaurant serves dishes from both Tibet and Nepal. Come during lunch to enjoy their buffet special so you can try as many foods as the size of your stomach allows.
4. Rangzen Tibetan Restaurant
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Rating: 47
Rangzen Tibetan Restaurant is another great spot for a lunch buffet that highlights this unique cuisine. You'll find staples of the region's food like phaley (wheat bread) and tsampa (barley flour) as well as momos and several soups. And we guarantee you'll find yourself full and satisfied after a meal here.
If you still crave a little variation, the restaurant also serves some Chinese and Thai dishes.
3. Himalayan Kitchen
Location: Smyrna, Atlanta
Rating: 100
Himalayan Kitchen is the dream of Kalsang Lama, a Tibetan immigrant who arrived in Atlanta in 1995. It's still the only Tibetan restaurant in the city's greater metro.
Located in an unassuming strip mall, anything you try here will be delightful. The menu is made up of traditional dishes that follow Lama's family recipes and those of chef Sonam Dhong Dhong, a Tibetan refugee born in India.
2. White Yak Restaurant
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Rating: 75
Opened in 2019, White Yak managed to survive the pandemic to the great relief of its fanbase. Eager to get some phaktsee bacon with garlic or warm noodle soups, people are happy to wait in line on any given day of the week.
Sure, this can be hard in the Philly winter, but the fact that people are still willing to stand in the cold is a testament to the quality of this Tibetan joint.
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1. Lhasa Tibetan Restaurant
Location: New York, New York
Rating: 77
Initially located in Jackson Heights, Lhasa Tibetan Restaurant burned down in an accidental fire. After operating as a food truck, it reopened in the East Village, in part thanks to donations from the community. If the people of New York, whose hearts have hardened against seeing restaurants close faster than they blink, rally around a place to save it, you know it has something special.
One of the best things about the menu is that it offers generous momo combos that let you get a bit of everything. Bite into the steamy dumplings as you wait for a hot bowl of thenthuk soup, and see why this is New York's favorite place to get Tibetan food.