Best Restaurants & Local Food Experiences in Nyingchi, Tibet

Unlike the desolate western Tibet, Nyingchi in eastern Tibet is rich in fresh vegetables and unique ingredient, like the crisp Matsutake, the conic Gymnadenia tuber, the wild Cordyceps Sinensis, the pygmy pig, the free-range chicken and other livestock, etc. Thus, food in Nyingchi provides tourists a wide range of choice.

Nyingchi in eastern Tibet is rich in fresh vegetables and unique ingredient

Tibetan Chicken
The Tibetan chicken is simply a kind of chicken that breed in Tibet, adapting to the cold and harsh climate of the plateau. Living in a wild environment in Nyingchi, they rarely eat manmade feed. At night, they sleep in the chicken coop. But in the daytime, they are acting freely in the nearby woods. The unique growth environment and feeding methods make this chicken more delicious.

Conic Gymnadenia Tuber
The Conic Gymnadenia Tuber is a kind of ginseng shaped like a palm, which tastes like potatoes. In fact, it is a unique and precious medicinal material that you can only find in eastern Tibet.

 

Zangxiang Pig (Tibetan Pig)
Pygmy Pig, also called as Zangxiang Pig, is an unusual species as well as one of the food specialties in Nyingchi. It is a kind of pig that living in the areas in Tibet that over 3000 meters above the sea level. They do not feed on ordinary food but eat Tibetan natural feed such as Cordyceps Sinensis, ginseng fruit and natural mushrooms. Also, their drinking water is natural mineral water. They grow slowly in a completely natural environment.

 

Bahe Fish
Although fish is not eaten in most parts of Tibet, in the Nyingchi area, you can taste the unique Bahe fish. The Bahe fish mainly live in the Niyang River and Draksum-tso Lake. It is named after Bahe Town in Gongbo'gyamda County. Because the water quality of the Niyang River is clear and the amount of sediment is small, the fish is tender and has a good taste. According to Tibetan medicine, Bahe fish is also a good food for healthy skin.

 

Tibetan Blood Sausage
Tibetan blood sausage is a traditional Tibetan food that made from fresh sheep’s blood and the best mutton with salt, pepper, and a little Tsampa powder. It has a soft and tender taste and is good for those people who have a weak stomach. However, the blood sausage is not good for everyone. Those who have a fever, toothache or other inflammation symptoms should not eat too many Tibetan Blood Sausages.

The Hand-caught Mutto
The hand-caught mutton is one of the traditional dishes in Tibet. The harsh living environment and unique living habits made the ancestors of the local residents to start the hand-caught mutton. When they went out to graze, they could get the energy needed for the day by eating mutton. Nowadays, it becomes a daily food for local Tibetans. Also, it is one of the popular dishes that used to entertain guests. 

Lhoba Grilled Mountain Rat and Yellow Wine
In some remote areas of Nyingchi, there live a few ethnic groups whose cuisines and dining customs are very well preserved. Isolated from the outside world, Lhoba people’s lifestyles and eating habits are very different from those of other Tibetan people. The grilled Mountain Rat is the most special dish that the local Lhoba people only served for VIP guest. And you can also taste the Luoba people's favorite -Yellow Wine made from Eleusine coracana and corn. Due to the humid climate, hot chili is a must on their dinner table.

Where to Eat in Nyingchi

Lulang Stone Pot Chicken Head Quarters
Location: South to the Lexiang Convenience Store in Lulang Town, Bayi District, Nyingchi
Opened in 1999, this is the first restaurant that offered the unique Stone Pot Chicken Soup in Lulang Town. Though there are lots of restaurants serving this dish now, it is one of the most popular ones among both local Tibetans and tourists.

 

Yinxiang Chuancai Restaurant
Location: No.49 Pingan Road, Bayi Town, Bayi District, Nyingchi
This restaurant is featured in Sichuan cuisine that made of local Tibetan ingredients. Besides the special Pygmy Pig, you can also taste some typical Sichuan cuisines, such as Mapo Toufu and double cooked pork slices.

Basonghu Fish Restaurant
Location: Mingzhu Road (North to G318 Nationa Road), Gongbujiangda County, Nyingchi
Surrounded by mountains, the restaurant with a big yard offers a fine dining environment. You can taste kinds of dishes that made from different native products, such as Tibetan fish, mushroom, etc.

 

Lo Les Traditional Emotion Palace
Location: No.47 Ping’an Road, Bayi Town, Bayi District, Nyingchi City
The restaurant is decorated in a traditional Tibetan style. It offers traditional Tibetan food and snacks. You can not only taste the special blood sausage here, but also other popular Tibetan dishes, such as pygmy pig, curry potato and traditional drinks like Tibetan butter tea and yogurt with Ginseng fruit.

 

Linxia Shouzhua King Restaurant
Location: No.304 Guangdong Road, Bayi Town, Bayi District, Nyingchi
This is a Muslim restaurant that specializes in Hand-caught mutton and large plate chicken. The taste of the mutton is very delicious. The service is warm and thoughtful here.

 

Lhoba Family Restaurant
Location: Inside Lhoba Family Villa in Nanyi Village, Mainling County, Nyingchi City
The entire villa is built from wooden planks and divided into two layers. The restaurant and guestrooms are decorated in a traditional ethnic style. Enjoying traditional Lhoba cuisine in such an environment, you can be closer to this mysterious tribe.

 

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