Shigatse Dining
Shigatse food, the typical Tibetan food, is very similar to anything you see anywhere in Tibet. Tibetan cuisine reflects the character of the people of this vast and remote region, simple and practical, without any pretense. It is simple because the ingredients are mainly dairy, beef and mutton; And it's practical because these foods are packed with nutrients and calories, so they provide plenty of energy. Since most areas in Shigatse are high in altitude and cold, food and abundant energy are necessary.
What to Eat in Shigatse
Tibet is a vast and sparsely-populated autonomous region. The distance between any two towns or residential areas is usually considerable. It was difficult for people to get supplies during the journey. Therefore, foods that can be preserved and carried easily are very popular, such as air-dried beef and mutton. Unlike spicy sichuan beef jerky, air-dried beef and air-dried mutton retain their original flavor without any seasoning. They are very chewy and reveal the flavor of beef and mutton better when chewing.
Buttered Tea and Sweet Tea
It is said that tea is to Tibetans is what water is to fish. It is the choice of drink of the resident people and is popular among local Tibetans. The most common teas here are buttered tea and sweet tea. They are the traditional drinks of the highlands. The buttered tea's typical flavor is unique and is significantly different from Chinese teas. It has a typical salty taste and preparation method. Buttered tea is made from Tibetan yak butter, tea and salt. It has a strong milk flavor, a very special flavor, salty and sweet. It is one of the foods in day to day life. In Tibet, it is the best substitute for fruits and vegetables because of its high vitamin content. Sweet tea is very similar to milk tea in western countries. The ingredients are simple, including black tea, milk and sugar. You can also add coffee or butter, depending on your taste. Teahouses are common in Shigatse, almost all of which serve buttered tea and sweet tea. It's easy for you to try them anywhere.
Zanba/Tsampa
Zanba is one of the traditional staple food of Tibetan herdsmen. In fact, it is the highland barley fried noodles, and is the staple food that Tibetan people must eat every day. Zanba is the flour ground from highland barley. When eating, mix the highland barley flour with yak butter tea, milk residue and sugar evenly, then knead into a ball with your hands. It is not only convenient to eat, rich in nutrition, high heat, very suitable for stopping hunger and resisting cold, but also easy to carry and storage.
Highland Barley Wine
The highland barley wine is a Tibetan favorite, a kind of liquor made from highland barley with low alcohol content. In Tibetan areas, almost every family can make the barley wine. Every time when festival, marriage, giving birth to a baby, welcoming friends and relatives, barley wine is the best drink for Tibetan people to entertain guests. The Tibetan people have a long history of brewing highland barley wine.
Blood Sausage
It is a very popular cuisine in Tibet. Each time when sheep is butchered, cooking of blood of the sheep is not preferred but to convert it into the blood sausage is the method, which tastes delicious and is tender in texture to eat.
Acid Turnip Beef
It is highly popular among the people of Tibet and famous among visitors too. It is an ancient cuisine and had appeared since early times. The flavor of this dish is refreshing, soft and crispy.
Stewed Ribs
It's a kind of most common cuisine in Tibet, the ribs of yak are stewed in carrots.
Lucky Head
Local old people believe the Sheep Head is lucky. In the western region of Tibet is it is believed that, one must eat it in order to get lucky and to celebrate the New Year as per them its consumption brings luck.
Chebureki
It is a fried dish, in which the meat is deeply fried and minced then cooked with good amount of onions.
Cheser Mog
It is a preparation of rice, whose authentic recipe is prepared with melted butter made from yak meat, for sweetness brown sugar is used, little salt and then its mixed and garnished with some raisins.
Chexo
It is a preparation of rice. Cooked rice and yogurt are the main ingredients of this dish.
Drokpa Katsu
It is a traditional dish of stewed tripe which contains curry with funnel, little salt and monosodium glutamate.
Gundain
It is a variety of a Tibetan pastry which is made and served during special occasions. This pastry is made up of barley as the basic ingredient, in its preparation firstly the barley is mixed with some activated yeast and water then made to ferment into barley beer later tsampa, dry curd, wild ginseng and some yak cheese are used as the main ingredients, and some brown sugar is also added for taste. This pastry is often served during Tibetan New Year and Losar festival as a starter.
Gyabrag
It looks like pancake. For its preparation certain ingredients which are being used are barley flour, butter and cheese made from the yak milk, freshly prepared yoghourt and sugar is added to attain its sweet taste.
Gyaho
This Tibetan recipe is prepared using Chinese style of preparation method. To prepare this kombu certain ingredients are used predominantly like a hot pot of vermicelli, meat balls, mushrooms and also the sprouted bamboos. This dish is of higher significance and is eaten by dignified monks during special occasions and ceremonies.
Gyatog
The preparation method of this involves the Han variety of cooking. This is a noodle dish. The noodles are basically made with the eggs, flour and bone soup.
Where to Eat in Shigatse
The food in Shigatse is basically the same as in other parts of Tibet, with all kinds of restaurants. Whether it is a high-end restaurant or a humble restaurant, most of its decoration design reflects the ethnic characteristics of Tibet. The night market is located near bus terminal at Jiefang middle road, mainly barbecue and hot pot. It has a lively atmosphere and is a good place to kill time after sunset.
Tibetan Restaurants in Shigatse
Tibetan restaurants are concentrated in the area of Jiefang north road and Zhufeng road. Here you can taste the Tibetan air-dried meat, blood sausage, highland barley wine, buttered tea and zanba, as well as sweet tea, tea with milk, yogurt and other drinks.
- Wordo Kitchen(吾尔朵厨房)
Address: No.10, Zhade West Road, Samzhubze District, Shigatse日喀则市桑珠孜区扎德西路10号
Tel: 0892-8909992/0892-8823994 - Niutou Tibetan Restaurant(牛头藏餐厅)
Address: Zanglong Square, Shandong Road, Samzhubze District, Shigatse日喀则市桑珠孜区山东路藏隆广场
Tel: 18798999699 - Fengsheng Tibetan Restaurant(丰盛藏式餐厅)
Address: Zhufeng Road, Samzhubze District, Shigatse日喀则市桑珠孜区珠峰路
Tel: 15726720000 - Sajia Tibetan Restaurant(萨迦藏餐厅)
Address: Intersection of Tiyu South Road and Zhade West Road, Samzhubze District, Shigatse日喀则市桑珠孜区体育南路与扎德西路交叉口
Sichuan Restaurants in Shigatse
Sichuan restaurants can be found all over Shigatse city, and the food is not expensive there.
- Little Fatty Sichuan Restaurant(小胖子川菜馆)
Address: Zhufeng Middle Road, Samzhubze District, Shigatse日喀则市桑珠孜区珠峰中路
Tel: 0892-8821768/0892-8821766/13908922199 - Da Yi Li Xue Wang(大邑李血旺)
Address: Keji Road, Samzhubze District, Shigatse日喀则市桑珠孜区科技路
Tel: 0892-8669913/13518923183 - Bayu Renjia Self-service Hotpot(巴渝人家自助火锅)
Address: Shanghai Middle Road, Samzhubze District, Shigatse日喀则市桑珠孜区上海中路
Tel: 0892-8823688 - Caotang Sichuan Restaurant(草堂川菜馆)
Address: No.15, Jilin Middle Road, Samzhubze District, Shigatse日喀则市桑珠孜区吉林中路15号
Tel: 0892-8905097 - Chengyu Friendship Restaurant(成渝友谊餐厅)
Address: Intersection of 216 Township Road and 318 National Highway, Tingri County, Shigatse日喀则市定日县216乡道与318国道交叉口
Tel: 13658922121
Western Restaurants in Shigatse
- Tashi Restaurant(扎西餐厅)
Address: Yingxiong Middle Road, Gyantse County, Shigatse日喀则市江孜县英雄中路
Tel: 0892-8172793/13659531170 - Ge Bi Lun(哥比伦)
Address: Shandong South Road, Samzhubze District, Shigatse日喀则市桑珠孜区山东南路
Tel: 0892-8510666 - Provence(普罗旺斯)
Address: Zhufeng Road, Chengnan Sub-district, Samzhubze District, Shigatse日喀则市桑珠孜区城南办事处珠峰路
Tel: 0892-8500088/13628928628 - Xiang Dian Timing(享点时光咖啡休闲餐吧)
Address: Shanghai Middle Road, Samzhubze District, Shigatse日喀则市桑珠孜区上海中路
Tel: 0892-8666655/13889025498
Other Featured Restaurants in Shigatse
- Songtsen Restaurant(松赞餐厅)
Songtsen restaurant is located on the Shigatse pedestrian street which is next to Tashilhunpo monastery. It is a Tibetan owned and one of best restaurant in the town. It serves very good Tibetan and Nepalis dishes. It has a nice seating and beautiful Tibetan furniture that make it totally Tibetan looks.
Address: No.19, Xigezi Style Street, Samzhubze District, Shigatse日喀则市桑珠孜区喜格孜风情街19号
Tel: 0892-8832469 - Third Eye Restaurant(雪莲餐厅)
Address: Zhufeng Road, Samzhubze District, Shigatse日喀则市桑珠孜区珠峰路 - Yi Qing Ge Restaurant(伊清阁餐厅)
Address: Shanghai Road, Samzhubze District, Shigatse日喀则市桑珠孜区上海路
Tel: 0892-8996052 - Zhuo Suo Qie Ma Restaurant(卓所切玛餐厅)
Address: No.12, Zhufeng West Road, Samzhubze District, Shigatse日喀则市桑珠孜区珠峰西路12号 - Zhonglin Restaurant(忠林餐厅)
Address: Intersection of Jilin North Road and Gongjuelin Branch Road, Samzhubze District, Shigatse日喀则市桑珠孜区吉林北路与贡觉林支路交叉口
