Photo: tibet.cn

The mysterious Tibetan Plateau has tempted no small number of dreamers and adventurers to explore the region, a place with clean (though sparse) fresh air and open spaces where nature still surrounds us and where people still believe in something. For those of us unable to tear ourselves away from the crowded streets of Beijing long enough to make a trip, there are a few rare bubbles of Tibetan life a little closer to home. These five restaurants beckon to Beijing’s hungry and disgruntled masses, “Come, rest your weary, fast food-ridden bodies and enjoy the delicious and simple treats of Shangri-La!”

Photo: blogspot.com

1) Makye Ame 玛吉阿米
Taking its name from a poem of the same name (“Makye Ame” or “Pure Lady”) by the 6th Dalai Lama inspired by an extraordinary woman he once met in a bar (of all places!), this Tibetan restaurant is famed for its extraordinary performances and authentic Tibetan cuisine. A chain started in Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, Makye Ame now has two Beijing branches. The first one, near Silk Street, is a cosy restaurant designed in typical Tibetan home fashion. The second is much more ornate, and guests here should prepare to be wowed by the sheer lavishness of the décor.

More impressive is the menu, which features yak meat, curried potatoes and “beef slices fried with pickled radish wrapped in chapatti” among other specialties. Also worth a try are the cheese balls and the home-made yoghurt. To ensure the food is authentically Tibetan, the most essential ingredients are flown in directly from the autonomous region itself. The staff puts on nightly performances of traditional Tibetan song and dance beginning at 20:00, which climax with dining guests joining in for one last big dance.

CBD Branch, near Silk StreetView In Map
Add: 11A Xiushui Nanjie, Jianguomenwai, Chaoyang District, Beijing
地址：北京市朝阳区建国门外秀水南街甲11号
Tel: 010 6506 9616
Opening hours: Daily, 10:00-00:00
Price: 80-120 RMB per person
Website: http://en.makyeame.cn/newEbiz1/EbizPortalFG/portal/html/index.html

Tuanjiehu BranchView In Map
Add: 2/F, Jinhuyuan Gongyu, Baijia Zhuang Dongli 23, Chaoyang District, Beijing
地址：北京市朝阳区白家庄东里23号锦湖园公寓会所2层
Tel: 010 6508 8986
Opening hours: Daily, 10:00-00:00

2) Ganglamedo 冈拉梅朵View In Map
Tibetan for “lotus flower,” Ganglamedo is a tiny oasis of Tibetan highlands hiding in busy Beijing. Both a restaurant and bar, Ganglamedo offers guests a chance to escape Beijing for a moment and relax in an environment that somehow seems closer to nature. Here you can enjoy a refreshing cup of yak butter tea as you savor such dishes as yak steak and stewed yak tongue, or, if that doesn’t tickle your palate, you can order a Lhasa or barley beer (for 20-30 RMB) and venture into the more mysterious “tintinnabulation in Nanggarze” (also a yak dish) or “eight prosperity symbols” (a vegetarian medley) among other exotic dishes. The second floor hosts nightly stage performances beginning at 20:00 as well as a projector screen for occasional film showings.

Add: 1/F, Great Hyatte Int’l Apartments, 38 Zaoying Beili, Chaoyang District, Beijing
地址：北京市朝阳区枣营北里38号海悦名门公寓1号
Tel: 010 6592 3159
Opening Hours: Daily, 09:00-02:00
Price: 60-100 RMB per person

3) Qomolangma Hotel Restaurant 珠穆郎玛View In Map
As you enter the Tibetan Provincial Government Hotel, it’s not such a surprise to find the Qomolangma Hotel Restaurant, a restaurant providing classic Tibetan cuisine for the hotel’s guests and customers from around Beijing lucky enough to know about the place.  The yak jerky (yes, more yak!) is especially recommended. The place even has wireless internet. Every Friday the restaurant hosts free Tibetan song and dance performances from 19:00-20:00, but it can fill up fast so make a reservation before going if you want a seat.

Add: 149 Xigulou Dajie (inside the Tibet Provincial office), Xicheng District, Beijing
地址：北京市西城区鼓楼西大街149号西藏驻京办事处
Tel: 010 6401 8822, ext 2828
Opening hours: Daily, 09:30-14：00pm, 17:00-20:00
Price: 30-50 RMB per person

4) Yangjinma Tibetan Restaurant央金玛藏文化餐厅View In Map
Yangjinma Tibetan Restaurant is owned by the famous singer Han Hong, herself of Tibetan descent (as are all staff members at the restaurant). Besides a menu of authentic Tibetan delicacies including nutritious yak marrow soup and classic momo dumplings, the restaurant also boasts a small museum where you can learn a little about traditional Tibetan culture.

Add: 29 Zaoying Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing
地址：北京市朝阳区枣营路29号
Tel: 010 5867 0228/0226
Opening hours: 11:00-14:00, 18:00-23:00

5) Can Su Feng 藏素风格餐厅View In Map
This quaint Houhai restaurant offers up a great array of vegetarian Tibetan food, including red vegetable curry and pumpkin soup. Adorned with a great collection of Buddhist imageries, Can Su Feng reminds visitors of the importance Tibetans place on religion.

Add: Inside Lotus Lane, Houhai, Dongcheng District, Beijing
地址：北京市东城区什刹海荷花市场内
Tel: 010 8328 6766
Opening hours: 09:00-21:00
Price: 30-50 RMB per person

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Keywords: Tibetan food in Beijing Tibetan cuisine in Beijing Beijing Tibetan restaurants Beijing Tibetan entertainment