Your One-Stop Guide for Vegetarian Food in Bhutan

                                       

The moniker of the sovereign state of Bhutan - “the happiest place on earth” was enough to get me to plan a holiday there. Tucked away in the mighty Himalayas, the Bhutanese evaluate their progress on Gross National Happiness instead of the Gross Domestic Product. As excited as I was, my hesitation while travelling to exotic lands always gets me wondering if I’ll starve as a vegetarian. Well, I wasn’t disappointed and neither will you be. When in the Land of the Thunder Dragon, read on to know what vegetarian food in Bhutan is all about. A vegetarian does very well in Bhutan!

Momos

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Momos are traditional dumplings that are either fried or steamed and typically stuffed with vegetables and meat. However, meat is not sought after in Bhutan and vegetarian momos stuffed with cabbage, carrots and onions remain a very popular item on any restaurant’s menu. Momos are typically served with soy or chilli sauces.

Hotel Gashel, Thimphu
If you’re craving Indian food, the restaurant in Hotel Gashel is your go-to eatery. Don’t expect anything fancy and don’t be dissuaded by the bubblegum pink walls! Reasonably priced, the restaurant serves some authentic Indian vegetarian cuisine including south and north Indian eats. The menu includes dosas, idli, parathas, subjis, samosas, pakoras and chaat.

Cheese & Chillies
The Bhutanese love cheese and chillies equally and together, even more. So much so that Bhutan’s the national dish is Ema Datshi, which comprises chillies mixed with a cheese sauce. Usually served with red rice, hope your tolerance for spicy food is high!

Folk Heritage Museum, Thimphu

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For an authentic Bhutanese meal, the restaurant in Folk Heritage Museum offers a set vegetarian menu that includes soup, salad, red rice, buckwheat pancakes known as khulee and vegetarian entrees. The serving portions are substantial and the restaurant is open only for lunch. End our meal with suja or butter tea, a traditional Bhutanese drink made using tea leaves, yak butter, water and salt.

Ambient Café, Thimphu

​Popular with tourists given its central location and free wi-fi, Ambient Café serves a mean espresso and latte along with homemade cakes, shakes and more. As expected from a café style menu, they serve vegetarian specials like grilled sandwiches and wraps. You can also get an Indian thali here, which includes vegetables and roti and even a hummus platter. The desserts here are delectable and include peanut butter pastry and chocolate devilish cake. Open from 9 am to 9 pm, Ambient Café is closed on Thursdays.

Surprise surprise!

Getting to Bhutan is now easier than ever with direct charter flights from Ahmedabad and Bangalore (that include in-flight meals). MakeMyTrip’s exciting holiday packages to Bhutan include complimentary sim card, English speaking guides, and early check-in/late check-out facilities, just-in-time for the holidays! 

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