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Eating Out in Mongolia: Recommendations for Every Meal

Mongolia is a country known for its rich nomadic culture and breathtaking landscapes. As you explore this unique destination, you’ll undoubtedly work up an appetite. Luckily, Mongolia offers a variety of delicious culinary options for every meal of the day. From traditional Mongolian dishes to international cuisines, you’ll find something to satisfy your taste buds. In this article, we’ll guide you through the best places to eat in Mongolia, ensuring you have a memorable dining experience throughout your journey.

Breakfast

Start your day off right with a hearty Mongolian breakfast. Many hotels and guesthouses offer breakfast options, so you can fuel up before heading out to explore. Traditional Mongolian breakfasts often include dairy products such as yogurt, milk tea, and aaruul (dried curds). For those looking for a heartier meal, try buuz (steamed dumplings) or bansh (boiled dumplings) filled with meat and vegetables.

• Milk tea: A warm and comforting beverage made by boiling tea leaves with milk and salt.
• Aaruul: Dried curds made from yogurt or milk, often flavored with berries or herbs.
• Buuz: Steamed dumplings filled with meat, onions, and spices.
• Bansh: Boiled dumplings filled with meat and vegetables.

Lunch

When it comes to lunch in Mongolia, you have plenty of options to choose from. Whether you’re exploring the bustling city of Ulaanbaatar or venturing into the countryside, you’ll find eateries serving up a variety of dishes. For a taste of Mongolian cuisine, try khorkhog, a traditional dish made with mutton, vegetables, and hot stones. If you’re in the mood for something lighter, sample some khuushuur, deep-fried meat pies, or buuz. Vegetarian options like tsuivan (stir-fried noodles) and salads are also available.

• Khorkhog: A traditional Mongolian dish made by cooking mutton, vegetables, and hot stones in a sealed container.
• Khuushuur: Deep-fried meat pies filled with minced meat, onions, and spices.
• Tsuivan: Stir-fried noodles with vegetables, often flavored with soy sauce and spices.
• Salads: Fresh vegetable salads with various dressings.

Afternoon Snacks

After a morning of exploring, it’s time for a quick snack to keep you going. Mongolia offers a range of delicious treats for your afternoon cravings. Head to a local bakery and indulge in boortsog, traditional fried dough pastries, or khushuur, a smaller version of the deep-fried meat pies mentioned earlier. For a refreshing option, try airag, fermented mare’s milk, or suutei tsai, a salty milk tea.

• Boortsog: Traditional fried dough pastries, often enjoyed with tea or milk.
• Khushuur: Smaller versions of the deep-fried meat pies, perfect for a quick snack.
• Airag: Fermented mare’s milk, known for its tangy taste and health benefits.
• Suutei tsai: A salty milk tea made with milk, tea leaves, and salt.

Dinner

For dinner, immerse yourself in Mongolia’s culinary delights by trying some of the country’s signature dishes. Start with a bowl of boodog, a unique dish where meat is cooked inside the skin of an animal, typically a goat or a sheep. Another must-try is the famous Mongolian barbecue, where you can select your own meat, vegetables, and sauces to be cooked on a hot grill right at your table. If you prefer international flavors, Ulaanbaatar offers a wide range of restaurants serving cuisines from around the world.

• Boodog: A dish where meat is cooked inside the skin of an animal, giving it a distinct flavor.
• Mongolian barbecue: A popular dining experience where you can choose your own ingredients to be grilled.
• International cuisines: Ulaanbaatar offers a variety of international restaurants, including Chinese, Korean, and Western cuisines.

Vegetarian and Vegan Options

While Mongolian cuisine is known for its meat-centric dishes, there are also vegetarian and vegan options available. Many restaurants in Ulaanbaatar offer vegetarian versions of traditional Mongolian dishes, such as vegetarian khorkhog made with tofu or seitan. Additionally, you’ll find international vegetarian and vegan restaurants serving up delicious plant-based meals.

• Vegetarian khorkhog: A meat-free version of the traditional Mongolian dish made with tofu or seitan.
• International vegetarian and vegan restaurants: Ulaanbaatar has a growing number of vegetarian and vegan eateries offering a wide range of plant-based options.

Street Food

Exploring the local street food scene is a must when visiting Mongolia. From food stalls in Ulaanbaatar to small vendors in the countryside, you’ll find a variety of delicious snacks and dishes. Try huushuur, a deep-fried pastry filled with meat, or boortsog, the traditional fried dough pastry mentioned earlier. Other popular street food options include khorhog skewers, grilled meat and vegetable skewers, and buuz.

• Huushuur: Deep-fried pastries filled with meat, onions, and spices.
• Khorhog skewers: Skewers of grilled meat and vegetables, marinated in flavorful sauces.
• Buuz: Steamed dumplings filled with meat, onions, and spices.

Traditional Mongolian Drinks

No meal in Mongolia is complete without trying some traditional Mongolian drinks. Sample some suutei tsai, a traditional salty milk tea, or try airag, the fermented mare’s milk mentioned earlier. For those looking for something stronger, try arkhi, a traditional Mongolian vodka made from fermented milk or grains.

• Suutei tsai: A traditional salty milk tea made with milk, tea leaves, and salt.
• Airag: Fermented mare’s milk, known for its tangy taste and health benefits.
• Arkhi: Traditional Mongolian vodka made from fermented milk or grains.

Desserts

End your meal on a sweet note with some delicious Mongolian desserts. Try boortsog, the fried dough pastry that can be enjoyed on its own or with a cup of tea. Another popular dessert is tsuivan, a sweet noodle dish made with sugar, butter, and cinnamon. If you’re looking for something unique, try tarag, a traditional Mongolian ice cream made from fermented milk.

• Boortsog: Traditional fried dough pastries, often enjoyed with tea or milk.
• Tsuivan: Sweet noodles flavored with sugar, butter, and cinnamon.
• Tarag: Traditional Mongolian ice cream made from fermented milk.

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Conclusion

Eating out in Mongolia is a delightful culinary adventure, with a range of options to suit every palate. From traditional Mongolian dishes like khorkhog and buuz to international cuisines, you’ll find something to satisfy your cravings. Don’t forget to explore the street food scene and indulge in the unique flavors of Mongolia. Whether you’re a meat lover or a vegetarian, Mongolia has something to offer everyone. So, get ready to embark on a gastronomic journey through the flavors of Mongolia.

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References

• Mongolia.travel
• Lonelyplanet.com
• Tourism.mn
• Tasteatlas.com
• Tripadvisor.com

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