ExploFood · Asia
What to eat in Bhutan
Five dishes to try in Bhutan, the most typical first. Four are vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Bhutan
Ema datshi
Hot green or red chillies stewed in a soft cheese sauce.
How to have it: The national dish, eaten at almost every meal with red rice; ask for it less spicy if needed.
Momo
Steamed dumplings filled with beef, pork or cheese and cabbage.
How to have it: Sold at small cafés in Thimphu and Paro; eat with the fiery ezay chilli sauce.
Bhutanese red rice
Nutty, slightly sticky medium-grain red rice grown in the Paro valley.
How to have it: The base of nearly every Bhutanese meal; the cooking water is sometimes drunk as a broth.
Suja
Salty tea churned with butter.
How to have it: Offered to guests in homes and temples; sip slowly, as hosts refill your cup each time it is lowered.
Hoentay
Buckwheat dumplings filled with turnip greens, cheese and spices.
How to have it: A speciality of the Haa valley, made for Losar (New Year); served steamed or fried.
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Questions
What food is Bhutan famous for?
Ema datshi (hot green or red chillies stewed in a soft cheese sauce) comes first on our list, followed by Momo, Bhutanese red rice, Suja and Hoentay.
What is the national dish of Bhutan?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Bhutan is Ema datshi: hot green or red chillies stewed in a soft cheese sauce. The national dish, eaten at almost every meal with red rice; ask for it less spicy if needed.
Which dishes in Bhutan are vegetarian?
Four of the five on this page are vegetarian as usually made: Ema datshi, Bhutanese red rice, Suja and Hoentay. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What street food should I try in Bhutan?
Momo (steamed dumplings filled with beef, pork or cheese and cabbage).
What do people drink in Bhutan?
Suja: salty tea churned with butter.
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Tick off every dish you try in Bhutan
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.