Canggu Temple Sweet Tea House
Canggu Temple is located in Lhasa, Tibet, and is a Gelugpa temple of Tibetan Buddhism. It is also the only nunnery in Lhasa. The temple enjoys a high reputation in the Tibetan Buddhist community. The price of sweet tea is based on the size of the kettle: small 3 yuan, medium 5 yuan, large 8 yuan, and beef noodles are 3.5 yuan per bowl. The average consumption per person is 5 yuan. The environment is relatively quiet, mostly frequented by local Tibetans. Since it is within the temple area, smoking and playing cards are prohibited in the tea house.
Lao Guangming Teahouse
This is a well-known old brand, always mentioned in any travel guide. The teahouse is located in an alley next to Jokhang Temple Square. If you can't find it, just ask around. It still maintains the traditional operation mode of old Lhasa sweet teahouses: guests come to the teahouse, find a seat themselves, take a cup from the sterilization cabinet, put money under the cup, and wait for the Aja (a respectful term for Tibetan women) to pour milk tea. Aja will take the corresponding tea money (seven cents per cup) herself, with an average cost of 5 yuan per person. It is relatively noisy and lacks the tranquility and harmony of Canggu Temple, but it offers a better understanding of Lhasa's local life. Aja is refilling the tea. PS: A little secret, butter tea has a certain effect on alleviating altitude sickness!
Lao Yu's Dinner Party
Opened by photographer Lao Yu, located on the fifth floor of Pingcuo International Youth Hostel on Dosenge Road. Famous for dining while enjoying the night view of Potala Palace. Honestly, the taste is okay, but the price is a bit high. Their homemade barley wine is very good, mainly serving Sichuan cuisine. The sixth floor is also a good spot for photographing the Potala Palace, with an average cost of 60 yuan per person. The tables by the window are particularly hard to get during meal times, so it is recommended to book in advance.
Namaste
Namaste Restaurant mainly serves Nepalese, Tibetan, and Western cuisine. There are two branches: the main branch is on the second floor of the Lhasa Cinema on Yutuo Road, and the other branch is near Jiangsu Road. The main branch is more popular with tourists and often has long queues, while the other branch is frequented by locals and features an open-air courtyard, making it more comfortable. It is located 300 meters west of the entrance to Tsamkhung Nunnery. The portions of the sizzling chicken and sizzling beef are particularly large. Other recommended dishes include Masala Chicken with Naan, Kathi Spring Rolls, and Fried Bananas. Average cost per person: 50 yuan.
Akeding Tibetan Bakery
Akeding has several branches in Lhasa. It is said that the owner of Akeding is Tibetan, and the owner's wife is a folk singer. The style of the shop is quite fresh and the food is delicious, especially the yogurt cake, which is particularly well-made. There is a branch next to Jokhang Temple Square, where tired tourists often go to order a drink and quietly spend an afternoon. I personally prefer the Akeding on the south side of Xianzu Island, where there are fewer tourists, making it more comfortable to stay. It is a place where literary youth often go. Average spending per person: 40 yuan.
Snowland Restaurant
Snowland Restaurant is very famous, attracting many tourists. It is a very authentic Tibetan restaurant located next to Jokhang Temple Square, offering great value for money! Worth a visit. Average spending per person: 7 USD.
Ganglameduo
Ganglameduo mainly serves Western and Tibetan cuisine. Every time I go there, I eat pizza and drink barley wine, both of which are quite delicious. I haven't tried much else, so I can't comment on other dishes. However, everyone says it's better than Makye Ame, so I still recommend it. The address is on Beijing East Road. Average cost per person: 60 yuan.
Makye Ame
In fact, Makye Ame is very popular among tourists. Located on the circumambulation path of Barkhor Street near Jokhang Temple, the food is average, so we generally don't go there. Recommended because of its great location; sitting by the window on the second or third floor feels fantastic! Average cost per person: 80 yuan.
Lao Ma Roasted Lamb
Super delicious roasted lamb hooves! Lao Ma Roasted Lamb Skewers is located in the alley next to Dicos on the East Bridge of Sun Island. It is also famous for its roasted lamb skewers, with a very high cost-performance ratio. Lamb skewers are 2 yuan each, roasted lamb kidneys are 2 yuan each, and roasted lamb hooves are 3 yuan each. Highly recommend the roasted lamb hooves, they are incredibly delicious! Average spending is 40-50 yuan per person.
Cuomu Liangfen
Cuomu Liangfen is located on a small road beside Jiangsu Road, Ecological Garden Road. It is a small noodle shop run by Tibetans, famous for its liangfen (cold jelly noodles), liangmian (cold noodles), and pure yak milk. Every time, I order a portion of liangmian, a cup of milk, and a portion of fried potatoes. However, every time I go during meal times, I have to wait in line for a long time! It's the favorite of Lhasa's two islands' La Piao! Average cost per person: 15 yuan.
