Tibetan

What Tibet's Provincial Government Restaurant lacks in atmosphere it more than makes up for with friendly staff and an adept range of Tibetan staples (we recommend the sponge gourd tips with marinated walnut, stewed lamb with potato, and steamed yak meat dumplings).

(A Bu is a Qinghai pulled-noodle restaurant in the basement of Hopson One. Cooks busily knead the dough, hand-pull the noodles, and boil the final product in the open kitchen while two wait staff dish out the steamy bowls. The menu keeps things incredibly simple and features only two options: yak noodle soup (RMB 25) and dry noodles with sauce (RMB 28). There are also a number of small dishes, including thick-cut yak meat, niangpi (strips of steamed wheat flour), pickled radish, and various chuan'r.

Located in Sanlitun, Ashiniuniu Beijing is a restaurant based around the cuisine of China's seventh largest ethnic minority, the Yi. Ashiniuniu is a local brand from Liangshan, where the largest population of Yi people reside, and aims to deliver an authentic Yi dining experience.

Quality meats, vegetables, mushrooms, and other ingredients are flown in from Liangshan and served with unique methods found in the region.

Also, expect daily performances at 7.30pm demonstrating the local traditions and music of the Yi people.

Owned by a young Tibetan Zhaxi and his Han Chinese wife, this small spot specializes in home-style Tibetan yak meat hotpot (RMB 88 for small portion and RMB 128 for large). Meat are large in chunks, served in soup base made from yak, tofu, cilantro, celery, scallion, and saffron root. Wash it down barley wine(qing ke jiu, 青稞酒). Chinese menu only.

This beautiful restaurant serves a range of regional specialties. Tibetan waiters are friendly and attentive.

Small, family-owned Qinghai restaurant serves an assortment of lamb dishes and some Sichuan cuisine.

Located in the Tibetan Provincial Government Hotel, though not as authentic as other provincial government restaurants in Beijing. The yak meat "jerky" is worth a try, and visit on Friday evenings for tourist-friendly dance shows, starting around 7.30pm. Reservation recommdended.

The two Beijing branches of this nationwide chain of Tibetan restaurants serves contemporary interpretations of Himalayan dishes like curried potatoes, roasted lamb, grilled mushrooms, “Roasted Ribs of Lamb” from Khampa and “Beef Slices Fried with Pickled Radish Wrapped in Chapati” from Lhasa etc. The original Xiushui location is rustic and cosy, the second branch opulent and ten times bigger. The requisite song and dance performance begins nightly at 8pm.