As of 2026, this Ulaanbaatar food guide covers 12 restaurants by category — including Modern Nomads, Khaan Buuz, Mongolians Restaurant. See prices, locations and must-try dishes below.
Ulaanbaatar is Ulaanbaatar is Mongolian steppe cooking — buuz dumplings, khuushuur, khorkhog, and milk tea — from Modern Nomads to international tables like Veranda. We've organized 12 restaurants across 5 categories. Each entry includes prices, hours, local tips, and a Google Maps link so you can plan straight from the page.
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Modern Nomads
Sukhbaatar District (central) · Mongolian Traditional
The best-known place to try traditional Mongolian cuisine in a comfortable, tourist-friendly setting. The original Modern Nomads opened in 2003 and grew into a local chain; the menu runs the full repertoire — buuz, khuushuur, khorkhog, tsuivan, and grilled meats — with an English menu and, at some branches, folk music and dance.
$10-25
(MNT 35,000-85,000)
11:00-23:00 daily (verify by branch)
Local tip: The easiest single introduction to Mongolian food if you only eat one traditional meal in the city. Khorkhog (mutton slow-cooked with hot stones) is the dish to order. Multiple branches around central Ulaanbaatar; the Sukhbaatar District location near Metro Mall is a reliable choice. Reserve on weekend evenings.
A long-running Mongolian fast-food chain serving the everyday staples — steamed buuz, fried khuushuur, mutton soup, and milk tea — quickly and cheaply. Canteen-style and unpretentious, it's where locals grab a fast, filling meal.
$3-7
(MNT 10,000-24,000)
09:00-21:00 daily (varies by branch)
Local tip: The most affordable way to taste authentic buuz and khuushuur without sitting down for a full meal. Order a few buuz and a bowl of mutton soup. Branches dot the city, including near the State Department Store. Cash is handy at smaller outlets.
A central restaurant focused on traditional Mongolian dishes in a warm, decorated interior, popular with both visitors and locals for special meals. Expect the classics — khorkhog, grilled and boiled mutton, dumplings — plus cultural touches some evenings.
Local tip: A good alternative to Modern Nomads for a sit-down traditional dinner. Mongolian portions are generous and meat-heavy; share dishes and pace yourself. Verify current hours and location before going, as central UB venues change.
Mongolian hot pot and grilled meats — communal, meat-forward dining
Bull Hot Pot
Bull · Multiple (central UB)
4
#1
MUST TRY
Mongolian hot pot, mutton and beef platters, dumplings, dipping-sauce bar
A popular Mongolian hot-pot chain with several branches across the city, where you cook thinly sliced meats and vegetables in a simmering broth at the table. A sociable, meat-forward meal that suits groups and cold evenings.
$12-25
(MNT 40,000-85,000)
11:00-23:00 daily (varies by branch)
Local tip: A warming, interactive option, especially in cooler months. Branches offer private rooms for groups. Order a mix of mutton and beef, and don't skip the dipping-sauce station. Reserve for larger parties on weekends.
Build-your-own stir-fry bowl, grilled-to-order meats and vegetables
A create-your-own stir-fry concept where you pick meats, vegetables, noodles, and sauces, then watch them cooked on a large round griddle. More an international take on the 'Mongolian barbecue' format than traditional fare, but reliably tasty and good for picky or vegetarian-leaning eaters.
Local tip: Handy if you want to control your ingredients or include vegetables, which traditional Mongolian menus skimp on. Go back for refills — it's usually all-you-can-pile. Confirm the current branch location before visiting.
Fast, cheap canteens and street-style spots for buuz, khuushuur and milk tea
Luna Blanca
Luna Blanca · Central UB
6
#1
MUST TRY
Vegetarian buuz and khuushuur, vegan dumplings, set lunches
A long-standing vegetarian and vegan restaurant — a rarity in meat-heavy Mongolia — serving plant-based versions of Mongolian staples like buuz and khuushuur alongside soups, salads, and set lunches in a calm, simple space.
Local tip: The go-to for vegetarians and vegans in Ulaanbaatar, and a welcome change of pace from constant mutton. The veggie buuz are the signature. A good stock-up meal before heading to the countryside, where plant-based options vanish.
The food stalls in and around Naran Tuul ('Black Market'), Ulaanbaatar's huge open-air market, fry khuushuur and steam buuz fresh for the crowds — about as local and cheap as eating gets in the city.
Local tip: Tasty and authentic, but Naran Tuul is the city's most notorious pickpocketing spot — keep valuables zipped away, carry only small cash, and stay alert in the crowds. Go with a local if you can. Strictly a daytime visit.
Mediterranean, Italian and Indian — central UB's international dining for a break from meat-heavy fare
Veranda
Veranda · Central UB (by Choijin Lama Temple)
8
#1
MUST TRY
Handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza, risotto, grilled lamb and steak
Ulaanbaatar's best-known Mediterranean and Italian restaurant, open since 2006, with a terrace overlooking the historic Choijin Lama Temple. The kitchen turns out handmade pasta, pizzas, risottos, grilled meats, and fish, paired with an imported wine list.
Local tip: The standout choice for a refined non-Mongolian dinner, and the terrace view of the Choijin Lama Temple is a draw in warm weather. Staff speak English and handle dietary requests well. Reserve for dinner, especially the terrace in summer.
Italian-leaning mains, seasonal menu, wine pairings from the enoteca
One of Ulaanbaatar's upper-end dining rooms, doing Italian-inspired and globally influenced food with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients and a substantial wine selection. A polished spot for a special-occasion meal.
$20-45
(MNT 68,000-150,000)
12:00-22:00 (verify, may close one day weekly)
Local tip: Among the city's better fine-dining options when you want a step up from traditional fare. Pricier by local standards but reasonable internationally. Book ahead for dinner and ask about wine pairings.
Hazara North Indian Cuisine · Central UB (near the Wrestling Palace)
10
#3
MUST TRY
Tandoori dishes, North Indian curries, naan, biryani
A long-established North Indian restaurant (open since 1997) tucked near the Wrestling Palace off Peace Avenue, serving tandoori, curries, and breads in a comfortable two-level dining room. A reliable choice for spice and vegetables after a run of Mongolian meals.
Local tip: A favorite for travelers craving Indian food, with vegetarian options that are otherwise hard to find. Heat levels are adjustable on request. A short taxi from the center; verify the exact entrance, as it sits slightly off the main road.
Ulaanbaatar's growing modern café scene — coffee, brunch and pastries
Tom n Toms / local café row
Coffee shops, Peace Avenue area · Peace Avenue (central)
11
#1
MUST TRY
Espresso drinks, cakes, light breakfast and brunch plates
Central Ulaanbaatar has a growing café culture along Peace Avenue and around Sukhbaatar Square, mixing international chains with independent coffee shops. They serve proper espresso, pastries, and light meals — a useful, WiFi-equipped base between sights.
$3-8
(MNT 10,000-27,000)
08:00-21:00 (varies)
Local tip: Handy for a coffee, a warm-up in winter, or a Western breakfast before a day trip. Most central cafés take cards and have WiFi. Quality varies, so look for busier independent shops for the better coffee.
Café Bene / dessert cafés (State Dept. Store area)
Cafés near Ikh Delguur · By the State Department Store
12
#2
MUST TRY
Cakes and pastries, coffee, sea-buckthorn (chatsargana) tea or juice
Around the State Department Store (Ikh Delguur), a cluster of dessert-focused cafés serves cakes, pastries, and coffee, plus local touches like sea-buckthorn (chatsargana) tea and juice — a tart, vitamin-rich Mongolian favorite.
$4-10
(MNT 13,000-34,000)
09:00-21:00 (varies)
Local tip: A pleasant break while shopping for souvenirs or warming up. Try sea-buckthorn juice or tea, a distinctly Mongolian flavor. The State Department Store itself is the easiest one-stop for gifts and cashmere. Cards accepted at most.
A guanz canteen plate + buuz + khuushuur from a market stall.
Mid-Range
MNT 40,000-90,000/day
A Mongolian dinner (Modern Nomads) + a Veranda terrace meal.
Luxury
MNT 130,000+/day
A fine-dining dinner (Rosewood Kitchen) + a ger-camp khorkhog feast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about food and restaurants in Ulaanbaatar.
What Mongolian dishes should I try first?
Start with buuz (steamed mutton dumplings) and khuushuur (fried meat pastries) — cheap, everywhere, and the backbone of everyday eating. Then try khorkhog, the signature feast of mutton slow-cooked with hot stones, best at Modern Nomads in the city or at a countryside ger camp. Tsuivan (stir-fried noodles with meat) and beshbarmak (boiled meat with noodles) round out the classics. Mongolian food is heavily meat and dairy with few vegetables — set your expectations accordingly.
Where do I find the best traditional food in Ulaanbaatar?
Modern Nomads is the most reliable sit-down spot for the full range of Mongolian classics with an English menu. Bull is a popular hot-pot chain for a communal, meat-forward meal. Khaan Buuz is the cheap, fast option for a quick dumpling fix. For the most authentic khorkhog, though, the countryside ger camps do it best, cooked the traditional way.
Is there much for vegetarians?
In central Ulaanbaatar, yes — Luna Blanca is a dedicated vegetarian/vegan spot doing plant-based buuz and khuushuur, Hazara has Indian vegetable dishes, and BD's Mongolian Grill lets you build a veggie stir-fry. The growing café scene helps too. But the countryside is a different story: traditional ger cuisine is overwhelmingly meat and dairy, so vegetarians heading to a ger camp should flag it to their operator in advance and pack their own snacks.
What should I drink in Mongolia?
Suutei tsai (salty milk tea) is the everyday default. Airag — fermented mare's milk, mildly alcoholic and sour — is the cultural drink you'll be offered at ger camps in summer; it's an acquired taste, so try a little first. Mongolia has a strong vodka culture (Chinggis, Soyombo). For something local and non-alcoholic, sea-buckthorn (chatsargana) juice is tart and refreshing. Don't drink tap water — stick to bottled or boiled.
How much does eating out cost?
Street buuz and khuushuur cost a dollar or two; a casual local meal runs about $4-8; a sit-down dinner at Modern Nomads or a hot-pot place is around $10-20 per person; and international fine dining like Veranda or Rosewood is $20-40+. Tipping isn't deeply ingrained, but rounding up or leaving roughly 10% at sit-down restaurants is appreciated. Carry cash, as smaller and local spots are often card-free.
Is the food safe to eat?
City restaurants aimed at travelers are generally fine. Be cautious with unfamiliar dairy like airag and dried curds, which can upset stomachs not used to them, and in the countryside eat meat freshly cooked. Never drink untreated river or well water. Pack basic stomach medication, since pharmacies are scarce once you leave Ulaanbaatar.
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Jimmy Kong
TripPick founder · Travel content creator
Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.
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