Although Lhasa is the capital of Tibet, tourists will still find that the food available here is largely what can be found in other parts of China. Among this, Sichuan style cooking is very popular.The standard of restaurants and cooking here has vastly improved in recent years here and Tibetan  food is becoming increasingly popular with visitors. The local staples are tsampa (roasted barley bread), momo (dumplings filled with vegetables and meat) and thukpa (noodles with meat).

There are so many restaurants in Lhasa that it is possible to eat in a different place every night! The most popular area to search around  is the Tibetan quarter near Barkhor Square. Tashi Restaurant, Kailah Restaurant, the Third Eye Restaurant, the Alougang Restaurant and the Snowland Restaurant are all good places to sample some of Tibets more unusual cuisine.

The restaurant in the Banak Shol Hostel is as good a place as any to eat, and the Yak burger with fries (RMB16) is extremely delicious. There is a roof top restaurant in the Barkhor Cafe which is always very crowded in the summer. Internet can also be found here (RMB40 per hour), although a student price of RMB30 can usually be negotiated. Another internet cafe with the same prices, is situated 50 yards west of the Banak Shol, on the other side of the road.

Chang

Chang is a Tibetan alcoholic drink made with barley. This brew has a light fruit-like flavor but it is actually very strong so try not to drink too much!! Most Tibetan people, young or old, enjoy Chang, especially on festive occasions when the host and hostess propose a toast to the health of the guests.

Dried Yak and Lamb

Dried yak and lamb cutlets are typical Tibetan specialties. At the end of each year when temperatures drop below freezing, the Tibetan people cut yak and lamb meat into small pieces and hang them in the open air. After hanging in the cold for a several weeks, the dried pieces are fried in oil. The crispy slices are not only popular with local people, but some foreign visitors also quite enjoy this tasty snack.

Tsampa
The staple food of the Tibetan people is Tsampa, a kind of dough made by mixing roasted barley flour or bean powder and yak butter with water, tea or beer. Western taste buds may not take to this strange goo as it has a highly unusual flavor. It is novel, but few travelers can force it down day in and day out like a Tibetan! This is widely available on the streets, in restaurants, and shops throughout the city and it is very cheap!

Yak Butter Tea

Yak butter tea (Bo cha) is the typical non-alcoholic Tibetan beverage, although many Westerners may find the taste rather disgusting! The Tibetan people seem to enjoy putting absolutely everything into their tea including salt, milk, soda, tea leaves, and of course, yak butter! All the ingredients are mixed together with water in a wooden tube and the end result tastes more like soup than ordinary tea. Hospitable Tibetans you meet are likely to offer you a bowl of this tea, which is the very best they have to offer (in their opinion), and it is quite rude to decline!