Planning guide
Food in Mongolia: What You'll Eat (and Vegetarian Reality)
Short answer
Countryside food in Mongolia is simple and meat-and-dairy based: mutton or beef with noodles, rice or dumplings, milk tea and dried curds. Ger camps serve set meals and can usually do vegetarian if told in advance; vegans and people with allergies should plan carefully and bring supplements. Ulaanbaatar has a wide range of restaurants, including vegetarian ones.
Key facts
- Classic dishes
- Buuz (steamed dumplings), khuushuur (fried pastries), tsuivan (fried noodles), guriltai shöl (noodle soup)
- Drinks
- Süütei tsai (salty milk tea), airag (fermented mare's milk, summer)
- Vegetarian
- Possible with advance notice; limited variety outside UB
- Water
- Bottled or boiled
Mongolian cuisine grew out of herding life: meat in winter, dairy in summer, few vegetables. Food on a countryside trip is filling and simple rather than varied.
What you’ll commonly eat
- Buuz — steamed dumplings filled with mutton or beef; the national favourite (especially at Tsagaan Sar).
- Khuushuur — fried meat pastries; classic Naadam food.
- Tsuivan — stir-fried noodles with meat and vegetables.
- Guriltai shöl — noodle soup with meat.
- Khorkhog — meat cooked with hot stones in a sealed container; a special-occasion dish in the countryside.
- Dairy — aaruul (dried curds), clotted cream (öröm), yoghurt.
- Süütei tsai — salted milk tea, offered on arrival at any ger.
At ger camps
Set breakfast, lunch and dinner; usually a soup or salad and a main of meat with rice, noodles or potatoes. Vegetarian versions can usually be prepared with notice.
In Ulaanbaatar
A wide range: Mongolian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, European, cafés, and several vegetarian and vegan restaurants. Supermarkets are good for trip snacks.
Special diets
- Vegetarian: manageable with notice; bring snacks.
- Vegan: harder — dairy is everywhere. Plan with your operator and bring supplements.
- Gluten-free / allergies: communicate carefully in Mongolian (ask your guide to write a note), and bring safe food.
Food hygiene
Drink bottled or boiled water. Most travelers have no problems; carry rehydration salts just in case.
Questions travelers ask
Can vegetarians travel in Mongolia?
Yes, with planning. Tell your operator and camps well in advance, bring snacks and protein sources, and expect repetitive meals (rice, vegetables, eggs, dairy). Herder-family meals will be meat-based; a guide can explain your diet politely.
Should I try airag?
If offered, it's polite to accept and at least taste it. It's mildly alcoholic and can upset unaccustomed stomachs — small sips are fine.
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