Restaurants in Bhutan
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Himalayan Pizza
At the south end of town, this place produces decent pizza as well as spaghetti and roesti. There is no menu and the owner speaks fluent Swiss-German but no English. Give your order an hour or more in advance if possible.
reviewed
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Kuenphen Hotel
The eastern side of the pass is much rockier; the road switchbacks down through a fir forest past a road sign that says ‘Life is a journey, complete it’. At about 3000m, 20km from the pass, the route emerges from the trees and enters the pastures of the Sengor valley. The settlement at Sengor has a few houses near the road, although the main part of the village, about 20 houses, is in the centre of the valley. If you’re carrying a picnic lunch and have not already eaten it, this is an excellent place to do so – there is no good place to stop for the next two hours. A sign in Dzongkha adorns the rustic Kuenphen Hotel where you can get a simple local-style meal. A…
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Choden Restaurant
The road continues its descent past fencelike prayer flags (the Bhutanese equivalent of road safety barriers) and through fields of corn and mustard, past the road-crew camp at Ningala, finally reaching the substantial village of Yadi (1480m). The Choden Restaurant here is a good place to break for a cup of tea and a look at the village lhakhang just across the road.
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Swiss Bakery
On a hill above the southern traffic circle, this was Bhutan’s first attempt at a fast-food joint. It was opened in 1970 by one of Bhutan’s first expatriates and despite its well-worn appearance it’s a much-loved institution with expats and locals. It serves great cheese omelettes, plastic-wrapped sandwiches and hamburgers, and a small selection of ‘homemade’ cakes.
reviewed
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Lhamu Restaurant & Bar
Another climb leads to Gedu, a fair-sized village with several small restaurants near the road. The best bet for a meal is the Lhamu Restaurant & Bar at the south end of town, with great Nepali-style food and cheese momos. The nearby Laptshakha Lhakhang has some nice new murals.
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Seasons Restaurant
This deservedly popular restaurant specialises in excellent pizzas but also offers daily specials, excellent desserts and great salads, including walnut and pear, and haloumi with fattoush (Middle Eastern cheese with toasted bread). The alfresco dining area overlooking bustling Hong Kong Market is the perfect place to enjoy a Red Panda beer. A small pizza is enough for one, or two if added to a salad.
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Plums Café
This cosy popular restaurant above the main junction is an ideal place to try ema datse (chillis with cheese), shamu datse (mushrooms and cheese) or some fried nakey (ferns), washed down with good apple pie. Come early and grab a window seat and you'll get prime views of the police directing traffic below you.
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Art Café
Smart, bright and cosy best describe this expat favourite. Decent coffee and wicked cakes (try the banoffee pie or cheesecakes) will have you coming again and again, and the small mains selection – hearty soups, pasta, burgers – make for an ideal light lunch.
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Thai Cuisine
Local, fresh ingredients are given the Thai touch and presented with flair in this spacious restaurant overlooking the southern traffic circle. Peruse the menu by all means but it’s better to ask the chef what she recommends on the night.
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Chharo Restaurant
This pleasant tourist restaurant (chharo means friendship) has a good range of Indian, Chinese and Bhutanese dishes and can prepare Bumthang-style buckwheat pancakes and noodles with some advance warning.
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Jichu Drakey Bakery
Stroll up the hill for pretty good takeaway cakes and pastries (there are no tables). The apple pie and strudel are our favourites.
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S.N.S. Restaurant
Conveniently located next to All Stars Disco, S.N.S. is a busy place on disco nights and is the only restaurant in town where you might get a late-night snack. It has the only Japanese food around.
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Pema Tshomo Restaurant
There are plenty of small bars and local restaurants along Jakar’s main street, the best of which by a long way is Pema Tshomo Restaurant, with excellent Bhutanese dishes.
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NT Hotel
Don’t bother checking out the rooms, but the restaurant is a recommended, basic, inexpensive, hot curry and cold beer haunt. Don’t inspect under the tables but do enjoy the Tuesday special.
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Mid Point Restaurant
This simple spot is a favourite of many Bhutanese for its generous dishes, particularly dosas and other South Indian cuisine, at very reasonable prices. The fish curry is excellent, as is the hogey (cabbage, carrot and chilli) salad. The outdoor seats are one of the few places in town for alfresco dining.
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Pema Bakery & General Store
On the road to the dzong, this bakery and general store serves bread and pastries, and stocks a huge range of imported goodies from Pringles to Coffee Mate. The odd smell comes from the sacks of dried fish.
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Rice Bowl
Excellent chilli pork, Sichuan chicken and crispy shredded lamb are made to be shared, though the service is slow. If you get tired of waiting, head downstairs to the cheaper and friendlier Chopsticks Restaurant.
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Travellers Restaurant
One of the good local restaurant above shops along the main street is Travellers Restaurant with dishes from Nu 30 to Nu 70. T
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TT Restaurant
For a quick meal of rice, ema datse (chillies with cheese) and meat try this busy place, downstairs in the back of the Hotel Seldon.
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Khamsa Coffee
The coffee's not quite as good in this upstairs modern coffee shop but it's a quiet haven, with clean Japanese-style decor, and there are treats like waffles with ice cream.
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Druk Kuenden Guest House
The Druk Kuenden Guest House is the only place occasionally used by foreigners and it has a cosy lodge-style restaurant.
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Phuensom Bakery
The Phuensom Bakery is the place to load up for the following day’s picnic lunch. The entire town closes by 8pm.
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Hotel Menjong
The former Peljorling Hotel has spacious rooms but check the mattresses as these vary. There’s a decent lobby restaurant and bar.
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Chasa Café
Tiny Chasa has minuscule tables and cheap Bhutanese dishes (all under Nu 70), such as eye-watering ema datse and soothing fried rice.
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Jachung Milk Bakery
You can load up on local bread and pastries at the Jachung Milk Bakery. Jachung means 'garuda'.
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