Vegetarian Food in Kharkhorin

If anyone is looking for a good vegetarian restaurant in Kharkhorin, check out "Ekh Gazar Nutag" to the east of the parking area at the central market. It's a small place, and looks a lot like the other little restaurants, but there's a sign in English that announces "vegeterian food."

This is Kharkhorin's first vegetarian restaurant and the owner and cook, Palam, has been a vegetarian for the past eight years. Her conversion was based on religious conviction, after taking a meditation course. She's been experimenting with traditional Mongolian dishes and adapting them to veggie requirements, and has recently fulfilled her dream of opening a vegetarian cafe. The restaurant's menu is currently somewhat limited, but she usually has amazing huushuur (in two varieties - cheese and onion, and potato and cheese, depending on the day; both are delicious) and makes a great pasta soup. Palam also makes incredible tsoivan, though I haven't yet seen that offered at the restaurant. There's always plenty of suutai tsai (milk tea) and, in the summer, airag.

If you have a favorite vegetarian recipe that could be made with Mongolian ingredients, give it to her, even if it's in English; her sister is an English teacher and they are both eager to expand the restaurant's repertoire. I doubt she'd be able to cook it up for you on the spot, but it might become part of the menu in the future.

Full disclosure: Palam and her sister Otgontseren are close friends of mine. Nevertheless, I'm a vegetarian and a pretty picky foodie, so the endorsement here is genuine. The food is good, and it's truly vegetarian. Give it a try.