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Best Food in Ulaanbaatar (2026)
Start with buuz, steamed dumplings filled with mutton or beef, a staple of Mongolian cuisine. For a heartier meal, try khorkhog, a barbecue of lamb or goat cooked with hotβ¦ π² Must-Try Local Dishes
Start with buuz, steamed dumplings filled with mutton or beef, a staple of Mongolian cuisine. For a heartier meal, try khorkhog, a barbecue of lamb or goat cooked with hot stones inside a sealed metal container. Don't miss khuushuur, deep-fried meat pies, and boodog, a traditional dish of marmot or goat cooked from the inside with hot stones.
πͺ Best Restaurants for Buuz
For authentic buuz, head to Modern Nomads at Seoul Street 19, where a plate of six costs around 12,000 MNT. Another excellent choice is Khaan Buuz, located at Chinggis Avenue 8, offering buuz from 10,000 MNT per order. Both restaurants are open daily from 11 AM to 10 PM.
π’ Street Food Stalls
Visit the night market near the State Department Store on Peace Avenue for grilled meat skewers and khuushuur, priced between 2,000 and 5,000 MNT each. Another popular spot is the food stalls at the corner of Chinggis Avenue and Seoul Street, where you can try fresh buuz and steamed buns. These stalls operate from late afternoon until midnight.
π Where to Find Khorkhog
The best khorkhog in town is at BD's Mongolian Barbecue, located at the Central Tower on Chinggis Avenue, with a full meal costing around 25,000 MNT per person. For a more traditional setting, try Khorkhog House on Seoul Street 15, where a portion for two is 40,000 MNT. Reservations are recommended on weekends.
π₯ Vegetarian-Friendly Options
Luna Blanca, at the corner of Seoul Street and Peace Avenue, offers a variety of vegetarian and vegan dishes, including mock meat versions of Mongolian classics, with mains from 15,000 MNT. Another good choice is Namaste Indian Restaurant on Chinggis Avenue, which has a dedicated vegetarian menu and dishes starting at 12,000 MNT.
π° Desserts and Bakeries
For a sweet treat, visit French Bakery at the Shangri-La Mall on Olympic Street, where pastries and cakes range from 5,000 to 12,000 MNT. The bakery opens at 8 AM and closes at 9 PM. Another option is Cafe Amsterdam on Seoul Street, known for its apple pie and cheesecake, priced around 8,000 MNT per slice.
πΊ Best Evening Spots
End your day at the Grand Khaan Irish Pub on Chinggis Avenue, which serves Mongolian craft beers and hearty pub food, with pints from 6,000 MNT. For a more local vibe, try UB Beer House on Seoul Street, offering a wide selection of Mongolian beers and live music on weekends. Both spots are open until midnight.
π° Budget Tips
Street food is the cheapest way to eat, with most items under 5,000 MNT. For sit-down meals, expect to pay 15,000 to 30,000 MNT per person at mid-range restaurants. Tipping is not mandatory but appreciated, and many places accept credit cards, though cash is preferred at street stalls.
ngl this guide is solid. one thing i'd add is that if you're going for khorkhog, try to find a ger restaurant on the outskirts rather than in the center. places like ger's khorkhog on the way to zaisan have a way better atmosphere and the meat is usually more tender since they cook it slower over open coals. costs about the same, maybe 30k for two.
also, the buuz at modern nomads are good but i actually prefer the ones at khaan buuz because they're a bit juicier and the dough is thinner. just my two cents though.
for a late night snack, the khuushuur stalls near the state department store are legit but they get crowded fast. go around 8pm before the dinner rush hits, otherwise you'll be waiting 20 minutes in the cold
if you're after something sweet, the bakery at shangri-la is fine but cafe amsterdam's apple pie is way better and cheaper. honestly i'd skip the mall bakery altogether unless ur already there
fwiw the guide's spot on about bd's for khorkhog but id skip the central tower one on weekends, the line gets insane. try the one on tovshruulelt street near the russian market, same chain but way quieter and the portions are bigger. last time i went i got like 4 extra stones worth of meat for the same 25k
one thing nobody mentioned is the tsuivan at the little spot behind the national museum on peace avenue. its fried noodles with mutton and veg, costs like 8k and they hand pull the noodles right there. the guy who runs it used to be a chef at the kempinski and honestly its better than any fancy restaurant version
if youre around on a sunday morning hit the black market near narantuul for the fresh boortsog. this one family has been selling them for decades, they fry them right in front of you and theyre still warm when you get em. 1k each and theyre huge, way better than the dry ones at the mall bakeries
honestly this is a really good breakdown. one thing i'd mention is that if you're in the ulaanbaatar summer, try the airag at any of the ger restaurants on the outskirts. it's fermented mare's milk and it's an acquired taste but it's super refreshing on a hot day, plus it goes surprisingly well with khorkhog. most places near zaisan sell it for like 3,000 mnt a bowl
also for desserts, i'd skip the big mall bakeries entirely and head to the little bakery on hunnu street near the national university. they do these fried dough rings called boortsog that are like 1,500 mnt each and they're way more authentic than any french pastry. the old lady who runs it has been there for like 15 years and she always throws in an extra one if you're friendly
one budget tip i'd add is that the khuushuur stalls on seoul street near the wrestling palace are often a bit cheaper than the state department store ones, like 2,000 mnt instead of 3,000, and they're just as good. the line moves faster too since there's like four stalls right next to each other
3 Days in Ulaanbaatar: Itinerary 2026
Start your morning at SΓΌkhbaatar Square, the heart of the city. Visit the nearby National Museum of Mongolia (Juulchin Street 1, open 9am-6pm, 15,000 MNT) for anβ¦ ποΈ Day 1: Central Square & Museums
Start your morning at SΓΌkhbaatar Square, the heart of the city. Visit the nearby National Museum of Mongolia (Juulchin Street 1, open 9am-6pm, 15,000 MNT) for an overview of Mongolian history. For lunch, walk to the State Department Store (Peace Avenue) for affordable Mongolian food at the top-floor food court. In the afternoon, explore the Choijin Lama Temple Museum (open 9am-6pm, 8,000 MNT) just off the square.
π― Day 1 Evening: Gandan Monastery
Take a 15-minute walk or short taxi ride (3,000 MNT) to Gandan Monastery, the most important Buddhist monastery in Mongolia. The main temple closes at 6pm, but the grounds and smaller temples are open until dusk. For dinner, try Modern Nomads (Seoul Street 27) for traditional Mongolian dishes like buuz and khuushuur, with mains around 15,000-25,000 MNT.
ποΈ Day 2: Terelj National Park Day Trip
Book a shared minivan tour from the city center (around 60,000 MNT per person, departing 8am, returning 5pm). The drive takes about 1.5 hours each way. Highlights include the Turtle Rock formation and Aryabal Meditation Temple. Most tours include a stop at a nomadic family ger camp for a traditional lunch (additional 10,000-15,000 MNT).
π Day 2 Evening: Zaisan Memorial & Dinner
After returning from Terelj, take a taxi (5,000 MNT) to the Zaisan Memorial for panoramic views of Ulaanbaatar at sunset. The hill is a 15-minute climb. For dinner, head to the nearby 976 Art Gallery & Restaurant (Khoroo 1, 1st Khoroo) for modern Mongolian cuisine with mains around 25,000-40,000 MNT. Reservations recommended.
ποΈ Day 3: Local Markets & Art
Start at the Narantuul Market (Black Market), open 9am-6pm, for souvenirs and local goods. Haggle for cashmere scarves (30,000-80,000 MNT). Then walk 20 minutes to the Bogd Khan Winter Palace Museum (open 9am-6pm, 8,000 MNT) to see the last king's residence. For lunch, try the nearby Khaan Buuz chain for quick, cheap dumplings.
π Day 3 Evening: Cultural Performance
In the evening, attend a traditional Mongolian performance at the Tumen Ekh Ensemble (SΓΌkhbaatar Square, shows at 6pm, 20,000 MNT). The hour-long show features throat singing, contortion, and folk dances. Afterwards, have a farewell dinner at the upscale Veranda Restaurant (Chinggis Khan Hotel, 1,000 MNT for a taxi) with international and Mongolian dishes, mains 30,000-50,000 MNT.
π Getting Around Ulaanbaatar
Ulaanbaatar's public buses cost 500 MNT per ride but can be crowded. Taxis are affordable: short trips within the city center cost 3,000-5,000 MNT, while longer trips to the outskirts are 10,000-15,000 MNT. Use the Uber-like app UBCab for reliable pricing. Traffic is heavy during rush hours (8-9am and 5-7pm), so plan accordingly.
π‘ Practical Tips for 2026
Ulaanbaatar's altitude (1,350m) can cause mild altitude sickness; stay hydrated. Cash is king in markets and small shops, though larger restaurants and hotels accept credit cards. ATMs are widely available but may charge fees. Winter (November-March) is bitterly cold, so pack layers and thermal wear. Summer (June-August) is mild but rainy.
ngl the Terelj tour tip about Aryabal is spot on, that climb is steep but the view's insane. one thing I'd add is that if you're there in summer, check if they stop at the Tuul River for a quick dip, ours did and it was a nice break from the dust. also, the 976 restaurant is good but honestly overpriced for what it is, I'd rather hit up the Seoul Street area for some Korean-Mongolian fusion, there's a place called Seoul Gwan that does a mean kimchi jjigae with local beef for like 15,000 MNT.
for the cashmere thing, the southwest corner tip is legit but I'd also say go early, like 9am sharp, before the tour groups flood in. the haggling gets easier when they're not busy and you can get a scarf down to 40,000 MNT if you're patient. one thing the guide missed is that the Bogd Khan Palace has a small fee for photography inside, like 5,000 MNT, so have some cash ready. the gardens are free though and nice for a quiet wander.
the Tumen Ekh show is a solid choice but if you're not into the touristy vibe, check out the Mongolian State Opera and Ballet Theatre on Peace Avenue, they have a traditional music night on Fridays for about the same price. less crowded and the acoustics are better. just book ahead cause
Solid itinerary. One thing I'd add is that the National Museum is worth a solid two hours if you're into history, and they have English labels on most exhibits. I'd also swap Modern Nomads for a place like Buda Baatar on Seoul Street if you want buuz that tastes like it came from someone's grandmother's ger, not a tourist menu. That's maybe a 5,000 MNT difference but the filling is noticeably more seasoned.
For Day 2, the Terelj tours often rush the Aryabal temple climb, so ask the driver for 40 minutes there instead of the standard 20. The view from the top is worth the extra time. And if you're at Zaisan at sunset, bring a light jacket even in summer, the wind up there cuts through anything.
One thing the guide doesn't mention is that the cashmere at Narantuul varies wildly in quality. Look for the stalls near the southwest corner where the older women sell, they usually have the softest stuff at 50,000-60,000 MNT for a scarf. The ones closer to the main entrance are overpriced tourist traps.
Yeah this is a solid plan for a short trip. One thing I'd add is that if you're at the State Department Store food court on Day 1, grab a seat by the windows on the south side, the view of the square and the mountains is pretty great while you eat. Also, the cashmere tip about the southwest corner is good, but I'd also check the stalls on the second floor of the Narantuul market's main building, they're a bit quieter and sometimes have better deals on wider scarves.