Quick answer
Bhutan is easy for vegetarians. Hotels serve buffets of rice, dal, vegetable curries and Bhutanese datshi dishes, and most cook Indian food daily for Indian guests. The national dish, ema datshi, is chillies in cheese sauce — vegetarian, but fiery. Much of the meat eaten is imported, and Jain meals are possible with notice. Phuentsholing and Thimphu have Indian restaurants.
How easy is it to eat well?
Vegetarian & Jain friendliness
5 = easy everywhere, 1 = plan every meal
Indian food availability
5 = Indian restaurants everywhere, 1 = rare
What to order (and what to ask about)
Ema datshi
Green or red chillies cooked in a sauce of local cheese. The national dish — ask for it mild, as the chillies are the vegetable, not the seasoning.
Kewa datshi
Potatoes in cheese sauce; the gentle choice for children and anyone avoiding heat.
Shamu datshi
Mushrooms in cheese sauce, best in the monsoon and autumn when wild mushrooms are in season.
Red rice
Nutty, slightly sticky rice grown in the Paro valley and served with most meals.
Hoentay
Buckwheat dumplings from the Haa valley, filled with turnip greens, cheese and butter.
Puta
Buckwheat noodles from Bumthang, tossed with butter and chilli.
Zaw
Toasted rice with sugar and butter, eaten as a snack with butter tea.
Suja
Butter tea made with salt and butter. An acquired taste — try a small cup first.
Momos
Steamed dumplings; cheese and vegetable versions are common, but so are pork and beef.
Phaksha paa
Pork cooked with dried chillies and radish or greens; a Bhutanese favourite.
Jasha maru
Spicy minced chicken stew with tomato, ginger and chilli.
Phrases that help
| Say | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Kuzuzangpo la | Hello (polite). |
| Kadrinchey la | Thank you. |
| Sha | Meat — useful for reading dish names such as phaksha paa. |
| Ema | Chilli. |
| Datshi | Cheese, or a dish cooked in cheese sauce. |
Is Bhutan good for vegetarian travellers?
Yes. Bhutanese cooking leans heavily on vegetables, cheese and chillies, and tourist hotels serve buffets with several vegetarian dishes, dal and rice. Many Bhutanese avoid killing animals for religious reasons, and much of the meat eaten in the country is imported. Hotel cooks prepare Indian food daily for Indian guests, so dal, paneer, aloo and rotis appear on most menus.
What is datshi?
Datshi is a soft cow's-milk cheese, and datshi dishes are vegetables cooked in a cheese sauce: ema datshi with chillies, kewa datshi with potatoes and shamu datshi with mushrooms. They contain no meat, fish or egg, though they are not vegan. The chillies in ema datshi are eaten as a vegetable, so it can be very hot — ask for it less spicy, or start with kewa datshi.
Indian food in Bhutan
Phuentsholing, on the Indian border, has many Indian restaurants, and Thimphu and Paro have several more. Nearly every tourist hotel runs an Indian-style dinner buffet, and Hindi is widely understood. For Jain meals, tell your operator in advance so hotels can cook without onion, garlic or root vegetables; Bhutanese cooking uses onion, tomato and garlic freely.
Meals on a typical tour
| Meal | Where | Typical cost per person |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast and dinner | Hotel buffet | Usually included |
| Lunch | Restaurant on the route | ₹400–900 |
| Snacks and tea | Cafés, Dochula, Tiger's Nest café | ₹150–400 |
Most operators book hotels on breakfast-and-dinner plans, with lunch at restaurants along the route. The cafeteria halfway up to Tiger's Nest serves a simple buffet lunch with vegetarian dishes.
Tuesday is a dry day in Bhutan, when bars and alcohol shops stay closed. It makes no difference to meals, but plan any celebrations around it.
Plan with the 6-day Bhutan itinerary, things to do in Bhutan, the Bhutan trip cost guide and the best time to visit Bhutan. Permit documents are in the Bhutan visa guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is ema datshi vegetarian?
Can I get Indian food in Bhutan?
Is Jain food available in Bhutan?
How we checked this page
Last reviewed
Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
