10 Best Dishes to Eat in Bhutan

by Editorial Staff

Bhutan is a small country sandwiched between two giants, India and China. Although Bhutan strives to preserve its culture, traditional local cuisine is still influenced by its neighbors. To a foreigner, a Bhutanese dish may seem like an Indian or Chinese variety. However, this is not quite true. In fact, this is only true for Bhutanese dishes served in restaurants, as they modify them to suit different customer needs. Therefore, to experience the real authentic Bhutanese cuisine, it is worth trying homemade food that conveys the local unique character.

10 Best Dishes to Eat in Bhutan
10 Best Dishes to Eat in Bhutan

Ema Datshi

Ema Datshi
Ema Datshi

Ema Datshi is the most famous Bhutanese food that you will most likely eat every time you visit Bhutan. Chili peppers, green fresh or dry red, are sliced ​​lengthwise and cooked with the local datshi cheese in a lot of oil. While the main ingredients remain the same, no two ema datshi are alike. Each chef has his own version: one dish is more watery, the other richer due to cheese.

Kewa Datshi

Kewa Datshi
Kewa Datshi

Kewa datshi literally means potatoes plus cheese. The potatoes are cut into small pieces and then fried with more butter and datshi cheese. Usually, chefs only focus on these two ingredients, but sometimes they throw in some chili or tomatoes.

Shamu Datshi

Shamu Datshi
Shamu Datshi

Another staple of Bhutanese cuisine is the combination of cheese with many Himalayan mushrooms and green onion feathers. As with all datshi variations, rice is served with shamu datshi.

Shakam Kewa Datshi

Shakam Kewa Datshi
Shakam Kewa Datshi

You can hardly get to know the national food without eating a lot of chili and yak cheese. Datshi is likely to be one of the first words you learn in Bhutan. Shakam (Bhutanese dried beef) is cut into pieces and stewed with cheese and chili in butter.

Shakam Paa

Shakam Paa
Shakam Paa

One thing that makes Bhutanese cooking stand out is that chili is often just tossed in whole without worrying about being sliced. Shakam paa is an example of this, it is dried beef with lots of whole dry chili and radish chunks.

Phaksha Paa

Phaksha Paa
Phaksha Paa

Along with beef and yak, pork is also loved throughout Bhutan. Phaksha paa is a combination of chunks of pork, whole dry chili, ginger, and kale. Radish and spinach are added less often.

Sikam Paa

Sikam Paa
Sikam Paa

Sikam paa is another version of the spicy Bhutanese meat stew that uses cured pork belly as the meat.

Shakam Shukam Datshi

Shakam Shukam Datshi
Shakam Shukam Datshi

This is a rather rare dish that will be difficult to find in Bhutan. But shakam shukam datshi is worth looking at local restaurants. The sour taste of white chili combined with dried beef and datshi cheese gives you a unique taste that you will surely love.

Yaksha Shakam

Yaksha Shakam
Yaksha Shakam

If you are looking for an alternative to dried beef, then this is the perfect choice for you. Yaksha shakam consists of dried yak meat, which gives it a similar beef flavor but with a different smell. The yak is dried, the cheese is fermented and combined with spices to create a divine dish.

Tsampa

Tsampa
Tsampa

Tsampa is made from whole wheat flour and is used as a staple food. To eat tsampa, roll it into balls with your fingers. It is a traditional and very healthy food in Bhutan.

Also Like

10 must-eat dishes in Australia

10 must-eat dishes in Australia

It’s hard to talk about the national Australian cuisine, given that modern traditions have developed only a couple of hundred years ago. And the customs of the aborigines were erased in places. Nevertheless, Australia continues to adhere to a special rule...

My Best Chicken Dish

The perfect my best chicken dish recipe with a picture and simple step-by-step instructions. More...

Where to Eat in Bangkok: 10 Best Restaurants in Bangkok

Where to Eat in Bangkok: 10 Best Restaurants in Bangkok

When it comes to eating in Bangkok, the question is not where, or even when to eat. With so many opportunities throughout the capital, you might be wondering how to make the most of it all. Whether you’re looking for style, ambiance, and flavors that chal...

Where to Eat in Hong Kong: 12 Best Restaurants

Where to Eat in Hong Kong: 12 Best Restaurants

Hong Kong, long recognized as an attractive city for tourists, can surprise and delight with anything – including its restaurants, of which there are a great many. From expensive to cheap, from “luxury” to resembling fast food cafes, you can find a restau...

Where to Eat in Kuala Lumpur: 10 Best Restaurants

Where to Eat in Kuala Lumpur: 10 Best Restaurants

Kuala Lumpur is a true gastronomic paradise with a wide variety of delicious and delectable food. The city center and Bukit Bintang are home to many high-quality bars and restaurants that are very popular with local youth and foreign tourists. Well, if yo...

Top 10 Best Maldivian Dishes

Top 10 Best Maldivian Dishes

Until recently, we knew little about the Maldives, except for the role of an untouched paradise that it plays in world tourism. And we mean a tropical paradise: from white beaches and incredibly clear, turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, to endless Isla...

Dubai Eating: 11 Best Local Restaurants & Cafes in Dubai

Dubai Eating: 11 Best Local Restaurants & Cafes in Dubai

Arabic cuisine is one of the most sophisticated and sophisticated in the world. Food is an important part of the culture and serves as a symbol of hospitality and generosity. Do not be surprised if you are invited to eat. The local cuisine includes a dizz...

Eat Di Damisch

The perfect eat di damisch recipe with a picture and simple step-by-step instructions. More...

Where to Eat in Krakow

Where to Eat in Krakow

Old Krakow is a beautiful corner of tranquility and comfort. But it is hardly possible to fully immerse yourself in its atmosphere if you do not eat at one of the authentic local establishments at least once. Simple or sophisticated, very tiny or pompous ...

10 Best Egyptian Dishes: What to Try for a Tourist

10 Best Egyptian Dishes: What to Try for a Tourist

The traditional Egyptian cuisine is really interesting. Oriental dishes are fragrant, hearty, sometimes non-standard, but very tasty. We will tell you what is worth trying in Egyptian hotels and restaurants of national cuisine. At the same time, we will a...

10 Best Greek Dishes You Must Try

10 Best Greek Dishes You Must Try

How often do you try something new? Unusual dishes open the door to a whole new world of tastes, aromas, and combinations. And now life seems a little brighter and more fun! The easiest way to surprise yourself is to experiment and cook a cool dish of som...

Dessert Eat Me Stupid

The perfect dessert eat me stupid recipe with a picture and simple step-by-step instructions. More...

Eat Clean Blueberry Smoothie

The perfect eat clean blueberry smoothie recipe with a picture and simple step-by-step instructions. More...

Eat Me Stupid Cake

The perfect eat me stupid cake recipe with a picture and simple step-by-step instructions. More...

Eat – Me – Stupid – Cake

The perfect eat – me – stupid – cake recipe with a picture and simple step-by-step instructions. More...

Eat You Stupid Cake

The perfect eat you stupid cake recipe with a picture and simple step-by-step instructions. More...

Eat – You – Stupid – Cake

The perfect eat – you – stupid – cake recipe with a picture and simple step-by-step instructions. More...

Eat – You – Stupid – Noodles

The perfect eat – you – stupid – noodles recipe with a picture and simple step-by-step instructions. More...

Eat Yourself Stupid – Cake

The perfect eat yourself stupid – cake recipe with a picture and simple step-by-step instructions. More...

Healthy Clean-eating Muesli

The perfect healthy clean-eating muesli recipe with a picture and simple step-by-step instructions. More...

Comments for "10 Best Dishes to Eat in Bhutan"

Get FREE Recipe Gifts now. Or latest free cooktops from our best collections.

Disable Ad block to get all the secrets. Once done, hit any button below