Tibetan food adapts to tourist tastes

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Fu Ying, Shanghai tourist said "I like traditional Tibetan food as it reflects the special features of the land. And as a tourist, you want to try the specialties. Here in Lhasa, of course it is traditional."

Some restaurants in the Tibet Autonomous Region are fusing traditional and modern cuisine to appeal to hungry tourists.

But since traditional food mainly features Yak meat or lamb, some diet conscious tourists are wary of the high calories.

Traditional Tibetan food contains a lot of fat and calories. You definitely need it if you live in the highlands. But for those who can’t stomach it, Tibetan restaurants can adapt to a variety of tastes.

The Sun Tribe restaurant and coffee house was established just one year ago. Although the decorations are Tibetan in nature, its dishes cater to all tastes. Outside of meal times, people can enjoy a snack or even just a cup of tea.

Restaurant staff says since customers are paying more attention to their health, chefs are learning to use more vegetables and less meat. Only half of the dishes on the menu are traditional Tibetan food. The other dishes are comprised of other Chinese favorites, as well as a selection of some Western-style food.