Mongolian food encompasses a huge variety of meats including beef, yak and horse! Here are 5 awesome dishes you MUST try in Mongolia in 2026.

1. Yak Dumplings

Yak dumplings, or Buuz in Mongolian, are steamed dumplings with a filling of boiled minced yak meat. The meat itself tastes similar to beef, but is significantly leaner and lower in calories (an awesome supplement for gym gains!). It’s not totally bland though, as the meat filling is mixed with garlic, onion, and salt for a light but delicious flavor!

2. Mutton Soup

This mutton soup, known as Bituu Shul, is the most iconic soup of Mongolia. Often called “sealed soup” for its trademark dough covering, it’s often enjoyed as an appetizer as well as a treatment for colds and flus for its immune-boosting properties. The soup broth itself is quite simple in its ingredients, made using mutton, garlic, salt, and pepper, much like the soup equivalent of the dumplings described above.

3. Mongolian Meat Pockets

Mongolian meat pockets, known as Khuushuur, are perhaps my favorite Mongolian food of all. This delicious pastry is made using wheat flour dough folded in half and fried on a pan or in oil. The filling ranges from mutton to beef and sometimes yak too (gotta love Mongolia’s meat spectrum!). Like the previous items, the filling is also made with onion, salt, pepper, and garlic, the staples of Mongolian spices. Truthfully, Mongolian cuisine is not so spice-heavy, but the ingredients are fresh and whole, and you can taste the realness and absence of preservatives in these hearty dishes!

4. Mongolian Beef Noodles

Mongolian beef noodles, known as Tsuivan in Mongolian, consist of handmade noodles stir-fried with beef (or mutton) and vegetables such as leek, cherry tomato, and green onion. It’s often served with a side of yogurt for a creamy, sour dynamic for the beef and noodles. This yogurt, known as Tarag, is made with cow, sheep, or goat milk and is fermented naturally. Noodle dishes are far and varied in Central Asia, but Mongolia’s Tsuivan is a memorable one for its simple but rich ingredients that nourish the body and please the taste senses.

5. Mongolian Milk Tea

Mongolian milk tea, known as Suutei Tsai, is a savory milk tea which is totally different from the drinks at bubble tea shops! Instead of a sweet flavor, it is salty and buttery, often containing ingredients such as ghee and millet. While I’d normally recommend milk tea as a post-meal beverage, Suutei Tsai works a lot better as an entree in my opinion, giving you a light hit of salty nourishment before your main course!