The Best Restaurants in Ulaanbaatar
When it comes to the best restaurants in Ulaanbaatar, there are plenty of great spots for grabbing a bite to eat and drink any time of day.
Planning a trip to Mongolia? Well, chances are your adventure, no matter what it is, is going to start and end in Ulaanbaatar.
Which means, you’re going to need to eat. And you’re going to want to eat somewhere good. Don’t worry, this can easily be arranged. Ulaanbaatar has plenty of hidden and not-so-hidden gems when it comes to the local restaurant scene.
Whether you’re looking for a solid brunch spot or a place to celebrate something special, this list covers it all.
So, while Mongolians do love their traditional foods, they also have a growing appetite to try new cuisines. From Mexican to Italian, fast-casual to fancy dining, it’s an exciting time to eat your way through Ulaanbaatar’s diverse and burgeoning foodscape.
In this Restaurant Guide
Breakfast + Brunch
- Millie’s Espresso
- Bites
- ROC Coffee
Millie's Espresso
One of the few places in town that’s open early (8:00 am) and with consistent and reliable service with every visit, Millie’s is a diner meets café near Sukhbaatar Square. Get your steak and eggs, bacon, or hashbrown fix, or go for a breakfast burrito, the service is quick and the food fresh. And, if you don’t make it to Millie’s for breakfast, they are now serving Creole and Cuban cuisine from Monday to Saturday from 6 pm to 10 pm.
Bites
A great place for digital nomads and people who need to get some work done while in Ulaanbaatar, Bites also has a super friendly staff and diverse menu. Located near to the Chinggis Khaan Museum, their bagel sandwiches are to die for. The service is quick, the coffee is strong, and the location is central making them a great place to eat breakfast while exploring Ulaanbaatar.
ROC Coffee
If you’re looking for the coolest coffee shop in Ulaanbaatar, ROC is it. With several locations around the capital, ROC’s coffee and cool interiors have made them insanely popular with locals. The best part? They open everyday at 7:30 every day of the week. Except Sundays, when they open at 8:00 am.
Lunch
- Sakura
- Green Zone
- Hoba Burger
- Artisan Sourdough Bakery
Sakura Bakery
Nobody does karage chicken and udon quite like Sakura. One of the most popular lunch restaurants in town, it’s also one of the cheapest. While I always go for the karage (Japanese fried chicken) with a slice of Japanese-style cheesecake, locals go crazy over the udon and tonkatsu. No matter what you order at Sakura, you can’t go wrong. But, you should be quick. There’s usually a line out the door.
Green Zone
With outdoor seating and a friendly waitstaff, Green Zone is a local favorite for many reasons. The dishes are simple but tasty and the prices are reasonable. Plus, it’s one of the few places in town to get a decent salad (we particularly love the Greek Salad). The people watching is also interesting at this tiny café near the city center.
Hoba Burger
The counter at Hoba Burger is one of my favorite places to grab a solo lunch in Ulaanbaatar. Located underneath the Shangri-La Mall in the Good Price grocery store, this place is incredibly popular with locals. Which tells you, it must be good! The Back to Basics burger is my favorite, it’s like an American-style Shake Shack Burger with a homemade bun. Go early and expect a long wait for your order to arrive, this place is so popular it takes at least 45 minutes to get your food.
Artisan Sourdough Bakery
Trust me when I say, this is the best sourdough bread you’ll find in all of Mongolia. Now, make that into a sandwich and you have one of the best paninis you’ll find in all of Mongolia. I personally go for the chilli con carne sandwich every time I visit, but with a traditional English Breakfast on the menu, it’s always hard to decide on my order that day.
Dinner
- Caio Caio
- Il Fiore
- La Rosa
- Route 22
Caio Caio
This Italian restaurant across the way from the Chinggis Khaan Museum is a fresh addition to the local dining scene. Their pizzas are the best in town and their carbonara will make you wish you had a bigger stomach. The vibe is cozy and the staff friendly, making it one of my go-tos in the city when I need a meal I can count on being delicious.
Il Fiore
While I’d argue that Caio Caio has the better food of these two Italian restaurants, Il Fiore undoubtedly has the better view. If you’re celebrating something special, Il Fiore is just the place to celebrate. Reserve a table on the side of the restaurant overlooking Sukhbaatar Square and you won’t be disapointed. This elegant restaurant leans towards fine dining with a bread cart and white tablecloth service.
La Rosa
Go early and go hungry. That’s my motto for La Rosa and I’m sticking to it. The restaurant opens at 5:00 pm and expect every table to be full by 6:00 pm, if not earlier. The service is the best in town and it’s hard to beat the vibe. With a funky tiled floor, custom-made pool table, and the most happening bar on the block, La Rosa is a place you might go to early, but it’s also that place you’ll find yourself staying at late. (Shruggies.) And, they recently extended their patio, making it hands down the best place for outdoor dining in town.
Route 22
While the service at Route 22 always leaves something to be desired, the food always makes up for their flaws. If you’re hoping to eat something healthier, Route 22’s Buddha Bowls are packed with good stuff that leave you feeling refreshed, and not bloated, after eating here. Grab a seat on their patio for prime people watching.
Author: Breanna Wilson
Hi! Sain uu! I’m Breanna, an American travel writer and adventurer living in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia for more than 5 years. I’ve written for and been featured in Condé Nast Traveler, CNN, Forbes, and the New York Times, among others. Read more of my Mongolia travel articles here.
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Great recommendations for dining in Ulaanbaatar! The variety of options, from brunch spots to fancy dining, really highlights the city’s growing food scene. Can’t wait to explore these gems!