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Mongolia

Food, Dining, & Drinks

Dining Etiquette

Dining etiquette in Mongolia is fairly relaxed, especially for foreigners, who the locals don't hold to their dining rules. The most important meal in Mongolia is breakfast and it is rare to be invited into a local's home as dining at a restaurant is more common for people outside of one's family. However, if you do by chance get invited to a Mongolian's home and they live in a ger, there are a number of very important rules you must know.

Before entering a ger you should shout "nokhoi khor!" which means "hold the dogs!" Of course you're probably in no real danger of an actual dog attack, but this is how the locals ask to enter a ger. Once you're invited in, completely enter as stopping in the entryway or threshold is bad luck. When inside you will notice two large beams, which stand near the center and are the primary supports for the ger; don't walk between these two poles as, again, this is bad luck. Also, always move to the left once inside and greet the elders first.

Although the locals are forgiving in regard to dining rules, you should still try your best to behave to their standards. Rules from one region to the next vary so pay particular attention to the behavior of others, but there are a few rules that exist across the country. Only use your right hand to eat, both when touching food and when using utensils. It is also rude to point your knife at another person. The final important thing to remember is that when passing dishes, hold the dish with your right hand and use your left hand to symbolically support your right elbow. This symbolizes the vast quantity of food and is a compliment to the host.

Finally, you may be offered an alcoholic beverage to drink and you are expected to drink this, especially men, whose manhood is in part determined by his ability to hold liquor.

For restaurant tipping information, read Mongolia's Expenses & Tipping section.

History & Influences

The Mongolian diet is based on their historic roots as herders and nomads and this has changed little over time. That history has given the people a diet based on meats, fats, and dairy. Additionally, due to a harsh climate, fruits and vegetables have short growing seasons and only hardy vegetation can survive at all, giving the people further reliance on their meat and dairy-based diet.

The only true outside influences to alter the Mongolian diet are from the neighboring people that they have encountered as nomads or through invasion. The Central Asian people have given them a small influence, but have naturally maintained a similar diet; their biggest influence has been in the form of spices. The Chinese have encouraged the Mongolians to consume more rice, noodles, and dumplings, all of which are fairly common in Mongolia today. The Russians have also introduced a number of dishes and ingredients, but their influence has been less significant than the influence the Chinese had.

Today, the Mongolian diet still relies on meat, fats, and dairy along with a couple outside spices and ingredients.

Staple Foods

There are no true staple foods in Mongolia, although nearly every dish will contain meat and a dairy product.

Regional Varieties & Specialties

Boodog: entire roasted goat carcass cooked via hot stones put in the stomach
Buuz: steamed dumplings filled with meat

Drinks

Knowing the historic Mongolian diet, it is of little surprise that the most authentic drinks in Mongolia are dairy-based. Aaruul is a curdled milk, himiin arkhi is a yogurt drink and when tea is offered, it typically contains milk.

Nearly every type of alcohol is available in Mongolia. Vodka is common from the strong alliance Mongolia had with Russia and various rice wines from China are also popular. The most authentic Mongolian drink is airag, which is fermented mare's milk.

This page was last updated: November, 2011