Cafe Tibet

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Ngoe-thuk


Cafe Tibet


Cafe Tibet specializes in Tibetan cuisine. Everything is both vegetarian and vegan, and it has many gluten free options. 

It is a small hole-in-the-wall lovingly decorated with Tibetan artwork and souvenirs. I particularly admired the paintings on the wall that depict life in Tibet. I also liked the photo of the Dalai Lama and the flags on the wall. It is a family-owned restaurant, and the proprietor is a friendly man who waits the tables himself.  From the decorations and the attitude of the owners, I could tell that this small restaurant is a labor of love, born out of a pure desire to share their own delicious take on authentic Tibetan cuisine. 

They have a selection of starters, salads, soups, gluten-free noodles, gluten-free entrees, noodles, momo (Tibetan dumplings), curries, and other entrees, as well as some interesting drink options. Nothing on the menu costs more than $20, making it one of the more affordable restaurants in the area. 

We tried the Ngoe-thuk (pictured above), a gluten-free dish made of sweet potato noodles, pan-fried tofu, and vegetables with a pumpkin seed garnish. The noodles were salty and savory, slightly reminiscent of ramen, but the texture resembled glass noodles. They made a strong base for the dish; the tofu, vegetables, and pumpkin seeds were nestled into the bed of noodles and blended nicely into the overall creation. 

We also tried the Shea-thuk, a noodle soup with tofu and mixed vegetables, flavored with ginger, garlic, and onion, which was a recipe inspired by the Lhasa noble family. The soup was warm and savory, and the slightly chewy noodles brilliantly absorbed the ginger, garlic, and onion flavor of the broth they were served in.

We also ordered the lassi, which is a yogurt-based smoothie. Theirs was made of coconut and cashew yogurt, and we chose the mango flavor. It was thick, creamy, and delightfully sweet, tasting strongly of mango. 

A trip to Cafe Tibet is a culinary adventure that will allow you to savor some of the most exotic flavors in the Bay Area--all for an affordable price. It's worth trying!

 
Monday-Friday 11:30 am to 2:30 pm and 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Saturday and Sunday 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm

2020 University Avenue 
Berkeley, CA 94704
Location: 2020 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA

Comments

  1. AnonymousJune 29, 2025 at 2:20 PM

    This is my favorite restaurant in Berkeley! I really appreciate all the gluten-free options.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Berkeley BloggerSeptember 2, 2025 at 3:11 PM

    I had the opportunity to speak with the proprietor of this establishment, a very friendly and kind man. He says he is proud of the authenticity of the recipes and of his choice to revamp his aunt’s restaurant into an exclusively vegan restaurant. He loves what he does and cares about his impact on the environment. I respect the pride he takes in what he does and am proud to recommend this vegan restaurant to everyone reading my blog!

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousSeptember 5, 2025 at 5:35 PM

    Thank you very much for this blog post. We truly appreciate you putting in words the experience you have had savoring the foods our chef prepares with love.

    Café Tibet Management

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Berkeley BloggerSeptember 11, 2025 at 2:53 PM

      Thank you for providing the community with such a great restaurant!

      Delete

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