Most travelers to China eagerly await an opportunity to taste some of the exquisite culinary delights this country offers. When in Beijing the true gourmand must visit Shambala Tibetan Restaurant, the only place in the capital where genuine "Roof of the World" food is served. Diners can choose from a wide selection of tasty morsels. The succulent, fresh taste of the barbecued and fried meat dishes (mainly lamb and yak) is due to the fact that all meat served in the restaurant was raised on the Tibetan Plateau and the water cleaner than in the most other parts of the world.

The fresh, wild mushrooms are grown in plateu country and flown to Beijing. Some of the more exotically named dishes include Lama noddles ( noodle soup with Lamb, onion, turnips and coriander--but no Lama), Tantric soup (soup containing wolfberry and caterpillar fungus), and yogurt made from yak milk. You definitely should sample at the Tsampa, a traditional Tibetan staple made from roasted barley that is gorund and mixed with water and yak butter. Ther are dishes to suit all tastes, prepared by trainned, experienced Tibetan chefs.