Hovd

Your best budget option is the many guanzes, or hole-in-the-wall fast food canteens that offer more traditional Mongolian fare. Typically only open during the day, most simply offer a dish until it runs out. Often guanzes are located behind unmarked doors in spaces with just enough room for a table and the cook. If you are unsure if it is a guanz, just open the door and peek inside - that's what the locals do!

Zochin Buuz

Everything on the menu is usually available at this popular market guanz. Usually have ketchup, soy sauce and hot pepper sauce. Friendly owner. Receive a piece of gum at the end of the meal. At market right before the right turn to the vegetable section. Seats about 40.

Naran Bakery

Baked goods are ready between 2PM-3PM. Won local award for bakeries. This bakery’s food stuffs are sold around town, but here you can sit in an orange cafeteria seat and drink a cup of instant coffee with your treat. Friendly staff, small, empty place; good place to sit.

Brick guanz

The friendly owner and his hardworking staff usually update the white board with available dishes. Down the street from the square.

Police guanz

This unmarked guanz is a popular lunchtime spot for local police. Across from the post office, a great place to eat a quick lunch after using the Internet. The friendly owner usually makes 2-3 dishes a day.

Hurag

A little more expensive than a guanz but cheaper than a restaurant. This guanz's chef serves stir-fry dishes typically found at restaurants. You need to purchase rice separately but usually has hot pepper sauce. Down the aisle toward the vegetables in the big market on the right. Seats about 20.

Restaurants offer more expensive, less traditional Mongolian food. Usually comes with sides of rice with ketchup, mashed potatoes and pickled or mayo-ed veggies. Most larger restaurants offer sides like rice with milk or eggs for vegetarians. Most restaurants also have packaged snacks sold at marked-up prices. Beer, wine and vodka are also available.

Beleg Tov

Near the market, white building in between Haan Хаан Bank and a yellow apartment building Near Tushing Hotel. The restaurant is on the 2nd floor and turns into a bar at 9PM. There are a couple of private rooms for large parties or those wanting to escape the disco. The only restaurant in town with an English menu.

Winners

With a central location, right off the square, the restaurant is busy during lunch time, but you can usually find a seat. The service can be a bit slow. The more expensive dishes are meant to be shared.

Buyant Restaurant

The sign's name is in English, right next to the Buyant Hotel. It sometimes holds special events, but it is usually pretty quiet. It is the only place in town that serves breakfast, and they recently added a chicken dish menu in addition to its menu of more traditional Mongolian dishes. Seats around 40.

Ikh Mongol

This restaurant looks like an American chain restaurant trying to look authentic. Popular local place for dinner parties and karaoke. Outdoor seating available during the summer. There pictures of main dishes on menu to assist those who cannot read Mongolian. Ikh Mongol’s food selection is a bit more unique and varied than other restaurants but is hampered by slow service. Many dishes can be shared.

Naran Tuv

This bright yellow restaurant is clean, neat, spacious, and has ok service. Near the main market between the light green "XAAH" Bank and the light yellow "XAC" Bank buildings. A popular place to take visiting VIPs, it is farmous in Hovd for its variety of food and beverages. A World Top 40 mix plays on a boom box, and a popular disco bar is on the second floor. Seats around 40.

Eating out in Hovd is predictable. Most places serve variations of the same dishes. However, just because an item is on the menu doesn’t mean it is available that day. If you want to eat like a real Mongolian, order milk tea сүүтай цай suutai tsae with your meal.

The time tables are official opening and closing times. However, opening and closing times tend to be more flexible in Mongolia versus other places in the world.