Tian Tian Restaurant
Now across the street from the Crane Guesthouse correct as of July 2009, used to be 189 Happy East Road, next to the Crane, Tian Tian is a little restaurant sporting an English menu. The owner, Mr. Zheng, is not a local he arrived from his native Chengdu in 2003, but has zealously taken on the role of town ambassador for foreign visitors. He is very friendly and happy to indulge in some chat with his basic English, and is always willing to learn more and keeps a handwritten journal to document new words learned. He can often be seen most mornings returning from the market with fresh vegetables and meats, and if you are a Westerner will likely find you before you find him and will give you his rather professional business card. He and his wife are great cooks and know how to specialise to western tastes. Mr Zheng's potato cake recipe is most delicious. While Mr Zheng and his wife cook mostly Sichuan and continental Chinese food, he also makes a fine yak butter tea, made a little sweeter to appeal to western tastes. His Tibetan breakfasts are also tasty and very filling. Mr Zheng provides very accurate informal travel information; the big hand-drawn map in his restaurant is most useful, as are the business cards, flyers, and notes on the wall. Ask to read or perhaps write in his guestbook before you leave.