Top 4 Mongolian Street Food to Sample for Foodies

In almost every Asian and Central Asian country, you will find street foods. It represents a different culinary culture, which erupted as a low-cost outdoor dining option for people working at offices and for whom carrying food was not a viable option. However, in Mongolia, the street food culture is still in its infancy years.
 

The Mongolian street food is available in bits and pieces and can be seen in small parts of the cities. Probably, the social and cultural facets are responsible for the slow development of the street food culture.
 

It is the only time of the year when visitors can sample the Mongolian street food – Khuushuur. A special Mongolian treat, these deep-fried puff pastries with mutton fillings are gorged by the local spectators while watching the match. Surprisingly, most families setting up these temporary establishments are people who are looking to make some extra buck over the celebrations.
 

Khuushuur is a deep-fried pastry, made with mutton filling and best eaten hot. For many Mongolians, it is an important aspect of the festival. During Naadam, a special disc-shaped Khuushuur is prepared and sold in the galleries. When hot, they taste heavenly.
 

Although, traditionally Mongolian street food culture is quite underdeveloped. However, during the summer season, many nomadic herding families set up roadside food gers on the highway selling airag and few limited items to the hikers and travelers. These food gers are a seasonal affair, as the mercury dips – the nomadic food sellers wind up their gers and disappear into the hills.
 

Some of the popular items served in these food yurts are
 Airag or fermented mare’s milk is a national favorite. Although it contains only 2% alcohol by volume, it is not intoxicating. Airag tastes a little pungent and gives a salty aftertaste. In Mongolia, it is customary to drink the fermented milk when offered.
 

Khuushuur, the star of Mongolian street food, is always present in the food gers. A deep-fried dish with mutton filling, it is served hot and eaten with traditional Mongolian tea. The meat is pounded and generously stuffed into the pastry, and fried in oil.
 

The oily and filling dish is sure to quench the hunger pangs of tired travelers. Made from the multipurpose flour, this dish is not recommended for people with gluten allergy.
 

A popular barbecue dish, the cooked on hot stones, and eaten with hands. In Mongolia, mutton is preferred over any other kind of meat – but goats can be substituted when the lamb is unavailable. The meat is placed in an enclosed container with hot stones and slow-cooked for some time. It is very popular among locals.
 

The traditional Mongolian BBQ where every inch of the animal is eaten and nothing is discarded. This Mongolian street food comes from the traditional belief that everything gathered from the hunt is sacred, and nothing should be discarded.
 

The street food culture of Mongolia is still in its budding years, but there are a few specials that making eating on the streets a memorable experience.

​Further Reading:

Best Mongolia Foods You Must Have in the Trip​

Mongolian Cuisine

Mongolian Desserts Worth a Try

Enjoying a Mongolian Hotpot​​