Historical Pic Former Outside before Remodel
Historical Pic Former Outside before Remodel
Place Category: Gluten Free, Organic, Tibetan, and VeganPlace Tags: Chef Owned and Operated
CAFÉ TIBET: A complete VEGAN haven Opened in 1999, Café Tibet served as the only authentic Tibetan Restaurant in the East Bay for the past 25 years. The restaurant is 100% VEGAN, and serves more than 50 different varieties of traditional Tibetan dishes, including some fusion-food that are magically created delicious and authentic food. With its wide variety of homemade vegan options, at Café Tibet, we use fresh ingredients, no processed foods, overwhelmingly organic ingredients. We welcome you to join us for our famous combination momo sampler plate, a savory mix of Tibetan dumplings, short hand-pulled Tibetan noodle in soup, and mouthwatering choices of curries and noodles.
Opened in 1999, Café Tibet served as the only authentic Tibetan Restaurant in the East Bay for the past 25 years. Chef Samten, who started the restaurant, was an experienced cook and pastry chef, and magically created delicious and traditional Tibetan food. She retired in the spring of 2024. Today, the Café Tibet operated and run by the younger generation who felt a dire need for a change to mitigate global warming and climate change, turned the restaurant into a complete VEGAN haven. At Café Tibet, we offer a wide variety of homemade vegan options. We use fresh ingredients, no processed foods, mostly organics. We welcome you to join us for our famous ‘combination momo plate’, a savory mix of Tibetan dumplings, hand crafted hand-pulled Tibetan noodle in soup, and mouthwatering choices of curries.
HistoryEstablished in 1999.
This is the story of a passionate lady Chef Samten dedicated to sharing her traditional Tibetan cuisine with the world. Arriving in the United States at the dawn of the 1990s, she navigated challenging roles at Stars Restaurant in San Francisco, eventually becoming one of its top chefs. Following Stars’ closure in 1999, she embarked on a new culinary journey by opening the Bay Area’s first Tibetan restaurant. Café Tibet, located in downtown Berkeley, offered locals their first taste of authentic, home-cooked Tibetan dishes, marking a significant milestone in the region’s dining scene.
Choedup, Tamding C.
Business OwnerAunt Samten dedicated 25 years to perfecting her culinary skills, adapting her traditional Tibetan dishes to meet the evolving tastes of Western palates while preserving their authenticity. Some of her creations were tailored to suit Western preferences without compromising their traditional roots. In March 2024, Samten retired, passing the torch to the next generation. The younger generation, having spent much time in the United States, brought new values and skills that appealed to a broader audience. Committed to addressing climate change, they transformed the family business into a vegan haven. Today, they proudly own a restaurant that offers over 50 different dishes made from locally sourced ingredients. Everything is crafted from scratch by Chef Tamdin, the second-generation Tibetan who follows in Samten’s footsteps. Their ultimate goal is to make the restaurant 100% water-smart and eco-friendly, green business.
Cafe Tibet Menu - Berkeley Updated 3/4/2026
Menu and prices subject to change*Gluten Free
STARTERS
1. Curried Potato $8.99
Curried potatoes sautéed and mildly seasoned with fresh garlic.2. Garbanzo Bean $8.99
Sautéed and mildly seasoned w/ garlic n herbs3. Eggplant Chip $8.99
Garbanzo battered finger chips served w/ house sauce4. Tofu Chip $8.99
Garbanzo battered finger chips served w/ house sauce5. Mix veg curry $8.99
Curried seasoned mixed vegetables served w/ garlicSALADS
6. Cabbage Carrot Salad $8.99
Crisp cabbage & carrot with light sesame vinaigrette7. Protein Salad $8.99
Fresh greens w/ tofu, raisin, Almond & olive8. Organic Green $8.99
Mixed greens with balsamic vinaigrette9, Small side of organic Green $5.00
SOUPS
10.Black Bean soup* $8.99
Mixed w/ carrot, celery, ginger served w/ fresh garlic11. Café Tibet special Soup $8.99
A hearty oats, spinach, peas, carrots, mushrooms, w/ tofu, garlic & fresh herbs12. Traditional Tsam-Thuk $8.99
Organic home-roasted barley flour w/ tofu & vegan butter13. Spinach soup* $8.99
Fresh spinach soup w/ tofu, a dash of lemon, coconut cream & garlicGLUTEN FREE SPECIAL ENTREES
Noodles & Rice based14. Phing Tofu $16.99
Sautéed tofu, bean-thread noodle, wood-ear mushrooms, potato, garnish with roasted organic pumpkin seed served with Basmati rice15. Pan Fried Yam Noodle $16.99
Pan-fried sweet potato noodle w/ tofu & vegetables served with roasted organic pumpkin seed garnish16. Yam Noodle in Soup $16.99
Sweet potato noodles in soup with vegetables, tofu, & garnished w/roasted organic pumpkin seed.17. Tofu with Broccoli $16.99
Lightly cooked tofu with broccoli, and mild Himalayan spices with Basmati Rice.18. Tofu with Mushroom and Spinach $16.99
Tofu, mushrooms, onion, tomatoes, and spinach tossed in garlic sauce with Basmati Rice19. Sautéed Eggplant Tofu w/ Basmati Rice $16.99
Sliced eggplant sautéed with tofu, Himalayan spice, onion, & garlicNOODLES
20. Long Noodle in Soup $15.99
Enjoy this noodle soup with mix vegetables, garlic, onion and tofu (Lhasa noble families recipe)21. Hand-pulled Noodle in Soup (Amdo Special) $15.99
Hand-pulled flat pasta simmered in a flavorful broth of tofu, daikon, onions, & garlic22. Pan Fried Noodle $15.99
Pan-fried vegetables and homemade fresh noodles with tofu & garlic23. Café Tibet Special Noodle In Soup, Pan-Fried Noodles or Hand-pulled $17.99
Noodle, tofu, vegetables, wood-ear mushroom, garlic, onion with vegan meatMOMO
Steamed Dumpling)24. Spinach Mushroom Momo $15.99
Mixed with onion, & garlic—served with special mild orange sauce25. Potato Veg Momo $15.99
Mixed w/ carrots, cabbage, onion, & garlic—served with special mild orange sauce26. Tofu Momo $15.99
W/ cabbage, onion, & garlic—served with special mild orange sauce27. A combination platter of the above —3 each with the total of Nine $17.99
SPECIAL ENTREES
28. Tofu curry * w/ Basmati Rice $15.99
Special tofu in a curry sauce with spinach served with Basmati rice29. Rice & Lentil * w/ Basmati Rice $15.99
Lentil simmered in garlic served with a side of salad & rice30. Veg Fried Pocket Bread $17.99
Four pieces of fried pocket breads with savory vegetarian pastries mixed with herbs, onion and garlic served with special mild orange sauce.31. Mix Veg curry * w/ Basmati Rice $15.99
32. Fried Rice * $15.99
Pan-fried rice with mixed vegetables, tofu seasoned with fresh herbs and garlic33. Momo in soup $15.99
Simmered in spinach, carrot, cabbage, onion & garlic.SIDE ORDERS
34. Tingmo $4.00
Homemade steamed Tibetan bread mildly seasoned with fresh garlic35. Basmati Steamed Rice * $3.00
36. Organic Madagascar Pink Rice * $4.00
SPECIAL ORGANIC DISHES
Long Noodle in Soup (Noodles & Vegetable Soup) $19.99
Enjoy this noodle soup with mixed vegetables, tofu, and roasted pumpkin seed garnishHand-pulled Noodle in Soup (Amdo Special) $19.99
Hand-pulled flat pasta simmered in an organic flavorful mix of vegetable broth, daikon, onions, garlic, ginger, tofu, and roasted pumpkin seed garnishPan Friend Noodle $19.99
Pan-fried fresh noodles mixed with vegetables, tofu, and roasted organic pumpkin seed garnishSpecial Fried Rice * $19.99
Pan-fried Madagascar pink rice and mixed vegetables seasoned with fresh, tofu, ginger, garlic, & roasted organic pumpkin seed garnishTofu-Curry w/ steamed veg & rice * $19.99
Special Fried tofu in curry served with organic mixed vegetables, and roasted pumpkin seed garnish. Served with Madagascar pink riceMixed Veg curry w/ Rice* $19.99
Mixed vegetables, organic tofu, ginger, garlic, roasted pumpkin seed garnish. Served with Madagascar pink riceMixed Vegetable Soup $11.99
Vegetables mixed in a roasted barley flour soup with tofu, garlic
and roasted organic pumpkin seed garnishBEVERAGES
Tibetan vegan Butter tea (Bod-Jha) $3.50
Tibetan tea churned with vegan milk & butter with a dash of saltVegan Chai $3.50
Indian milk tea flavored with chai masala served hot or coldHerbel Tea $3.50
Darjeeling Tea, Chamomile Tea, Mint Tea, Kombucha, or Lemon Iced TeaPremium Organic Green Teas from Tibet $5.00
Choice of variety-unique teas from HimalayasOrganic Roasted Barley Tea $5.00
Coffee $4.00
Turmeric Ginger Tea $5.00
Fresh Homemade Lemonade $5.00
Pure Coconut Water $5.99
Kombucha (Original Trilogy) $6.50
Cold, fermented, raw, and unadulterated tea with live culturesLassi (Mango, Banana or Plain) $6.00
Organic Tsampa Shake $8.99
Roasted barley flour w/ organic ground flax seeds, mixed fruits, & vegetablesWINE & BEER LIST Subject to change Updated 3/4/2026
WINE
GLASS / BOTTLEChang (Traditional Tibetan rice wine $7.00 / xx
Salmon Creek Cellars $7.00 / $21.00
Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, or MerlotFat Cat Cellars $8.00 / $24.00
ChardonnayPinot Grigio $8.00 / $24.00
(SF Chronicle Wine “Gold”)Pinot Noir $8.00 / $24.00
Naked Earth Organics $12.00 / $36.00
Vin Rouge, South of FranceRutherford Vintners $12.00 / $36.00
Merlot - Taster's Guild International Wine' 11 GoldBEER $5.99
Fat Tire Amber Ale, Heineken, or Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
*Gluten Free