"A reliable Thimphu institution laying out Bhutanese classics buffet-style above the National Stadium — an easy, good-value table for a visiting group."
About Bhutan Orchid Restaurant
Bhutan Orchid is a long-running Thimphu restaurant that fills the top floor of a Chang Lam walk-up, with wide windows over the National Stadium. It is a fixture for both visitors and locals, listed in Lonely Planet, and works as a friendly, low-cost introduction to Bhutanese home cooking.
The room seats around sixty at varnished pinewood tables and long cushioned benches. It is one of the easiest tables in Thimphu for a group, alongside the heritage Babesa Village Restaurant and the hotel dining room Yak Restaurant at the Hotel Druk.
The Kitchen
Food is served strictly buffet-style, refreshed for lunch and dinner each day. The spread covers the local canon: ema datshi (chillies and cheese), kewa datshi (potato and cheese), momos, red rice, lentil soup and seasonal vegetables, with the heat dialled to suit visitors.
This is honest Bhutanese cooking rather than a fine-dining kitchen; for a heritage farmhouse setting in the capital instead, Chig Ja Gye at the Taj Tashi serves a more elaborate Bhutanese tasting.
The Room
The dining room is a plain, open hall of pinewood floors and benches, bright with daylight and the stadium view. It is built for volume and easy company — tour groups, families and delegations — rather than for hushed, intimate dinners, and service is quick and unfussy.
Best for a team dinner
The shared buffet, big tables and low price make Bhutan Orchid a practical team dinner in Thimphu, while the casual, all-you-can-eat format also suits solo dining.
Not for
Not for a romantic or fine-dining night — Bhutan Orchid is a fixed buffet in a plain pinewood hall, built for groups rather than intimate dinners.
Frequently Asked
What kind of food does Bhutan Orchid serve?
Traditional Bhutanese home cooking, served strictly buffet-style — ema datshi (chillies and cheese), kewa datshi (potato and cheese), momos, red rice, lentil soup and seasonal vegetables, refreshed for lunch and dinner.
Where is Bhutan Orchid located?
On Chang Lam in central Thimphu, occupying the top floor of a walk-up with wide windows over the National Stadium; the dining room seats around sixty.
How much does it cost to eat at Bhutan Orchid?
The buffet is set at around Nu 390 (roughly US$5–6) per person, with drinks charged separately — one of the better-value sit-down meals in Thimphu.
Is Bhutan Orchid good for groups?
Yes. The buffet format, long shared tables and capacity for about sixty make it a practical choice for tour groups, families and visiting delegations; booking ahead helps for larger parties.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Bhutan Orchid Restaurant
Walk-ins welcome; book ahead for larger groups.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
AddressChang Lam, Thimphu
NeighbourhoodChang Lam, over the National Stadium
CuisineTraditional Bhutanese, Buffet
PriceBuffet set menu around Nu 390 (about US$5–6) per person
Dress CodeCasual
SeatingOpen pinewood hall with stadium views
ReservationWalk-in; book for groups
