OUR STORY
A bowl of noodles that traveled a long way to get here.
Thukpa is not a trend. It is what people on the Tibetan plateau have eaten to stay warm for generations. Hand-pulled dough, slow broth, and whatever the season gave you. We make it the same way, in small batches, in Washington, DC.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
Noodles at 14,000 feet
The Tibetan plateau sits high, cold, and dry. Barley grows there. Rice does not. So the food that took hold was the food that could warm you from the inside and keep you working: roasted barley flour, butter tea, and a deep bowl of broth with noodles in it.
Wheat arrived along the trade routes that crossed the Himalayas, and with it came noodles. Thukpa is the result. The word comes from the Tibetan for soup. It spread with the people who ate it, across Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, Ladakh, and eventually anywhere Tibetans settled.
Every one of those places bent the recipe a little. That is what makes it a living dish instead of a museum piece. What stays the same is the shape of the meal: hot broth, fresh noodles, one bowl, shared table.
KNOW YOUR NOODLE
Three factors worth knowing
If you have never ordered Tibetan food before, this is the whole vocabulary you need.
Thukpa
THOOK-pa
Thukpa is the ultimate everyday comfort—a soulful, unpretentious noodle soup anchored by long strands swimming in a deeply seasoned broth with crisp vegetables. Much like Japanese ramen or Chinese noodle soups, it may sound exotic at first, but it quickly becomes an instantly familiar staple enjoyed day or night, rain or shine. No special occasion needed; it’s a warm, nourishing bowl meant for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or whenever you need pure, simple comfort.
Natural Ingredients
TEN-thook
Simmering radishes and onions together produces a rich, complex broth base that naturally balances peppery brightness with subtle sweetness. This nutrient-dense foundation delivers strong immune-boosting antioxidants and digestive benefits in every serving. It also boasts an excellent shelf life, storing easily in the fridge or freezer for quick meal prep later.
Plant based
The part that takes practice
Good broth doesn't need meat to taste extraordinary. Our plant-based thukpa kit proves that pure, plant-powered ingredients can create a rich, deeply satisfying broth that everyone will crave. Packed with chewy, homemade noodles and crafted locally sourced ingredients, this 100% vegan bowl delivers comforting warmth, fresh regional flavor, and wholesome quality in every bite.
THE PERSON BEHIND IT
How this got started
Raised in the heart of the Tibetan Plateau, Dorjee grew up on thukpa made from a recipe passed down by generations. For generations, the women in his family refined simple, humble ingredients into an unforgettable, soul-warming bowl.
After living and studying across several countries in Asia and Europe, Dorjee eventually landed in Washington, DC. Though trained as an engineer and working in IT, his real passion was always cooking, constantly searching for the taste of home wherever life took him.
It all started at potlucks and dinner parties where friends constantly begged to take home extra containers—and eventually asked to buy batches outright. After years of searching for the true taste of home, Dorjee perfected a method that delivers an authentic, deeply nourishing thukpa in minutes, making a generation-old family recipe accessible to anyone, anywhere.
Historically, scarcity on the high-altitude Tibetan Plateau meant relying on hardy crops like radishes and onions that grew locally and stored through harsh winters. Our vegan broth honors that deep history of Tibetan resourcefulness—proof that pure, plant-based ingredients can create a naturally rich, deeply satisfying bowl.
In July 2026, after more than five months of paperwork, Dorjee's received its street vending license from the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection. You can now find us in person, in the city, most weekends.
HOW WE COOK
Three rules we do not bend
Made by hand
Every noodle is pulled by hand. It is slower and it limits how much we can make in a day. We have decided we are fine with that.
Small batch, on purpose
Kits are limited each round. When they are gone, they are gone. That is not a marketing tactic, it is the honest capacity of one kitchen.
100% plant-based
No eggs, meat, fish, or shellfish. The broth is fully plant-based. Contains wheat and soy sauce.
Now taste it.
Kits go out Wednesdays and Sundays. Pickup is $12, delivery within three miles is $14.