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OVERVIEW
Little Tibet was started by Thupten Anyetsang in August 1998, and was little known until it took off in later years.
Pema Wangchen bought Little Tibet in 2012, after working there for several years as a dishwasher and other roles.
After Pema and 45 others left Tibet, they hiked through most of the Himalayas, and part of Mount Everest during the capture of Tibet.
Pema Wangchen Served as a Buddhist Monk for 11 years, before he started in the food industry.
Little Tibet donates to local fundraisers, and donates food along with gift cards to food pantries.
HISTORY
Little TIbet is a restaurant that serves authentic Tibetan food to the Bloomington residents. It was opened in 1998 by Thupten Anyetsang. He created it to bring Tibetan food to Bloomington. However, we have to start with the history of Pema Wangchen. Pema grew up with his family in an area between Tibet and the Himalayan mountains, during the time China captured and controlled Tibet. He and 45 other Tibetans were sent to India to seek refuge from the 1959 Chinese occupation. During that time, his family was very poor. However, they had saved up enough money to send Pema somewhere better and to escape the Chinese. He and the 45 others hiked the Himalayas, and even part of Mount Everest. After fleeing Tibet, Pema Wangchen arrived in Nepal, where his brother lived and worked as a Monk.
Pema joined the monastery there, and served as a Buddhist Monk for 11 years. “Life at the temple was a good life. But it was my life. I wanted to do something for my mom and dad.” (IDS) After a while, he decided to move to the US to help his parents back in Tibet. With help from his parents, this was able to happen. Pema Wangchen got his first US job as a dishwasher in a Chinese restaurant located in New Jersey. Little of the money he earned went to him.
Wangchen gave it to his parents, so they could finally fulfill their dream of meeting the Dalai Lama. His parents were very grateful, and said that they were very grateful. However, in 2012 a friend said that Little Tibet, a local Bloomington restaurant, was planning to close. So Pema Wangchen moved to Bloomington. Thupten Anyetsang, the owner, offered to let him work there. Two months later, he decided to buy Little Tibet. Pema Wangchen wanted to honor the previous owner's work, and carry the legacy. After that, he took over as the owner and head chef. Pema Wangchen and his partner carried the Tibetan legacy, and still to proudly own it.
ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY
Everybody loves mainly one thing… The Momos. These are Classic Tibetan dumplings, stuffed with vegetables and a protein. There are also carrots, and cabbage, served with soy-based dipping sauces. Which makes it Little Tibet’s most popular, (and delicious,) item. Besides serving food, they also help the Bloomington community. They donate gift cards, along with food to the Community Kitchen. They want to create a good and delicious time for visitors, family, friends, and residents. Also, when local fundraisers happen, Little Tibet donates money to help! People say that Little Tibet's atmosphere is fun and unique.
It also shares its Tibetan roots and culture to the town of Bloomington. These include: Tibetan flags hanging outside, the pictures of the Dalai Lama and some of his quotes, the sign on the outside featuring flags from Tibet, India, Thailand, and the United States. It also has a lot of links and culture to the Dalai Lama’s older brother, who was a professor at IU. Little Tibet has lots of links to Bloomington, but even more in the religion side. All in all, Little Tibet is a friendly restaurant with a fun, energetic, environment where you can experience a slice of Tibet in Bloomington.
Thank you to Pema Wangchen, owner and head-chef at Little Tibet for most of the information used in these paragraphs!
WORKS CITED
“Anyetsang’s Little Tibet Restaurant.” Visitbloomington.com, 2025, www.visitbloomington.com/listing/anyetsangs-little-tibet-restaurant/1156/. Accessed 4 Dec. 2025.
Brannon, Iona. “Tibetan Culture Thrives in an Unlikely Corner of the Midwest - Bloomington, Indiana.” Fodors Travel Guide, 31 Jan. 2025, www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/indiana/experiences/news/tibetan-culture-thrives-in-an-unlikely-corner-of-the-midwest-bloomington-indiana. Accessed 4 Dec. 2025.
Remijan-Toba, Eva, and Jack Lindner. “Tibetan Refugee Shares Culture through Bloomington Restaurant.” Tibetan Refugee Shares Culture through Bloomington Restaurant - Indiana Daily Student, IDS, 7 Dec. 2023, www.idsnews.com/article/2023/12/tibetan-refugee-shares-culture-through-bloomington-restaurant. Accessed 4 Dec. 2025.
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