Beijing Halal Diary in the Spring of 2021 (Part 1)
Reposted from the web
Summary: This travel note introduces Beijing Halal Diary in the Spring of 2021 (Part 1). Some delicious food I ate in Beijing in March, April, and May 2021. During Ramadan, not only can you eat snacks at various mosques, but you can also experience Iftar buffets and Ramadan set menus at various foreign. It is useful for readers interested in Beijing Mosques, Muslim Travel, Halal Travel.
Some delicious food I ate in Beijing in March, April, and May 2021. During Ramadan, not only can you eat snacks at various mosques, but you can also experience Iftar buffets and Ramadan set menus at various foreign restaurants.
March 4, Nanmen Xiaoguan
In the evening, I ate at Nanmen Xiaoguan, a subsidiary of Nanmen Shuanrou, inside the Guomao Shopping Center. I had fermented bean curd edamame, braised chicken feet, eggplant in burnt sauce, winter melon and meatball soup, and 'Ta Si Mi' (sweetened beef). The braised chicken feet were very soft and tender, and the winter melon and meatball soup tasted like home-cooked food; it felt very comforting. The 'Ta Si Mi' was very much to my taste. Even though I wasn't very hungry, I ate two bowls of rice to satisfy myself (people from other places might find it sweet, but Beijingers really love this flavor).
It is rare to find such an affordable and delicious Beijing Halal restaurant inside the Guomao Shopping Center; I really wouldn't have discovered it if a friend hadn't recommended it. Next time I want to try rice-friendly dishes like braised oxtail and scallion-fried lamb. I'll choose this place whenever I'm in the Guomao area in the future.
March 5, Jingzhe Oil Tea Egg
Today is Jingzhe (Awakening of Insects), and Zainab made the Jingzhe oil tea egg, a specialty of the Xinjiang Hui people. Zainab used to drink it every year when she was in Urumqi, but I had never heard of it in Beijing.
The way to make Jingzhe oil tea egg is to stir-fry eggs in lamb fat, add raisins, walnut kernels, and rock sugar, and then pour strong tea over it; in Xinjiang, they generally use Fuzhuan tea.
The Lagman I made
March 6, Sauce Meat Roll with Pancake
At noon, I bought spiced beef and beef tendon at Jubao Yuan in Dongsi, and dipped them in garlic sauce to roll in pancakes.
March 6, Guhuai Street Mawu Beiyuan Branch
In the evening, I went to Mawu on Guhuai Street at Nuanshan Life in Beiyuan and ordered a mix of hot and sour soup and tofu pudding, along with pan-fried buns. There are many fun things in the Nuannuan Collection in the basement of Nuanshan Life. I bought several beautiful dresses for Zainab at a vintage clothing store.
March 7, Syrian restaurant BRBR in Wudaokou
I ate at the Syrian restaurant BRBR in Wudaokou at noon. I had heard of them for a long time, but since I live in the city and it's too far away, I had never eaten there. This was my first time. I have to say, this place is so popular! We went after two o'clock and still had to wait a long time for a table; it was full of young people.
Syrian food is also a standard Levantine cuisine. The most classic dishes are Hummus and Falafel, but we didn't order them this time. We ordered lentil soup, a mixed grill platter (Shuqaf lamb skewers, traditional Kabab, chicken skewers, and chicken wings), half a roasted chicken, hummus with tahini, and lemon mint.
A special feature this time was eating the traditional Arabic Mandi lamb rice. Mandi originated in Yemen and is popular in the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, and the Levant. Mandi is usually made with rice, meat (lamb, camel, or chicken), and Hawaij spices. Hawaij is also a special spice originating from Yemen, which can be used for cooking rice, soup, and coffee. Its main ingredients are cumin, black pepper, turmeric, and cardamom. The texture of Mandi is drier than regular curry rice.
March 11, Liu Ji Mending Baodu
Zainab has been working overtime at night these past two days, so I've been eating Zha Jiang Mian (noodles with soybean paste) at Liu Ji Mending Baodu in Hongmiao for two days in a row. I love it so much; Zha Jiang Mian is my nostalgia! I also ordered lamb skewers and a small bowl of beef. Their small bowl of beef is a bit dry and not recommended. If you want to eat it, you should go to Baodu Xiaobaimao. I've been eating their big lamb skewers for years, and they are undeniably delicious. Then I listened to Old Man Liu chatting with people. The old man is over eighty, still loves to go to Sanya, and often plays table tennis. He's quite something.
March 12, Changying Qin'gu
A rainy day in Beijing is perfect for having beef soybean paste soup at Qin'gu in Changying! Then I bought two Tangjuanguo and a box of Aiwowo at Kaiyizhai by the mosque gate.
March 19, Douban Hutong Xinyuezhai
I ate stir-fried lamb liver and a small bowl of beef at Xinyuezhai in Douban Hutong at noon.
March 20, Dapanji made by Zainab
In the evening, Zainab made Dapanji (big plate chicken). I love it so much; it's really authentic.
March 21, Dachangying Restaurant
At noon, I went to Dachangying Restaurant to eat the 148-yuan four-person set meal I bought on Lianlian. Their location is really not very good. A Halal Japanese restaurant opened there before but closed after only a few visits. Later, after they released the Lianlian four-person meal, it suddenly became popular, and everyone was eating the set meal. The four-person set includes Yellow River carp, half a roast duck, deep-fried crispy meat, West Lake beef soup, Qianlong cabbage, corn with pine nuts, flavored eggplant, and pear soup. Overall, their food is a bit sweet. The carp tastes very good, and the others are relatively average, but the set meal is really worth it. I guess there will be fewer people once the set meal period is over.
March 23, Dongsi Shitiao Bridge Yanlanlou
In the evening at Yanlanlou at Dongsi Shitiao Bridge, it should be a franchise store, not a direct-operated one. I ordered hand-grabbed lamb chops, Jiangshui noodles, and Tianpeizi. The hand-grabbed lamb was a bit greasy, but overall it was okay.
March 25, Catfish and minced meat fried rice
I made catfish and minced meat fried rice in the evening. I've been cooking fish often lately.
April 9, Dongsi Shitiao Yanlanlou
In the evening at Yanlanlou in Dongsi Shitiao, I had clear-boiled lamb tendon, stir-fried lamb head meat, Saozi noodles, wild bracken, and Tianpeizi. The lamb head meat wasn't satisfying enough; I really miss the night markets in Linxia!
April 13, Minced meat pilaf made by Zainab
Minced meat pilaf made by Zainab, cucumber soup, steamed egg custard, stir-fried asparagus, and chicken skewers she bought back from Khan Baba.
April 14, Start of Fasting
Eating dates.
Iftar meal with cowpea Lagman.
April 15, Iftar
Catfish stewed with tofu, eggplant Lagman, stir-fried greens, and I also bought a big chicken leg at Yongshun Fried Chicken on Xueyuan South Road and heated it up in the oven.
April 16, Suhoor
For Jumu'ah, I bought lamb skewers at the Douban Hutong Mosque. For Iftar, I grilled lamb skewers and stewed beef bone soup.
April 17, Iftar buffet at the Pakistani restaurant Khan Baba
Today's Iftar was at the Pakistani restaurant Khan Baba in Sanlitun. We had a buffet, and the atmosphere was great. I ate lamb curry, chickpea curry, kebab, roast chicken, fried vegetables, Biryani fried rice, scallion naan, mint and yogurt salad, and pudding. There were quite a few varieties, and they were delicious, especially the naan dipped in curry, which was very satisfying! A reminder to all brothers (dost): you need to book in advance, otherwise there will be no seats.
April 18, Iftar buffet at the Jordanian restaurant Al Safir
Today's Iftar was a buffet at the Jordanian restaurant Al Safir in Sanyuanqiao. It was a good opportunity to experience Levantine salads and various sauces! I can eat everything I usually can't order all at once. The most classic ones are, of course, hummus and falafel. The most authentic way to eat them is to use pita bread to sandwich various sauces and falafel together. The main courses included fish, lamb chops, chicken rice, and fried chicken. There was also lentil soup and various fruit juices; I drank grape juice. Their lamb chops were so delicious; I feel like they were grilled beforehand? The texture was excellent.
April 19, Iftar at Baizuan in Shilihe
For Iftar today, I had Polo, meat Lagman, Kebab, and pigeon soup at Baizuan in Shilihe, and I also bought naan and pomegranate juice to take away. Old Keman's pomegranate juice has the best taste on the market, although it's still not as good as the freshly squeezed ones at the bazaar.
April 24, Iftar at the Nanxiapo Mosque
Today's Iftar was at Xiapo. There were so many rich snacks, and then I went home and ate the lamb skewers Zainab grilled.
Summary: This travel note introduces Beijing Halal Diary in the Spring of 2021 (Part 1). Some delicious food I ate in Beijing in March, April, and May 2021. During Ramadan, not only can you eat snacks at various mosques, but you can also experience Iftar buffets and Ramadan set menus at various foreign. It is useful for readers interested in Beijing Mosques, Muslim Travel, Halal Travel.
Some delicious food I ate in Beijing in March, April, and May 2021. During Ramadan, not only can you eat snacks at various mosques, but you can also experience Iftar buffets and Ramadan set menus at various foreign restaurants.
March 4, Nanmen Xiaoguan
In the evening, I ate at Nanmen Xiaoguan, a subsidiary of Nanmen Shuanrou, inside the Guomao Shopping Center. I had fermented bean curd edamame, braised chicken feet, eggplant in burnt sauce, winter melon and meatball soup, and 'Ta Si Mi' (sweetened beef). The braised chicken feet were very soft and tender, and the winter melon and meatball soup tasted like home-cooked food; it felt very comforting. The 'Ta Si Mi' was very much to my taste. Even though I wasn't very hungry, I ate two bowls of rice to satisfy myself (people from other places might find it sweet, but Beijingers really love this flavor).
It is rare to find such an affordable and delicious Beijing Halal restaurant inside the Guomao Shopping Center; I really wouldn't have discovered it if a friend hadn't recommended it. Next time I want to try rice-friendly dishes like braised oxtail and scallion-fried lamb. I'll choose this place whenever I'm in the Guomao area in the future.
March 5, Jingzhe Oil Tea Egg
Today is Jingzhe (Awakening of Insects), and Zainab made the Jingzhe oil tea egg, a specialty of the Xinjiang Hui people. Zainab used to drink it every year when she was in Urumqi, but I had never heard of it in Beijing.
The way to make Jingzhe oil tea egg is to stir-fry eggs in lamb fat, add raisins, walnut kernels, and rock sugar, and then pour strong tea over it; in Xinjiang, they generally use Fuzhuan tea.
The Lagman I made
March 6, Sauce Meat Roll with Pancake
At noon, I bought spiced beef and beef tendon at Jubao Yuan in Dongsi, and dipped them in garlic sauce to roll in pancakes.
March 6, Guhuai Street Mawu Beiyuan Branch
In the evening, I went to Mawu on Guhuai Street at Nuanshan Life in Beiyuan and ordered a mix of hot and sour soup and tofu pudding, along with pan-fried buns. There are many fun things in the Nuannuan Collection in the basement of Nuanshan Life. I bought several beautiful dresses for Zainab at a vintage clothing store.
March 7, Syrian restaurant BRBR in Wudaokou
I ate at the Syrian restaurant BRBR in Wudaokou at noon. I had heard of them for a long time, but since I live in the city and it's too far away, I had never eaten there. This was my first time. I have to say, this place is so popular! We went after two o'clock and still had to wait a long time for a table; it was full of young people.
Syrian food is also a standard Levantine cuisine. The most classic dishes are Hummus and Falafel, but we didn't order them this time. We ordered lentil soup, a mixed grill platter (Shuqaf lamb skewers, traditional Kabab, chicken skewers, and chicken wings), half a roasted chicken, hummus with tahini, and lemon mint.
A special feature this time was eating the traditional Arabic Mandi lamb rice. Mandi originated in Yemen and is popular in the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, and the Levant. Mandi is usually made with rice, meat (lamb, camel, or chicken), and Hawaij spices. Hawaij is also a special spice originating from Yemen, which can be used for cooking rice, soup, and coffee. Its main ingredients are cumin, black pepper, turmeric, and cardamom. The texture of Mandi is drier than regular curry rice.
March 11, Liu Ji Mending Baodu
Zainab has been working overtime at night these past two days, so I've been eating Zha Jiang Mian (noodles with soybean paste) at Liu Ji Mending Baodu in Hongmiao for two days in a row. I love it so much; Zha Jiang Mian is my nostalgia! I also ordered lamb skewers and a small bowl of beef. Their small bowl of beef is a bit dry and not recommended. If you want to eat it, you should go to Baodu Xiaobaimao. I've been eating their big lamb skewers for years, and they are undeniably delicious. Then I listened to Old Man Liu chatting with people. The old man is over eighty, still loves to go to Sanya, and often plays table tennis. He's quite something.
March 12, Changying Qin'gu
A rainy day in Beijing is perfect for having beef soybean paste soup at Qin'gu in Changying! Then I bought two Tangjuanguo and a box of Aiwowo at Kaiyizhai by the mosque gate.
March 19, Douban Hutong Xinyuezhai
I ate stir-fried lamb liver and a small bowl of beef at Xinyuezhai in Douban Hutong at noon.
March 20, Dapanji made by Zainab
In the evening, Zainab made Dapanji (big plate chicken). I love it so much; it's really authentic.
March 21, Dachangying Restaurant
At noon, I went to Dachangying Restaurant to eat the 148-yuan four-person set meal I bought on Lianlian. Their location is really not very good. A Halal Japanese restaurant opened there before but closed after only a few visits. Later, after they released the Lianlian four-person meal, it suddenly became popular, and everyone was eating the set meal. The four-person set includes Yellow River carp, half a roast duck, deep-fried crispy meat, West Lake beef soup, Qianlong cabbage, corn with pine nuts, flavored eggplant, and pear soup. Overall, their food is a bit sweet. The carp tastes very good, and the others are relatively average, but the set meal is really worth it. I guess there will be fewer people once the set meal period is over.
March 23, Dongsi Shitiao Bridge Yanlanlou
In the evening at Yanlanlou at Dongsi Shitiao Bridge, it should be a franchise store, not a direct-operated one. I ordered hand-grabbed lamb chops, Jiangshui noodles, and Tianpeizi. The hand-grabbed lamb was a bit greasy, but overall it was okay.
March 25, Catfish and minced meat fried rice
I made catfish and minced meat fried rice in the evening. I've been cooking fish often lately.
April 9, Dongsi Shitiao Yanlanlou
In the evening at Yanlanlou in Dongsi Shitiao, I had clear-boiled lamb tendon, stir-fried lamb head meat, Saozi noodles, wild bracken, and Tianpeizi. The lamb head meat wasn't satisfying enough; I really miss the night markets in Linxia!
April 13, Minced meat pilaf made by Zainab
Minced meat pilaf made by Zainab, cucumber soup, steamed egg custard, stir-fried asparagus, and chicken skewers she bought back from Khan Baba.
April 14, Start of Fasting
Eating dates.
Iftar meal with cowpea Lagman.
April 15, Iftar
Catfish stewed with tofu, eggplant Lagman, stir-fried greens, and I also bought a big chicken leg at Yongshun Fried Chicken on Xueyuan South Road and heated it up in the oven.
April 16, Suhoor
For Jumu'ah, I bought lamb skewers at the Douban Hutong Mosque. For Iftar, I grilled lamb skewers and stewed beef bone soup.
April 17, Iftar buffet at the Pakistani restaurant Khan Baba
Today's Iftar was at the Pakistani restaurant Khan Baba in Sanlitun. We had a buffet, and the atmosphere was great. I ate lamb curry, chickpea curry, kebab, roast chicken, fried vegetables, Biryani fried rice, scallion naan, mint and yogurt salad, and pudding. There were quite a few varieties, and they were delicious, especially the naan dipped in curry, which was very satisfying! A reminder to all brothers (dost): you need to book in advance, otherwise there will be no seats.
April 18, Iftar buffet at the Jordanian restaurant Al Safir
Today's Iftar was a buffet at the Jordanian restaurant Al Safir in Sanyuanqiao. It was a good opportunity to experience Levantine salads and various sauces! I can eat everything I usually can't order all at once. The most classic ones are, of course, hummus and falafel. The most authentic way to eat them is to use pita bread to sandwich various sauces and falafel together. The main courses included fish, lamb chops, chicken rice, and fried chicken. There was also lentil soup and various fruit juices; I drank grape juice. Their lamb chops were so delicious; I feel like they were grilled beforehand? The texture was excellent.
April 19, Iftar at Baizuan in Shilihe
For Iftar today, I had Polo, meat Lagman, Kebab, and pigeon soup at Baizuan in Shilihe, and I also bought naan and pomegranate juice to take away. Old Keman's pomegranate juice has the best taste on the market, although it's still not as good as the freshly squeezed ones at the bazaar.
April 24, Iftar at the Nanxiapo Mosque
Today's Iftar was at Xiapo. There were so many rich snacks, and then I went home and ate the lamb skewers Zainab grilled.
