Eating South Asian and Middle Eastern Food in Beijing (Part 2)
Reposted from the web
Summary: This travel note introduces Eating South Asian and Middle Eastern Food in Beijing (Part 2). On November 7, 2018, after work, I went to a Turkish kebab shop run by Azerbaijanis on the first floor of Sanlitun SOHO. It is useful for readers interested in Beijing Halal Food, Muslim Travel, Middle Eastern Food.
5. Azerbaijani/Turkish restaurant Doner & Kebab
On November 7, 2018, after work, I went to a Turkish kebab shop run by Azerbaijanis on the first floor of Sanlitun SOHO. I had Lahmacun, an Ottoman delicacy originating from the Levant, served with kebabs and lentil soup. They also had pide bread and classic Azerbaijani stuffed grape leaves. The shop had a picture of the Maiden Tower, a landmark in the Old City of Baku, Azerbaijan, located by the Caspian Sea, and Azerbaijani songs were playing on the TV. Besides the two young Azerbaijani men, there was also an auntie from Northeast China who speaks Russian. The young men were actively learning Chinese from her, and I hope their Chinese gets better and better!
6. Kavkaz restaurant
On August 2, 2019, I ate Caucasian salad, cheese khachapuri with honey, pan-fried trout, dolma, borscht, Russian chicken soup, and Ayran at the Caucasian restaurant Kavkaz on Ritan Shangjie.
On April 14, 2019, I had garlic chicken, grilled lamb chops, meat pies, traditional Caucasian soup, traditional Caucasian salad, and steamed buns at the Caucasian restaurant Kavkaz near the North Gate of Ritan Park in the evening. Except for the thick bun skins, everything else was super delicious, especially the soup and the garlic chicken; it was so satisfying after eating.
On December 8, 2018, I went to the Caucasian restaurant Kavkaz on Ritan Shangjie in the evening and ordered lamb flatbread, garlic roasted chicken, lamb in a clay pot, stuffed grape leaves, and Ayran yogurt with fennel; everything was quite good!
7. Azerbaijani/Turkish restaurant Desert Rose
On February 17, 2021, we had lunch at Desert Rose on Ritan Shangjie; it is the most affordable among the several Turkish restaurants on Ritan Shangjie. Ten years ago, my childhood friend and I had Turkish food for the first time right here, and in the blink of an eye, ten years have passed and the place still hasn't changed.
There were 6 of us eating together this time, so we ordered one 4-person set meal and one 2-person set meal, which included lentil soup and chicken soup, Mediterranean salad, mixed grill, yogurt marinated chicken, assorted Pide, chicken Shawarma wrap, lamb shank pilaf, rice pudding, Ayran yogurt drink, Puf ekmek bread, and Baklava dessert; we also ordered Izmir meatballs and Lahmacun. Their Puf ekmek bread is so delicious! It was grilled to be extra fragrant, and it still tasted great even after bringing it home and letting it cool.
3. South Asia
1. Pakistani restaurant ZAM ZAM
On April 4, 2020, I had a Tandoori mixed grill platter at the Pakistani restaurant ZAM ZAM near the East Gate of Tsinghua University. The platter included Haryali Tikka (mint chicken), lamb tikka, beef tikka, Malai Seekh Kabab, and fish tikka. The grilled meat was quite spicy, and it was especially refreshing when dipped in mint sauce. I also ordered chicken corn soup, chickpea Achari curry, and garlic naan, and drank my favorite freshly squeezed mint juice. When they have their buffet, the mint juice is the most popular item, and I can never stop drinking cup after cup. Their South Asian naan is also truly super delicious and especially crispy.
Currently they don't have a buffet, only a la carte; I hope to come back for the buffet in the future.
On September 21, 2019, I had a buffet dinner at the Pakistani restaurant Zam Zam in Kaishi Plaza. The first plate was Biryani fried rice with chicken Tikka, fried fish, and the South Asian street food specialty, vegetable Pakora. The second plate consisted of naan with beef stew, chickpea sauce, mint sauce, and custard, a dessert of European origin. And their best drink is still the South Asian mint water; I can never get enough of it!
On June 23, 2019, I had the buffet at Zam Zam for dinner, it was very authentic! The Pakistani pulao, roasted chicken, and stew were all excellent, and that cheese and egg soup was also incredibly delicious. My favorite was their mint sauce with bread, it was so tasty.
2. Saduri restaurant in Kolkata, India
On December 22, 2020, I went to Saduri, an Indian Kolkata Muslim restaurant in Beiluoguxiang, in the evening. They were closed for 8 months this year, and the owner only returned to China from India in November; it really hasn't been easy for them.
We ordered Samosas, mixed grill, Goan fish curry, fried chicken legs, Chana Masala, Aloo Paratha, and Kabli Naan, as well as Shahi Kheer and carrot Halwa, and finally ordered almond and fig flavored Lassi.
Samosas were brought to South Asia from Persia by Central Asian Muslim merchants in the 13th and 14th centuries. The Delhi Sultanate scholar Amir Khusro wrote around 1300 that the princes and nobles of the Delhi Sultanate enjoyed 'samosas prepared with meat, ghee, and onions'.
Goan fish curry is made by cooking boneless fish marinated in a ginger-garlic paste with coconut milk and spices, then seasoned with coconut powder. Goa is an ancient city on the coast of the Arabian Sea that was under Portuguese rule for a long time; the Portuguese introduced many South American foods such as potatoes, tomatoes, guavas, cashews, and chili peppers to India through Goa. Goan cuisine is primarily based on seafood, with a preference for using chili peppers and coconut oil.
Aloo Paratha originated in the Punjab region and is made from unleavened dough mixed with mashed potatoes and spices, then cooked on a Tava griddle using butter or ghee.
Kheer is a pudding made from boiled milk, rice, and sugar, usually with added shredded dried coconut, cardamom, raisins, saffron, cashews, pistachios, and almonds.
Gajar ka halwa is made by grating carrots and drying them, then heating and stirring them with milk and sugar, adding raisins, pistachios, or other dried fruits, and finally cooking them with ghee. This sweet was brought to South Asia during the Mughal period, and "halwa" means "sweet" in Arabic. It is eaten during major Hindu and Islamic festivals in South Asia, such as Diwali, Holi, and Eid al-Fitr.
On November 28, 2019, I ate Tandoori chicken, Masala lamb, green pea and mushroom curry, butter naan, Pudina Paratha, Masala chai, and Gajar ka halwa at Sadri, an Indian Kolkata Muslim restaurant in Beiluoguxiang. Their South Asian naan is truly super delicious; I will never get tired of eating it. This time I basically ate classic South Asian dishes; I have introduced Tandoori chicken and Masala lamb many times before.
Paratha comes from Sanskrit and has a history of thousands of years; it is one of the most classic unleavened breads in South Asia, made by first baking and then pan-frying. Paratha is thicker and firmer than another South Asian bread called Roti, because Paratha is layered with ghee, folded repeatedly, and then flattened.
On March 13, 2019, I had beef Samosa at the Indian restaurant Saduli in Beiluoguxiang in the evening (the mint sauce was so delicious!). ), Masala lamb, Tandoori mushrooms, Iranian grilled fish, Aloo Paratha potato flatbread, vegetable soup, and masala chai.
Their restaurant is my favorite Indian place in Beijing. After this year's urban renovation project, I almost thought it had been demolished when I arrived, but later I found that only the part facing the hutong was torn down, and the area has become much smaller. I hope they can keep running so that I can always have delicious Indian food!
On June 23, 2018, I ate at Sadri, a restaurant run by Muslims from Kolkata, near Beiluoguxiang. The Iranian boneless grilled sea bass was incredibly tender, and I really liked the sweet coconut milk flavor of the shahi korma chicken curry. The most amazing thing was the naan; it was crispy fresh out of the oven and tasted even better than what I had in India. I have always liked Kheer, a dessert made with rice, fresh milk, and cream, and I finished with a cup of masala tea; overall, this place is really good.
3. Khan Baba Pakistani Restaurant (Sanlitun Branch)
On April 17, 2021, I had a Ramadan Iftar buffet at Khan Baba, and the atmosphere was really great. I ate mutton curry, chickpea curry, kebabs, roasted chicken, fried vegetables, Biryani, garlic naan, salad with mint and yogurt sauce, and pudding. There was quite a variety and it was all delicious, especially the naan dipped in curry, which was very satisfying! A reminder to all my fellow brothers and sisters (dostis) that you need to book in advance, otherwise there won't be any seats.
On July 24, 2019, I had chicken and mushroom samosas, mutton Yakhni soup, chicken corn soup, fish masala, mutton handi, garlic naan, chana dal, and badami lassi for dinner at Khan Baba in Sanlitun.
The Samosa they made this time was a bit thick, but the chicken and mushroom flavor was actually quite good. The classic Indian Samosa is made by mixing vegetable oil, melted butter, warm water, salt, and wheat flour for the dough, then deep-frying it until golden brown. In the 13th or 14th century, Central Asian Muslim merchants brought the Samosa from Persia to South Asia, where it was favored by the Delhi Sultanate royalty and subsequently became popular across South Asia.
The mutton Yakhni soup has a lot of pepper and a very strong mutton flavor; it feels like it would be especially warming to drink in winter.
The fish in the Masaala fish stew is very tender. Masaala is a famous South Asian spice blend, with garlic, ginger, onion, chili, and tomato as the main ingredients.
Mutton Handi is my favorite; it is so satisfying to eat with naan. Mutton Handi is a popular style of curry in northern South Asia, made with many rich spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves. The biggest difference from regular South Asian curry is that ginger is not used when making Handi; instead, garlic and onions are used.
The chickpea curry (Dall Chana) also has a very rich flavor, and it is quite interesting to eat chickpeas this way. In Sanskrit, 'Dal' means 'split,' and in South Asia, it refers to hulled legumes, including chickpeas, peas, and lentils, which can be eaten dry or with gravy.
The garlic naan is baked very fluffy, which suits my taste. The almond yogurt was blended in a mixer and tastes sweet.
Khan Baba Pakistani Restaurant (Wudaokou Branch)
On June 26, 2017, I had Khan Baba in Wudaokou for dinner, and the lamb Biryani was delicious! The chicken Achari Handi was also great, and while the grilled beef was not as good as Dardanelles, it is still a rare find in Wudaokou. There was also the famous snack, Samosa.
4. Indian Kitchen
On July 4, 2020, we had dinner at Indian Kitchen on Ritan Shangjie in the evening. It is a restaurant run by Hindus, but they provide entirely halal food, and the chef is from Chennai, a famous city on the east coast of South India. We ordered Mughlai fried rice, Paneer Tikka, Beef Kurma with coconut milk, Dosa with potato sauce and masala curry, Mango Lassi, pan-fried mackerel, and Masala Tea.
The Mughlai culinary culture of South Asia was formed by the fusion of Indian and Persian cultures during the Mughal period; it was strongly influenced by Turko-Persian cuisine in its early stages, and after taking shape, it in turn influenced the cuisine of Afghanistan, North India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
Learn some Indian food terms by following the menu at Indian Kitchen on Ritan Shangjie.
1. Madras is a spicy dish.
2. Kurma is a mild coconut milk curry.
3. Dopiaza means double onions, which is a type of onion curry.
4. Basmathi is Indian long-grain rice.
5. Naan is naan, which is an important tool for Indians when eating curry with their hands.
6. Roti is a type of flatbread, and it is also used to scoop up curry.
7. Dhal is lentils.
8. Cumin is a spicy spice.
9. A tandoor is a type of oven.
5. Pakistani restaurant, Lahore Restaurant
On January 29, 2021, I ate mutton Biryani and stewed lamb trotters at the Pakistani restaurant Lahore Restaurant on Qingnian Road West; the lamb leg and trotters were stewed until tender and full of flavor! The lamb trotters melted in my mouth, and wrapping them in a flatbread was so satisfying.
On November 18, 2020, I went to the Pakistani restaurant Lahore Restaurant at Gome First City on Qingnian Road after work. It is the rebranded Tiffin, and the environment is much better than before. I ordered the Tandoori Chicken Biryani, which was half-price for the opening, and also ordered the Peshawar beef patties; the beef patties were quite flavorful. I plan to go back after work today to try the curry with naan.
Summary: This travel note introduces Eating South Asian and Middle Eastern Food in Beijing (Part 2). On November 7, 2018, after work, I went to a Turkish kebab shop run by Azerbaijanis on the first floor of Sanlitun SOHO. It is useful for readers interested in Beijing Halal Food, Muslim Travel, Middle Eastern Food.
5. Azerbaijani/Turkish restaurant Doner & Kebab
On November 7, 2018, after work, I went to a Turkish kebab shop run by Azerbaijanis on the first floor of Sanlitun SOHO. I had Lahmacun, an Ottoman delicacy originating from the Levant, served with kebabs and lentil soup. They also had pide bread and classic Azerbaijani stuffed grape leaves. The shop had a picture of the Maiden Tower, a landmark in the Old City of Baku, Azerbaijan, located by the Caspian Sea, and Azerbaijani songs were playing on the TV. Besides the two young Azerbaijani men, there was also an auntie from Northeast China who speaks Russian. The young men were actively learning Chinese from her, and I hope their Chinese gets better and better!
6. Kavkaz restaurant
On August 2, 2019, I ate Caucasian salad, cheese khachapuri with honey, pan-fried trout, dolma, borscht, Russian chicken soup, and Ayran at the Caucasian restaurant Kavkaz on Ritan Shangjie.
On April 14, 2019, I had garlic chicken, grilled lamb chops, meat pies, traditional Caucasian soup, traditional Caucasian salad, and steamed buns at the Caucasian restaurant Kavkaz near the North Gate of Ritan Park in the evening. Except for the thick bun skins, everything else was super delicious, especially the soup and the garlic chicken; it was so satisfying after eating.
On December 8, 2018, I went to the Caucasian restaurant Kavkaz on Ritan Shangjie in the evening and ordered lamb flatbread, garlic roasted chicken, lamb in a clay pot, stuffed grape leaves, and Ayran yogurt with fennel; everything was quite good!
7. Azerbaijani/Turkish restaurant Desert Rose
On February 17, 2021, we had lunch at Desert Rose on Ritan Shangjie; it is the most affordable among the several Turkish restaurants on Ritan Shangjie. Ten years ago, my childhood friend and I had Turkish food for the first time right here, and in the blink of an eye, ten years have passed and the place still hasn't changed.
There were 6 of us eating together this time, so we ordered one 4-person set meal and one 2-person set meal, which included lentil soup and chicken soup, Mediterranean salad, mixed grill, yogurt marinated chicken, assorted Pide, chicken Shawarma wrap, lamb shank pilaf, rice pudding, Ayran yogurt drink, Puf ekmek bread, and Baklava dessert; we also ordered Izmir meatballs and Lahmacun. Their Puf ekmek bread is so delicious! It was grilled to be extra fragrant, and it still tasted great even after bringing it home and letting it cool.
3. South Asia
1. Pakistani restaurant ZAM ZAM
On April 4, 2020, I had a Tandoori mixed grill platter at the Pakistani restaurant ZAM ZAM near the East Gate of Tsinghua University. The platter included Haryali Tikka (mint chicken), lamb tikka, beef tikka, Malai Seekh Kabab, and fish tikka. The grilled meat was quite spicy, and it was especially refreshing when dipped in mint sauce. I also ordered chicken corn soup, chickpea Achari curry, and garlic naan, and drank my favorite freshly squeezed mint juice. When they have their buffet, the mint juice is the most popular item, and I can never stop drinking cup after cup. Their South Asian naan is also truly super delicious and especially crispy.
Currently they don't have a buffet, only a la carte; I hope to come back for the buffet in the future.
On September 21, 2019, I had a buffet dinner at the Pakistani restaurant Zam Zam in Kaishi Plaza. The first plate was Biryani fried rice with chicken Tikka, fried fish, and the South Asian street food specialty, vegetable Pakora. The second plate consisted of naan with beef stew, chickpea sauce, mint sauce, and custard, a dessert of European origin. And their best drink is still the South Asian mint water; I can never get enough of it!
On June 23, 2019, I had the buffet at Zam Zam for dinner, it was very authentic! The Pakistani pulao, roasted chicken, and stew were all excellent, and that cheese and egg soup was also incredibly delicious. My favorite was their mint sauce with bread, it was so tasty.
2. Saduri restaurant in Kolkata, India
On December 22, 2020, I went to Saduri, an Indian Kolkata Muslim restaurant in Beiluoguxiang, in the evening. They were closed for 8 months this year, and the owner only returned to China from India in November; it really hasn't been easy for them.
We ordered Samosas, mixed grill, Goan fish curry, fried chicken legs, Chana Masala, Aloo Paratha, and Kabli Naan, as well as Shahi Kheer and carrot Halwa, and finally ordered almond and fig flavored Lassi.
Samosas were brought to South Asia from Persia by Central Asian Muslim merchants in the 13th and 14th centuries. The Delhi Sultanate scholar Amir Khusro wrote around 1300 that the princes and nobles of the Delhi Sultanate enjoyed 'samosas prepared with meat, ghee, and onions'.
Goan fish curry is made by cooking boneless fish marinated in a ginger-garlic paste with coconut milk and spices, then seasoned with coconut powder. Goa is an ancient city on the coast of the Arabian Sea that was under Portuguese rule for a long time; the Portuguese introduced many South American foods such as potatoes, tomatoes, guavas, cashews, and chili peppers to India through Goa. Goan cuisine is primarily based on seafood, with a preference for using chili peppers and coconut oil.
Aloo Paratha originated in the Punjab region and is made from unleavened dough mixed with mashed potatoes and spices, then cooked on a Tava griddle using butter or ghee.
Kheer is a pudding made from boiled milk, rice, and sugar, usually with added shredded dried coconut, cardamom, raisins, saffron, cashews, pistachios, and almonds.
Gajar ka halwa is made by grating carrots and drying them, then heating and stirring them with milk and sugar, adding raisins, pistachios, or other dried fruits, and finally cooking them with ghee. This sweet was brought to South Asia during the Mughal period, and "halwa" means "sweet" in Arabic. It is eaten during major Hindu and Islamic festivals in South Asia, such as Diwali, Holi, and Eid al-Fitr.
On November 28, 2019, I ate Tandoori chicken, Masala lamb, green pea and mushroom curry, butter naan, Pudina Paratha, Masala chai, and Gajar ka halwa at Sadri, an Indian Kolkata Muslim restaurant in Beiluoguxiang. Their South Asian naan is truly super delicious; I will never get tired of eating it. This time I basically ate classic South Asian dishes; I have introduced Tandoori chicken and Masala lamb many times before.
Paratha comes from Sanskrit and has a history of thousands of years; it is one of the most classic unleavened breads in South Asia, made by first baking and then pan-frying. Paratha is thicker and firmer than another South Asian bread called Roti, because Paratha is layered with ghee, folded repeatedly, and then flattened.
On March 13, 2019, I had beef Samosa at the Indian restaurant Saduli in Beiluoguxiang in the evening (the mint sauce was so delicious!). ), Masala lamb, Tandoori mushrooms, Iranian grilled fish, Aloo Paratha potato flatbread, vegetable soup, and masala chai.
Their restaurant is my favorite Indian place in Beijing. After this year's urban renovation project, I almost thought it had been demolished when I arrived, but later I found that only the part facing the hutong was torn down, and the area has become much smaller. I hope they can keep running so that I can always have delicious Indian food!
On June 23, 2018, I ate at Sadri, a restaurant run by Muslims from Kolkata, near Beiluoguxiang. The Iranian boneless grilled sea bass was incredibly tender, and I really liked the sweet coconut milk flavor of the shahi korma chicken curry. The most amazing thing was the naan; it was crispy fresh out of the oven and tasted even better than what I had in India. I have always liked Kheer, a dessert made with rice, fresh milk, and cream, and I finished with a cup of masala tea; overall, this place is really good.
3. Khan Baba Pakistani Restaurant (Sanlitun Branch)
On April 17, 2021, I had a Ramadan Iftar buffet at Khan Baba, and the atmosphere was really great. I ate mutton curry, chickpea curry, kebabs, roasted chicken, fried vegetables, Biryani, garlic naan, salad with mint and yogurt sauce, and pudding. There was quite a variety and it was all delicious, especially the naan dipped in curry, which was very satisfying! A reminder to all my fellow brothers and sisters (dostis) that you need to book in advance, otherwise there won't be any seats.
On July 24, 2019, I had chicken and mushroom samosas, mutton Yakhni soup, chicken corn soup, fish masala, mutton handi, garlic naan, chana dal, and badami lassi for dinner at Khan Baba in Sanlitun.
The Samosa they made this time was a bit thick, but the chicken and mushroom flavor was actually quite good. The classic Indian Samosa is made by mixing vegetable oil, melted butter, warm water, salt, and wheat flour for the dough, then deep-frying it until golden brown. In the 13th or 14th century, Central Asian Muslim merchants brought the Samosa from Persia to South Asia, where it was favored by the Delhi Sultanate royalty and subsequently became popular across South Asia.
The mutton Yakhni soup has a lot of pepper and a very strong mutton flavor; it feels like it would be especially warming to drink in winter.
The fish in the Masaala fish stew is very tender. Masaala is a famous South Asian spice blend, with garlic, ginger, onion, chili, and tomato as the main ingredients.
Mutton Handi is my favorite; it is so satisfying to eat with naan. Mutton Handi is a popular style of curry in northern South Asia, made with many rich spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves. The biggest difference from regular South Asian curry is that ginger is not used when making Handi; instead, garlic and onions are used.
The chickpea curry (Dall Chana) also has a very rich flavor, and it is quite interesting to eat chickpeas this way. In Sanskrit, 'Dal' means 'split,' and in South Asia, it refers to hulled legumes, including chickpeas, peas, and lentils, which can be eaten dry or with gravy.
The garlic naan is baked very fluffy, which suits my taste. The almond yogurt was blended in a mixer and tastes sweet.
Khan Baba Pakistani Restaurant (Wudaokou Branch)
On June 26, 2017, I had Khan Baba in Wudaokou for dinner, and the lamb Biryani was delicious! The chicken Achari Handi was also great, and while the grilled beef was not as good as Dardanelles, it is still a rare find in Wudaokou. There was also the famous snack, Samosa.
4. Indian Kitchen
On July 4, 2020, we had dinner at Indian Kitchen on Ritan Shangjie in the evening. It is a restaurant run by Hindus, but they provide entirely halal food, and the chef is from Chennai, a famous city on the east coast of South India. We ordered Mughlai fried rice, Paneer Tikka, Beef Kurma with coconut milk, Dosa with potato sauce and masala curry, Mango Lassi, pan-fried mackerel, and Masala Tea.
The Mughlai culinary culture of South Asia was formed by the fusion of Indian and Persian cultures during the Mughal period; it was strongly influenced by Turko-Persian cuisine in its early stages, and after taking shape, it in turn influenced the cuisine of Afghanistan, North India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
Learn some Indian food terms by following the menu at Indian Kitchen on Ritan Shangjie.
1. Madras is a spicy dish.
2. Kurma is a mild coconut milk curry.
3. Dopiaza means double onions, which is a type of onion curry.
4. Basmathi is Indian long-grain rice.
5. Naan is naan, which is an important tool for Indians when eating curry with their hands.
6. Roti is a type of flatbread, and it is also used to scoop up curry.
7. Dhal is lentils.
8. Cumin is a spicy spice.
9. A tandoor is a type of oven.
5. Pakistani restaurant, Lahore Restaurant
On January 29, 2021, I ate mutton Biryani and stewed lamb trotters at the Pakistani restaurant Lahore Restaurant on Qingnian Road West; the lamb leg and trotters were stewed until tender and full of flavor! The lamb trotters melted in my mouth, and wrapping them in a flatbread was so satisfying.
On November 18, 2020, I went to the Pakistani restaurant Lahore Restaurant at Gome First City on Qingnian Road after work. It is the rebranded Tiffin, and the environment is much better than before. I ordered the Tandoori Chicken Biryani, which was half-price for the opening, and also ordered the Peshawar beef patties; the beef patties were quite flavorful. I plan to go back after work today to try the curry with naan.
