Best Halal Food in Beijing: Xixinglong Street Cafe, Lao Huihui Dumplings, and Shanxian Lamb Soup Guide
[Internet Repost]
Check out this collection featuring 67 real-life photos from the 64th edition of our Beijing Halal food map. We’ve scouted out specialty Halal cafes on Xixinglong Street, handmade dumplings at Lao Huihui, Xiaoxianyang Shanxian lamb soup, and the Halal buffet at the Comfort Hotel to give Beijing foodies the ultimate guide for your next visit.
1. JM Cafe, Xixinglong Street Flagship Store
2. Lao Huihui Dumpling House
3. Xiaoxianyang Shanxian Lamb Soup
4. Comfort Hotel Halal Buffet
5. Xizhuanfang Shabu-Shabu Museum
6. Zanka Pakistani Restaurant
7. Ma’s Palace Cheese
8. Sultan Turkish Restaurant
9. Bani Restaurant
10. Northwest Chencang Mianpi (steamed cold noodles) & Liangfen (starch jelly)
11. Liu’s Watch Repair & Barbecue
12. JM Cafe, Xixinglong Street Flagship Store
Xixinglong Street is located in the Qianmen area. After a major urban planning update during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the street is now home to a bunch of super aesthetic boutique shops—and this JM Cafe is one of them.
Every JM location has its own vibe. For this flagship store, they hired the famous Japanese designer Aoyama Shuhei, who’s a bit of an internet celebrity known for his high-end work, especially in renovating traditional hutong courtyards.
The first floor is all about espresso and baked goods, while the second floor serves up pour-over coffee using award-winning beans.
The view from the second floor is actually nicer. Word is that Aoyama Shuhei’s whole concept was to encourage people to interact with strangers. So, the first floor is laid out like a theater, and the second floor is centered around a long table—like a conference room—where strangers face each other. The designer really wanted to help people make a connection.
When you’re ordering at the counter, you’re standing right in front of the casual seating area, so it’s pretty much guaranteed that everyone will be watching whoever walks by.
All the baked goods are made fresh daily. The Hui Muslim owner keeps a tight handle on the quality, and all the branches follow a standardized supply chain.
2. Lao Huihui Dumpling House
Ever since the Junlian Dumpling House in Niujie closed down, finding really solid dumplings meant traveling a bit further. But now, there’s finally a solid alternative: Lao Huihui Dumpling House. It’s a chain that already opened a spot near Jiao Da (Beijing Jiaotong University), and they specialize in all kinds of dumpling fillings.
They’ve got an open kitchen, so you can see four or five people busy hand-wrapping and boiling the dumplings right in front of you. Dumplings are best served fresh, batch by batch, so you can always count on them being piping hot.
They have a signature tomato and beef dumpling that I tried. It’s definitely unique—I wouldn’t call it amazing, but it’s not bad either. It’s just that I’m not used to that kind of creative flavor profile. Their traditional beef with celery and lamb with scallion dumplings are honestly delicious. Plus, they serve classic Beijing-style stir-fried dishes that are really affordable and come in huge portions.
3. Xiaoxianyang Shanxian Lamb Soup
Xiaoxianyang Shanxian Lamb Soup is a chain, but this location in You'anmen is the only one I found that is fully Halal. They specialize in all sorts of lamb soups and lamb dishes, and they even serve Jinzhou-style barbecue.
They open up at 7:00 AM and keep the kitchen running until 4:00 AM.
You have to pair their lamb soup with a diaolu shaobing (a flatbread baked in a hanging oven). The soup itself is solid—the meat doesn't have that gamey smell and the broth is rich—but the flatbread was a letdown because it wasn't crispy enough.
They also serve lamb rice noodles, which I tried. The flavor is basically identical to the lamb soup.
Honestly, diaolu shaobing really needs to be served fresh out of the oven to be any good, and theirs was pretty bland.
4. Comfort Hotel Halal Buffet
The Comfort Hotel in Niujie is now offering a halal breakfast to the public for 28 yuan a head, with both Western and Chinese options available.
When I posted about this on Xiaohongshu, a lot of people complained that 28 yuan was too expensive and that you're better off ordering a la carte at a restaurant. I really don't get that logic; 28 yuan at a local spot barely gets you a bowl of lamian (hand-pulled noodles), and you’re definitely not getting the variety you get at a hotel breakfast buffet.
I love hotel breakfasts because the variety lets me eat a balanced and healthy meal. I rarely eat traditional Beijing-style breakfasts anymore—they’re just too greasy and packed with carbs, which I don't think is great for you.
For those 28 yuan, you get everything: veggies, fruit, desserts, milk, eggs, and staples. Plus, it's all-you-can-eat. Seriously, 28 yuan only buys you maybe 5 buns down at Hongji.
Looking at the headscarves the ladies in the back kitchen are wearing, you can tell right away they're from the Northwest.
5. Xizhuanfang Hot Pot Museum
Xizhuanfang is a new hot pot museum in Niujie. It’s spread across three courtyards tucked away in the hutongs (traditional narrow alleyways). The vibe is top-tier—it’s got that classic cultural aesthetic but feels upscale enough for a business meeting.
The courtyards are filled with flowers, birds, and fish, and they’ve got a bunch of antiques related to the history of hot pot on display.
If you follow your GPS, it’ll take you to Courtyard No. 1, which has most of the antiques. Courtyards No. 2 and No. 3 are in a different alleyway and are a bit more quiet and secluded.
The only downside is that they use alcohol stoves. They give off a bit of an odor, and the heat control isn't great. It would be much better if they switched to charcoal.
The ingredients are all high quality; they even serve top-tier grapes as a pre-meal fruit plate. Another highlight is their shaobing—you can choose from four types and get a sampler platter. I highly recommend the caramel shaobing; it’s similar to a tang huoshao (brown sugar pastry). Expect to spend at least 150 yuan per person.
6. Zanka Pakistani Restaurant
Zanka is a new Pakistani spot in the Chaoyang district that hosts a buffet on Fridays and Saturdays. The space is small, but it’s decorated pretty nicely.
When we went for lunch, there was only one other table occupied, probably because the location is a bit tucked away.
There’s no buffet on weekdays, so you have to order a la carte. The staff are all 'Pak-Tie' (a colloquial term for Pakistani friends) and don't speak Chinese.
I brought my son along because he’s a huge fan of pani puri (crispy hollow balls filled with spiced water), and I saw it was on the menu.
They definitely make the pani puri look pretty, but they weren't crispy and the texture was off, which was a huge disappointment for Fahim.
The chicken kebab was actually pretty good—the meat was tender with a nice little spicy kick.
The Peshawar chicken curry was just okay, and the plain naan wasn't really my style. I prefer a thinner, buttery naan. Overall, the food here was a bit lacking, even though the prices are cheap.
7. Maji Palace Cheese
Ma's Dairy has been around for over a decade. Compared to Naolao Wei (a famous dairy shop), it's cheaper and the portions are bigger, but honestly, it doesn't taste as good.
Their guozigan (preserved fruit drink) and dairy treats have a bit of a budget vibe, and the guozigan is super sweet. I still prefer Naolao Wei in Niujie. Ma’s used to have two locations, but the one in Guangqumen shut down, so now there’s only the Nongguangli branch left.
8. Sultan Turkish Restaurant
A new Sultan Turkish Restaurant just opened in the C-Joy City mall—that makes two spots in Beijing now. They’ve already got a huge following with multiple locations across Shanghai, Yiwu, and Guangzhou.
The vibe is pretty decent, though I’d say it’s a notch below Xiting Xiuse, which feels a bit more upscale and elegant.
The assorted mixed grill is delicious. I used to grab this kind of Middle Eastern food with my son back when we were in Malaysia because it’s not spicy, making it perfect for kids.
The Turkish balloon bread is another hit with my son; he can easily polish off half of it on his own.
Sultan teamed up with MADO ice cream, so you can get authentic Turkish goat milk ice cream at every location. My son doesn't really appreciate it though—he's not a fan of dairy products—but I personally love the MADO stuff.
9. Bani Restaurant
This newly opened Bani Pakistani restaurant is less than three kilometers away from the Zanka place I mentioned earlier, and they offer an affordable weekday buffet.
The interior is definitely prettier, and the service is more attentive. Plus, the lunch buffet is only 78 yuan.
That said, they only have eight dishes for the lunch buffet, and the taste is pretty average. Compared to all the other Pakistani spots in the city, I still prefer the China-Pakistan Friendship Restaurant.
The buffet drinks and the crunchy pani puri (hollow, crispy dough balls filled with spiced water and chickpeas) are a huge hit with my son; he can fill up on those alone.
10. Northwest Chencang Mianpi and Liangfen
I stumbled upon this Baoji-style liangfen (starch jelly) and mianpi (cold steamed noodles) shop near Madian. 'Chencang' is actually a district in Baoji.
There’s just one uncle running the place, but he’s super friendly. We asked for a two-way combo of mianpi, and he actually made us a three-way combo instead. It was delicious and perfectly seasoned, but it’s definitely more of a snack—you won't be full if you treat it as a main meal.
There’s only one table in the whole shop, which is tucked away inside the first floor of the Fulite Business Building. It's not the easiest place to find.
11. Liu's Watch Repair and BBQ
This place looks like a watch repair shop from the outside, but once you step inside, it’s a full-on barbecue joint.
It’s a classic Beijing-style BBQ spot with plenty of space, including both a courtyard and indoor seating. If you sit inside, you're surrounded by all these clocks. Since they’re all set to different times, you’ll hear them chiming and going off every now and then.
The guy grilling the skewers looks like he's from Xinjiang. Their prices are on the higher side, and since they grill order by order, the service is pretty slow. The beef skewers were a bit tough, the lamb tendon was chewy, and the lamb cartilage lacked flavor. I’d only recommend their lamb rib meat, which is tender—though it’ll run you 10 bucks a skewer.
Check out this collection featuring 67 real-life photos from the 64th edition of our Beijing Halal food map. We’ve scouted out specialty Halal cafes on Xixinglong Street, handmade dumplings at Lao Huihui, Xiaoxianyang Shanxian lamb soup, and the Halal buffet at the Comfort Hotel to give Beijing foodies the ultimate guide for your next visit.
1. JM Cafe, Xixinglong Street Flagship Store
2. Lao Huihui Dumpling House
3. Xiaoxianyang Shanxian Lamb Soup
4. Comfort Hotel Halal Buffet
5. Xizhuanfang Shabu-Shabu Museum
6. Zanka Pakistani Restaurant
7. Ma’s Palace Cheese
8. Sultan Turkish Restaurant
9. Bani Restaurant
10. Northwest Chencang Mianpi (steamed cold noodles) & Liangfen (starch jelly)
11. Liu’s Watch Repair & Barbecue
12. JM Cafe, Xixinglong Street Flagship Store
Xixinglong Street is located in the Qianmen area. After a major urban planning update during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the street is now home to a bunch of super aesthetic boutique shops—and this JM Cafe is one of them.
Every JM location has its own vibe. For this flagship store, they hired the famous Japanese designer Aoyama Shuhei, who’s a bit of an internet celebrity known for his high-end work, especially in renovating traditional hutong courtyards.
The first floor is all about espresso and baked goods, while the second floor serves up pour-over coffee using award-winning beans.
The view from the second floor is actually nicer. Word is that Aoyama Shuhei’s whole concept was to encourage people to interact with strangers. So, the first floor is laid out like a theater, and the second floor is centered around a long table—like a conference room—where strangers face each other. The designer really wanted to help people make a connection.
When you’re ordering at the counter, you’re standing right in front of the casual seating area, so it’s pretty much guaranteed that everyone will be watching whoever walks by.
All the baked goods are made fresh daily. The Hui Muslim owner keeps a tight handle on the quality, and all the branches follow a standardized supply chain.
2. Lao Huihui Dumpling House
Ever since the Junlian Dumpling House in Niujie closed down, finding really solid dumplings meant traveling a bit further. But now, there’s finally a solid alternative: Lao Huihui Dumpling House. It’s a chain that already opened a spot near Jiao Da (Beijing Jiaotong University), and they specialize in all kinds of dumpling fillings.
They’ve got an open kitchen, so you can see four or five people busy hand-wrapping and boiling the dumplings right in front of you. Dumplings are best served fresh, batch by batch, so you can always count on them being piping hot.
They have a signature tomato and beef dumpling that I tried. It’s definitely unique—I wouldn’t call it amazing, but it’s not bad either. It’s just that I’m not used to that kind of creative flavor profile. Their traditional beef with celery and lamb with scallion dumplings are honestly delicious. Plus, they serve classic Beijing-style stir-fried dishes that are really affordable and come in huge portions.
3. Xiaoxianyang Shanxian Lamb Soup
Xiaoxianyang Shanxian Lamb Soup is a chain, but this location in You'anmen is the only one I found that is fully Halal. They specialize in all sorts of lamb soups and lamb dishes, and they even serve Jinzhou-style barbecue.
They open up at 7:00 AM and keep the kitchen running until 4:00 AM.
You have to pair their lamb soup with a diaolu shaobing (a flatbread baked in a hanging oven). The soup itself is solid—the meat doesn't have that gamey smell and the broth is rich—but the flatbread was a letdown because it wasn't crispy enough.
They also serve lamb rice noodles, which I tried. The flavor is basically identical to the lamb soup.
Honestly, diaolu shaobing really needs to be served fresh out of the oven to be any good, and theirs was pretty bland.
4. Comfort Hotel Halal Buffet
The Comfort Hotel in Niujie is now offering a halal breakfast to the public for 28 yuan a head, with both Western and Chinese options available.
When I posted about this on Xiaohongshu, a lot of people complained that 28 yuan was too expensive and that you're better off ordering a la carte at a restaurant. I really don't get that logic; 28 yuan at a local spot barely gets you a bowl of lamian (hand-pulled noodles), and you’re definitely not getting the variety you get at a hotel breakfast buffet.
I love hotel breakfasts because the variety lets me eat a balanced and healthy meal. I rarely eat traditional Beijing-style breakfasts anymore—they’re just too greasy and packed with carbs, which I don't think is great for you.
For those 28 yuan, you get everything: veggies, fruit, desserts, milk, eggs, and staples. Plus, it's all-you-can-eat. Seriously, 28 yuan only buys you maybe 5 buns down at Hongji.
Looking at the headscarves the ladies in the back kitchen are wearing, you can tell right away they're from the Northwest.
5. Xizhuanfang Hot Pot Museum
Xizhuanfang is a new hot pot museum in Niujie. It’s spread across three courtyards tucked away in the hutongs (traditional narrow alleyways). The vibe is top-tier—it’s got that classic cultural aesthetic but feels upscale enough for a business meeting.
The courtyards are filled with flowers, birds, and fish, and they’ve got a bunch of antiques related to the history of hot pot on display.
If you follow your GPS, it’ll take you to Courtyard No. 1, which has most of the antiques. Courtyards No. 2 and No. 3 are in a different alleyway and are a bit more quiet and secluded.
The only downside is that they use alcohol stoves. They give off a bit of an odor, and the heat control isn't great. It would be much better if they switched to charcoal.
The ingredients are all high quality; they even serve top-tier grapes as a pre-meal fruit plate. Another highlight is their shaobing—you can choose from four types and get a sampler platter. I highly recommend the caramel shaobing; it’s similar to a tang huoshao (brown sugar pastry). Expect to spend at least 150 yuan per person.
6. Zanka Pakistani Restaurant
Zanka is a new Pakistani spot in the Chaoyang district that hosts a buffet on Fridays and Saturdays. The space is small, but it’s decorated pretty nicely.
When we went for lunch, there was only one other table occupied, probably because the location is a bit tucked away.
There’s no buffet on weekdays, so you have to order a la carte. The staff are all 'Pak-Tie' (a colloquial term for Pakistani friends) and don't speak Chinese.
I brought my son along because he’s a huge fan of pani puri (crispy hollow balls filled with spiced water), and I saw it was on the menu.
They definitely make the pani puri look pretty, but they weren't crispy and the texture was off, which was a huge disappointment for Fahim.
The chicken kebab was actually pretty good—the meat was tender with a nice little spicy kick.
The Peshawar chicken curry was just okay, and the plain naan wasn't really my style. I prefer a thinner, buttery naan. Overall, the food here was a bit lacking, even though the prices are cheap.
7. Maji Palace Cheese
Ma's Dairy has been around for over a decade. Compared to Naolao Wei (a famous dairy shop), it's cheaper and the portions are bigger, but honestly, it doesn't taste as good.
Their guozigan (preserved fruit drink) and dairy treats have a bit of a budget vibe, and the guozigan is super sweet. I still prefer Naolao Wei in Niujie. Ma’s used to have two locations, but the one in Guangqumen shut down, so now there’s only the Nongguangli branch left.
8. Sultan Turkish Restaurant
A new Sultan Turkish Restaurant just opened in the C-Joy City mall—that makes two spots in Beijing now. They’ve already got a huge following with multiple locations across Shanghai, Yiwu, and Guangzhou.
The vibe is pretty decent, though I’d say it’s a notch below Xiting Xiuse, which feels a bit more upscale and elegant.
The assorted mixed grill is delicious. I used to grab this kind of Middle Eastern food with my son back when we were in Malaysia because it’s not spicy, making it perfect for kids.
The Turkish balloon bread is another hit with my son; he can easily polish off half of it on his own.
Sultan teamed up with MADO ice cream, so you can get authentic Turkish goat milk ice cream at every location. My son doesn't really appreciate it though—he's not a fan of dairy products—but I personally love the MADO stuff.
9. Bani Restaurant
This newly opened Bani Pakistani restaurant is less than three kilometers away from the Zanka place I mentioned earlier, and they offer an affordable weekday buffet.
The interior is definitely prettier, and the service is more attentive. Plus, the lunch buffet is only 78 yuan.
That said, they only have eight dishes for the lunch buffet, and the taste is pretty average. Compared to all the other Pakistani spots in the city, I still prefer the China-Pakistan Friendship Restaurant.
The buffet drinks and the crunchy pani puri (hollow, crispy dough balls filled with spiced water and chickpeas) are a huge hit with my son; he can fill up on those alone.
10. Northwest Chencang Mianpi and Liangfen
I stumbled upon this Baoji-style liangfen (starch jelly) and mianpi (cold steamed noodles) shop near Madian. 'Chencang' is actually a district in Baoji.
There’s just one uncle running the place, but he’s super friendly. We asked for a two-way combo of mianpi, and he actually made us a three-way combo instead. It was delicious and perfectly seasoned, but it’s definitely more of a snack—you won't be full if you treat it as a main meal.
There’s only one table in the whole shop, which is tucked away inside the first floor of the Fulite Business Building. It's not the easiest place to find.
11. Liu's Watch Repair and BBQ
This place looks like a watch repair shop from the outside, but once you step inside, it’s a full-on barbecue joint.
It’s a classic Beijing-style BBQ spot with plenty of space, including both a courtyard and indoor seating. If you sit inside, you're surrounded by all these clocks. Since they’re all set to different times, you’ll hear them chiming and going off every now and then.
The guy grilling the skewers looks like he's from Xinjiang. Their prices are on the higher side, and since they grill order by order, the service is pretty slow. The beef skewers were a bit tough, the lamb tendon was chewy, and the lamb cartilage lacked flavor. I’d only recommend their lamb rib meat, which is tender—though it’ll run you 10 bucks a skewer.
