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Summary: Best Halal Restaurant Beijing: Local Hui Muslim Hotpot, Snacks and Food Map is presented here as a clear English travel account for Muslim readers, beginning with this scene: The Beijing halal food series I have eaten has been updated again. Every time I say I have nothing to eat, I always find a new restaurant due to various opportunities. It seems that this series can go on. The article keeps the original place names, food details, photographs, and cultural context while focusing on Beijing Halal Food, Hui Muslim Food, Hotpot.

The Beijing halal food series I have eaten has been updated again. Every time I say I have nothing to eat, I always find a new restaurant due to various opportunities. It seems that this series can go on forever.

Recently, because of the launch of the Beijing chapter of the Michelin list, the topic of Beijing being a food desert has become popular again. First of all, I would like to emphasize that there are few restaurants on the Michelin list that I can eat, so I will not comment. However, I am a member of the halal food circle, and I have been to all provincial administrative units in China, hundreds of cities, and almost all Muslim gathering areas in China (only Kashgar and Changzhi in my impression), Shadian and other places), so if a Hui Muslims say that Beijing is a food desert, I can only say that this is not objective. I can say without prejudice that you can eat most local halal food in Beijing, and the taste is not inferior to that of the place of origin, because Beijing does not produce ingredients. The ingredients in Beijing come from the place, and the people who engage in catering in Beijing also come from the place.

I can understand that some people feel that the food in Beijing is not as delicious as in their hometown. This may have something to do with their state of mind and dietary preferences. For example, I just visited a place and was in a happy mood, so I felt like I had a great appetite when eating. However, when I stay in a place for a long time and eat the same thing every day, I will feel that it is not as delicious as when I first came here. some people transfer some unpleasant experiences in Beijing, such as cost of living, work pressure, and even some unspeakable reasons, to their dislike of food. This is not objective, not to mention that the prophet once taught us not to praise or criticize food.

Abu Huraira narrated: The Holy Prophet never praised or criticized any food. He ate it if he wanted to, and kept silent if he didn't want to eat it. (Sahih Muslim, verse 33, 190)

In China, or even in any country, apart from Beijing where you can taste the halal specialties from various places, which other city can satisfy the needs of Muslims’ taste buds in various ways?

1. Nanmen Restaurant



There is a halal Beijing-style restaurant in B2 of Guomao Mall. It was not easy to find when you first came. You need to get off the elevator to the basement level, walk in the direction of the ice rink, and then take the escalator to B2. When you get off the escalator, you can see the new version of the halal sign hanging in front of the store on the left side.



Although it is located in the core area of ​​Guomao, the food prices in the small restaurant are affordable and the per capita consumption can be controlled at around 50 yuan.



The cuisine is home-cooked Beijing cuisine, and there is also barbecue. The environment is simple, and the tables are widely spaced so that you will not hear the conversations at the next table, making it suitable for small gatherings.



The portions are a bit small, but I like restaurants with small portions so that I can eat more dishes and avoid waste.



The picture above shows home-style tofu, mustard fungus, cabbage vermicelli and spicy and sour melon strips. It is made in a regular way and has a moderate taste.



The biscuits at Nancheng Restaurant are very delicious, soft and delicious, a bit like the biscuits from Jubaoyuan. You can order the biscuits with beef.



Dry-fried loose meat is one of the signatures of Beijing-style halal cuisine, but the dry-fried loose meat here is not as delicious as Tiankelai.



The main dish of this table was the braised oxtail, which did not disappoint. The oxtail was braised so well that it melted in your mouth without choking your teeth.



The hot and sour soup tastes a bit strong and sour, so I don’t recommend it.

2. Wangas potato chips



The Wax Potato Chips at Sanlitun Shimao Gongsan B1 is a Lanzhou snack bar. It has various common snacks in Lanzhou, such as sweet fermented glutinous rice, fermented glutinous rice, etc. However, the sweet fermented fermented glutinous rice has a strong alcohol taste, so I won't eat it.



The boss also specifically promised to use cooking oil from Qinghai.





The main delicacy of this store is potatoes, so potatoes are used as wallpaper.



This is Lanzhou Crystal Cake, made of glutinous rice, much like a zongzi, with jujubes wrapped inside.



This is noodle soup. Noodle soup is called a bowl of food in Qinghai, and it is also called naonao. It contains jelly, radish, potatoes and beef. It is usually served to the imam and guests after the wedding recitation ceremony in Qinghai.



This bowl of Dongxiang noodles is my favorite staple food. The noodles are made with a northwest flavor. I recommend it with five stars.



The small bowl of beef tastes sweet and the meat is too chopped. It is not as delicious as the small bowl of beef made in Niujie restaurants.



This is their signature potato slices. The spicy pepper on top is from the northwest. It is mainly seasoning and not spicy, but it is not as delicious as expected. I still prefer Dongxiang handmade noodles.

3. Changying Yicheng Supermarket



The newly opened Changying Yicheng Halal Fresh Food Supermarket in Xibianmen has a Yaerliji takeout window at the entrance, selling a variety of cooked food and snack pancakes.



This is a chain brand, and there is another store in Changying, which is a halal fresh food supermarket.



There are also various halal foods, which are smaller than Niujie Halal Supermarket, but can meet basic needs.



I happened to be on a business trip to Wuhan and happened to see halal hot dry noodles in a store and bought a box to eat on the road.



Address: No. 2, Xibianmen East Street, Xicheng District

4. Ningxia Building



Ningxia Building is located in the Dongcheng District Branch Office Alley, where the Ningxia Office in Beijing is located. There are restaurants on the first and second floors. The first floor is mainly for night markets and snacks. You can eat hot-pot and stir-fry dishes on the second floor. Some dishes cannot be ordered on the first floor, so you can only eat on the second floor.



I went up to the second floor and entered the restaurant but didn't see the halal sign. I asked the waiter. The waiter pointed to the wall behind the pillar and there was this sign hanging on it. Then I sat down with confidence.



When I was checking out, I saw that they had hidden this official halal certification sign in the corner.



This is a state-owned unit, so the services and facilities are all state-owned, and many people who come to eat are spending public funds.





But I must say that this hand-caught mutton is really delicious, and the taste is similar to that eaten in Ningxia, because the ingredients are all meat from Ningxia, but the price is on the high side. This hand-caught mutton is 148 yuan per pound. the hand-caught mutton eaten at the Yinchuan Liaison Office in Beijing is also good, and the price is a little cheaper than here. The environment of the Yinchuan Liaison Office in Beijing is simple, and Ningxia Building is a four-star hotel.



I have long heard from friends that you should eat Yellow River carp in Ningxia. I used to say that carp is fishy and has many spines, but I didn’t expect that after eating the Yellow River carp from Ningxia Building, I changed my view on carp. The Yellow River carp is not fishy at all, and the spines are easier to deal with.



The thin-skinned steamed stuffed buns stuffed with three delicacies are not recommended. They are a bit soft and have no soup. I still like to eat the traditional northwest homemade steamed buns.

5. Jinfang



Jinfang Snack Bar is a time-honored snack bar in Beijing. It was founded in 1926 by people from Dezhou, Shandong who came to Beijing. Many time-honored restaurants in Beijing originally came from Shandong. The owner of the popular Ya'er Liji Shabu-Shabu Pork is now a Dezhou, Shandong. A hundred years later, it will become an authentic Beijing-style brand.



Jinfang is now a chain store, and this store is located on Xianyukou Street, Qianmen.



Jinfang’s main specialty is assorted Yuanxiao, as well as a variety of Beijing-style dim sum.



to various snacks, there are also pies, sesame cakes, beef noodles, pot stickers, etc.



But if it is opened in a place with a lot of traffic like the front door, the taste cannot be complimented, and it can only be regarded as acceptable.





Address: No. 85, Xianyukou Street, Qianmen Area, Dongcheng District

6. Xi’an Huifang Halal Snacks



There is a new Huifang snack on the third floor of Bairong Phase 2 outside Yongding Gate. Currently, you can enjoy a 40% discount from 5pm to 7pm during the event.



There are not too many varieties, definitely not comparable to Xi'an Fangshang, but they still have basic items like steamed buns.





The water basin mutton also comes with white steamed buns, but it is quite different from the water basins I have had before.



Vegetarian Fried Pancakes



The beef noodles taste okay. Generally speaking, this store has just opened, the business is deserted, the location is relatively remote, and the taste is not amazing. I don't know how long it can last.

7. Eel Talk·Eel Rice



We borrowed a takeaway stall opened on the first floor of Asia Restaurant in Niu Street and only made eel rice. The color of the eel rice is very beautiful, but the taste of the eel is slightly fishy. You can place an order on the review software, and there are also some snacks to go with it.



Address: 1st floor, Asia Restaurant, Niu Street

8. Yinchuan Liaison Office in Beijing Restaurant



The two restaurants in Beijing where you can reliably eat Ningxia hand-picked dishes mentioned earlier are both Beijing-based restaurants. I recommend the Yinchuan-based Beijing-based restaurant because this restaurant is more cost-effective. Half a pound of hand-picked meat is only 56 yuan, but the meat quality is comparable to that of Ningxia Mansion.



The environment in the store is more like a home-cooked restaurant, which feels more comfortable. You can eat most of Ningxia's common specialties here.



When ordering, please note that the portions of this restaurant are large, and one dish is enough for two people.





Ningxia specialty stewed snacks, including meatballs, vermicelli, dried tofu and green vegetables.



Cabbage and tofu soup



Half a pound of hand-caught mutton, remember to eat a piece of raw garlic.



Stir-stir-fried meat, a specialty of Xihaigu area, made of beef.

9. Old Yinchuan



In Old Yinchuan near Tuanjiehu Subway Station, you can tell from the name that it is Ningxia style.



The store environment is well decorated and very clean.



The sugar biscuits taste very average, maybe freshly baked would taste better.



Tanyang hand-caught, a bit fat, I still recommend the Beijing Office to eat Ningxia hand-caught.



The green noodles taste pretty good.



Dawukou Liangpi is very famous in Ningxia. I came here because of its reputation and wanted to try it, but I was very disappointed. I believe that the authentic Dawukou Liangpi is definitely better than this one.

10. Laohuihui



This restaurant makes traditional Beijing snacks. The name is quite interesting and it will be a century-old restaurant in the future.



There is a snack takeout window on the first floor, and stir-fry staple food is available on the second floor, including mutton braised noodles, fried noodles with soybean paste, etc.



I was disappointed with the noodles with soybean paste. They were not hand-made noodles and the sauce tasted a bit sweet. My favorite place to eat noodles with soybean paste is the Muslim Restaurant in Suzhou Hutong.

11. Another success



Youyishun was founded on August 8, 1948. Among the Muslim restaurants in Beijing, Donglaishun is represented by shabu-shabu, which is called "Eastern style", and Xilaishun is represented by stir-fry, which is called "Western style". Youyishun combines the Eastern style of roasting, roasting, and shabu-shabu, as well as the exquisite and luxurious stir-fries of Western style cuisine, as well as famous snacks from all over the world, in one store.



The business in the store is very good because the food is really delicious.





Paobao is a traditional halal dish in Beijing. It is eaten with Zhizi barbecue and sesame cakes. The fried biscuits are very small and can be eaten in three bites.





Beef Shaomai, because in my opinion the most delicious kind of Shaomai is the one from Hohhot, so I don’t particularly like this kind of thick-skinned Shaomai.



The baby dish in soup is a Cantonese dish, and here is a modified halal version. It is made with chicken soup and is very refreshing.



The duck cake is also a traditional Beijing-style snack, made with duck fat and filled with bean paste. Generally speaking, it is a smooth dish that is carefully prepared and more attentive than some time-honored restaurants. It is worth recommending.

12. Yueshengzhai



Yueshengzhai started out by selling soy sauce beef, but this time I unexpectedly discovered that Yueshengzhai in Xizhimen started making shabu-shabu, and it was extremely delicious.



There is nothing wrong with the old soy sauce beef shop’s shabu-shabu. Jubaoyuan only sold raw meat in the past, but now it is also famous for its shabu-shabu.



I didn't have high expectations before eating, because many of the time-honored brands nowadays are no longer worthy of their reputation, but when I took the first bite, my eyes lit up, and my appetite immediately followed.



Several friends at the same table gave Yueshengzhai Shabu Shabu very high praise. Whether it is the quality of the meat, the ingredients or the sesame seed cakes and sour plum soup, they are all excellent.



Yueshengzhai's Flask is worth mentioning. The biscuits here come in two varieties: sesame paste and salt and pepper. Both are freshly baked, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.



Address: Shop on the ground floor of Yongtai Jiasheng Office Building, No. 62 Jiaotong University East Road

If you want to find other halal food in Beijing, please check
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Summary: Muslim Travel Guide China 2026: Luling Mosque, Gadiriyya Shrine and Hui Muslim Heritage is presented here as a clear English travel account for Muslim readers, beginning with this scene: Hanzhong is the area in Shaanxi province with the next largest population of Hui Muslims after Xi'an, Zhen'an County, and Ankang. Hui Muslims in Hanzhong mainly live in the city center and the nearby Xixiang. The article keeps the original place names, food details, photographs, and cultural context while focusing on Luling Mosque, Gadiriyya Shrine, Hui Muslims.

Hanzhong is the area in Shaanxi province with the next largest population of Hui Muslims after Xi'an, Zhen'an County, and Ankang. Hui Muslims in Hanzhong mainly live in the city center and the nearby Xixiang County. My destination for this trip is Chengguan Town in Xixiang County. You can take a bus or a train from Hanzhong city to Xixiang, and the trip takes about an hour and a half. Before leaving for Xixiang County, I stopped by to visit the Hanzhong Mosque.



Hanzhong Mosque

Built in 1986, Hanzhong Mosque features a Roman-style dome and is the only mosque in the Hanzhong city area. Legend has it that before the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty, Hui Muslims made up nearly one-third of the population in Shaanxi and had over 800 mosques. After the Tongzhi era, the Hui Muslim population in Shaanxi nearly disappeared, leaving only the Muslim Quarter in Xi'an, as most were forced to move to Ningxia.

If the Tongzhi incident had not happened, the Qing Dynasty would have collapsed in a few more years, and the Hui Muslims in Shaanxi would have developed much better. But history cannot be rewritten.









Xixiang County is where the most Hui Muslims in Hanzhong live, with a current population of over 4,000. The details of the mosques and shrines (gongbei) are in the table below:





The table comes from "Mosques and Communities in a Context of Large-Scale Dispersion and Small-Scale Concentration: An Investigation into the Status of Islam in Xixiang County, Shaanxi Province" by Ma Qiang.

Xixiang County South Mosque



The South Mosque is located on Chayuan Street in the West Gate area and covers about 2.6 mu. During the democratic reform of the feudal religious system in 1958, the South Mosque was forced to stop religious activities, and the community's religious life was merged into the North Mosque. The South Mosque's large dressing mirror, ceramic cooling stools, wooden chairs, and other items were sold off. Before the South Mosque closed in 1958, it followed the Gedimu tradition. After religious activities officially resumed in 2001, it began following the Ikhwan tradition.



According to Ma Shinian's research, during the Republic of China era, this county had the largest number of Hui Muslims in the Hanzhong region, with over 600 households and three mosques located on North Street. The imam of the South Mosque was surnamed Chen and was from Gansu. The imam of the North Mosque was surnamed Wang and was from Ankang. The imam for the Old Mosque had not yet been hired. Each imam was very dedicated to religious affairs, and the South Mosque had a school dedicated to studying scriptures. Education was well-developed throughout the county, and many people studied religious scriptures. The Hui Muslims were generally well-off. Local prominent gentlemen, such as those surnamed Mu and Suo, were very enthusiastic about promoting public welfare and education for the community.















Xixiang County North Mosque



The Xixiang North Mosque was originally called Jingning Mosque. It was built in 1614 during the 42nd year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty. It is located on North Back Street in the West Gate area, about 300 meters from the South Mosque, and follows the Ikhwan tradition. During the Cultural Revolution, the military occupied the mosque. Oral tradition says that soldiers left after seeing a vision of an old man in white wearing a prayer cap (tasdar) praying. I suspect the vision was a jinn, because like humans, jinn can be Muslim or non-Muslim, and Muslim jinn also pray in mosques, though they are not easily seen by ordinary people.



In 1953, Imam Yuan Fuxiang (1924–1982, from Hanzhong, Shaanxi) came to the North Mosque to teach at the invitation of Suo Wande, Wen Jinzhang, Ha Zihe, Ma Youheng, and others. The following year, during the month of Rajab (the seventh month of the Islamic calendar), he proposed that the South, North, and West mosques hold joint Friday prayers (Jumu'ah). The proposal received a positive response, and since then, the three mosques have taken turns hosting the Friday prayers, with the imams taking turns giving sermons (wa'z).

















Ma's handmade beef pulled noodles (che mian).

I was looking for food in Xixiang and walked along the main road without seeing a single halal restaurant. I wondered if the Hui Muslims in Xixiang had become that scarce. Just as I was losing hope, I found this beef pulled noodle shop. The owner is a local and told me that if I walked further in, I would find two mosques. The area nearby is a residential neighborhood for Hui Muslims. These pulled noodles are a local specialty and are slightly spicy because Xixiang is close to Sichuan, and the locals even have a Sichuan accent when they speak.





I really like eating at these small shops tucked deep inside residential areas, as the taste best represents the local flavor.



This noodle shop also sells beef pies. I asked, and they are indeed a local snack. People in Xi'an call them crispy beef pies (xiangsu niurou bing), and some people add the word 'palace' (gongting) in front of the name.

Luling Cultural Square.



Luling Mosque, also known as Youjiu Ting, is an important place where the great master Qi Jingyi of the Qadiriyya menhuan practiced, preached, and passed away. Luling Mosque consists of three main parts: Xiangen Mosque, the meditation room (jing shi), and Luling Mosque itself. It is a key cultural relic site under provincial protection in Shaanxi. Experts from the Architectural Design and Research Institute of Tongji University and the Kunihiro George Urban Architecture Institute in Japan visited the Linxia Great Gongbei, the Langzhong Baba Mosque, and the Xixiang Mosque. After nearly three years of in-depth research, they finally determined the design plan for Luling Mosque.





Luling Mosque has six courtyards with a total of 99 rooms: Zhonghe Courtyard (containing a memorial archway, a front screen wall, an Arabic brick carving cultural art wall, and a brick arched gate), Yangzhi Courtyard (containing the Jiuzhao Pavilion, a rear screen wall, and a Qing Dynasty brick carving wall), Yuanmu Courtyard (containing a reception hall, dining room, and guest rooms), Jingxin Study (containing the Jingyi School and a cultural relic exhibition hall), Jingtang Courtyard (containing the Luling Academy and a cultural exhibition hall), and the prayer hall.





As for the origin of the name Luling Mosque, People say during the early construction period in the Kangxi era, this place was a dense forest. While the great master Qi Jingyi was preaching, sika deer often came to listen quietly, and the name of the mosque came from this. Another story says that when Qi Jingyi's disciples were building a tomb pavilion for him, a pair of sika deer lay under a pine tree. The followers believed that a deer living for a thousand years was an auspicious sign, symbolizing that the teachings of the Qadiriyya menhuan would last for thousands of generations, so they named it Luling Mosque.

















Meditation room (jing shi).























Luling Academy



















A major feature of the Qadiriyya menhuan is its monastic system, which divides monks into three levels:

The first level of monks must enter the order as children and undergo long-term training involving begging, hunger, and mountain retreats.

The second level of monks are called 'jijiaoren' (those who record the teachings). They can join later in life, but they are limited to living and practicing at the gongbei and do not beg or go into the mountains.

The third level of monks are the caretakers who manage the gongbei, and their lives are not as difficult as the first two groups.

Monks must be approved by their teacher beforehand. Once they join, they must practice celibacy, which means avoiding sexual desire, the six senses, and the pursuit of wealth and status. They also follow five rules: diligently studying the rules, begging for food, practicing hard, lighting incense in the morning, and bathing frequently. Imams and regular believers are considered laypeople and do not need to follow these rules. However, this unique way of practicing has also been criticized by some other sects.

On the 11th day of the 9th lunar month in the 58th year of the Kangxi reign, or 1719 AD, the great ancestor Qi Jingyi passed away at the age of 63. Followers from Yangtuojia in Linxia suggested that the ancestor's remains should be moved back to his hometown of Hezhou. After discussion among the community, they decided to move his remains after the 100-day memorial, relocating them from Xixiang County to the west of Bafang in Hezhou.
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Summary: This Manchuria Muslim travel guide keeps the original route through Chifeng, Jilin, Acheng, and Qiqihar, including mosques, mihrab details, food stops, and photos. It preserves the source order for readers following Muslim heritage in northeast China.

The Manchuria region generally refers to the four northeastern provinces and regions. Besides Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang provinces, it also includes Chifeng, Hinggan League, Tongliao, Xilin Gol League, and Hulunbuir in eastern Inner Mongolia. People in these places have similar accents, which sound like the Northeast accent to people from the eighteen provinces of the interior.

I have written halal food maps for Changchun, Harbin, and Shenyang before. This time, I am adding Chifeng, Jilin City, Acheng in Harbin, and Qiqihar.

1. Chifeng City



I came to Chifeng because it has an ancient mosque that is a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level. The Chifeng North Mosque (Beidasi) was built in the fourth year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1739). It was modeled after the style of the Shenyang South Mosque (Fengtian Qingzhen Nansi) at that time.





The North Mosque is the largest mosque in the Chifeng area. Not far from the North Mosque, there is also a South Mosque (Nandasi), which is a newly built mosque.











I saw carved phoenixes on both sides of the main prayer hall.



Under the eaves in front of the main hall, there are wooden dragon heads. Since Islam forbids drawing animal patterns and idols, these mythical creature symbols rarely appear in mosques.



The wood used for this mosque comes from the red wood of Nanshan in Chifeng.









Mihrab









The patterns on the windows are all plants and flowers, which look quite beautiful.



When you arrive in the Manchuria region, you will notice that halal restaurants here like to use blue signs. Following the logic of some, you might call them followers of the Blue Religion.



There is a lamb offal soup (yangza tang) shop next to the North Mosque. You cannot go wrong eating lamb offal when you come to Inner Mongolia.



It was still breakfast time, so I ordered a bowl of lamb offal soup (yangza) and a sesame flatbread (shaobing). It was delicious.



The owner chatted with me for a while. He is a local Hui Muslim from Chifeng. He said the Hui Muslims in Chifeng are not as 'pure' as those in Hohhot, and compared to the Hui Muslims in Hohhot, they are like 'second-tier' Hui Muslims. I have been to Hohhot and have very good Hui Muslim friends there. There are eight mosques in the urban area of Hohhot. They left a great impression on me; they are the type of people who focus equally on both this life and the afterlife.



I saw this small shop on my walk to the South Great Mosque (Qingzhen Nandasi). These halal shops are spread widely across Chifeng. There are 26 mosques in the Chifeng area, so it is quite convenient for Hui Muslims to find food here.







The Chifeng South Great Mosque was first built in the sixth year of the Jiaqing reign (1801). It was occupied in 1958 and converted into the current Changqing Park, then rebuilt at a new site in 1997.





















A small shop on the side of South Mosque Street (Nansi Jie), also run by locals.







I saw more than one seafood barbecue place on the streets of Chifeng. Perhaps because they are so far from the sea, I feel the people of Inner Mongolia have a special attachment to the ocean.





Seeing the familiar Arabic calligraphy hanging outside gave me a lot of comfort.



I chose to eat at Lao Tan Spicy Pot Chicken. This shop has been open for many years, but you cannot find much information on the Dazhong Dianping app, just a few photos. In third or fourth-tier cities and below, there are very few users on Dazhong Dianping, so you cannot find much dining information. In these cases, you can use the WeChat search function, which can find a lot of information that Baidu cannot, or you can just ask the locals.





This crispy chicken is served as a whole bird, enough for four people to eat. It is very fragrant and crispy. I suggest finding a few people to travel with when visiting Inner Mongolia, otherwise, it is hard to know what to eat.



This dish is called kuli. It is made with naked oat noodles (youmian) mixed with sesame oil. The more sesame oil, the better it tastes.



About 200 kilometers from Chifeng City, in Hexigten Banner, there is a mosque with a traditional style called Jingpeng Mosque. It was built in the Renzi year of the Xianfeng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1852) and is located on Jingpeng Street in Hexigten Banner. This mosque does not appear on maps, and Jingpeng Street is a residential area for Hui Muslims in Hexigten Banner.



After a four-hour drive, I reached Jingpeng Street. Seeing this beautiful mosque made me feel very grateful. I even think it is prettier than the North Mosque in Chifeng, as it lacks the traditional roof ornaments.



The second floor is the office area, and the first floor is the washroom.













The towels in the washroom are quite refined; they have the words for hand towel and foot towel embroidered on them.



















Jingpeng Street is currently being demolished and renovated, and the Hui Muslims have all moved across the river to live in apartment buildings.



There are not many shops on the west side of the river, as most have moved to the east side.



A local driver took me to a halal restaurant that has been in business for many years, saying that this place, Chengxinzhai, makes good food.



The two of us chose a pot of lamb neck bones and two jin (one kilogram) of boiled dumplings (shuijiao).



We ate in a private room.



The lamb neck bones were stewed until tender and very flavorful, and the beef and green onion dumplings were also delicious. The driver told me his ancestors came from Shandong. Many locals have ancestral roots in Shandong, so it is normal that they love eating boiled dumplings.



2. Jilin City



Jilin City in Jilin Province is considered the place with the highest concentration of Hui Muslims in Northeast China. There are four mosques just near Beiji Street in the city center. In the Manchu town of Wula Street, there is also the Wula Street Mosque, which is a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level. However, the focus of my trip was to see the Chuanchang Gongbei.



The Chuanchang Gongbei is the shrine for Ma Datian (1757–1817), the third-generation leader of the Jahriyya menhuan. The Qing government had exiled Ma Datian to Bukui in Heilongjiang (modern-day Qiqihar). When he reached the Jilin shipyard, he passed away at the age of 60. The twelve followers who had voluntarily followed him into exile were still sent to Bukui. They settled and multiplied there, forming a community. This is the origin of the Jahriyya in the Northeast. I will mention meeting Jahriyya followers in Qiqihar later.



Before coming to the Chuanchang gongbei, I learned from a close friend whose ancestors were among the twelve families that followed the elder Ma Datian that her family helped build this gongbei. Some of her family members still guard the site today.









Every year, many descendants of the Northwest Zhe school come here to visit the graves.



The Chuanchang gongbei is now a municipal-level cultural heritage site, and a mosque has been built right next to it.













Leaving the Chuanchang gongbei, you can walk south along the road to reach the North Great Mosque, or take the bus for two stops and get off at the mosque station.





The minaret of the North Great Mosque towers into the clouds.



The Jilin North Great Mosque was first built in the 25th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1760). The mosque houses an imperial decree tablet bestowed by the Daoguang Emperor.











I met people in the mosque reciting scriptures for the deceased, with family members wearing traditional mourning clothes. This is rare; I remember seeing it once at a mosque in Shijiazhuang.









Less than two kilometers from the North Great Mosque is the Jilin West Mosque.



The West Mosque was first built in the 2nd year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1737) and was rebuilt in 2004.





Banning tobacco was not without controversy. Sultan Murad IV once ordered a ban on coffee and tobacco and executed many people. After long debates between supporters and opponents, the Grand Mufti Mehmed Bahai Efendi declared tobacco legal in a fatwa. Mehmed Bahai Efendi was a heavy smoker himself; he had been fired and exiled in 1634 for smoking. His principle for issuing fatwas was that everything not explicitly forbidden is legal, while also considering what is most suitable for the people.

Of course, smoking is harmful to health and is a form of slow suicide. Today, the vast majority of Islamic countries have declared smoking illegal.











In the sixth month of the 33rd year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, the imperial decree stated: I have reviewed the great classics of the Han and Hui people from ancient times to the present, which represent the grand path from the beginning. There are seventy-two sects claiming to cultivate immortality and become Buddhas, leading the righteous astray into evil, and all sorts of lawless heresies have emerged. Past offenses will not be punished, but anyone who violates this again will be beheaded. The Han officials have their duties, enjoy the emperor's salary, and attend court daily. Yet the Hui Muslims pray to Allah and honor the Prophet five times a day, and although they do not eat my salary, they know how to show gratitude, which the Han people do not do as well as the Hui. Let all provinces know: if officials or commoners use minor grievances as an excuse to falsely report that the Hui Muslims are plotting a rebellion, the responsible official shall be executed first and reported later. Hui Muslims across the land must each uphold their faith, do not disobey this order, and do not fail my kindness in showing love for the path. Respect this and follow it.



The time here in Bangda has already reached past two in the morning, and People say at the mosque in Arctic Village, Mohe, Heilongjiang, the sky is already bright after one in the morning.















The West Mosque seems to value education highly and has study groups.









Leaving the West Mosque, it only takes a few hundred meters of walking to reach the East Mosque.



The East Mosque was first built during the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty and was rebuilt in 2000, completing my visit to the four mosques in Jilin City.



















After leaving the East Mosque (Dongsi), I returned to Mosque Street (Qingzhensi Jie), which is a large residential area for Hui Muslims.



There are many breakfast stalls selling tofu pudding (doufunao), soy milk, lamb bone broth (yangtang), and steamed buns (baozi), much like in Beijing.



There are also many snack shops.



There is a large Hui Muslim supermarket that is long and narrow, with both sides connected.











I bought some halal meat floss cake and raisin cake at the supermarket for a very cheap price.













I bought half a jin of chewy flatbread (jinbing) at Xing Noodle Shop; it tastes a lot like hand-torn bread (shoushibing) and costs 3 yuan for half a jin.





For breakfast, I had beef steamed buns (baozi) and porridge. The buns were delicious and looked great too.









I ate three buns but wasn't full, so I went across the street for a bowl of tofu pudding (doufunao) and a fried dough stick (guozi). People in Jilin call fried dough sticks (youtiao) guozi.















Before leaving, I went to a burger shop and bought a chicken leg burger combo to go. It cost 18 yuan for a cola, two chicken wings, and a chicken leg burger.





Looking at these barbecue stalls, I bet this street gets really lively at night. It is hard to find this kind of down-to-earth night market in Beijing now.

3. Acheng, Harbin



Acheng is a far suburb of Harbin, about 40 kilometers from the city center. It is home to the Acheng Ancient Mosque (Acheng Qingzhen Gusi), which is a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.



There is a leisure square in front of the Acheng Mosque gate where many children play in the evening.



The area around the mosque is a neighborhood for Hui Muslims, filled mostly with restaurants run by local Hui Muslims.











Acheng Mosque is the oldest mosque in the Harbin area, built during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty in 1777.











This mosque looks a lot like the Niujie Mosque. The Arabic calligraphy on the main hall's beams and the plaque on Datianjun Road are both similar to those at Niujie.



There is only one caretaker at the mosque who calls himself the lamplighter. I asked to turn on the lights to see better, but the caretaker said he could not because the mosque is a national heritage site. They keep the power off to prevent fires, only turning it on during Ramadan. The imam leaves work every day at 5:00 PM.



I had to use my phone's flashlight to take pictures.



The minbar inside the mosque is an antique.



I left Acheng for the Harbin Xiangfang Railway Station and had dinner at Dingniu Barbecue near the station.





I ordered a bottle of Qiulin kvass (qiulin gewasi). Once you have tried Qiulin, you can really taste the difference compared to other brands like Wahaha; Qiulin is definitely the best.



The owner recommended the beef bones. A huge platter arrived and surprised me, but there was not much meat on it. This big plate cost 38 yuan, and it is mostly for eating the beef bone marrow inside using a straw.

4. Qiqihar



To the people of Qiqihar, Harbin is considered the south.



There is a Mosque Road in Qiqihar.



Both sides of the street have several large halal restaurants that mainly serve Northeast Chinese cuisine.







The tea house next to the mosque is also a protected cultural heritage site.



Bukui Mosque was built in 1684, the 23rd year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty. It is older than the city of Qiqihar itself, which is why people say, 'First came the mosque, then came Bukui City.' The East Mosque was built first for the Gedimu tradition, and later the West Mosque was built for the Jahriyya (Zheherenye) order. Together they are called Bukui Mosque. Today, when I arrived, it was time for the prayer service (pesh). The two halls held prayers separately; after the East Mosque finished bowing, the West Mosque was still collectively chanting praises to the Prophet.















Next to Bukui Mosque is the shrine (gongbei), where the ancestors of the twelve families who were exiled to Bukui along with the shipyard master are buried.











The main hall is currently being renovated, so the congregants of the East and West mosques are each praying in a temporary prayer hall.



A halal nursing home in Qiqihar.



I went to eat at Yuxiangzhai. Since the restaurant is so big, I wanted to check for recommended dishes on Dazhong Dianping first, but the waiter said there is nothing online and I should look at the murals on the wall to order.









I really love eating Northeast Chinese food, especially steamed dumplings (shaomai) and double-cooked pork slices (guobaorou). I never get tired of them.



The beef steamed dumplings (shaomai) cost 20 yuan per steamer and have thin skins with lots of filling.





The sweet and sour double-cooked pork slices (guobaorou) served with Northeast rice are delicious. The portion is just too big; two people couldn't finish such a large plate of meat. I ate until I was stuffed, but the amount of food didn't seem to go down, so I had to pack it up.

On my way to Bukui Mosque, I saw a small shop called Yangxuan Guolao that sells pan-fried dumplings (guolao). They look like potstickers (guotie) and seem delicious. Once the renovations at Bukui Mosque are finished, I want to come back and try them.

This concludes my tour of mosques in Manchuria. Here is a look back at previous posts:

A map of halal food in Changchun, Harbin, and Shenyang.
Collapse Read »

Reposted from the web

Summary: This Beijing district halal restaurant guide keeps the original city-by-city structure, with Chaoyang and other districts clearly mapped for Muslim travelers. It preserves the restaurant names, addresses, dishes, and photos so readers can quickly find halal food in Beijing.

This is the final part of my Beijing halal food map series. Following suggestions from friends and family, I have organized the restaurant information by district to make it easier to find. Due to space limits, I included only one photo for each restaurant, with the address listed below it. I did not include restaurants in Yanqing, Mentougou, or Pinggu districts, and I left out some places that are already too famous. I focused on restaurants with local character, covering China's eight major cuisines and flavors from many countries. I visited these nearly two hundred restaurants myself to gather this information.

Xicheng District

Houweiju Old Beijing Griddle Barbecue (zhizi kaorou)



No. 31 Nanwei Road, Xicheng District (west at the first traffic light south of Xiaoxiang Building)

Xi'an Jiasan Steamed Buns (baozi)



No. 1A Baiyunguan Street, Xicheng District

Dahuo Paper-Grilled Barbecue (zhishang kaorou)



Nanheng West Street, next to Beijing Health Vocational College

Zhizi Revolution Barbecue



No. 25 Lingdang Hutong, Jiugulou Street (Gulou branch)

Octopus Balls (takoyaki)



First floor, Qianmen Old Zhalan Mall

Nailao Wei



Room 107, No. 202 Guang'anmen Inner Street (west side of Dazhong Electronics)

Jubaoyuan



No. 5-2 Niujie, Xuanwu District

Hongsheng Hao Charcoal Grilled Lamb Leg



Left side of the main gate of the Health School, Nanheng West Street, urban area

Baodu Feng (Caishikou branch)



Lianhua Hutong, southwest of Caishikou intersection (west side of Fenghua Haojing)

Shandong Sha Da Cu pancake (jianbing)



Entrance of Shuru Hutong halal food market

Niujie Baoji mung bean milk (douzhi)



Entrance of Shuru Hutong, Niujie

Muyixuan lamb spine hot pot (yangxiezi)



East of Niujie Road intersection

Meisi Coffee (Western-style light meals)



One hundred meters south of the main gate of Niujie Mosque

Laochengyi lamb spine hot pot (yangxiezi)



No. 3 Commercial Street, North Niujie Entrance

Dashuntang



No. 4A, Building 5, Fayuansi Xili, Jiaozihu Tong, Xicheng District.

Halal dumpling restaurant



South gate of Niujie Xili District 2, Xicheng District

Xi'an palace-style crispy beef pie (xiangsu niuroubing)



East of Niujie Road intersection, Xicheng District

Roasted Meat Season (Kaorouji)



East bank of Qianhai, Shichahai, Xicheng District

Hongbin Restaurant (traditional Beijing cuisine)



No. 11 Zhanlanguan Road, Xicheng District

Raz Indian Music Restaurant



No. 31 Gulou West Street, Xicheng District

Hongfuda Restaurant (Sichuan and Beijing cuisine)



4th floor, Diaoyutai Wanfang Xidan Shopping Mall

Yaoji Stuffed Tripe (Yaoji Dubaorou)



Room 107, Building 11, Niujie Xili District 2

Gao Laosi Lamb Soup (Gao Laosi Yangtang)



Inside the Home Inn courtyard, Guang'anmen Inner Street

Old Neighborhood Beef Noodles (Lao Jie Fang Niu Rou Mian)



Ground floor shops on the west side of Jiaozihu Hutong

Tiankelai (traditional Beijing-style dishes)



Jiaozihu Hutong, Niujie

Hongji Halal Snack Shop



Across from the Niujie Halal Supermarket

Chuxianglou (upscale Northwest fusion cuisine)



Second floor of the SOGO Department Store at Xuanwumen

Zhangji Hot Pot (Zhangji Shuanrou)



95 Meishi Street, Xicheng District, near the Qianmen McDonald's

Xinjiang Bing Tuan Restaurant



Building 2, Courtyard 6, Malian Road South Street, Xicheng District (west of Carrefour)

Dongcheng District

Baikui Laohao Restaurant



No. 195 Andingmen Inner Street

Yuezhen Yayuan (high-end Northwest Chinese cuisine)



No. 55 Andingmen East Street, Dongcheng District

Gulou Chimian (new-style fusion cuisine)



No. 25 Donggong Street, Gulou East Street

Tangdou Conveyor Belt Buffet Hot Pot



North side of the 8th floor, Souxiu City Shopping Plaza, Chongwenmen Outer Street (opposite Phase 2 of the Chongwenmen New World Department Store)

Suzhou Hui Muslim Restaurant (traditional Beijing cuisine)



No. 36 Suzhou Hutong, Dongcheng District

Longtan Shuanrou (hot pot)



16 Zuo'anmen Inner Street, next to the northwest gate of Longtan Lake Park

Alan Restaurant (traditional Beijing style)



West of Building 2, Tiantan Dongli South District, Dongcheng District (1 Yongdingmen East Street)

Jinghumeng Hot Pot



Qumen Subway Station, second floor of Hongdu Building

Annei Laoma Steamed Dumplings (shaomai)



112 Andingmen Inner Street, Dongcheng District

Saduli Indian Restaurant



Second floor, 70A Beiluoguxiang

Dashi (Beijing, Cantonese, and Sichuan-Hunan cuisine)



Address: No. 277 Dongzhimen Inner Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing. It is near Beixinqiao Subway Station.

Chaoyang District

Jinjiang Western Regions Restaurant



No. 411, Zone 4, Huizhong Beili, Asian Games Village, Chaoyang District

Döner Turkish Coffee (tuerqi kafeiguan)



Street-level shops next to Xiushui Street, Chaoyang District

Qingxiangge Dalian Seafood



Next to Dongdaqiao Subway Station, Chaoyang District

Jianghu No. 80



Street-level shops in the Chaoyang Road Entrepreneurship Park

Hemeizhai Roast Duck Restaurant



Shenlu Street, Chaoyang District

White Diamond Xinjiang Restaurant



No. 116 Luying Street, Chaoyang District

Wanggasi Muslim Restaurant



Ground floor shops, Wanda Plaza, Guomao, Chaoyang District

Indian Kitchen (Yindu Xiaochu)



2nd Floor, No. 2 Sanlitun North Small Street

Silk Road Station (Silu Yizhan), a modern Xinjiang restaurant



West Gate of Lido Park, No. 6 Fangyuan West Road (near Lido)

Ningxia Flavors (Ningwei Xiayu), a Ningxia cuisine restaurant



2nd Floor, Fenglian Plaza, No. 18 Chaoyangmen Outer Street, Chaoyang District

Eliya Halal Bakery



Shop 06, Building 56, Minzu Jiayuan, Changying Middle Road, Chaoyang District

Xingu Halal Charcoal BBQ, a Korean-style restaurant



Next to Yunding Billiards Club, opposite the south gate of Minzu Jiayuan residential area, Changying Middle Road (west side of Minzu Primary School)

One Thousand and One Nights (Arabian cuisine)



No. 6 Chaoyang Park Road, Solana, Chaoyang District

Alameen

Lebanese restaurant



Next to the German Embassy in Sanlitun

Khan Baba Pakistani Restaurant



Room 511, 5th Floor, Building 2, Sanlitun SOHO, No. 8 Gongti North Road, Chaoyang District

Hefeng Banquet (Hefeng no Utage)



First floor, Shaanxi Mansion, Shilihe, Chaoyang District

Istanbul Turkish Restaurant



No. B7 Xiushui South Street (north side of International Building, back street of Friendship Store)

Benjiebi Indian-Afghan Restaurant



The second floor of Haoyun Street in Chaoyang District.

Dardanelles Turkish Restaurant.



Units 1-21-22, Courtyard 39, Shenlu Street, Ritan North Road, Chaoyang District.

Persepolis Restaurant (Iranian cuisine).



Exit A of Tuanjiehu Subway Station in Chaoyang District.

Turkish Mama Restaurant.



Exit A of Tuanjiehu Subway Station in Chaoyang District.

Huawei Meat Pie Shop.



No. 11 Songyu North Road.

Xifentang.



Unit 0189B, Tower D, Chaowai SOHO, No. 6 Chaowai Street.

Musafir Xinjiang Restaurant.



27 Xidawang Road, Chaoyang District. Take subway line 14 to Pingleyuan Station and you are there.

Fireside (French halal restaurant)



Floor 1, Building E, 9 Jinhui Road

Yan Hot Pot (Sichuan-style hot pot)



Yanlanlou Chaowai Street branch, 4th floor, Kuntai Mall, Chaoyang District

A-Gu Noodle House



Late Night Canteen, basement floor 1, Hopson One, Chaoyang District

Hailiye Yunnan Halal Restaurant



1st floor, World Financial Center

Xinjiang-style meatball soup



2nd floor, Building B, Chaowai SOHO

NAIL

Russian-style Western restaurant



Shenlu Street, Chaoyang District, opposite the Desert Rose restaurant

Shangzi Street Clear Beef Brisket Noodles (a halal Cantonese restaurant)



West side of the intersection at the mosque on the south slope of Yabaolu

Shuyuan Small Restaurant



Ground floor shops of Ritan International Trade Center

Three Brothers in Changying



Changying Middle Road, Chaoyang District

36 Degrees North Latitude Hot Pot



Basement level 1 of Huacai Commercial Center in Wangjing

Yilao Baiwei Dipping Sauce Hot Pot (Chaoshan-style hot pot)



13 Guanzhuang Road, Changying

Yuesheng Restaurant (Korean BBQ)



Ground floor shops, Yabao City, Ritan North Road, Chaoyang District

Camel Caravan Moroccan Halal Restaurant



44 Guanghua Road, outside Jianguomen

Zhongfayuan Northwest Feast (high-end Northwest fusion cuisine)



2nd Floor, Block C, Oriental Media Center, 4 Guanghua Road, Chaoyang District

Yiyuan Gourmet Tea House (high-end fusion cuisine)



1st Floor, New Town International, Chaoyang District

Yijinyuan (high-end Northwest fusion cuisine)



Inside the east gate of Longze Yuyue Scenic Area, Yuan Dadu City Wall Ruins Park, North Tucheng East Road, Chaoyang District

Badao Noodles (Chongqing spicy noodles)



798 Art Zone, 4 Jiuxianqiao Road (opposite the UCCA Center for Contemporary Art)

Haitian Yise (sashimi, Cantonese cuisine, Fujian cuisine)



No. 13 Guanzhuang Road, Chaoyang District

Jingmen Laobao San (stir-stir-fried meat trio)



Building 212, Baiziwan Jiayuan, Chaoyang District

Yongchang Laoguanzi (old-style restaurant)



West side of the ground floor shops at Haitian Yise, No. 13 Guanzhuang Road

Xinyuezhai (Crescent Studio)



Next to Nandouya Mosque, Douban Hutong, Chaoyang District

Ritan Shuanrou (hot pot)



East side of Ritan Park

Gutong Laoyuan Shuanrou (old courtyard hot pot)



Baihuan Jiayuan, Chaoyang District

Zitengxuan Restaurant (traditional Beijing cuisine)



300 meters east of Tuanjiehu Bridge

Yinmadeng Skewer Market (cold pot skewers)



Northeast corner of Pingle Yuan subway station

Fengtai District

Jufuyuan Hot Pot



14 Huxi Lane, 100 meters south of Dazhong Electrical Appliance

Xuezhan Big Plate Chicken



Second floor of Ruihai Building next to the West Railway Station

Asiya Restaurant (Northwest cuisine)



45A Fengtai North Road, Lize Bridge

Tanguo Ju



Shop 23, Building 8, Courtyard 7, Fengqiao Road

Yuanxie Hot Pot Restaurant (Yuanxie Shuanrou Guan)



Nanxiaojie South Road, Fengtai District

Laomenkuang Tripe Restaurant (Laomenkuang Baodu), Fangzhuang Branch 2



No. 157 Yujiafen, Fangzhuang South Road, Fengtai District

Changping District

Huayunlou Steamed Dumpling Restaurant (Huayunlou Shaomai Fanzhuang)



No. 2 Zhanqian Road, Shahe Town, Changping District

Chongqing Xiangchangzuier Old Stove Hot Pot



Room 201, Building 16, Jiayuan District 1, Shahe Higher Education Park North Street, Changping District

Liang's Braised Noodles (Liangji Huimian)



Shop 104, Ganglong Commercial Area, No. 18 Huilongguan West Street, Changping District (east side of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China) (Huilong Clearance Center)

Laikebi Happy Pizza (Western-style fast food)



No. 17 Songyuan Road, Changping District

Aiyidian Chang Halal Yunnan Cuisine



First floor, units 19-21, north section of the commercial area on the west side of Fengyayuan Community Phase II, Huilongguan Town

Old Yang's Halal Restaurant (New-style fusion cuisine)



No. 30, West Lane 1, Xiguanshi Village, Yangfang Town, Changping District

Yangfang Shengli Hot Pot Lamb



Xiguanshi Village, Yangfang Town, Changping District

Fangshan District

Ailifu Lamb Hot Pot



Chaoyang North Road, Fangshan District

Tongshunzhai Restaurant



South entrance of Doudian Village, Fangshan District

Quran Family (dipped tripe, roasted rabbit head)



50 meters north of the 993 bus terminal, south of Doudian Village, on the west side of the road

Zhang's Big Poplar Tree Restaurant (farmhouse dishes)



Directly across from Doudian Mosque

Asian Tribe 7 (Indian food)



Room 207, 2nd Floor, Building 1, Golden Street, Changyang Peninsula, Fangshan District

Wanzhenlou Restaurant (Korean barbecue buffet)



Zhuochen Building, 12 Xilu South Street, Liangxiang, Fangshan District

Yingbinlou Restaurant (Beijing cuisine)



Next to Doudian Mosque, Fangshan District

Haidian District

Yilanlou Restaurant (Northwest Chinese cuisine)



No. 5 Zaojunmiao Road, Haidian District

Ganges Indian Restaurant



6th Floor, Wudaokou Shopping Center

HI HELLO

Western-style grilled rice (banshaofan)



Shop 4, Ground Floor, Building 2, Weibohao Garden

Ma Wu Spicy Soup and Pan-fried Buns (hulatang shuijianbao) on Guhuai Street



Phase II, Zhongguancun Shibao Street, Haidian District

Hu's Original Beef Soup (Huainan cuisine)



1st Floor, Shuangtian Building, 30A West Third Ring North Road

Qinshengxuan Xi'an Mutton Pita Soup (yangrou paomo)



40-10 North Third Ring Middle Road (near Taipingzhuang Bridge)

Sijiqing Jinxiang Spring Water Hot Pot (Jinxiang Shuanshuanguan)



West of Sijiqing Bridge, Haidian District (southwest corner of Nanpingzhuang intersection)

Yanlanlou (high-end Northwest Chinese cuisine)



Opposite the National Library

Bayi Laoye



Building 23, Weigongcun Residential Area, 22 Minzu University West Road, Haidian District

Daxing District

Dianxinyuan New-Style Yunnan Halal Cuisine



North side storefronts of Yongkang Apartment, 18 Kangding Street (100 meters west of Exit A, Tongjinanlu Subway Station)

Xueying Heshunzhai Lamb Spine Hot Pot (yangxiezi)



10, Lane 16, Qingzheng South Road, Xueying Village, Panggezhuang Town, Daxing District

Chengji Shanxian Lamb Soup Restaurant (Chengji Shanxian Yangtang Guan)



Sanzhong Lane (near Xingfeng Street) is about 525 meters from Huangcun West Street Station.

Erjie Earth Pot Stew (Erjie Diguo Dun)



No. 6, North 4th Alley, Qingren Road, Daxing District.

The First Hot Pot South of Beijing (Jingnan Diyi Shuan)



No. 1A, Qingzheng Road, Xueying Village, Panggezhuang, Daxing District.

Rundexuan Halal Restaurant (Rundexuan Qingzhen Caiguan)



No. 14, Hongsheng Road, North 2nd Street, Xihongmen, Daxing District (300 meters north of Xihongmen Subway Station, on the east side of the road).

Guoguojiao Spicy Pot (Guoguojiao Mala Xiangguo)



Unit 107, Building 1, Courtyard 39, Chunhe Road, Daxing District.

Xinjiang Happy Restaurant (Xinjiang Huanle Canting)



Exit at Xihongmen Station on Subway Line 4, located on the third floor of the Joy Breeze (Huiju) shopping center.

Yanlan Renjia (Northwest fusion cuisine)



Qingyuan Road, Daxing District

Juewei Duck Neck



Xueying Village, Daxing District

Tongzhou District

Jujingyuan (traditional Beijing cuisine)



Lvyou Xincun, Tongzhou District

Ziguangyuan



Zhongshan Street, Tongzhou District

Zhangji Potstickers (guotie)



70 meters west of Beixiaoyuan Station on Yudaihe East Street, on the north side of the road

Baixingju (traditional Beijing cuisine)



Baixingju Restaurant at Xiguan Mosque, Yudaihe West Street, Tongzhou District

Shunyi District

Huguo Mosque Snacks (Airport Branch)



Capital Airport Terminal 2, B1

Ma Family Steamed Dumplings (majia shaomai) (now open)



Capital Airport Terminal 3, Departure Hall

Fushouzhai



Shunyi District Chuangzhan Branch

Flame Space Korean BBQ



No. 38 Yumin Street, Shunyi District

Shalima Indian and Pakistani Restaurant



Shunyi District

Room 104, Floor 1, Building 8, 16 Yufeng Road (Xinguozhan Huizhan Yujing)

Shijingshan District

Original Flavor Braised Dough Pieces (yuanwei huimashi)



Street-front shop, 22 Galaxy Street, Lugu Subdistrict, Hanhai Great Wall Building

Miyun District

Shixiangxuan Small Seafood



Nangeng Street, Miyun District

Tanghe Halal Restaurant



Shop 011, Ring Street, Gubei Water Town Square, Miyun

For detailed introductions to each restaurant, please browse the links from previous posts:

[Beijing Specialty Halal Dining Guide (Including the most complete list of foreign restaurants)] (Part 1)

[Beijing Specialty Halal Dining Guide (Including the most complete list of foreign restaurants)] (Part 2)

Beijing Halal Dining Guide (Including the most complete list of foreign restaurants) (Part 3)

Beijing Halal Dining Guide (Part 4)

Beijing Halal Dining Guide (Part 5)

Beijing Halal Dining Guide (Part 6)

Beijing Halal Dining Guide (Part 7)

Beijing Halal Dining Guide (Part 8)

Beijing Halal Dining Guide (Part 9)

Beijing Halal Dining Guide (Part 10)

Beijing Halal Dining Guide (Part 11)

Beijing Halal Dining Guide (Part 12)

A Map of Specialty Halal Food in Beijing (Part 13)
Collapse Read »

Reposted from the web

Summary: This Beijing halal food in China guide follows the original food map and keeps every restaurant, address, dish, and photo in order. It highlights Dashifu, local meat pies, campus halal dining, and other Chinese Muslim food stops for readers looking for real halal restaurants in Beijing.

I have gathered a few more halal restaurants in Beijing to share with you over the past few days. As always, I only share places I have personally eaten at. There are a few others on my list that I haven't tried yet, so I won't recommend them for now. Once I finish writing about the last few restaurants in my collection, my map of 200 specialty halal eateries in Beijing will be complete. I hope some wealthy entrepreneurs will open new halal restaurants in the city soon.

179. Dashu



The name is quite vintage, as Dashu was the ancient Chinese term for the Arab Empire. In reality, this is a fusion restaurant serving Cantonese, Jiangnan, Sichuan, Hunan, and Beijing dishes. The owner is a Hui Muslim from Beijing.







I came here for the Cantonese-style deep-well roast goose (shenjing shaoe). The meat was a bit fatty and the skin was quite tough.



The Jiangnan bamboo steamer taro (zhulong yutou) is a sweet dish.



The almond-scented chrysanthemum beef cubes (xingxiang zhenju niuzaili) have tender meat.



For the main course, I had the beef dumplings (niurou shuijiao). These were delicious, with thin skins and plenty of filling.

Address: No. 277 Dongzhimen Inner Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing. It is near Beixinqiao Subway Station.

180. Huawei Meat Pie Shop



This shop is very famous. It is always full during meal times, so you have to wait in line. Everyone comes here for the meat pies (roubing).





Besides meat pies, they also serve traditional old Beijing foods like grilled meat on an iron grate (zhizi kaorou).



The meat pie crust is thin and soft, though I personally prefer a crust that is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

180. Peking University Tongyuan Halal Restaurant



The halal restaurant at Peking University is quite small and gets very crowded during peak hours. To make sure minority students can get a meal, the canteen only serves them during the day since they must eat halal food, while other students can choose non-halal canteens. However, the restaurant opens to all students and faculty after 6:00 PM, and many students come here at night for barbecue.



Lamb rice noodles (yangrou fen)



Spiced beef (jiang niurou), lamb chops, and lamb skewers

Address: Opposite the Peking University tennis courts

181. Xifentang



This is a very refined Xinjiang rice noodle shop. In recent years, I have noticed that many Xinjiang restaurants have stylish, creative names and decor that really whet your appetite.



Xinjiang's drink, kvass (kawasi), which is a non-alcoholic, beer-flavored beverage.



Chicken rice noodles, which you need to mix yourself before eating.



Fresh, clean ingredients you can see.



Xifentang is a chain with four locations in Beijing, found in Chaowai, Fengke, Wangjing, and Shangdi.

Address: Shop 0189B, Block D, Chaowai SOHO, No. 6 Chaowai Street

182. Jujingyuan



A small Beijing-style restaurant next to the Tongzhou Xiguan Mosque.





The shop specializes in Beijing-style meat pie (jingdong roubing) and crispy flatbread (hubing). I really like their meat pie; it is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.



The chive-filled crispy flatbread (hubing) comes in a very large piece.



Be careful not to burn your mouth when eating the door-nail meat pie (mending roubing).

183. Xiao Baza



This is a new-style Xinjiang restaurant that opened recently. The shop does not display a halal sign, but when I went with Uyghur friends, we asked the kitchen staff. They were all young Uyghur men who confirmed the food is indeed halal, but they do not have the sign up for certain reasons. We decided to trust our fellow Muslims and ate there.





I mentioned before that many new Xinjiang restaurants have moved away from traditional ethnic decor. This place follows a trendy, minimalist style.





The meat is fresh and tender, and the red willow skewer (hongliu kao) is delicious.



This is their improved version of planet big plate chicken (xingqiu dapanji). It looks very spicy because of the peppers, but it is actually quite mild.



Xiao Baza is a chain restaurant with at least five locations in Beijing now.

Address: B1, Phase II, U-Town Shopping Center, No. 7 Sanfeng Hutong, Chaoyang District, Beijing.

184. Fushouzhai



This is a famous hot pot restaurant in Shunyi. They have three branches, all located close to each other within Shunyi, and every one of them is packed with customers.



The Qinglan branch is right next to a mosque.





The meat and tripe are fresh, and overall, it is just as good as the old-fashioned hot pot restaurants in the city.

Address: Second floor, Halal Food Street, Qinglan Garden, Houshayu Town, Shunyi District.

185. Yuanwei



I came here specifically for the stewed cat-ear noodles (hui mashi).



Besides the stewed cat-ear noodles, they also serve barbecue and some home-style Northwest Chinese noodles, such as pita bread in soup (paomo) and hand-pulled noodles (lamian).





Stewed cat-ear noodles are a specialty snack from Shaanxi. They have a sour and spicy flavor and are served piping hot, making them perfect for warming you up in the winter.

Address: Street-level shop, Hanhai Great Wall Building, 22 Yinhe Street, Lugu Subdistrict.

I am quite lazy. When I write my food map, I usually avoid sharing my personal opinions because everyone has different tastes. I even wanted to skip the addresses, thinking that since I provided the restaurant names, people could easily find them using a map app on their phones or check for details on Dazhong Dianping. Later, I realized many people are even lazier than me. They want to find the restaurant and order their food just by reading my post, and they might even want me to pay the bill for them too.
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Reposted from the web

Summary: This Langzhong Muslim travel guide keeps the original ancient-city route, including Baba Mosque, Langzhong Mosque, Hui Muslim food stops, streets, and photos. It is formatted for readers interested in Sichuan Muslim heritage and halal travel in China.

I traveled to Langzhong because of the famous Baba Mosque (Baba Si). The Qadiriyya menhuan of Chinese Islam has three holy sites: the first is the Great Gongbei in Linxia, the second is Luling Mosque in Xixiang, and the third is Baba Mosque in Langzhong, which is considered the head of the three.

Baba Mosque is not inside the ancient city of Langzhong, but at the southern foot of Panlong Mountain in the eastern suburbs. However, the ancient city itself is worth a visit. It has its own mosque, the Langzhong Mosque, which serves as the local Islamic Association office. You can also find several halal shops scattered throughout the ancient city.



While wandering through the ancient city, I accidentally found this sign next to a halal butcher shop. It lists some of the halal restaurants in Langzhong. Some are inside the ancient city and some are in the city proper. There are far more halal restaurants in Langzhong than what is listed here, but the ones on this sign use reliable ingredients.



The ancient city has no entrance fee and is not very large, but there is plenty to see. My focus was on finding halal shops and old mosques.



Zhuangyuan Archway (Zhuangyuan Fang)

Gulan Gulang



Before entering the ancient city from the Zhuangyuan Archway, you can find the Gulan Gulang halal restaurant on the left side of the front of the archway. It is a popular spot among locals and serves local specialties, which means halal Sichuan-style food.



The restaurant is on the second floor. I saw this when I walked up the stairs, and a strong sense of halal culture hit me.



The waiters all wear prayer caps. Even though there were many customers, the service was still warm. I came alone this time, but the waiter still treated me with a smile.



I looked at the menu and wanted to eat everything because it all looked special. Since I only have one stomach, I followed the waiter's suggestion and chose three signature dishes.



This is white-sliced beef (baiqie niurou). People in the Bashu region love beef, and I do too, so I had to eat my fill while in Langzhong. Because Sichuan spices are of such high quality, they make meat dishes very flavorful. It goes perfectly with the local rice.



Anyone who has been to the Bashu region knows that rice is served by the head count. They bring you a whole bucket at once, and it is unlimited, so you will have plenty to eat.



This is Hui Muslim fried pot snack (guozha), a specialty of the Hui Muslims in Langzhong. Its texture and ingredients are very similar to Beijing's fried milk, and it is topped with white sugar.



The Three Wonders of Langyuan (Langyuan sanjue) is a very famous local dish. It is like a cross between porridge and soup, containing diced beef, steamed buns with sugar (baitang zhengmo), and Baoning vinegar. Baoning is the old name for Langzhong, and these three ingredients make up the 'three wonders'.

Try Huiyuan.



Huiyuan and Pinshangba are connected shops. On the left, Huiyuan sells beef, and on the right, Pinshangba sells jelly noodles (liangfen). The middle is opened up.

I noticed 'salt leaf beef' (yanyezi niurou) written under the counter. This salt leaf beef is the original name for the famous Zhangfei beef. Local people told me that Zhangfei beef was first created by Hui Muslims in Langzhong. Hui Muslims usually call it salt leaf beef, while Han Chinese call it Zhangfei beef. So, if you want to eat authentic Zhangfei beef, you should buy the halal salt leaf beef.









Chatting with the owner, she said her ancestors were Hui Muslims from Ningxia who settled in Langzhong over a hundred years ago. She speaks with a thick Sichuan accent. During our talk, she kept promoting her beef to customers at the next table, saying many tourists do not know that Hui Muslim beef is the most authentic in Langzhong because it is slaughtered by an imam. It is also more expensive than regular Zhangfei beef. I chimed in, saying that beef and mutton on Niujie Street in Beijing are also more expensive than elsewhere, but people still line up to buy them.



I ordered a portion of North Sichuan jelly noodles (chuanbei liangfen). Honestly, the texture was great, but it was too spicy. As a Beijinger, I cannot handle much spice. Seeing me struggle, the owner added a portion of plain jelly noodles for me to mix in and lower the heat, but it was still spicy. She laughed and said many guests from the Northwest add even more chili to their bowls while eating.



Unable to handle the spice, I ordered a bottle of vinegar drink.

Huihuixiang.



This is a halal breakfast shop at the entrance of the Langzhong mosque, selling beef offal noodles and small steamed buns (xiaolong baozi).



There are not many types of breakfast, but they are all local flavors.



I noticed that the oil dipping sauce here costs 0.5 yuan per plate.



The beef offal (niuza) in Langzhong is served plain without any seasoning. You add salt to your own taste, just like how you eat beef soup in Henan.



I dipped my beef bun in Baoning vinegar (Baoning cu). It is delicious and very sour. It reminds me of the aged vinegar (chencu) I had in Shanxi, but Baoning vinegar is not as dark in color.



The person on the sign on Libaisi Street is a Hui Muslim with the surname Ao. The other major Hui Muslim surname in Langzhong is Pu, which belongs to the same branch as the Hui Muslims with the surname Pu in Fujian.

Muslim Halal Shop (Muslim Qingzhen Fang)



This shop has a very halal name and is one of my favorite local restaurants. It is located outside the ancient city, near the Jialing River.



It was drizzling when I arrived, and many customers were eating under a canopy set up outside the door, which shows how busy the business is.



I am most satisfied with two things about this shop: the service and the taste of the dishes. When I first walked in, I asked for Zhangfei beef. After eating here, I learned the difference. The young waitress immediately corrected me, saying that Hui Muslims here call it salt leaf beef (yanyezi). Hui Muslims cannot eat Zhangfei beef; only salt leaf beef, which has been slaughtered by an imam (ahong), is permissible. That is how I learned the facts about salt leaf beef that I mentioned earlier.



I saw a few families in the shop having a gathering (dost) for a religious event (nietie). They were wearing prayer caps and sounded like locals.



I finally got to eat authentic salt leaf beef. It looked very appetizing. On the way to the ancient city, the driver told me they have been eating Hui Muslim beef since they were kids, but they do not know how it is made because the recipe is kept secret.



I had a snack made with sunflower seeds and yam. It was soft and fluffy, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.



This is a famous Sichuan dish called twice-cooked pork (huiguorou). The Hui Muslim version is made with beef and is a common home-style dish.



I wanted to order a soup, since soup is the best part of Sichuan cuisine, but the waitress said I was alone and offered to bring me a free bowl of winter melon soup instead. She was worried I would order too much to finish. Such thoughtful service really touched me. Prices inside and outside the ancient city are about the same, and my meal of three dishes and one soup only cost a little over 100 yuan.



After eating my fill, I wandered around the ancient city and found many more things. These Wenxian beef buns (niuroubao) look very authentic.

















I won't introduce every single shop here. If you have the chance to visit Langzhong Ancient City, you can just walk along the main road and discover them yourself.

Baba Mosque (Baba Si) in Langzhong.



As the most important holy site of the Qadiriyya (Gaderenye) order, Baba Mosque was built during the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty. It houses the gongbei of the order's founder, Khwaja Abdullah, who was the 29th-generation descendant of the Prophet Muhammad.

Qadiriyya, sometimes translated as Gaderenye, means 'The All-Powerful' in Arabic. This Sunni order follows the Hanafi school of law. It was founded in the 12th century by the Iranian scholar Abdul Qadir Gilani (1078–1166) and became popular in Baghdad.



After the holy descendant Khwaja Abdullah passed away, his disciples Qi Jingyi and Ma Ziyun built a gongbei at the place where he used to meditate. They named it 'Jiuzhao Pavilion.' It covers 20 mu of land with a building area of 1,800 square meters.





Qadiriyya is a unique Sufi order among the Hui Muslims in China. Its teachings incorporate many ideas from Confucianism and Taoism, especially Taoism. Khwaja Abdullah was once known as the Taoist Ancestor of Panlong Mountain.



Other Qadiriyya gongbei sites in Sichuan include those at Jiangjun Bridge in Guangyuan, Suojia Gou in Qingchuan, Haoxi in Qingchuan, and the upper and lower gongbei in Songpan.



The Qadiriyya lineage is: Qi Jingyi -> Ma Changqing -> the Feng and Yun generations (unknown) -> Ma Guiyue of Hezhou Bafang -> Zhou Daoxian of Hezhou Jiezi -> Su Dongchuan of Hezhou Xiaoxiguan -> Chen Yongnan -> Chen Shixu.





Baba Mosque preserves many stone tablets and plaques. The elder Chen Shixu once recounted: 'During the Cultural Revolution, I was the first person in Langzhong to stand up when the Red Guards from the normal school wanted to tear down Baba Mosque.' In the past, there was the Quotations from Chairman Mao, and I spent my days looking for those quotations. When the Red Guards arrived, I took down the plaque at the entrance, covered it in red mud, and wrote 'Long live Chairman Mao' on it. This way, they could not tear it down. I used a trick to 'borrow a knife to kill,' and that is how I saved dozens of old Qing Dynasty plaques inside the gongbei. There are two large jars in the gongbei; one is from the Shunzhi era and the other is from the Daoguang era. When ethnic and religious policies were first restored, the jar from the Shunzhi era was valued at one million, and the one from the Daoguang era was valued at seven hundred thousand. In the flower hall of the gongbei, there are two stone tablets: the Tablet of the Ancestral Master (Shizu Shangren Bei) and the Record of the First Master (Xianshi Beiji). Later, when they wanted to build a road through the gongbei courtyard and tear down these two tablets, they pointed their guns at me. I said, 'You can kill me, but you still cannot move them.' The history of Baba Mosque (Baba Si) today comes from these two tablets; without them, the history of Baba Mosque would be impossible to explain. —Excerpt from Ma Wenkui's 'Interviews with Chen Shixu During His Lifetime'



The teachings of the Qadiriyya menhuan cannot be summarized simply in words, and there are many internal branches, such as those who advocate for monastic life and those who advocate for marriage while practicing the faith. In recent years, I have visited the gongbei more often, which seems to have given me some understanding of the menhuan and corrected some of my own biases.



Take missionary work, for example. Sometimes just dryly preaching the law is hard to move people's hearts, but through the atmosphere created by Sufi rituals, an indescribable feeling can open people's hearts. The respect Sufis show for scholars is actually respect for knowledge, so while mourning the sages, they are also able to spread knowledge.









I happened to arrive when some friends (dosti) were holding a memorial service (ermali) for the Baba. I joined in to share the blessings. The whole ceremony lasted nearly an hour, and I saw them place a bag of white powder in front of them that looked like white sugar.



After the ceremony, the believers walked around the shrine (gongbei) several times.



This plaque hangs inside the shrine (gongbei) and was respectfully presented by a believer named Wang Aishe from Xunhua, Qinghai.





Holding a seminar on the Sinicization of Islam at the Baba Mosque in Langzhong is perfect, as the Qadiriyya order is a classic example of the fusion between Islam and Taoism.



The Great Shrine (Da Gongbei) sect (menhuan) is the main successor and propagator of the Qadiriyya order in China. It is commonly known as the Qi Family Shrine (Qi Jia Gongbei) and was founded by Qi Jingyi.

In the 11th year of the Kangxi reign, the 25th-generation descendant of the Prophet, Khwaja Hidayatullah Afaq Manshur, came to Qinghai to preach. Qi Jingyi heard this and followed the founder of the Bijiachang sect (menhuan), Abd al-Rahmani, to Xining to seek guidance. The Prophet's descendant Hidayatullah only taught Abd al-Rahmani and told Qi Jingyi to continue waiting for his teacher to arrive. It was not until the 13th year of the Kangxi reign that Qi Jingyi was accepted as a student by the Prophet's descendant Khwaja Abdullah, and he began his life of religious devotion.

Langzhong Mosque



Langzhong Mosque was first built in the 8th year of the Kangxi reign (1669). It was managed by the Baoning garrison commander Ma Ziyun and others, and was designed and built by civil engineering experts from Shaanxi and Gansu who modeled it after the Huajue Lane Mosque in Xi'an.



The most famous imam in the history of this mosque was Ma Tengyi, who later became a student of Qi Jingyi. The current imam, Halim, is a descendant of Ma Tengyi and the son of Imam Baifu from the Taizi Shrine (gongbei). It happened to be Friday (Jumu'ah) that day, and Imam Ma led the prayers. About 20 people attended. The imam spoke about the bitter history of the Langzhong religious community and lamented that social morals are declining and fewer people are coming to the mosque.



There is a couplet on the mosque gate written by the Northern Sichuan garrison commander Ma Ziyun.







My Langzhong Islamic tour ends here. Next, I will introduce another holy site of the Qadiriyya order, Luling Mosque in Xixiang County, Shaanxi.



To be continued...

Previous posts

Halal food map for the Bashu region (Longnan, Guangyuan, Chengdu, and Chongqing)
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Reposted from the web

Summary: This Muslim friendly Japan guide follows the original Hokkaido halal trip, including preparation notes, Tokyo stops, ramen, sushi, mosque visits, transfers, and photos. It keeps the full route for readers planning halal travel in Hokkaido and Japan.

Hokkaido has always been the place in Japan I have wanted to visit most. This guide focuses on the Sapporo Mosque, Otaru Mosque, Lake Shikotsu, and Lake Toya in the Hokkaido region.

Flying from Beijing to Tokyo to transfer to Hokkaido is much cheaper than a direct flight. Round-trip tickets from Beijing to Tokyo can be as low as 2,000 yuan, and a flight from Tokyo to Sapporo, the largest city in Hokkaido, costs just over 500 yuan. This is cheaper than the Shinkansen high-speed train, which takes eight hours.

In 2019, it was easier to get a Japanese tourist visa than when I first visited in 2015. You only need a passport and photos, and you can find an agent on Taobao. A three-year multiple-entry visa costs less than 700 yuan, and the allowed stay has increased from 15 to 30 days.

Things to prepare before leaving for Japan:

1. Mobile WiFi: You can rent this on Taobao for 9.9 yuan a day. It is better than an international roaming plan because Chinese mobile carriers cannot access sites like Google abroad. With mobile WiFi, you can use Google to check transportation, which is very important.

2. Power adapter: You can buy a universal multi-plug adapter online. Japan uses 110V electricity. While Chinese 220V chargers sometimes work, it is not stable. For example, my phone charged fine in Tokyo, but it would not charge when I reached Hokkaido.

3. Round-trip flight and hotel bookings: These are not strictly required, but I have friends who were denied entry because customs suspected their travel purpose was unclear. Having these documents avoids unnecessary trouble. It is best to carry a pen so you can fill out your arrival card on the plane to save time at customs. You can fill the card out in Chinese, and you will need to provide your address in Japan.

4. Check the weather forecast before you leave. Hokkaido is at a different latitude than Tokyo and is slightly cooler. When I went in September, daytime temperatures were around 20 degrees and nighttime was around 15 degrees. It can get chilly if it rains. Men can wear short sleeves, but women should bring a light jacket. Hokkaido is very cold in winter, so be sure to dress warmly.

5. Call the airline at least one day in advance to book a halal meal. Except for budget airlines that do not serve food, most airlines allow you to book a Muslim meal through their customer service or an agency like Trip.com. The benefit of booking a halal meal is that you often get served before first-class passengers.

6. If you plan to visit multiple cities in Japan, I suggest buying a Japan Rail Pass on Taobao in advance. This pass allows unlimited travel on many Japanese rail lines, including the Shinkansen. A seven-day pass costs about 1,500 yuan, and you can make your money back after just two Shinkansen trips. Transportation in Japan is very expensive. Even if I only take the subway, it costs about 100 yuan a day. A round trip to the airport costs 300 yuan. Taxis are even more expensive, with a starting fare of 710 yen, and a ride from the airport to the city can cost 2,000 yuan. Transportation can take up 70% of my total travel budget. Even my Japanese friends think the cost of transport is hard to accept. If you have your route planned, it is worth buying the Japan Rail Pass. It is a benefit for tourists and is only sold to foreigners; Japanese citizens cannot buy it.

Most friends choose to start from Tokyo when visiting Hokkaido. I have already posted a Tokyo halal food map, but I made some new discoveries on this trip.

For accommodation in Tokyo, I recommend staying at the Musalan beef noodle shop located diagonally across from the Red Gate (Akamon) of the University of Tokyo.



The noodle shop is run by the Salar people from Qinghai and is located near the Hongo-sanchome subway station in central Tokyo. The first floor is a halal restaurant that does not serve alcohol, mainly selling ramen, mixed noodles, big plate chicken (dapanji), and lamb skewers. The second floor is a guesthouse with family rooms that fit several people and Japanese-style straw mats (tatami). The prices are much cheaper than online, and you can even get a halal breakfast before heading out in the morning, which is hard to find in Japan.



You need to book a room in advance via WeChat. The customer service WeChat ID is: hanxi-halimei

Address:

5-23-13 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo

Nearest train station:

Hongo-sanchome Station on the Marunouchi and Oedo lines

Opposite the Red Gate (Akamon) of the University of Tokyo

I made new discoveries during my second trip to Tokyo, all concentrated near Senso-ji Mosque. Senso-ji is a famous tourist spot in Tokyo with many halal restaurants nearby, all within 1 kilometer of each other. These restaurants mainly serve Japanese-style food, and you should definitely try Japanese halal cuisine when visiting Japan. Below is the restaurant information. All are located around Senso-ji Mosque. You can find their locations by entering the restaurant names into Google Maps.

1. Naritaya

(Japanese-style ramen)



2. Asakusa Sushiken

(Asakusa Sushi Restaurant)



3. Taizan Sakura

(Cherry Blossom Japanese Ramen)



4. KEBAB

Turkish kebab



5. ORIGAMI

(Japanese hot pot, sashimi)



6. PANGA

(Wagyu beef barbecue)



This wagyu barbecue place was my final choice, and it turned out to be the right one because it was truly delicious.



This steak cost about 200 yuan, but it was tender and juicy. It is probably the best steak I have ever eaten.



This mixed fruit juice is also delicious. Keep in mind that any restaurant in Japan with the blue halal certification logo is alcohol-free, so you can eat there with peace of mind.



7. MUSLIM PRAYER ROOM

(Prayer Room)



This is a free prayer room provided specifically for Muslims. You can also store your luggage here, and the staff warmly welcomed us to perform our namaz.



It is located near Senso-ji Mosque, right next to ORIGAMI.

A halal Japanese restaurant.



There is a place for wudu inside.



The direction of the Kaaba is posted on the wall, and there are prayer mats on the floor.



The people at this prayer room hope we can share it on social media to help more Muslims traveling in Japan. My later travels showed me that these prayer rooms are everywhere in Japan.

Sapporo City

It takes about an hour and a half to fly from Tokyo to Sapporo in Hokkaido. Remember to buy your airport express train ticket on the plane, as it is over 200 yen cheaper than buying it at the counter after landing. Tokyo Narita Airport is very far from the city center, and the express train takes nearly an hour, costing about 150 RMB. If you are flying with a Japanese airline, you can ask the flight attendant to buy the ticket for you in advance and then exchange it at the ticket office after you land.

Sapporo's New Chitose Airport is not far from the city center; it takes half an hour by light rail. If you visit Hokkaido, I suggest staying in Sapporo. Transportation in other Hokkaido cities is not well-developed, but Sapporo is the largest city. It is easy to travel from there to other parts of Hokkaido and return on the same day.



Accommodation in Hokkaido is expensive, with standard rooms usually costing over 400 RMB. We were very lucky to book a guesthouse called FEEL on Booking.com for just over 200 RMB per night, located 1.5 kilometers from Sapporo Central Station. This guesthouse is a great value. The room has a living room and a bedroom, plus a kitchen and bathroom, and can sleep up to 7 people. The kitchen is clean, cozy, and fully equipped with brand-new utensils and supplies. When we did not want to eat out, we bought groceries at the supermarket to cook. The room also comes with a bicycle that has a back seat for a passenger, which made wandering around the city much easier and more relaxing.



Before checking in, customer service sends a confirmation email with the room key code. You find a combination lock in a cabinet next to the elevator on the first floor to get the key. When checking out, you put the key back. The bicycle also has a combination lock, and you must email customer service to get the code. The whole process is self-service; you never see any staff and do not even need to show your passport. I felt right at home here and will choose this place again if I come back.



After dropping off our luggage, we headed to Hokkaido University. Hokkaido University (Hokkaido University; Japanese hiragana: ほっかいどうだいがく), abbreviated as Hokudai (ほくだい), has large fields and botanical gardens on campus. In 2010, Professor Akira Suzuki from the Faculty of Engineering at Hokkaido University won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.













You must try the milk and yogurt in Hokkaido. The dairy products here are excellent, likely due to the geography. Hokkaido is at a similar latitude to New Zealand, and dairy products from this latitude are always delicious.

Shiroi Koibito Park

Shiroi Koibito is a famous Japanese chocolate sandwich cookie made in Sapporo. The factory is open to tourists and looks like a park. You can buy a ticket to watch the cookie-making process or even make your own chocolate cookies. The factory is about a 40-minute ride from Sapporo Central Station by city train.

















When we ordered food at the restaurant, the server knelt down to take our order.



You can sit on the windowsill on the top floor of the factory and enjoy high-quality milk chocolate desserts.



This is the view from the window.







The second floor of the main building has prayer rooms for Muslims, with separate rooms for men and women.









Prayer rooms in Japan are always equipped with a dedicated area for wudu.





Sapporo Mosque



Built in 1993, Sapporo Mosque is the oldest mosque in the Hokkaido region. The mosque has an official website that explains they provide services like conversion certificates and weddings, and they are open to visitors from all walks of life. When I first came to Sapporo Mosque, the door was locked. I later found the mosque's website and left a message saying I wanted to visit. When I returned on the third day, the door was open.



A brother (dosti) was sleeping inside the mosque. After I finished my namaz and was about to leave, I met another brother from Malaysia at the door who had just returned. He said he lives at the mosque. He had never heard of Hui Muslims and only knew about Uyghur Muslims in China. I told him about the situation of Muslims in China, explaining that the history of Muslims in China is actually much older than in Malaysia, and the Muslim population is not smaller than that of Malaysia.









Sapporo Mosque has two floors. The first floor is the men's prayer hall, and the second floor is the women's prayer hall and the kitchen. On Jumu'ah, there are so many people that many have to pray at the mosque entrance.



Horyu Ramen



This was our first meal in Sapporo at Horyu Ramen, a long-standing Japanese ramen shop founded in Showa 32 (1957). The shop was included in the Michelin Guide Hokkaido special edition in both 2012 and 2017. I found out about this shop on a Japanese halal food website, and it was also recommended in the Hokkaido halal travel guide I picked up at Otaru Mosque.



Baolong Ramen is not a halal restaurant, but they have a special halal menu for Muslims. After we sat down, the server replaced our seasonings and gave us disposable utensils. The halal meals are prepared using dedicated halal meat and cooking stations, and they do not add alcohol or other non-halal ingredients. Japanese people understand halal dietary restrictions well, so you can eat here with peace of mind.







You can tell this shop is very popular locally, though I did not recognize any of the many celebrities who have eaten here.



The chefs and servers are all elderly men who have likely worked at this shop for many years.





I had never eaten Japanese ramen in China, so this was my first time. At first, the texture tasted a lot like instant noodles. Then it hit me: didn't the Japanese invent instant noodles? It turns out instant noodles were modeled after the taste of Japanese ramen.



Japanese ramen broth is quite thick, oily, and salty. It is not like the clear broth of Lanzhou ramen, and Japanese ramen is higher in calories.



The halal menu has limited options. Besides a few types of beef ramen and lamb ramen, there are only these Japanese pan-fried dumplings (gyoza). The dumpling filling is made very carefully and has a tender texture. Overall, you can tell this shop has a very authentic Japanese flavor. I am very satisfied to be able to eat such authentic halal ramen in Hokkaido. After we paid the bill, the server walked us to the door and bowed to thank us before we left. The service in Japan is truly moving.

Baolong Ramen address: Minami6 Nishi3, Chuo-ku, Sapporo

Business hours:

11:00 AM - 1:00 AM

Sunday 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM

Closed on Tuesdays

Fugetsu Tanukikoji

(Japanese teppanyaki)



I found a Japanese teppanyaki restaurant with a halal menu in Tanukikoji 2-chome, the largest shopping street in Sapporo. Teppanyaki is a style of Japanese cooking.



The halal menu at this restaurant is different from the regular one. It notes that the beef and lamb are halal, but the chicken is not. They also use special halal seasonings.



The seasonings all have halal labels on them.





Baked potato with cheese.



Grilled lamb with egg inside. The portions here are quite large, so be careful not to waste food.



A whole squid and shrimp, served with butter.





You have to keep flipping the food on the iron griddle yourself. You can add mushrooms, which is fun. The restaurant is quite busy. It is rare to see lines at Japanese restaurants, so if it is over 80% full, it is considered very busy.

Address:

Fifth floor of MEGA Don Quijote (located above Tanukikoji 2-chome; you need to take the elevator from the Don Quijote store on the first floor).

Business hours:

11:00 AM - 9:40 PM

Friday and Saturday:

11:00 AM - 10:10 PM

DONBURI CHAYA

Donburi Chaya

(New Chitose Airport branch)



This is my favorite Hokkaido restaurant chain. They sell Japanese seafood rice bowls, sashimi, and more. I first ate at their Otaru branch. Every location has a halal menu and even provides a prayer room, which is incredibly thoughtful. Having a branch at New Chitose Airport is so convenient.



This shop is very popular on Japanese Muslim social media because the food is genuinely delicious.



It has a strong Japanese style.



They even specifically label the soy sauce as halal.



Enjoy the grilled squid and all the seafood dishes in Hokkaido. The ingredients are so fresh.





Salmon sashimi is my favorite Japanese dish. This bowl is small, with salmon slices on top of rice and yellow egg on the side. It has a light, sweet taste.



This is pan-fried fish, a good choice if you don't like raw food. The prices at this airport shop are the same as in the city. You can get full for 100 yuan per person, while a similar Japanese meal in Beijing costs at least 250 yuan.

Address: 3rd Floor, Departure Terminal, New Chitose International Airport.

Business hours: 10:30-20:00.

Open all year round.

Gyomu Super, Susukino Tanukikoji.

Gyomu Super, Susukino Tanukikoji store.

Gyomu Super.



If you like staying in vacation rentals and cooking at home, come to the Gyomu Super on Tanukikoji 2 shopping street. They sell halal ingredients here.



Cooking for yourself is important because we are heading to remote areas next. It is not easy to find halal restaurants in the mountains, and there are not many snacks you can eat in convenience stores.



Sometimes when we are tired and don't want to go out, we buy meat and side dishes at the supermarket to cook at our place. My wife is very skilled; she can make sushi rolls with seaweed. Thanks to her delicious sushi, we have plenty to eat when we travel in the mountains.



I said I felt at home at FEEL because the kitchen is fully equipped for making all kinds of food. It is hard to buy a halal breakfast outside in Japan in the morning, so being able to cook at home is a great joy.



Supermarkets here sell high-quality, fresh Hokkaido ingredients like meat, eggs, and milk at cheap prices. It is hard to find these back home, so I cherish every chance to eat this good food.



Eating this for breakfast is definitely a bit of a luxury.

Address:

Tanukikoji 2-chome, Minami 2-jo Nishi 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo.

Business hours:

9:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

Open all year round.

Otaru City.



It takes half an hour to reach Otaru City by light rail from Sapporo Central Station. Otaru is small and beautiful, and you can see it all in half a day. This is where director Shunji Iwai filmed the movie Love Letter.



There is a halal restaurant run by Pakistanis 100 meters to the left of the Otaru station exit, but it was closed that day. Always check restaurant hours when eating out in Japan, as many places close during public holidays.



Next to the halal restaurant is the Otaru seafood market. It is very lively and sells all kinds of fresh seafood that you can have cooked and eat right there in the shop.





Glass shops are very common in Otaru, and you can try making glass products yourself on the spot.





Hokkaido cantaloupes are very famous. They are truly sweet and juicy, comparable to Turpan cantaloupes, but the price is ridiculously high. One cantaloupe costs about 600 RMB, and even a small slice costs around 50 RMB.



Matcha ice cream at Japanese matcha shops is especially delicious, as matcha is a Japanese specialty.





A specialty store for the famous Japanese cartoon character Snoopy.



The music box shop in Otaru has beautifully crafted music boxes with great sound quality, but they are also very expensive. The stage in the center of the shop has scheduled performances.



The Hello Kitty themed cafe in Otaru.

These shops are all along the Otaru Canal, and you can finish strolling through them in one afternoon.

Otaru Mosque.



Otaru Mosque was built in 2008 and is mainly funded and maintained by a Pakistani named Dost. Pakistanis in Japan generally have good economic conditions, so the mosque is decorated beautifully. They monopolize the halal meat business in Japan, and many Pakistanis also work in the used car business.

Otaru Mosque has three floors: the first floor is the women's prayer hall, the second floor is the men's prayer hall, and the third floor is the classroom.













































DONBURI CHAYA

Donburi Chaya (Otaru Branch).



I must introduce this Japanese seafood restaurant, which was my first. When you arrive, you need to queue at the entrance. Guests must write their names and the number of people in their party on the form provided at the door, then wait for the server to arrange seating.



While waiting for your food, you can go to the prayer room on the second floor to perform namaz. It has all the facilities you need.







The Muslim menu is the one listed here. You cannot eat from the other menus because the ingredients used in those dishes are not halal.



The staff will explain in detail which ingredients in the restaurant are halal and that the kitchen tools are used exclusively for halal food.



Some Japanese soy sauces contain alcohol, so you must use halal soy sauce.



Pan-fried salmon



The seafood sashimi platter includes sea urchin, crab, large shrimp, salmon, and egg. This raw seafood has no fishy smell at all and tastes incredibly fresh.



Teppanyaki beef

This excellent Japanese seafood meal costs only about 100 yuan per person, and the service is great. You must try it when traveling in Hokkaido. There are currently three chain locations in Hokkaido, and the other two are in Sapporo.

Address: 3-24, Sakaimachi, Otaru

Business hours: 10:30-19:30

Open all year round.

Lake Shikotsu



Lake Shikotsu is the largest lake in Hokkaido and the second deepest freshwater lake in Japan, surrounded by active volcanoes. You can buy a one-day Hokkaido tour ticket at the tourist information window in Sapporo Central Station. It is 100 RMB cheaper than on Trip.com, and the service is the same. The guide is Japanese, and there is Chinese commentary on the bus. It costs 7,100 yen per person, which is about 460 RMB. This round-trip tour visits two major spots, Lake Shikotsu and Lake Toya, and there are other routes too. A nice non-halal Japanese lunch is included at noon, so Muslim travelers should bring their own food.



It takes one hour to travel by tour bus from Sapporo to Lake Shikotsu. On the way, you can listen to the guide talk about Hokkaido's history and fun facts. The bus has audio equipment, and you can wear headphones to hear the Chinese commentary. Hokkaido was developed late, only about a hundred years ago, but the environment is very well protected. Many brown bears live here. The legend that playing dead can help you avoid a bear attack is unreliable. This story comes from a Japanese man who happened to survive a bear attack by playing dead. In reality, if a bear attacks, playing dead does not work, and you just have to leave it to fate.



The scenery at Lake Shikotsu looks just like New Zealand, even the color tones are similar. If you visit in late autumn, you can see red leaves covering the mountains.





Lake Toya



Lake Toya is part of Shikotsu-Toya National Park. It is a lake formed by a volcanic eruption, so the volcanic hot springs at Lake Toya are very famous.



You can take a cable car to the top of the mountain to look down at the panoramic view of Lake Toya.





This is the Manseikaku Hot Spring Hotel at Lake Toya, where you can enjoy volcanic hot springs at a cheap price. You can even get a 10% discount with your tour bus ticket. In Japan, you must bathe before entering the hot spring, you cannot wear clothes, and men and women are separated.









This is the Mount Usu crater at the top of the mountain. It is an active volcano, and you can walk very close to it. The crater is still smoking and could erupt at any time.



In the distance is Mount Yotei, the highest peak in Hokkaido. There are downward-pointing arrows on both sides of the roads in Hokkaido, which were mentioned in the movie If You Are the One. These arrows are to guide drivers on snowy days. Hokkaido gets a lot of snow that covers the road, and these signs prevent drivers from driving off the shoulder.



The one-day trip ends here. This tour group has tourists from various countries, but there are few Chinese people, and it is mostly Japanese. The guide is enthusiastic and detailed throughout the trip, there is no forced shopping, and prices at the scenic spots are fair. Tourists can also use their bus tickets to get discounts when shopping at the scenic spots. My vacation time was limited this time, but next time I come back, I will book this one-day tour again to see other beautiful sights in Hokkaido.



End

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Halal food map of Tokyo

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