Beijing Food Guide
Best Halal Food in Beijing: Xixinglong Street Cafe, Lao Huihui Dumplings, and Shanxian Lamb Soup Guide
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[Internet Repost]
Check out this collection featuring 67 real-life photos from the 64th edition of our Beijing Halal food map. We’ve scouted out specialty Halal cafes on Xixinglong Street, handmade dumplings at Lao Huihui, Xiaoxianyang Shanxian lamb soup, and the Halal buffet at the Comfort Hotel to give Beijing foodies the ultimate guide for your next visit.
1. JM Cafe, Xixinglong Street Flagship Store
2. Lao Huihui Dumpling House
3. Xiaoxianyang Shanxian Lamb Soup
4. Comfort Hotel Halal Buffet
5. Xizhuanfang Shabu-Shabu Museum
6. Zanka Pakistani Restaurant
7. Ma’s Palace Cheese
8. Sultan Turkish Restaurant
9. Bani Restaurant
10. Northwest Chencang Mianpi (steamed cold noodles) & Liangfen (starch jelly)
11. Liu’s Watch Repair & Barbecue
12. JM Cafe, Xixinglong Street Flagship Store
Xixinglong Street is located in the Qianmen area. After a major urban planning update during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the street is now home to a bunch of super aesthetic boutique shops—and this JM Cafe is one of them.
Every JM location has its own vibe. For this flagship store, they hired the famous Japanese designer Aoyama Shuhei, who’s a bit of an internet celebrity known for his high-end work, especially in renovating traditional hutong courtyards.
The first floor is all about espresso and baked goods, while the second floor serves up pour-over coffee using award-winning beans.
The view from the second floor is actually nicer. Word is that Aoyama Shuhei’s whole concept was to encourage people to interact with strangers. So, the first floor is laid out like a theater, and the second floor is centered around a long table—like a conference room—where strangers face each other. The designer really wanted to help people make a connection.
When you’re ordering at the counter, you’re standing right in front of the casual seating area, so it’s pretty much guaranteed that everyone will be watching whoever walks by.
All the baked goods are made fresh daily. The Hui Muslim owner keeps a tight handle on the quality, and all the branches follow a standardized supply chain.
2. Lao Huihui Dumpling House
Ever since the Junlian Dumpling House in Niujie closed down, finding really solid dumplings meant traveling a bit further. But now, there’s finally a solid alternative: Lao Huihui Dumpling House. It’s a chain that already opened a spot near Jiao Da (Beijing Jiaotong University), and they specialize in all kinds of dumpling fillings.
They’ve got an open kitchen, so you can see four or five people busy hand-wrapping and boiling the dumplings right in front of you. Dumplings are best served fresh, batch by batch, so you can always count on them being piping hot.
They have a signature tomato and beef dumpling that I tried. It’s definitely unique—I wouldn’t call it amazing, but it’s not bad either. It’s just that I’m not used to that kind of creative flavor profile. Their traditional beef with celery and lamb with scallion dumplings are honestly delicious. Plus, they serve classic Beijing-style stir-fried dishes that are really affordable and come in huge portions.
3. Xiaoxianyang Shanxian Lamb Soup
Xiaoxianyang Shanxian Lamb Soup is a chain, but this location in You'anmen is the only one I found that is fully Halal. They specialize in all sorts of lamb soups and lamb dishes, and they even serve Jinzhou-style barbecue.
They open up at 7:00 AM and keep the kitchen running until 4:00 AM.
You have to pair their lamb soup with a diaolu shaobing (a flatbread baked in a hanging oven). The soup itself is solid—the meat doesn't have that gamey smell and the broth is rich—but the flatbread was a letdown because it wasn't crispy enough.
They also serve lamb rice noodles, which I tried. The flavor is basically identical to the lamb soup.
Honestly, diaolu shaobing really needs to be served fresh out of the oven to be any good, and theirs was pretty bland.
4. Comfort Hotel Halal Buffet
The Comfort Hotel in Niujie is now offering a halal breakfast to the public for 28 yuan a head, with both Western and Chinese options available.
When I posted about this on Xiaohongshu, a lot of people complained that 28 yuan was too expensive and that you're better off ordering a la carte at a restaurant. I really don't get that logic; 28 yuan at a local spot barely gets you a bowl of lamian (hand-pulled noodles), and you’re definitely not getting the variety you get at a hotel breakfast buffet.
I love hotel breakfasts because the variety lets me eat a balanced and healthy meal. I rarely eat traditional Beijing-style breakfasts anymore—they’re just too greasy and packed with carbs, which I don't think is great for you.
For those 28 yuan, you get everything: veggies, fruit, desserts, milk, eggs, and staples. Plus, it's all-you-can-eat. Seriously, 28 yuan only buys you maybe 5 buns down at Hongji.
Looking at the headscarves the ladies in the back kitchen are wearing, you can tell right away they're from the Northwest.
5. Xizhuanfang Hot Pot Museum
Xizhuanfang is a new hot pot museum in Niujie. It’s spread across three courtyards tucked away in the hutongs (traditional narrow alleyways). The vibe is top-tier—it’s got that classic cultural aesthetic but feels upscale enough for a business meeting.
The courtyards are filled with flowers, birds, and fish, and they’ve got a bunch of antiques related to the history of hot pot on display.
If you follow your GPS, it’ll take you to Courtyard No. 1, which has most of the antiques. Courtyards No. 2 and No. 3 are in a different alleyway and are a bit more quiet and secluded.
The only downside is that they use alcohol stoves. They give off a bit of an odor, and the heat control isn't great. It would be much better if they switched to charcoal.
The ingredients are all high quality; they even serve top-tier grapes as a pre-meal fruit plate. Another highlight is their shaobing—you can choose from four types and get a sampler platter. I highly recommend the caramel shaobing; it’s similar to a tang huoshao (brown sugar pastry). Expect to spend at least 150 yuan per person.
6. Zanka Pakistani Restaurant
Zanka is a new Pakistani spot in the Chaoyang district that hosts a buffet on Fridays and Saturdays. The space is small, but it’s decorated pretty nicely.
When we went for lunch, there was only one other table occupied, probably because the location is a bit tucked away.
There’s no buffet on weekdays, so you have to order a la carte. The staff are all 'Pak-Tie' (a colloquial term for Pakistani friends) and don't speak Chinese.
I brought my son along because he’s a huge fan of pani puri (crispy hollow balls filled with spiced water), and I saw it was on the menu.
They definitely make the pani puri look pretty, but they weren't crispy and the texture was off, which was a huge disappointment for Fahim.
The chicken kebab was actually pretty good—the meat was tender with a nice little spicy kick.
The Peshawar chicken curry was just okay, and the plain naan wasn't really my style. I prefer a thinner, buttery naan. Overall, the food here was a bit lacking, even though the prices are cheap.
7. Maji Palace Cheese
Ma's Dairy has been around for over a decade. Compared to Naolao Wei (a famous dairy shop), it's cheaper and the portions are bigger, but honestly, it doesn't taste as good.
Their guozigan (preserved fruit drink) and dairy treats have a bit of a budget vibe, and the guozigan is super sweet. I still prefer Naolao Wei in Niujie. Ma’s used to have two locations, but the one in Guangqumen shut down, so now there’s only the Nongguangli branch left.
8. Sultan Turkish Restaurant
A new Sultan Turkish Restaurant just opened in the C-Joy City mall—that makes two spots in Beijing now. They’ve already got a huge following with multiple locations across Shanghai, Yiwu, and Guangzhou.
The vibe is pretty decent, though I’d say it’s a notch below Xiting Xiuse, which feels a bit more upscale and elegant.
The assorted mixed grill is delicious. I used to grab this kind of Middle Eastern food with my son back when we were in Malaysia because it’s not spicy, making it perfect for kids.
The Turkish balloon bread is another hit with my son; he can easily polish off half of it on his own.
Sultan teamed up with MADO ice cream, so you can get authentic Turkish goat milk ice cream at every location. My son doesn't really appreciate it though—he's not a fan of dairy products—but I personally love the MADO stuff.
9. Bani Restaurant
This newly opened Bani Pakistani restaurant is less than three kilometers away from the Zanka place I mentioned earlier, and they offer an affordable weekday buffet.
The interior is definitely prettier, and the service is more attentive. Plus, the lunch buffet is only 78 yuan.
That said, they only have eight dishes for the lunch buffet, and the taste is pretty average. Compared to all the other Pakistani spots in the city, I still prefer the China-Pakistan Friendship Restaurant.
The buffet drinks and the crunchy pani puri (hollow, crispy dough balls filled with spiced water and chickpeas) are a huge hit with my son; he can fill up on those alone.
10. Northwest Chencang Mianpi and Liangfen
I stumbled upon this Baoji-style liangfen (starch jelly) and mianpi (cold steamed noodles) shop near Madian. 'Chencang' is actually a district in Baoji.
There’s just one uncle running the place, but he’s super friendly. We asked for a two-way combo of mianpi, and he actually made us a three-way combo instead. It was delicious and perfectly seasoned, but it’s definitely more of a snack—you won't be full if you treat it as a main meal.
There’s only one table in the whole shop, which is tucked away inside the first floor of the Fulite Business Building. It's not the easiest place to find.
11. Liu's Watch Repair and BBQ
This place looks like a watch repair shop from the outside, but once you step inside, it’s a full-on barbecue joint.
It’s a classic Beijing-style BBQ spot with plenty of space, including both a courtyard and indoor seating. If you sit inside, you're surrounded by all these clocks. Since they’re all set to different times, you’ll hear them chiming and going off every now and then.
The guy grilling the skewers looks like he's from Xinjiang. Their prices are on the higher side, and since they grill order by order, the service is pretty slow. The beef skewers were a bit tough, the lamb tendon was chewy, and the lamb cartilage lacked flavor. I’d only recommend their lamb rib meat, which is tender—though it’ll run you 10 bucks a skewer. view all
Check out this collection featuring 67 real-life photos from the 64th edition of our Beijing Halal food map. We’ve scouted out specialty Halal cafes on Xixinglong Street, handmade dumplings at Lao Huihui, Xiaoxianyang Shanxian lamb soup, and the Halal buffet at the Comfort Hotel to give Beijing foodies the ultimate guide for your next visit.
1. JM Cafe, Xixinglong Street Flagship Store
2. Lao Huihui Dumpling House
3. Xiaoxianyang Shanxian Lamb Soup
4. Comfort Hotel Halal Buffet
5. Xizhuanfang Shabu-Shabu Museum
6. Zanka Pakistani Restaurant
7. Ma’s Palace Cheese
8. Sultan Turkish Restaurant
9. Bani Restaurant
10. Northwest Chencang Mianpi (steamed cold noodles) & Liangfen (starch jelly)
11. Liu’s Watch Repair & Barbecue
12. JM Cafe, Xixinglong Street Flagship Store
Xixinglong Street is located in the Qianmen area. After a major urban planning update during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the street is now home to a bunch of super aesthetic boutique shops—and this JM Cafe is one of them.
Every JM location has its own vibe. For this flagship store, they hired the famous Japanese designer Aoyama Shuhei, who’s a bit of an internet celebrity known for his high-end work, especially in renovating traditional hutong courtyards.
The first floor is all about espresso and baked goods, while the second floor serves up pour-over coffee using award-winning beans.
The view from the second floor is actually nicer. Word is that Aoyama Shuhei’s whole concept was to encourage people to interact with strangers. So, the first floor is laid out like a theater, and the second floor is centered around a long table—like a conference room—where strangers face each other. The designer really wanted to help people make a connection.
When you’re ordering at the counter, you’re standing right in front of the casual seating area, so it’s pretty much guaranteed that everyone will be watching whoever walks by.
All the baked goods are made fresh daily. The Hui Muslim owner keeps a tight handle on the quality, and all the branches follow a standardized supply chain.
2. Lao Huihui Dumpling House
Ever since the Junlian Dumpling House in Niujie closed down, finding really solid dumplings meant traveling a bit further. But now, there’s finally a solid alternative: Lao Huihui Dumpling House. It’s a chain that already opened a spot near Jiao Da (Beijing Jiaotong University), and they specialize in all kinds of dumpling fillings.
They’ve got an open kitchen, so you can see four or five people busy hand-wrapping and boiling the dumplings right in front of you. Dumplings are best served fresh, batch by batch, so you can always count on them being piping hot.
They have a signature tomato and beef dumpling that I tried. It’s definitely unique—I wouldn’t call it amazing, but it’s not bad either. It’s just that I’m not used to that kind of creative flavor profile. Their traditional beef with celery and lamb with scallion dumplings are honestly delicious. Plus, they serve classic Beijing-style stir-fried dishes that are really affordable and come in huge portions.
3. Xiaoxianyang Shanxian Lamb Soup
Xiaoxianyang Shanxian Lamb Soup is a chain, but this location in You'anmen is the only one I found that is fully Halal. They specialize in all sorts of lamb soups and lamb dishes, and they even serve Jinzhou-style barbecue.
They open up at 7:00 AM and keep the kitchen running until 4:00 AM.
You have to pair their lamb soup with a diaolu shaobing (a flatbread baked in a hanging oven). The soup itself is solid—the meat doesn't have that gamey smell and the broth is rich—but the flatbread was a letdown because it wasn't crispy enough.
They also serve lamb rice noodles, which I tried. The flavor is basically identical to the lamb soup.
Honestly, diaolu shaobing really needs to be served fresh out of the oven to be any good, and theirs was pretty bland.
4. Comfort Hotel Halal Buffet
The Comfort Hotel in Niujie is now offering a halal breakfast to the public for 28 yuan a head, with both Western and Chinese options available.
When I posted about this on Xiaohongshu, a lot of people complained that 28 yuan was too expensive and that you're better off ordering a la carte at a restaurant. I really don't get that logic; 28 yuan at a local spot barely gets you a bowl of lamian (hand-pulled noodles), and you’re definitely not getting the variety you get at a hotel breakfast buffet.
I love hotel breakfasts because the variety lets me eat a balanced and healthy meal. I rarely eat traditional Beijing-style breakfasts anymore—they’re just too greasy and packed with carbs, which I don't think is great for you.
For those 28 yuan, you get everything: veggies, fruit, desserts, milk, eggs, and staples. Plus, it's all-you-can-eat. Seriously, 28 yuan only buys you maybe 5 buns down at Hongji.
Looking at the headscarves the ladies in the back kitchen are wearing, you can tell right away they're from the Northwest.
5. Xizhuanfang Hot Pot Museum
Xizhuanfang is a new hot pot museum in Niujie. It’s spread across three courtyards tucked away in the hutongs (traditional narrow alleyways). The vibe is top-tier—it’s got that classic cultural aesthetic but feels upscale enough for a business meeting.
The courtyards are filled with flowers, birds, and fish, and they’ve got a bunch of antiques related to the history of hot pot on display.
If you follow your GPS, it’ll take you to Courtyard No. 1, which has most of the antiques. Courtyards No. 2 and No. 3 are in a different alleyway and are a bit more quiet and secluded.
The only downside is that they use alcohol stoves. They give off a bit of an odor, and the heat control isn't great. It would be much better if they switched to charcoal.
The ingredients are all high quality; they even serve top-tier grapes as a pre-meal fruit plate. Another highlight is their shaobing—you can choose from four types and get a sampler platter. I highly recommend the caramel shaobing; it’s similar to a tang huoshao (brown sugar pastry). Expect to spend at least 150 yuan per person.
6. Zanka Pakistani Restaurant
Zanka is a new Pakistani spot in the Chaoyang district that hosts a buffet on Fridays and Saturdays. The space is small, but it’s decorated pretty nicely.
When we went for lunch, there was only one other table occupied, probably because the location is a bit tucked away.
There’s no buffet on weekdays, so you have to order a la carte. The staff are all 'Pak-Tie' (a colloquial term for Pakistani friends) and don't speak Chinese.
I brought my son along because he’s a huge fan of pani puri (crispy hollow balls filled with spiced water), and I saw it was on the menu.
They definitely make the pani puri look pretty, but they weren't crispy and the texture was off, which was a huge disappointment for Fahim.
The chicken kebab was actually pretty good—the meat was tender with a nice little spicy kick.
The Peshawar chicken curry was just okay, and the plain naan wasn't really my style. I prefer a thinner, buttery naan. Overall, the food here was a bit lacking, even though the prices are cheap.
7. Maji Palace Cheese
Ma's Dairy has been around for over a decade. Compared to Naolao Wei (a famous dairy shop), it's cheaper and the portions are bigger, but honestly, it doesn't taste as good.
Their guozigan (preserved fruit drink) and dairy treats have a bit of a budget vibe, and the guozigan is super sweet. I still prefer Naolao Wei in Niujie. Ma’s used to have two locations, but the one in Guangqumen shut down, so now there’s only the Nongguangli branch left.
8. Sultan Turkish Restaurant
A new Sultan Turkish Restaurant just opened in the C-Joy City mall—that makes two spots in Beijing now. They’ve already got a huge following with multiple locations across Shanghai, Yiwu, and Guangzhou.
The vibe is pretty decent, though I’d say it’s a notch below Xiting Xiuse, which feels a bit more upscale and elegant.
The assorted mixed grill is delicious. I used to grab this kind of Middle Eastern food with my son back when we were in Malaysia because it’s not spicy, making it perfect for kids.
The Turkish balloon bread is another hit with my son; he can easily polish off half of it on his own.
Sultan teamed up with MADO ice cream, so you can get authentic Turkish goat milk ice cream at every location. My son doesn't really appreciate it though—he's not a fan of dairy products—but I personally love the MADO stuff.
9. Bani Restaurant
This newly opened Bani Pakistani restaurant is less than three kilometers away from the Zanka place I mentioned earlier, and they offer an affordable weekday buffet.
The interior is definitely prettier, and the service is more attentive. Plus, the lunch buffet is only 78 yuan.
That said, they only have eight dishes for the lunch buffet, and the taste is pretty average. Compared to all the other Pakistani spots in the city, I still prefer the China-Pakistan Friendship Restaurant.
The buffet drinks and the crunchy pani puri (hollow, crispy dough balls filled with spiced water and chickpeas) are a huge hit with my son; he can fill up on those alone.
10. Northwest Chencang Mianpi and Liangfen
I stumbled upon this Baoji-style liangfen (starch jelly) and mianpi (cold steamed noodles) shop near Madian. 'Chencang' is actually a district in Baoji.
There’s just one uncle running the place, but he’s super friendly. We asked for a two-way combo of mianpi, and he actually made us a three-way combo instead. It was delicious and perfectly seasoned, but it’s definitely more of a snack—you won't be full if you treat it as a main meal.
There’s only one table in the whole shop, which is tucked away inside the first floor of the Fulite Business Building. It's not the easiest place to find.
11. Liu's Watch Repair and BBQ
This place looks like a watch repair shop from the outside, but once you step inside, it’s a full-on barbecue joint.
It’s a classic Beijing-style BBQ spot with plenty of space, including both a courtyard and indoor seating. If you sit inside, you're surrounded by all these clocks. Since they’re all set to different times, you’ll hear them chiming and going off every now and then.
The guy grilling the skewers looks like he's from Xinjiang. Their prices are on the higher side, and since they grill order by order, the service is pretty slow. The beef skewers were a bit tough, the lamb tendon was chewy, and the lamb cartilage lacked flavor. I’d only recommend their lamb rib meat, which is tender—though it’ll run you 10 bucks a skewer. view all
[Internet Repost]
Check out this collection featuring 67 real-life photos from the 64th edition of our Beijing Halal food map. We’ve scouted out specialty Halal cafes on Xixinglong Street, handmade dumplings at Lao Huihui, Xiaoxianyang Shanxian lamb soup, and the Halal buffet at the Comfort Hotel to give Beijing foodies the ultimate guide for your next visit.
1. JM Cafe, Xixinglong Street Flagship Store
2. Lao Huihui Dumpling House
3. Xiaoxianyang Shanxian Lamb Soup
4. Comfort Hotel Halal Buffet
5. Xizhuanfang Shabu-Shabu Museum
6. Zanka Pakistani Restaurant
7. Ma’s Palace Cheese
8. Sultan Turkish Restaurant
9. Bani Restaurant
10. Northwest Chencang Mianpi (steamed cold noodles) & Liangfen (starch jelly)
11. Liu’s Watch Repair & Barbecue
12. JM Cafe, Xixinglong Street Flagship Store
Xixinglong Street is located in the Qianmen area. After a major urban planning update during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the street is now home to a bunch of super aesthetic boutique shops—and this JM Cafe is one of them.
Every JM location has its own vibe. For this flagship store, they hired the famous Japanese designer Aoyama Shuhei, who’s a bit of an internet celebrity known for his high-end work, especially in renovating traditional hutong courtyards.
The first floor is all about espresso and baked goods, while the second floor serves up pour-over coffee using award-winning beans.
The view from the second floor is actually nicer. Word is that Aoyama Shuhei’s whole concept was to encourage people to interact with strangers. So, the first floor is laid out like a theater, and the second floor is centered around a long table—like a conference room—where strangers face each other. The designer really wanted to help people make a connection.
When you’re ordering at the counter, you’re standing right in front of the casual seating area, so it’s pretty much guaranteed that everyone will be watching whoever walks by.
All the baked goods are made fresh daily. The Hui Muslim owner keeps a tight handle on the quality, and all the branches follow a standardized supply chain.
2. Lao Huihui Dumpling House
Ever since the Junlian Dumpling House in Niujie closed down, finding really solid dumplings meant traveling a bit further. But now, there’s finally a solid alternative: Lao Huihui Dumpling House. It’s a chain that already opened a spot near Jiao Da (Beijing Jiaotong University), and they specialize in all kinds of dumpling fillings.
They’ve got an open kitchen, so you can see four or five people busy hand-wrapping and boiling the dumplings right in front of you. Dumplings are best served fresh, batch by batch, so you can always count on them being piping hot.
They have a signature tomato and beef dumpling that I tried. It’s definitely unique—I wouldn’t call it amazing, but it’s not bad either. It’s just that I’m not used to that kind of creative flavor profile. Their traditional beef with celery and lamb with scallion dumplings are honestly delicious. Plus, they serve classic Beijing-style stir-fried dishes that are really affordable and come in huge portions.
3. Xiaoxianyang Shanxian Lamb Soup
Xiaoxianyang Shanxian Lamb Soup is a chain, but this location in You'anmen is the only one I found that is fully Halal. They specialize in all sorts of lamb soups and lamb dishes, and they even serve Jinzhou-style barbecue.
They open up at 7:00 AM and keep the kitchen running until 4:00 AM.
You have to pair their lamb soup with a diaolu shaobing (a flatbread baked in a hanging oven). The soup itself is solid—the meat doesn't have that gamey smell and the broth is rich—but the flatbread was a letdown because it wasn't crispy enough.
They also serve lamb rice noodles, which I tried. The flavor is basically identical to the lamb soup.
Honestly, diaolu shaobing really needs to be served fresh out of the oven to be any good, and theirs was pretty bland.
4. Comfort Hotel Halal Buffet
The Comfort Hotel in Niujie is now offering a halal breakfast to the public for 28 yuan a head, with both Western and Chinese options available.
When I posted about this on Xiaohongshu, a lot of people complained that 28 yuan was too expensive and that you're better off ordering a la carte at a restaurant. I really don't get that logic; 28 yuan at a local spot barely gets you a bowl of lamian (hand-pulled noodles), and you’re definitely not getting the variety you get at a hotel breakfast buffet.
I love hotel breakfasts because the variety lets me eat a balanced and healthy meal. I rarely eat traditional Beijing-style breakfasts anymore—they’re just too greasy and packed with carbs, which I don't think is great for you.
For those 28 yuan, you get everything: veggies, fruit, desserts, milk, eggs, and staples. Plus, it's all-you-can-eat. Seriously, 28 yuan only buys you maybe 5 buns down at Hongji.
Looking at the headscarves the ladies in the back kitchen are wearing, you can tell right away they're from the Northwest.
5. Xizhuanfang Hot Pot Museum
Xizhuanfang is a new hot pot museum in Niujie. It’s spread across three courtyards tucked away in the hutongs (traditional narrow alleyways). The vibe is top-tier—it’s got that classic cultural aesthetic but feels upscale enough for a business meeting.
The courtyards are filled with flowers, birds, and fish, and they’ve got a bunch of antiques related to the history of hot pot on display.
If you follow your GPS, it’ll take you to Courtyard No. 1, which has most of the antiques. Courtyards No. 2 and No. 3 are in a different alleyway and are a bit more quiet and secluded.
The only downside is that they use alcohol stoves. They give off a bit of an odor, and the heat control isn't great. It would be much better if they switched to charcoal.
The ingredients are all high quality; they even serve top-tier grapes as a pre-meal fruit plate. Another highlight is their shaobing—you can choose from four types and get a sampler platter. I highly recommend the caramel shaobing; it’s similar to a tang huoshao (brown sugar pastry). Expect to spend at least 150 yuan per person.
6. Zanka Pakistani Restaurant
Zanka is a new Pakistani spot in the Chaoyang district that hosts a buffet on Fridays and Saturdays. The space is small, but it’s decorated pretty nicely.
When we went for lunch, there was only one other table occupied, probably because the location is a bit tucked away.
There’s no buffet on weekdays, so you have to order a la carte. The staff are all 'Pak-Tie' (a colloquial term for Pakistani friends) and don't speak Chinese.
I brought my son along because he’s a huge fan of pani puri (crispy hollow balls filled with spiced water), and I saw it was on the menu.
They definitely make the pani puri look pretty, but they weren't crispy and the texture was off, which was a huge disappointment for Fahim.
The chicken kebab was actually pretty good—the meat was tender with a nice little spicy kick.
The Peshawar chicken curry was just okay, and the plain naan wasn't really my style. I prefer a thinner, buttery naan. Overall, the food here was a bit lacking, even though the prices are cheap.
7. Maji Palace Cheese
Ma's Dairy has been around for over a decade. Compared to Naolao Wei (a famous dairy shop), it's cheaper and the portions are bigger, but honestly, it doesn't taste as good.
Their guozigan (preserved fruit drink) and dairy treats have a bit of a budget vibe, and the guozigan is super sweet. I still prefer Naolao Wei in Niujie. Ma’s used to have two locations, but the one in Guangqumen shut down, so now there’s only the Nongguangli branch left.
8. Sultan Turkish Restaurant
A new Sultan Turkish Restaurant just opened in the C-Joy City mall—that makes two spots in Beijing now. They’ve already got a huge following with multiple locations across Shanghai, Yiwu, and Guangzhou.
The vibe is pretty decent, though I’d say it’s a notch below Xiting Xiuse, which feels a bit more upscale and elegant.
The assorted mixed grill is delicious. I used to grab this kind of Middle Eastern food with my son back when we were in Malaysia because it’s not spicy, making it perfect for kids.
The Turkish balloon bread is another hit with my son; he can easily polish off half of it on his own.
Sultan teamed up with MADO ice cream, so you can get authentic Turkish goat milk ice cream at every location. My son doesn't really appreciate it though—he's not a fan of dairy products—but I personally love the MADO stuff.
9. Bani Restaurant
This newly opened Bani Pakistani restaurant is less than three kilometers away from the Zanka place I mentioned earlier, and they offer an affordable weekday buffet.
The interior is definitely prettier, and the service is more attentive. Plus, the lunch buffet is only 78 yuan.
That said, they only have eight dishes for the lunch buffet, and the taste is pretty average. Compared to all the other Pakistani spots in the city, I still prefer the China-Pakistan Friendship Restaurant.
The buffet drinks and the crunchy pani puri (hollow, crispy dough balls filled with spiced water and chickpeas) are a huge hit with my son; he can fill up on those alone.
10. Northwest Chencang Mianpi and Liangfen
I stumbled upon this Baoji-style liangfen (starch jelly) and mianpi (cold steamed noodles) shop near Madian. 'Chencang' is actually a district in Baoji.
There’s just one uncle running the place, but he’s super friendly. We asked for a two-way combo of mianpi, and he actually made us a three-way combo instead. It was delicious and perfectly seasoned, but it’s definitely more of a snack—you won't be full if you treat it as a main meal.
There’s only one table in the whole shop, which is tucked away inside the first floor of the Fulite Business Building. It's not the easiest place to find.
11. Liu's Watch Repair and BBQ
This place looks like a watch repair shop from the outside, but once you step inside, it’s a full-on barbecue joint.
It’s a classic Beijing-style BBQ spot with plenty of space, including both a courtyard and indoor seating. If you sit inside, you're surrounded by all these clocks. Since they’re all set to different times, you’ll hear them chiming and going off every now and then.
The guy grilling the skewers looks like he's from Xinjiang. Their prices are on the higher side, and since they grill order by order, the service is pretty slow. The beef skewers were a bit tough, the lamb tendon was chewy, and the lamb cartilage lacked flavor. I’d only recommend their lamb rib meat, which is tender—though it’ll run you 10 bucks a skewer.
Check out this collection featuring 67 real-life photos from the 64th edition of our Beijing Halal food map. We’ve scouted out specialty Halal cafes on Xixinglong Street, handmade dumplings at Lao Huihui, Xiaoxianyang Shanxian lamb soup, and the Halal buffet at the Comfort Hotel to give Beijing foodies the ultimate guide for your next visit.
1. JM Cafe, Xixinglong Street Flagship Store
2. Lao Huihui Dumpling House
3. Xiaoxianyang Shanxian Lamb Soup
4. Comfort Hotel Halal Buffet
5. Xizhuanfang Shabu-Shabu Museum
6. Zanka Pakistani Restaurant
7. Ma’s Palace Cheese
8. Sultan Turkish Restaurant
9. Bani Restaurant
10. Northwest Chencang Mianpi (steamed cold noodles) & Liangfen (starch jelly)
11. Liu’s Watch Repair & Barbecue
12. JM Cafe, Xixinglong Street Flagship Store
Xixinglong Street is located in the Qianmen area. After a major urban planning update during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the street is now home to a bunch of super aesthetic boutique shops—and this JM Cafe is one of them.
Every JM location has its own vibe. For this flagship store, they hired the famous Japanese designer Aoyama Shuhei, who’s a bit of an internet celebrity known for his high-end work, especially in renovating traditional hutong courtyards.
The first floor is all about espresso and baked goods, while the second floor serves up pour-over coffee using award-winning beans.
The view from the second floor is actually nicer. Word is that Aoyama Shuhei’s whole concept was to encourage people to interact with strangers. So, the first floor is laid out like a theater, and the second floor is centered around a long table—like a conference room—where strangers face each other. The designer really wanted to help people make a connection.
When you’re ordering at the counter, you’re standing right in front of the casual seating area, so it’s pretty much guaranteed that everyone will be watching whoever walks by.
All the baked goods are made fresh daily. The Hui Muslim owner keeps a tight handle on the quality, and all the branches follow a standardized supply chain.
2. Lao Huihui Dumpling House
Ever since the Junlian Dumpling House in Niujie closed down, finding really solid dumplings meant traveling a bit further. But now, there’s finally a solid alternative: Lao Huihui Dumpling House. It’s a chain that already opened a spot near Jiao Da (Beijing Jiaotong University), and they specialize in all kinds of dumpling fillings.
They’ve got an open kitchen, so you can see four or five people busy hand-wrapping and boiling the dumplings right in front of you. Dumplings are best served fresh, batch by batch, so you can always count on them being piping hot.
They have a signature tomato and beef dumpling that I tried. It’s definitely unique—I wouldn’t call it amazing, but it’s not bad either. It’s just that I’m not used to that kind of creative flavor profile. Their traditional beef with celery and lamb with scallion dumplings are honestly delicious. Plus, they serve classic Beijing-style stir-fried dishes that are really affordable and come in huge portions.
3. Xiaoxianyang Shanxian Lamb Soup
Xiaoxianyang Shanxian Lamb Soup is a chain, but this location in You'anmen is the only one I found that is fully Halal. They specialize in all sorts of lamb soups and lamb dishes, and they even serve Jinzhou-style barbecue.
They open up at 7:00 AM and keep the kitchen running until 4:00 AM.
You have to pair their lamb soup with a diaolu shaobing (a flatbread baked in a hanging oven). The soup itself is solid—the meat doesn't have that gamey smell and the broth is rich—but the flatbread was a letdown because it wasn't crispy enough.
They also serve lamb rice noodles, which I tried. The flavor is basically identical to the lamb soup.
Honestly, diaolu shaobing really needs to be served fresh out of the oven to be any good, and theirs was pretty bland.
4. Comfort Hotel Halal Buffet
The Comfort Hotel in Niujie is now offering a halal breakfast to the public for 28 yuan a head, with both Western and Chinese options available.
When I posted about this on Xiaohongshu, a lot of people complained that 28 yuan was too expensive and that you're better off ordering a la carte at a restaurant. I really don't get that logic; 28 yuan at a local spot barely gets you a bowl of lamian (hand-pulled noodles), and you’re definitely not getting the variety you get at a hotel breakfast buffet.
I love hotel breakfasts because the variety lets me eat a balanced and healthy meal. I rarely eat traditional Beijing-style breakfasts anymore—they’re just too greasy and packed with carbs, which I don't think is great for you.
For those 28 yuan, you get everything: veggies, fruit, desserts, milk, eggs, and staples. Plus, it's all-you-can-eat. Seriously, 28 yuan only buys you maybe 5 buns down at Hongji.
Looking at the headscarves the ladies in the back kitchen are wearing, you can tell right away they're from the Northwest.
5. Xizhuanfang Hot Pot Museum
Xizhuanfang is a new hot pot museum in Niujie. It’s spread across three courtyards tucked away in the hutongs (traditional narrow alleyways). The vibe is top-tier—it’s got that classic cultural aesthetic but feels upscale enough for a business meeting.
The courtyards are filled with flowers, birds, and fish, and they’ve got a bunch of antiques related to the history of hot pot on display.
If you follow your GPS, it’ll take you to Courtyard No. 1, which has most of the antiques. Courtyards No. 2 and No. 3 are in a different alleyway and are a bit more quiet and secluded.
The only downside is that they use alcohol stoves. They give off a bit of an odor, and the heat control isn't great. It would be much better if they switched to charcoal.
The ingredients are all high quality; they even serve top-tier grapes as a pre-meal fruit plate. Another highlight is their shaobing—you can choose from four types and get a sampler platter. I highly recommend the caramel shaobing; it’s similar to a tang huoshao (brown sugar pastry). Expect to spend at least 150 yuan per person.
6. Zanka Pakistani Restaurant
Zanka is a new Pakistani spot in the Chaoyang district that hosts a buffet on Fridays and Saturdays. The space is small, but it’s decorated pretty nicely.
When we went for lunch, there was only one other table occupied, probably because the location is a bit tucked away.
There’s no buffet on weekdays, so you have to order a la carte. The staff are all 'Pak-Tie' (a colloquial term for Pakistani friends) and don't speak Chinese.
I brought my son along because he’s a huge fan of pani puri (crispy hollow balls filled with spiced water), and I saw it was on the menu.
They definitely make the pani puri look pretty, but they weren't crispy and the texture was off, which was a huge disappointment for Fahim.
The chicken kebab was actually pretty good—the meat was tender with a nice little spicy kick.
The Peshawar chicken curry was just okay, and the plain naan wasn't really my style. I prefer a thinner, buttery naan. Overall, the food here was a bit lacking, even though the prices are cheap.
7. Maji Palace Cheese
Ma's Dairy has been around for over a decade. Compared to Naolao Wei (a famous dairy shop), it's cheaper and the portions are bigger, but honestly, it doesn't taste as good.
Their guozigan (preserved fruit drink) and dairy treats have a bit of a budget vibe, and the guozigan is super sweet. I still prefer Naolao Wei in Niujie. Ma’s used to have two locations, but the one in Guangqumen shut down, so now there’s only the Nongguangli branch left.
8. Sultan Turkish Restaurant
A new Sultan Turkish Restaurant just opened in the C-Joy City mall—that makes two spots in Beijing now. They’ve already got a huge following with multiple locations across Shanghai, Yiwu, and Guangzhou.
The vibe is pretty decent, though I’d say it’s a notch below Xiting Xiuse, which feels a bit more upscale and elegant.
The assorted mixed grill is delicious. I used to grab this kind of Middle Eastern food with my son back when we were in Malaysia because it’s not spicy, making it perfect for kids.
The Turkish balloon bread is another hit with my son; he can easily polish off half of it on his own.
Sultan teamed up with MADO ice cream, so you can get authentic Turkish goat milk ice cream at every location. My son doesn't really appreciate it though—he's not a fan of dairy products—but I personally love the MADO stuff.
9. Bani Restaurant
This newly opened Bani Pakistani restaurant is less than three kilometers away from the Zanka place I mentioned earlier, and they offer an affordable weekday buffet.
The interior is definitely prettier, and the service is more attentive. Plus, the lunch buffet is only 78 yuan.
That said, they only have eight dishes for the lunch buffet, and the taste is pretty average. Compared to all the other Pakistani spots in the city, I still prefer the China-Pakistan Friendship Restaurant.
The buffet drinks and the crunchy pani puri (hollow, crispy dough balls filled with spiced water and chickpeas) are a huge hit with my son; he can fill up on those alone.
10. Northwest Chencang Mianpi and Liangfen
I stumbled upon this Baoji-style liangfen (starch jelly) and mianpi (cold steamed noodles) shop near Madian. 'Chencang' is actually a district in Baoji.
There’s just one uncle running the place, but he’s super friendly. We asked for a two-way combo of mianpi, and he actually made us a three-way combo instead. It was delicious and perfectly seasoned, but it’s definitely more of a snack—you won't be full if you treat it as a main meal.
There’s only one table in the whole shop, which is tucked away inside the first floor of the Fulite Business Building. It's not the easiest place to find.
11. Liu's Watch Repair and BBQ
This place looks like a watch repair shop from the outside, but once you step inside, it’s a full-on barbecue joint.
It’s a classic Beijing-style BBQ spot with plenty of space, including both a courtyard and indoor seating. If you sit inside, you're surrounded by all these clocks. Since they’re all set to different times, you’ll hear them chiming and going off every now and then.
The guy grilling the skewers looks like he's from Xinjiang. Their prices are on the higher side, and since they grill order by order, the service is pretty slow. The beef skewers were a bit tough, the lamb tendon was chewy, and the lamb cartilage lacked flavor. I’d only recommend their lamb rib meat, which is tender—though it’ll run you 10 bucks a skewer.
Best Halal Food in Beijing: Authentic Hui Muslim Street Eats and Traditional Beef Noodles Guide
Articles • Hasan09 posted the article • 0 comments • 11 views • 9 hours ago
[Internet Repost]
I’ve rounded up 65 high-res photos for the 65th installment of my Beijing Halal food guide. We’re deep-diving into local spots like Linfen Beef Meatball Noodles, the Xuanwu Culture-themed restaurant, and Gansu-style barbecue sandwiches to give you the lowdown on the best eats and dining vibes in the city.
Here is the list of Halal restaurants featured in this episode:
1. Linfen Beef Meatball Noodles
2. Zai Xuanwu Cultural Theme Restaurant
3. Gansu Barbecue Sandwich
4. Beijing-style Hot Pot Buffet
5. Ules Kazakh Grassland Flavor Restaurant
6. Yilan Liyuan Angus Beef Noodles
7. RABIUL'S KITCHEN Indian Restaurant
8. Khyber Restaurant
9. Culture Indian & Pakistani Restaurant
10. Cao's Beef Zhaobing (Crushed Pancake)
1. Linfen Beef Meatball Noodles
I finally found authentic Halal Linfen beef meatball noodles in Beijing, and it’s actually run by the famous Bai brand from Linfen. It’s a stall located at the night market right by the Xingong subway station entrance, open from noon until night.
Linfen-style beef meatball noodles use a beef tallow spicy broth. It’s super spicy, kind of like a Sichuan hot pot base.
The noodles are yellow, quickly blanched in the broth, and served—similar to how banmian (flat noodles) are prepared. You can add extra beef, meatballs, mahua (fried dough twists), and veggies. I personally love adding the mahua, meatballs, and beef.
The weather has been pretty cold lately and the night market is empty. I’m not sure how long this stall can hang on, but I really hope they can open a permanent brick-and-mortar shop in Beijing.
2. Zai Xuanwu Cultural Theme Restaurant
Ever since the old Xuanwu District was merged into Xicheng, a lot of locals have been really nostalgic about the past, which is how this restaurant themed around old Xuanwu culture came to be.
Xuanwu Yongcun (Xuanwu Forever) is the title of a popular underground hip-hop track from 2011. I used to have that song on repeat back in the day; the lyrics are great and always bring back a ton of childhood memories.
The message on the chopstick packaging is actually a snippet of those lyrics. 110104 is the old prefix for residents' ID cards in Xuanwu. I’m an 110104, but by my son’s generation, the ID prefix has changed to 110102, with 102 standing for the Xicheng District.
The wall mural in the restaurant depicts the Islamic Scripture Institute of Niujie.
They’ve got old-school Nintendo consoles and black Sega consoles on display, totally capturing the vibe of 80s kids' childhoods.
The restaurant specializes in shuanrou (instant-boiled mutton/hot pot) and yangxiezi (lamb spine hot pot), plus skewers and zhizi kaorou (iron-plate grilled meat). The grill is done in the kitchen and brought to your table. The meat quality is solid, though old-school Xuanwu locals definitely prefer things on the saltier side.
The grilled potato slices and enoki mushrooms in the two-person grill combo are great. The set only costs 92 yuan and comes with two plates of meat—one beef and one lamb—which is a total bargain.
3. Gansu-Style Meat Skewer Sandwiches
There’s a little takeout window at the Jingyaju Hotpot spot in Guangwai where a lady from Gansu sells grilled meat skewers tucked into flatbread. It’s strictly takeout, but I’m a huge fan of these Gansu-style sandwiches where you can pick whatever fillings you want.
She also makes spicy latiao (spicy gluten sticks) and potato-filled steamed buns, and the youxuan bing (layered scallion oil pancakes) at the bottom are super tasty too.
4. Beijing All-You-Can-Eat Halal Hotpot and BBQ
A new halal AYCE (all-you-can-eat) hotpot and BBQ place just opened by the South Gate of Olympic Forest Park. It’s perfect for grabbing a meal after hanging out at the park with the kids all day, plus kids under a meter tall eat for free.
The dinner buffet is 113 per person and it’s loaded with options, with the real highlights being the seafood, crab, and grilled durian.
Here you’ve got two types of slushies where you can add your own toppings, and there’s an ice cream machine right next to them.
The crabs are served live, and since it’s in season, they’re packed with roe.
The grilled durian pieces might be on the smaller side, but you can eat as much as you want, which makes it a win.
You grab your own hotpot ingredients and beef or lamb, while the raw skewers for the grill are set out for you to pick, then you hand them to the kitchen to get them cooked up.
The ingredients are pretty fresh, the variety is solid, and the drinks are all-you-can-drink too.
5. Ules Kazakh Grassland Flavors
A restaurant serving authentic Kazakh cuisine recently opened near the Beijing Institute of Technology’s Liangxiang campus, run by three sisters from the Kazakh community.
Their specialty dishes include naryn (horse meat noodles), baursak (fried dough balls), potato slices, and kuirdak (a traditional meat stew). Since the space is tiny, they don't prep huge batches, so it’s best to call ahead and order what you want, otherwise you might miss out.
The shop only has three and a half tables, so their capacity is limited—by 7 PM, most of the food is usually sold out.
You can tell just by looking at them that these ladies are definitely Kazakh, and the food they put out is genuinely delicious.
I got the veggie pilaf because all the meat versions were already gone.
Baursak is a classic Kazakh snack people usually have with milk tea for breakfast; the texture is a lot like youxiang (savory deep-fried dough).
Their homemade noodles with diced meat are incredible—the noodles have a great chew, and you get one free refill, with any extra refills only costing three yuan.
The Kazakh-style potato slices are pretty spicy, and they’re cooked down until they’re super tender.
They also serve Kazakh-style salty milk tea, which usually comes with naipizi (milk skin), though they were all out that day.
The dish I had to wait the longest for was the horse meat naryn. The horse meat is firmer than beef with a coarser texture, and the 'naryn' refers to the way it’s tossed with the noodles.
6. Yilan Liyuan Beef Noodles
Yilan Liyuan just opened a new beef noodle shop in Baizhifang, featuring their signature Angus bone broth beef noodles.
Yilan Liyuan is originally a famous beef and mutton shop on Niujie Street that’s turned into a major viral hit, and now they’re even serving electric-grilled skewers and American-style burgers.
Their electric-grilled skewers and burgers are pretty good, but the beef noodles and rice bowls with grilled meat are just so-so.
7. RABIUL'S KITCHEN Indian Restaurant
Run by Indians, this Kolkata-style Indian restaurant features an owner who used to work as a head chef in many hotel restaurants.
Kolkata Indian cuisine blends Hakka Chinese elements, and their curry has a really rich and mellow flavor.
8. Khyber Restaurant
Khyber is a Pakistani restaurant located in Liangxiang. There's another Pakistani brother restaurant nearby, but I feel this one has a more authentic taste.
Beijing has recently seen quite a few new Pakistani restaurants open up close together. Each spot has its own vibe, and once you try enough of them, you can really tell the difference.
The grilled meat here is also solid. Pakistani folks are basically like the northwestern Chinese of the international scene, opening restaurants all over the world.
Remember that Pakistani biryani rice is always spicy—that's how you tell it apart from Arab rice dishes.
The taste of the naan bread can also totally show off the chef's skill level.
9. Culture Pakistani and Indian Restaurant
This spot is in Sanlitun right next to Han Baba Pakistani Restaurant. I've never really understood why they love clustering their shops together, but it doesn't seem to hurt their business. Honestly, very few Pakistani and Indian restaurants in Beijing go out of business these days.
The interior setup feels more like a lounge bar and even has a stage for live music.
The dish prices are super cheap, and you can usually eat here for under 100 RMB per person.
These kebab skewers have a bit of a kick to them, whereas Turkish kebabs are non-spicy.
Comparatively speaking, this place offers a wider variety of dishes and has a much more spacious setup. Plenty of people show up for lunch.
Their naan bread is extra fragrant, but the pani puri (crispy hollow spheres filled with spiced water and potatoes) shown in the picture below wasn't great. My son doesn't like the fillings inside them and only wanted to eat the empty shells, but even the empty shells here weren't crispy.
10. Cao Family Beef Zhaobing
Cao Yunjin has opened a bunch of new restaurants lately—some Halal and some not—mostly clustered over in Wangsiying. I thought it was too far and didn't want to wait in long lines, so I skipped those. However, this Cao Family Beef Zhaobing (pan-cured flatbread shredded and stir-fried with beef) opened a new branch in You'anmen, and since it's close by, I came to check it out.
The new location is pretty big, and with it being the opening period, it's super busy. Even if you come for dinner, you still have to wait for a table.
However, the staff's service is prompt and keeps up with the crowd, and the zhaobing tastes pretty authentic. Having tried beef zhaobing in Baoding before, I'd say the flavor here is pretty standard—the ingredients are clean and fresh, and it tastes much like any other good spot.
Their beef steamed dumplings and Governor tofu are both delicious too. The steamed dumplings are genuinely awesome, and they're only 18 RMB a portion.
After the meal, I randomly ordered two little desserts: one was peach gum soup, and the other was mung bean paste soup. They were super generous with the ingredients, and the total bill for this whole spread came out to under 100 RMB. The value for money is seriously high. view all
I’ve rounded up 65 high-res photos for the 65th installment of my Beijing Halal food guide. We’re deep-diving into local spots like Linfen Beef Meatball Noodles, the Xuanwu Culture-themed restaurant, and Gansu-style barbecue sandwiches to give you the lowdown on the best eats and dining vibes in the city.
Here is the list of Halal restaurants featured in this episode:
1. Linfen Beef Meatball Noodles
2. Zai Xuanwu Cultural Theme Restaurant
3. Gansu Barbecue Sandwich
4. Beijing-style Hot Pot Buffet
5. Ules Kazakh Grassland Flavor Restaurant
6. Yilan Liyuan Angus Beef Noodles
7. RABIUL'S KITCHEN Indian Restaurant
8. Khyber Restaurant
9. Culture Indian & Pakistani Restaurant
10. Cao's Beef Zhaobing (Crushed Pancake)
1. Linfen Beef Meatball Noodles
I finally found authentic Halal Linfen beef meatball noodles in Beijing, and it’s actually run by the famous Bai brand from Linfen. It’s a stall located at the night market right by the Xingong subway station entrance, open from noon until night.
Linfen-style beef meatball noodles use a beef tallow spicy broth. It’s super spicy, kind of like a Sichuan hot pot base.
The noodles are yellow, quickly blanched in the broth, and served—similar to how banmian (flat noodles) are prepared. You can add extra beef, meatballs, mahua (fried dough twists), and veggies. I personally love adding the mahua, meatballs, and beef.
The weather has been pretty cold lately and the night market is empty. I’m not sure how long this stall can hang on, but I really hope they can open a permanent brick-and-mortar shop in Beijing.
2. Zai Xuanwu Cultural Theme Restaurant
Ever since the old Xuanwu District was merged into Xicheng, a lot of locals have been really nostalgic about the past, which is how this restaurant themed around old Xuanwu culture came to be.
Xuanwu Yongcun (Xuanwu Forever) is the title of a popular underground hip-hop track from 2011. I used to have that song on repeat back in the day; the lyrics are great and always bring back a ton of childhood memories.
The message on the chopstick packaging is actually a snippet of those lyrics. 110104 is the old prefix for residents' ID cards in Xuanwu. I’m an 110104, but by my son’s generation, the ID prefix has changed to 110102, with 102 standing for the Xicheng District.
The wall mural in the restaurant depicts the Islamic Scripture Institute of Niujie.
They’ve got old-school Nintendo consoles and black Sega consoles on display, totally capturing the vibe of 80s kids' childhoods.
The restaurant specializes in shuanrou (instant-boiled mutton/hot pot) and yangxiezi (lamb spine hot pot), plus skewers and zhizi kaorou (iron-plate grilled meat). The grill is done in the kitchen and brought to your table. The meat quality is solid, though old-school Xuanwu locals definitely prefer things on the saltier side.
The grilled potato slices and enoki mushrooms in the two-person grill combo are great. The set only costs 92 yuan and comes with two plates of meat—one beef and one lamb—which is a total bargain.
3. Gansu-Style Meat Skewer Sandwiches
There’s a little takeout window at the Jingyaju Hotpot spot in Guangwai where a lady from Gansu sells grilled meat skewers tucked into flatbread. It’s strictly takeout, but I’m a huge fan of these Gansu-style sandwiches where you can pick whatever fillings you want.
She also makes spicy latiao (spicy gluten sticks) and potato-filled steamed buns, and the youxuan bing (layered scallion oil pancakes) at the bottom are super tasty too.
4. Beijing All-You-Can-Eat Halal Hotpot and BBQ
A new halal AYCE (all-you-can-eat) hotpot and BBQ place just opened by the South Gate of Olympic Forest Park. It’s perfect for grabbing a meal after hanging out at the park with the kids all day, plus kids under a meter tall eat for free.
The dinner buffet is 113 per person and it’s loaded with options, with the real highlights being the seafood, crab, and grilled durian.
Here you’ve got two types of slushies where you can add your own toppings, and there’s an ice cream machine right next to them.
The crabs are served live, and since it’s in season, they’re packed with roe.
The grilled durian pieces might be on the smaller side, but you can eat as much as you want, which makes it a win.
You grab your own hotpot ingredients and beef or lamb, while the raw skewers for the grill are set out for you to pick, then you hand them to the kitchen to get them cooked up.
The ingredients are pretty fresh, the variety is solid, and the drinks are all-you-can-drink too.
5. Ules Kazakh Grassland Flavors
A restaurant serving authentic Kazakh cuisine recently opened near the Beijing Institute of Technology’s Liangxiang campus, run by three sisters from the Kazakh community.
Their specialty dishes include naryn (horse meat noodles), baursak (fried dough balls), potato slices, and kuirdak (a traditional meat stew). Since the space is tiny, they don't prep huge batches, so it’s best to call ahead and order what you want, otherwise you might miss out.
The shop only has three and a half tables, so their capacity is limited—by 7 PM, most of the food is usually sold out.
You can tell just by looking at them that these ladies are definitely Kazakh, and the food they put out is genuinely delicious.
I got the veggie pilaf because all the meat versions were already gone.
Baursak is a classic Kazakh snack people usually have with milk tea for breakfast; the texture is a lot like youxiang (savory deep-fried dough).
Their homemade noodles with diced meat are incredible—the noodles have a great chew, and you get one free refill, with any extra refills only costing three yuan.
The Kazakh-style potato slices are pretty spicy, and they’re cooked down until they’re super tender.
They also serve Kazakh-style salty milk tea, which usually comes with naipizi (milk skin), though they were all out that day.
The dish I had to wait the longest for was the horse meat naryn. The horse meat is firmer than beef with a coarser texture, and the 'naryn' refers to the way it’s tossed with the noodles.
6. Yilan Liyuan Beef Noodles
Yilan Liyuan just opened a new beef noodle shop in Baizhifang, featuring their signature Angus bone broth beef noodles.
Yilan Liyuan is originally a famous beef and mutton shop on Niujie Street that’s turned into a major viral hit, and now they’re even serving electric-grilled skewers and American-style burgers.
Their electric-grilled skewers and burgers are pretty good, but the beef noodles and rice bowls with grilled meat are just so-so.
7. RABIUL'S KITCHEN Indian Restaurant
Run by Indians, this Kolkata-style Indian restaurant features an owner who used to work as a head chef in many hotel restaurants.
Kolkata Indian cuisine blends Hakka Chinese elements, and their curry has a really rich and mellow flavor.
8. Khyber Restaurant
Khyber is a Pakistani restaurant located in Liangxiang. There's another Pakistani brother restaurant nearby, but I feel this one has a more authentic taste.
Beijing has recently seen quite a few new Pakistani restaurants open up close together. Each spot has its own vibe, and once you try enough of them, you can really tell the difference.
The grilled meat here is also solid. Pakistani folks are basically like the northwestern Chinese of the international scene, opening restaurants all over the world.
Remember that Pakistani biryani rice is always spicy—that's how you tell it apart from Arab rice dishes.
The taste of the naan bread can also totally show off the chef's skill level.
9. Culture Pakistani and Indian Restaurant
This spot is in Sanlitun right next to Han Baba Pakistani Restaurant. I've never really understood why they love clustering their shops together, but it doesn't seem to hurt their business. Honestly, very few Pakistani and Indian restaurants in Beijing go out of business these days.
The interior setup feels more like a lounge bar and even has a stage for live music.
The dish prices are super cheap, and you can usually eat here for under 100 RMB per person.
These kebab skewers have a bit of a kick to them, whereas Turkish kebabs are non-spicy.
Comparatively speaking, this place offers a wider variety of dishes and has a much more spacious setup. Plenty of people show up for lunch.
Their naan bread is extra fragrant, but the pani puri (crispy hollow spheres filled with spiced water and potatoes) shown in the picture below wasn't great. My son doesn't like the fillings inside them and only wanted to eat the empty shells, but even the empty shells here weren't crispy.
10. Cao Family Beef Zhaobing
Cao Yunjin has opened a bunch of new restaurants lately—some Halal and some not—mostly clustered over in Wangsiying. I thought it was too far and didn't want to wait in long lines, so I skipped those. However, this Cao Family Beef Zhaobing (pan-cured flatbread shredded and stir-fried with beef) opened a new branch in You'anmen, and since it's close by, I came to check it out.
The new location is pretty big, and with it being the opening period, it's super busy. Even if you come for dinner, you still have to wait for a table.
However, the staff's service is prompt and keeps up with the crowd, and the zhaobing tastes pretty authentic. Having tried beef zhaobing in Baoding before, I'd say the flavor here is pretty standard—the ingredients are clean and fresh, and it tastes much like any other good spot.
Their beef steamed dumplings and Governor tofu are both delicious too. The steamed dumplings are genuinely awesome, and they're only 18 RMB a portion.
After the meal, I randomly ordered two little desserts: one was peach gum soup, and the other was mung bean paste soup. They were super generous with the ingredients, and the total bill for this whole spread came out to under 100 RMB. The value for money is seriously high. view all
[Internet Repost]
I’ve rounded up 65 high-res photos for the 65th installment of my Beijing Halal food guide. We’re deep-diving into local spots like Linfen Beef Meatball Noodles, the Xuanwu Culture-themed restaurant, and Gansu-style barbecue sandwiches to give you the lowdown on the best eats and dining vibes in the city.
Here is the list of Halal restaurants featured in this episode:
1. Linfen Beef Meatball Noodles
2. Zai Xuanwu Cultural Theme Restaurant
3. Gansu Barbecue Sandwich
4. Beijing-style Hot Pot Buffet
5. Ules Kazakh Grassland Flavor Restaurant
6. Yilan Liyuan Angus Beef Noodles
7. RABIUL'S KITCHEN Indian Restaurant
8. Khyber Restaurant
9. Culture Indian & Pakistani Restaurant
10. Cao's Beef Zhaobing (Crushed Pancake)
1. Linfen Beef Meatball Noodles
I finally found authentic Halal Linfen beef meatball noodles in Beijing, and it’s actually run by the famous Bai brand from Linfen. It’s a stall located at the night market right by the Xingong subway station entrance, open from noon until night.
Linfen-style beef meatball noodles use a beef tallow spicy broth. It’s super spicy, kind of like a Sichuan hot pot base.
The noodles are yellow, quickly blanched in the broth, and served—similar to how banmian (flat noodles) are prepared. You can add extra beef, meatballs, mahua (fried dough twists), and veggies. I personally love adding the mahua, meatballs, and beef.
The weather has been pretty cold lately and the night market is empty. I’m not sure how long this stall can hang on, but I really hope they can open a permanent brick-and-mortar shop in Beijing.
2. Zai Xuanwu Cultural Theme Restaurant
Ever since the old Xuanwu District was merged into Xicheng, a lot of locals have been really nostalgic about the past, which is how this restaurant themed around old Xuanwu culture came to be.
Xuanwu Yongcun (Xuanwu Forever) is the title of a popular underground hip-hop track from 2011. I used to have that song on repeat back in the day; the lyrics are great and always bring back a ton of childhood memories.
The message on the chopstick packaging is actually a snippet of those lyrics. 110104 is the old prefix for residents' ID cards in Xuanwu. I’m an 110104, but by my son’s generation, the ID prefix has changed to 110102, with 102 standing for the Xicheng District.
The wall mural in the restaurant depicts the Islamic Scripture Institute of Niujie.
They’ve got old-school Nintendo consoles and black Sega consoles on display, totally capturing the vibe of 80s kids' childhoods.
The restaurant specializes in shuanrou (instant-boiled mutton/hot pot) and yangxiezi (lamb spine hot pot), plus skewers and zhizi kaorou (iron-plate grilled meat). The grill is done in the kitchen and brought to your table. The meat quality is solid, though old-school Xuanwu locals definitely prefer things on the saltier side.
The grilled potato slices and enoki mushrooms in the two-person grill combo are great. The set only costs 92 yuan and comes with two plates of meat—one beef and one lamb—which is a total bargain.
3. Gansu-Style Meat Skewer Sandwiches
There’s a little takeout window at the Jingyaju Hotpot spot in Guangwai where a lady from Gansu sells grilled meat skewers tucked into flatbread. It’s strictly takeout, but I’m a huge fan of these Gansu-style sandwiches where you can pick whatever fillings you want.
She also makes spicy latiao (spicy gluten sticks) and potato-filled steamed buns, and the youxuan bing (layered scallion oil pancakes) at the bottom are super tasty too.
4. Beijing All-You-Can-Eat Halal Hotpot and BBQ
A new halal AYCE (all-you-can-eat) hotpot and BBQ place just opened by the South Gate of Olympic Forest Park. It’s perfect for grabbing a meal after hanging out at the park with the kids all day, plus kids under a meter tall eat for free.
The dinner buffet is 113 per person and it’s loaded with options, with the real highlights being the seafood, crab, and grilled durian.
Here you’ve got two types of slushies where you can add your own toppings, and there’s an ice cream machine right next to them.
The crabs are served live, and since it’s in season, they’re packed with roe.
The grilled durian pieces might be on the smaller side, but you can eat as much as you want, which makes it a win.
You grab your own hotpot ingredients and beef or lamb, while the raw skewers for the grill are set out for you to pick, then you hand them to the kitchen to get them cooked up.
The ingredients are pretty fresh, the variety is solid, and the drinks are all-you-can-drink too.
5. Ules Kazakh Grassland Flavors
A restaurant serving authentic Kazakh cuisine recently opened near the Beijing Institute of Technology’s Liangxiang campus, run by three sisters from the Kazakh community.
Their specialty dishes include naryn (horse meat noodles), baursak (fried dough balls), potato slices, and kuirdak (a traditional meat stew). Since the space is tiny, they don't prep huge batches, so it’s best to call ahead and order what you want, otherwise you might miss out.
The shop only has three and a half tables, so their capacity is limited—by 7 PM, most of the food is usually sold out.
You can tell just by looking at them that these ladies are definitely Kazakh, and the food they put out is genuinely delicious.
I got the veggie pilaf because all the meat versions were already gone.
Baursak is a classic Kazakh snack people usually have with milk tea for breakfast; the texture is a lot like youxiang (savory deep-fried dough).
Their homemade noodles with diced meat are incredible—the noodles have a great chew, and you get one free refill, with any extra refills only costing three yuan.
The Kazakh-style potato slices are pretty spicy, and they’re cooked down until they’re super tender.
They also serve Kazakh-style salty milk tea, which usually comes with naipizi (milk skin), though they were all out that day.
The dish I had to wait the longest for was the horse meat naryn. The horse meat is firmer than beef with a coarser texture, and the 'naryn' refers to the way it’s tossed with the noodles.
6. Yilan Liyuan Beef Noodles
Yilan Liyuan just opened a new beef noodle shop in Baizhifang, featuring their signature Angus bone broth beef noodles.
Yilan Liyuan is originally a famous beef and mutton shop on Niujie Street that’s turned into a major viral hit, and now they’re even serving electric-grilled skewers and American-style burgers.
Their electric-grilled skewers and burgers are pretty good, but the beef noodles and rice bowls with grilled meat are just so-so.
7. RABIUL'S KITCHEN Indian Restaurant
Run by Indians, this Kolkata-style Indian restaurant features an owner who used to work as a head chef in many hotel restaurants.
Kolkata Indian cuisine blends Hakka Chinese elements, and their curry has a really rich and mellow flavor.
8. Khyber Restaurant
Khyber is a Pakistani restaurant located in Liangxiang. There's another Pakistani brother restaurant nearby, but I feel this one has a more authentic taste.
Beijing has recently seen quite a few new Pakistani restaurants open up close together. Each spot has its own vibe, and once you try enough of them, you can really tell the difference.
The grilled meat here is also solid. Pakistani folks are basically like the northwestern Chinese of the international scene, opening restaurants all over the world.
Remember that Pakistani biryani rice is always spicy—that's how you tell it apart from Arab rice dishes.
The taste of the naan bread can also totally show off the chef's skill level.
9. Culture Pakistani and Indian Restaurant
This spot is in Sanlitun right next to Han Baba Pakistani Restaurant. I've never really understood why they love clustering their shops together, but it doesn't seem to hurt their business. Honestly, very few Pakistani and Indian restaurants in Beijing go out of business these days.
The interior setup feels more like a lounge bar and even has a stage for live music.
The dish prices are super cheap, and you can usually eat here for under 100 RMB per person.
These kebab skewers have a bit of a kick to them, whereas Turkish kebabs are non-spicy.
Comparatively speaking, this place offers a wider variety of dishes and has a much more spacious setup. Plenty of people show up for lunch.
Their naan bread is extra fragrant, but the pani puri (crispy hollow spheres filled with spiced water and potatoes) shown in the picture below wasn't great. My son doesn't like the fillings inside them and only wanted to eat the empty shells, but even the empty shells here weren't crispy.
10. Cao Family Beef Zhaobing
Cao Yunjin has opened a bunch of new restaurants lately—some Halal and some not—mostly clustered over in Wangsiying. I thought it was too far and didn't want to wait in long lines, so I skipped those. However, this Cao Family Beef Zhaobing (pan-cured flatbread shredded and stir-fried with beef) opened a new branch in You'anmen, and since it's close by, I came to check it out.
The new location is pretty big, and with it being the opening period, it's super busy. Even if you come for dinner, you still have to wait for a table.
However, the staff's service is prompt and keeps up with the crowd, and the zhaobing tastes pretty authentic. Having tried beef zhaobing in Baoding before, I'd say the flavor here is pretty standard—the ingredients are clean and fresh, and it tastes much like any other good spot.
Their beef steamed dumplings and Governor tofu are both delicious too. The steamed dumplings are genuinely awesome, and they're only 18 RMB a portion.
After the meal, I randomly ordered two little desserts: one was peach gum soup, and the other was mung bean paste soup. They were super generous with the ingredients, and the total bill for this whole spread came out to under 100 RMB. The value for money is seriously high.
I’ve rounded up 65 high-res photos for the 65th installment of my Beijing Halal food guide. We’re deep-diving into local spots like Linfen Beef Meatball Noodles, the Xuanwu Culture-themed restaurant, and Gansu-style barbecue sandwiches to give you the lowdown on the best eats and dining vibes in the city.
Here is the list of Halal restaurants featured in this episode:
1. Linfen Beef Meatball Noodles
2. Zai Xuanwu Cultural Theme Restaurant
3. Gansu Barbecue Sandwich
4. Beijing-style Hot Pot Buffet
5. Ules Kazakh Grassland Flavor Restaurant
6. Yilan Liyuan Angus Beef Noodles
7. RABIUL'S KITCHEN Indian Restaurant
8. Khyber Restaurant
9. Culture Indian & Pakistani Restaurant
10. Cao's Beef Zhaobing (Crushed Pancake)
1. Linfen Beef Meatball Noodles
I finally found authentic Halal Linfen beef meatball noodles in Beijing, and it’s actually run by the famous Bai brand from Linfen. It’s a stall located at the night market right by the Xingong subway station entrance, open from noon until night.
Linfen-style beef meatball noodles use a beef tallow spicy broth. It’s super spicy, kind of like a Sichuan hot pot base.
The noodles are yellow, quickly blanched in the broth, and served—similar to how banmian (flat noodles) are prepared. You can add extra beef, meatballs, mahua (fried dough twists), and veggies. I personally love adding the mahua, meatballs, and beef.
The weather has been pretty cold lately and the night market is empty. I’m not sure how long this stall can hang on, but I really hope they can open a permanent brick-and-mortar shop in Beijing.
2. Zai Xuanwu Cultural Theme Restaurant
Ever since the old Xuanwu District was merged into Xicheng, a lot of locals have been really nostalgic about the past, which is how this restaurant themed around old Xuanwu culture came to be.
Xuanwu Yongcun (Xuanwu Forever) is the title of a popular underground hip-hop track from 2011. I used to have that song on repeat back in the day; the lyrics are great and always bring back a ton of childhood memories.
The message on the chopstick packaging is actually a snippet of those lyrics. 110104 is the old prefix for residents' ID cards in Xuanwu. I’m an 110104, but by my son’s generation, the ID prefix has changed to 110102, with 102 standing for the Xicheng District.
The wall mural in the restaurant depicts the Islamic Scripture Institute of Niujie.
They’ve got old-school Nintendo consoles and black Sega consoles on display, totally capturing the vibe of 80s kids' childhoods.
The restaurant specializes in shuanrou (instant-boiled mutton/hot pot) and yangxiezi (lamb spine hot pot), plus skewers and zhizi kaorou (iron-plate grilled meat). The grill is done in the kitchen and brought to your table. The meat quality is solid, though old-school Xuanwu locals definitely prefer things on the saltier side.
The grilled potato slices and enoki mushrooms in the two-person grill combo are great. The set only costs 92 yuan and comes with two plates of meat—one beef and one lamb—which is a total bargain.
3. Gansu-Style Meat Skewer Sandwiches
There’s a little takeout window at the Jingyaju Hotpot spot in Guangwai where a lady from Gansu sells grilled meat skewers tucked into flatbread. It’s strictly takeout, but I’m a huge fan of these Gansu-style sandwiches where you can pick whatever fillings you want.
She also makes spicy latiao (spicy gluten sticks) and potato-filled steamed buns, and the youxuan bing (layered scallion oil pancakes) at the bottom are super tasty too.
4. Beijing All-You-Can-Eat Halal Hotpot and BBQ
A new halal AYCE (all-you-can-eat) hotpot and BBQ place just opened by the South Gate of Olympic Forest Park. It’s perfect for grabbing a meal after hanging out at the park with the kids all day, plus kids under a meter tall eat for free.
The dinner buffet is 113 per person and it’s loaded with options, with the real highlights being the seafood, crab, and grilled durian.
Here you’ve got two types of slushies where you can add your own toppings, and there’s an ice cream machine right next to them.
The crabs are served live, and since it’s in season, they’re packed with roe.
The grilled durian pieces might be on the smaller side, but you can eat as much as you want, which makes it a win.
You grab your own hotpot ingredients and beef or lamb, while the raw skewers for the grill are set out for you to pick, then you hand them to the kitchen to get them cooked up.
The ingredients are pretty fresh, the variety is solid, and the drinks are all-you-can-drink too.
5. Ules Kazakh Grassland Flavors
A restaurant serving authentic Kazakh cuisine recently opened near the Beijing Institute of Technology’s Liangxiang campus, run by three sisters from the Kazakh community.
Their specialty dishes include naryn (horse meat noodles), baursak (fried dough balls), potato slices, and kuirdak (a traditional meat stew). Since the space is tiny, they don't prep huge batches, so it’s best to call ahead and order what you want, otherwise you might miss out.
The shop only has three and a half tables, so their capacity is limited—by 7 PM, most of the food is usually sold out.
You can tell just by looking at them that these ladies are definitely Kazakh, and the food they put out is genuinely delicious.
I got the veggie pilaf because all the meat versions were already gone.
Baursak is a classic Kazakh snack people usually have with milk tea for breakfast; the texture is a lot like youxiang (savory deep-fried dough).
Their homemade noodles with diced meat are incredible—the noodles have a great chew, and you get one free refill, with any extra refills only costing three yuan.
The Kazakh-style potato slices are pretty spicy, and they’re cooked down until they’re super tender.
They also serve Kazakh-style salty milk tea, which usually comes with naipizi (milk skin), though they were all out that day.
The dish I had to wait the longest for was the horse meat naryn. The horse meat is firmer than beef with a coarser texture, and the 'naryn' refers to the way it’s tossed with the noodles.
6. Yilan Liyuan Beef Noodles
Yilan Liyuan just opened a new beef noodle shop in Baizhifang, featuring their signature Angus bone broth beef noodles.
Yilan Liyuan is originally a famous beef and mutton shop on Niujie Street that’s turned into a major viral hit, and now they’re even serving electric-grilled skewers and American-style burgers.
Their electric-grilled skewers and burgers are pretty good, but the beef noodles and rice bowls with grilled meat are just so-so.
7. RABIUL'S KITCHEN Indian Restaurant
Run by Indians, this Kolkata-style Indian restaurant features an owner who used to work as a head chef in many hotel restaurants.
Kolkata Indian cuisine blends Hakka Chinese elements, and their curry has a really rich and mellow flavor.
8. Khyber Restaurant
Khyber is a Pakistani restaurant located in Liangxiang. There's another Pakistani brother restaurant nearby, but I feel this one has a more authentic taste.
Beijing has recently seen quite a few new Pakistani restaurants open up close together. Each spot has its own vibe, and once you try enough of them, you can really tell the difference.
The grilled meat here is also solid. Pakistani folks are basically like the northwestern Chinese of the international scene, opening restaurants all over the world.
Remember that Pakistani biryani rice is always spicy—that's how you tell it apart from Arab rice dishes.
The taste of the naan bread can also totally show off the chef's skill level.
9. Culture Pakistani and Indian Restaurant
This spot is in Sanlitun right next to Han Baba Pakistani Restaurant. I've never really understood why they love clustering their shops together, but it doesn't seem to hurt their business. Honestly, very few Pakistani and Indian restaurants in Beijing go out of business these days.
The interior setup feels more like a lounge bar and even has a stage for live music.
The dish prices are super cheap, and you can usually eat here for under 100 RMB per person.
These kebab skewers have a bit of a kick to them, whereas Turkish kebabs are non-spicy.
Comparatively speaking, this place offers a wider variety of dishes and has a much more spacious setup. Plenty of people show up for lunch.
Their naan bread is extra fragrant, but the pani puri (crispy hollow spheres filled with spiced water and potatoes) shown in the picture below wasn't great. My son doesn't like the fillings inside them and only wanted to eat the empty shells, but even the empty shells here weren't crispy.
10. Cao Family Beef Zhaobing
Cao Yunjin has opened a bunch of new restaurants lately—some Halal and some not—mostly clustered over in Wangsiying. I thought it was too far and didn't want to wait in long lines, so I skipped those. However, this Cao Family Beef Zhaobing (pan-cured flatbread shredded and stir-fried with beef) opened a new branch in You'anmen, and since it's close by, I came to check it out.
The new location is pretty big, and with it being the opening period, it's super busy. Even if you come for dinner, you still have to wait for a table.
However, the staff's service is prompt and keeps up with the crowd, and the zhaobing tastes pretty authentic. Having tried beef zhaobing in Baoding before, I'd say the flavor here is pretty standard—the ingredients are clean and fresh, and it tastes much like any other good spot.
Their beef steamed dumplings and Governor tofu are both delicious too. The steamed dumplings are genuinely awesome, and they're only 18 RMB a portion.
After the meal, I randomly ordered two little desserts: one was peach gum soup, and the other was mung bean paste soup. They were super generous with the ingredients, and the total bill for this whole spread came out to under 100 RMB. The value for money is seriously high.
Best Halal Food in Beijing: Xixinglong Street Cafe, Lao Huihui Dumplings, and Shanxian Lamb Soup Guide
Articles • Hasan09 posted the article • 0 comments • 10 views • 9 hours ago
[Internet Repost]
Check out this collection featuring 67 real-life photos from the 64th edition of our Beijing Halal food map. We’ve scouted out specialty Halal cafes on Xixinglong Street, handmade dumplings at Lao Huihui, Xiaoxianyang Shanxian lamb soup, and the Halal buffet at the Comfort Hotel to give Beijing foodies the ultimate guide for your next visit.
1. JM Cafe, Xixinglong Street Flagship Store
2. Lao Huihui Dumpling House
3. Xiaoxianyang Shanxian Lamb Soup
4. Comfort Hotel Halal Buffet
5. Xizhuanfang Shabu-Shabu Museum
6. Zanka Pakistani Restaurant
7. Ma’s Palace Cheese
8. Sultan Turkish Restaurant
9. Bani Restaurant
10. Northwest Chencang Mianpi (steamed cold noodles) & Liangfen (starch jelly)
11. Liu’s Watch Repair & Barbecue
12. JM Cafe, Xixinglong Street Flagship Store
Xixinglong Street is located in the Qianmen area. After a major urban planning update during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the street is now home to a bunch of super aesthetic boutique shops—and this JM Cafe is one of them.
Every JM location has its own vibe. For this flagship store, they hired the famous Japanese designer Aoyama Shuhei, who’s a bit of an internet celebrity known for his high-end work, especially in renovating traditional hutong courtyards.
The first floor is all about espresso and baked goods, while the second floor serves up pour-over coffee using award-winning beans.
The view from the second floor is actually nicer. Word is that Aoyama Shuhei’s whole concept was to encourage people to interact with strangers. So, the first floor is laid out like a theater, and the second floor is centered around a long table—like a conference room—where strangers face each other. The designer really wanted to help people make a connection.
When you’re ordering at the counter, you’re standing right in front of the casual seating area, so it’s pretty much guaranteed that everyone will be watching whoever walks by.
All the baked goods are made fresh daily. The Hui Muslim owner keeps a tight handle on the quality, and all the branches follow a standardized supply chain.
2. Lao Huihui Dumpling House
Ever since the Junlian Dumpling House in Niujie closed down, finding really solid dumplings meant traveling a bit further. But now, there’s finally a solid alternative: Lao Huihui Dumpling House. It’s a chain that already opened a spot near Jiao Da (Beijing Jiaotong University), and they specialize in all kinds of dumpling fillings.
They’ve got an open kitchen, so you can see four or five people busy hand-wrapping and boiling the dumplings right in front of you. Dumplings are best served fresh, batch by batch, so you can always count on them being piping hot.
They have a signature tomato and beef dumpling that I tried. It’s definitely unique—I wouldn’t call it amazing, but it’s not bad either. It’s just that I’m not used to that kind of creative flavor profile. Their traditional beef with celery and lamb with scallion dumplings are honestly delicious. Plus, they serve classic Beijing-style stir-fried dishes that are really affordable and come in huge portions.
3. Xiaoxianyang Shanxian Lamb Soup
Xiaoxianyang Shanxian Lamb Soup is a chain, but this location in You'anmen is the only one I found that is fully Halal. They specialize in all sorts of lamb soups and lamb dishes, and they even serve Jinzhou-style barbecue.
They open up at 7:00 AM and keep the kitchen running until 4:00 AM.
You have to pair their lamb soup with a diaolu shaobing (a flatbread baked in a hanging oven). The soup itself is solid—the meat doesn't have that gamey smell and the broth is rich—but the flatbread was a letdown because it wasn't crispy enough.
They also serve lamb rice noodles, which I tried. The flavor is basically identical to the lamb soup.
Honestly, diaolu shaobing really needs to be served fresh out of the oven to be any good, and theirs was pretty bland.
4. Comfort Hotel Halal Buffet
The Comfort Hotel in Niujie is now offering a halal breakfast to the public for 28 yuan a head, with both Western and Chinese options available.
When I posted about this on Xiaohongshu, a lot of people complained that 28 yuan was too expensive and that you're better off ordering a la carte at a restaurant. I really don't get that logic; 28 yuan at a local spot barely gets you a bowl of lamian (hand-pulled noodles), and you’re definitely not getting the variety you get at a hotel breakfast buffet.
I love hotel breakfasts because the variety lets me eat a balanced and healthy meal. I rarely eat traditional Beijing-style breakfasts anymore—they’re just too greasy and packed with carbs, which I don't think is great for you.
For those 28 yuan, you get everything: veggies, fruit, desserts, milk, eggs, and staples. Plus, it's all-you-can-eat. Seriously, 28 yuan only buys you maybe 5 buns down at Hongji.
Looking at the headscarves the ladies in the back kitchen are wearing, you can tell right away they're from the Northwest.
5. Xizhuanfang Hot Pot Museum
Xizhuanfang is a new hot pot museum in Niujie. It’s spread across three courtyards tucked away in the hutongs (traditional narrow alleyways). The vibe is top-tier—it’s got that classic cultural aesthetic but feels upscale enough for a business meeting.
The courtyards are filled with flowers, birds, and fish, and they’ve got a bunch of antiques related to the history of hot pot on display.
If you follow your GPS, it’ll take you to Courtyard No. 1, which has most of the antiques. Courtyards No. 2 and No. 3 are in a different alleyway and are a bit more quiet and secluded.
The only downside is that they use alcohol stoves. They give off a bit of an odor, and the heat control isn't great. It would be much better if they switched to charcoal.
The ingredients are all high quality; they even serve top-tier grapes as a pre-meal fruit plate. Another highlight is their shaobing—you can choose from four types and get a sampler platter. I highly recommend the caramel shaobing; it’s similar to a tang huoshao (brown sugar pastry). Expect to spend at least 150 yuan per person.
6. Zanka Pakistani Restaurant
Zanka is a new Pakistani spot in the Chaoyang district that hosts a buffet on Fridays and Saturdays. The space is small, but it’s decorated pretty nicely.
When we went for lunch, there was only one other table occupied, probably because the location is a bit tucked away.
There’s no buffet on weekdays, so you have to order a la carte. The staff are all 'Pak-Tie' (a colloquial term for Pakistani friends) and don't speak Chinese.
I brought my son along because he’s a huge fan of pani puri (crispy hollow balls filled with spiced water), and I saw it was on the menu.
They definitely make the pani puri look pretty, but they weren't crispy and the texture was off, which was a huge disappointment for Fahim.
The chicken kebab was actually pretty good—the meat was tender with a nice little spicy kick.
The Peshawar chicken curry was just okay, and the plain naan wasn't really my style. I prefer a thinner, buttery naan. Overall, the food here was a bit lacking, even though the prices are cheap.
7. Maji Palace Cheese
Ma's Dairy has been around for over a decade. Compared to Naolao Wei (a famous dairy shop), it's cheaper and the portions are bigger, but honestly, it doesn't taste as good.
Their guozigan (preserved fruit drink) and dairy treats have a bit of a budget vibe, and the guozigan is super sweet. I still prefer Naolao Wei in Niujie. Ma’s used to have two locations, but the one in Guangqumen shut down, so now there’s only the Nongguangli branch left.
8. Sultan Turkish Restaurant
A new Sultan Turkish Restaurant just opened in the C-Joy City mall—that makes two spots in Beijing now. They’ve already got a huge following with multiple locations across Shanghai, Yiwu, and Guangzhou.
The vibe is pretty decent, though I’d say it’s a notch below Xiting Xiuse, which feels a bit more upscale and elegant.
The assorted mixed grill is delicious. I used to grab this kind of Middle Eastern food with my son back when we were in Malaysia because it’s not spicy, making it perfect for kids.
The Turkish balloon bread is another hit with my son; he can easily polish off half of it on his own.
Sultan teamed up with MADO ice cream, so you can get authentic Turkish goat milk ice cream at every location. My son doesn't really appreciate it though—he's not a fan of dairy products—but I personally love the MADO stuff.
9. Bani Restaurant
This newly opened Bani Pakistani restaurant is less than three kilometers away from the Zanka place I mentioned earlier, and they offer an affordable weekday buffet.
The interior is definitely prettier, and the service is more attentive. Plus, the lunch buffet is only 78 yuan.
That said, they only have eight dishes for the lunch buffet, and the taste is pretty average. Compared to all the other Pakistani spots in the city, I still prefer the China-Pakistan Friendship Restaurant.
The buffet drinks and the crunchy pani puri (hollow, crispy dough balls filled with spiced water and chickpeas) are a huge hit with my son; he can fill up on those alone.
10. Northwest Chencang Mianpi and Liangfen
I stumbled upon this Baoji-style liangfen (starch jelly) and mianpi (cold steamed noodles) shop near Madian. 'Chencang' is actually a district in Baoji.
There’s just one uncle running the place, but he’s super friendly. We asked for a two-way combo of mianpi, and he actually made us a three-way combo instead. It was delicious and perfectly seasoned, but it’s definitely more of a snack—you won't be full if you treat it as a main meal.
There’s only one table in the whole shop, which is tucked away inside the first floor of the Fulite Business Building. It's not the easiest place to find.
11. Liu's Watch Repair and BBQ
This place looks like a watch repair shop from the outside, but once you step inside, it’s a full-on barbecue joint.
It’s a classic Beijing-style BBQ spot with plenty of space, including both a courtyard and indoor seating. If you sit inside, you're surrounded by all these clocks. Since they’re all set to different times, you’ll hear them chiming and going off every now and then.
The guy grilling the skewers looks like he's from Xinjiang. Their prices are on the higher side, and since they grill order by order, the service is pretty slow. The beef skewers were a bit tough, the lamb tendon was chewy, and the lamb cartilage lacked flavor. I’d only recommend their lamb rib meat, which is tender—though it’ll run you 10 bucks a skewer. view all
Check out this collection featuring 67 real-life photos from the 64th edition of our Beijing Halal food map. We’ve scouted out specialty Halal cafes on Xixinglong Street, handmade dumplings at Lao Huihui, Xiaoxianyang Shanxian lamb soup, and the Halal buffet at the Comfort Hotel to give Beijing foodies the ultimate guide for your next visit.
1. JM Cafe, Xixinglong Street Flagship Store
2. Lao Huihui Dumpling House
3. Xiaoxianyang Shanxian Lamb Soup
4. Comfort Hotel Halal Buffet
5. Xizhuanfang Shabu-Shabu Museum
6. Zanka Pakistani Restaurant
7. Ma’s Palace Cheese
8. Sultan Turkish Restaurant
9. Bani Restaurant
10. Northwest Chencang Mianpi (steamed cold noodles) & Liangfen (starch jelly)
11. Liu’s Watch Repair & Barbecue
12. JM Cafe, Xixinglong Street Flagship Store
Xixinglong Street is located in the Qianmen area. After a major urban planning update during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the street is now home to a bunch of super aesthetic boutique shops—and this JM Cafe is one of them.
Every JM location has its own vibe. For this flagship store, they hired the famous Japanese designer Aoyama Shuhei, who’s a bit of an internet celebrity known for his high-end work, especially in renovating traditional hutong courtyards.
The first floor is all about espresso and baked goods, while the second floor serves up pour-over coffee using award-winning beans.
The view from the second floor is actually nicer. Word is that Aoyama Shuhei’s whole concept was to encourage people to interact with strangers. So, the first floor is laid out like a theater, and the second floor is centered around a long table—like a conference room—where strangers face each other. The designer really wanted to help people make a connection.
When you’re ordering at the counter, you’re standing right in front of the casual seating area, so it’s pretty much guaranteed that everyone will be watching whoever walks by.
All the baked goods are made fresh daily. The Hui Muslim owner keeps a tight handle on the quality, and all the branches follow a standardized supply chain.
2. Lao Huihui Dumpling House
Ever since the Junlian Dumpling House in Niujie closed down, finding really solid dumplings meant traveling a bit further. But now, there’s finally a solid alternative: Lao Huihui Dumpling House. It’s a chain that already opened a spot near Jiao Da (Beijing Jiaotong University), and they specialize in all kinds of dumpling fillings.
They’ve got an open kitchen, so you can see four or five people busy hand-wrapping and boiling the dumplings right in front of you. Dumplings are best served fresh, batch by batch, so you can always count on them being piping hot.
They have a signature tomato and beef dumpling that I tried. It’s definitely unique—I wouldn’t call it amazing, but it’s not bad either. It’s just that I’m not used to that kind of creative flavor profile. Their traditional beef with celery and lamb with scallion dumplings are honestly delicious. Plus, they serve classic Beijing-style stir-fried dishes that are really affordable and come in huge portions.
3. Xiaoxianyang Shanxian Lamb Soup
Xiaoxianyang Shanxian Lamb Soup is a chain, but this location in You'anmen is the only one I found that is fully Halal. They specialize in all sorts of lamb soups and lamb dishes, and they even serve Jinzhou-style barbecue.
They open up at 7:00 AM and keep the kitchen running until 4:00 AM.
You have to pair their lamb soup with a diaolu shaobing (a flatbread baked in a hanging oven). The soup itself is solid—the meat doesn't have that gamey smell and the broth is rich—but the flatbread was a letdown because it wasn't crispy enough.
They also serve lamb rice noodles, which I tried. The flavor is basically identical to the lamb soup.
Honestly, diaolu shaobing really needs to be served fresh out of the oven to be any good, and theirs was pretty bland.
4. Comfort Hotel Halal Buffet
The Comfort Hotel in Niujie is now offering a halal breakfast to the public for 28 yuan a head, with both Western and Chinese options available.
When I posted about this on Xiaohongshu, a lot of people complained that 28 yuan was too expensive and that you're better off ordering a la carte at a restaurant. I really don't get that logic; 28 yuan at a local spot barely gets you a bowl of lamian (hand-pulled noodles), and you’re definitely not getting the variety you get at a hotel breakfast buffet.
I love hotel breakfasts because the variety lets me eat a balanced and healthy meal. I rarely eat traditional Beijing-style breakfasts anymore—they’re just too greasy and packed with carbs, which I don't think is great for you.
For those 28 yuan, you get everything: veggies, fruit, desserts, milk, eggs, and staples. Plus, it's all-you-can-eat. Seriously, 28 yuan only buys you maybe 5 buns down at Hongji.
Looking at the headscarves the ladies in the back kitchen are wearing, you can tell right away they're from the Northwest.
5. Xizhuanfang Hot Pot Museum
Xizhuanfang is a new hot pot museum in Niujie. It’s spread across three courtyards tucked away in the hutongs (traditional narrow alleyways). The vibe is top-tier—it’s got that classic cultural aesthetic but feels upscale enough for a business meeting.
The courtyards are filled with flowers, birds, and fish, and they’ve got a bunch of antiques related to the history of hot pot on display.
If you follow your GPS, it’ll take you to Courtyard No. 1, which has most of the antiques. Courtyards No. 2 and No. 3 are in a different alleyway and are a bit more quiet and secluded.
The only downside is that they use alcohol stoves. They give off a bit of an odor, and the heat control isn't great. It would be much better if they switched to charcoal.
The ingredients are all high quality; they even serve top-tier grapes as a pre-meal fruit plate. Another highlight is their shaobing—you can choose from four types and get a sampler platter. I highly recommend the caramel shaobing; it’s similar to a tang huoshao (brown sugar pastry). Expect to spend at least 150 yuan per person.
6. Zanka Pakistani Restaurant
Zanka is a new Pakistani spot in the Chaoyang district that hosts a buffet on Fridays and Saturdays. The space is small, but it’s decorated pretty nicely.
When we went for lunch, there was only one other table occupied, probably because the location is a bit tucked away.
There’s no buffet on weekdays, so you have to order a la carte. The staff are all 'Pak-Tie' (a colloquial term for Pakistani friends) and don't speak Chinese.
I brought my son along because he’s a huge fan of pani puri (crispy hollow balls filled with spiced water), and I saw it was on the menu.
They definitely make the pani puri look pretty, but they weren't crispy and the texture was off, which was a huge disappointment for Fahim.
The chicken kebab was actually pretty good—the meat was tender with a nice little spicy kick.
The Peshawar chicken curry was just okay, and the plain naan wasn't really my style. I prefer a thinner, buttery naan. Overall, the food here was a bit lacking, even though the prices are cheap.
7. Maji Palace Cheese
Ma's Dairy has been around for over a decade. Compared to Naolao Wei (a famous dairy shop), it's cheaper and the portions are bigger, but honestly, it doesn't taste as good.
Their guozigan (preserved fruit drink) and dairy treats have a bit of a budget vibe, and the guozigan is super sweet. I still prefer Naolao Wei in Niujie. Ma’s used to have two locations, but the one in Guangqumen shut down, so now there’s only the Nongguangli branch left.
8. Sultan Turkish Restaurant
A new Sultan Turkish Restaurant just opened in the C-Joy City mall—that makes two spots in Beijing now. They’ve already got a huge following with multiple locations across Shanghai, Yiwu, and Guangzhou.
The vibe is pretty decent, though I’d say it’s a notch below Xiting Xiuse, which feels a bit more upscale and elegant.
The assorted mixed grill is delicious. I used to grab this kind of Middle Eastern food with my son back when we were in Malaysia because it’s not spicy, making it perfect for kids.
The Turkish balloon bread is another hit with my son; he can easily polish off half of it on his own.
Sultan teamed up with MADO ice cream, so you can get authentic Turkish goat milk ice cream at every location. My son doesn't really appreciate it though—he's not a fan of dairy products—but I personally love the MADO stuff.
9. Bani Restaurant
This newly opened Bani Pakistani restaurant is less than three kilometers away from the Zanka place I mentioned earlier, and they offer an affordable weekday buffet.
The interior is definitely prettier, and the service is more attentive. Plus, the lunch buffet is only 78 yuan.
That said, they only have eight dishes for the lunch buffet, and the taste is pretty average. Compared to all the other Pakistani spots in the city, I still prefer the China-Pakistan Friendship Restaurant.
The buffet drinks and the crunchy pani puri (hollow, crispy dough balls filled with spiced water and chickpeas) are a huge hit with my son; he can fill up on those alone.
10. Northwest Chencang Mianpi and Liangfen
I stumbled upon this Baoji-style liangfen (starch jelly) and mianpi (cold steamed noodles) shop near Madian. 'Chencang' is actually a district in Baoji.
There’s just one uncle running the place, but he’s super friendly. We asked for a two-way combo of mianpi, and he actually made us a three-way combo instead. It was delicious and perfectly seasoned, but it’s definitely more of a snack—you won't be full if you treat it as a main meal.
There’s only one table in the whole shop, which is tucked away inside the first floor of the Fulite Business Building. It's not the easiest place to find.
11. Liu's Watch Repair and BBQ
This place looks like a watch repair shop from the outside, but once you step inside, it’s a full-on barbecue joint.
It’s a classic Beijing-style BBQ spot with plenty of space, including both a courtyard and indoor seating. If you sit inside, you're surrounded by all these clocks. Since they’re all set to different times, you’ll hear them chiming and going off every now and then.
The guy grilling the skewers looks like he's from Xinjiang. Their prices are on the higher side, and since they grill order by order, the service is pretty slow. The beef skewers were a bit tough, the lamb tendon was chewy, and the lamb cartilage lacked flavor. I’d only recommend their lamb rib meat, which is tender—though it’ll run you 10 bucks a skewer. view all
[Internet Repost]
Check out this collection featuring 67 real-life photos from the 64th edition of our Beijing Halal food map. We’ve scouted out specialty Halal cafes on Xixinglong Street, handmade dumplings at Lao Huihui, Xiaoxianyang Shanxian lamb soup, and the Halal buffet at the Comfort Hotel to give Beijing foodies the ultimate guide for your next visit.
1. JM Cafe, Xixinglong Street Flagship Store
2. Lao Huihui Dumpling House
3. Xiaoxianyang Shanxian Lamb Soup
4. Comfort Hotel Halal Buffet
5. Xizhuanfang Shabu-Shabu Museum
6. Zanka Pakistani Restaurant
7. Ma’s Palace Cheese
8. Sultan Turkish Restaurant
9. Bani Restaurant
10. Northwest Chencang Mianpi (steamed cold noodles) & Liangfen (starch jelly)
11. Liu’s Watch Repair & Barbecue
12. JM Cafe, Xixinglong Street Flagship Store
Xixinglong Street is located in the Qianmen area. After a major urban planning update during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the street is now home to a bunch of super aesthetic boutique shops—and this JM Cafe is one of them.
Every JM location has its own vibe. For this flagship store, they hired the famous Japanese designer Aoyama Shuhei, who’s a bit of an internet celebrity known for his high-end work, especially in renovating traditional hutong courtyards.
The first floor is all about espresso and baked goods, while the second floor serves up pour-over coffee using award-winning beans.
The view from the second floor is actually nicer. Word is that Aoyama Shuhei’s whole concept was to encourage people to interact with strangers. So, the first floor is laid out like a theater, and the second floor is centered around a long table—like a conference room—where strangers face each other. The designer really wanted to help people make a connection.
When you’re ordering at the counter, you’re standing right in front of the casual seating area, so it’s pretty much guaranteed that everyone will be watching whoever walks by.
All the baked goods are made fresh daily. The Hui Muslim owner keeps a tight handle on the quality, and all the branches follow a standardized supply chain.
2. Lao Huihui Dumpling House
Ever since the Junlian Dumpling House in Niujie closed down, finding really solid dumplings meant traveling a bit further. But now, there’s finally a solid alternative: Lao Huihui Dumpling House. It’s a chain that already opened a spot near Jiao Da (Beijing Jiaotong University), and they specialize in all kinds of dumpling fillings.
They’ve got an open kitchen, so you can see four or five people busy hand-wrapping and boiling the dumplings right in front of you. Dumplings are best served fresh, batch by batch, so you can always count on them being piping hot.
They have a signature tomato and beef dumpling that I tried. It’s definitely unique—I wouldn’t call it amazing, but it’s not bad either. It’s just that I’m not used to that kind of creative flavor profile. Their traditional beef with celery and lamb with scallion dumplings are honestly delicious. Plus, they serve classic Beijing-style stir-fried dishes that are really affordable and come in huge portions.
3. Xiaoxianyang Shanxian Lamb Soup
Xiaoxianyang Shanxian Lamb Soup is a chain, but this location in You'anmen is the only one I found that is fully Halal. They specialize in all sorts of lamb soups and lamb dishes, and they even serve Jinzhou-style barbecue.
They open up at 7:00 AM and keep the kitchen running until 4:00 AM.
You have to pair their lamb soup with a diaolu shaobing (a flatbread baked in a hanging oven). The soup itself is solid—the meat doesn't have that gamey smell and the broth is rich—but the flatbread was a letdown because it wasn't crispy enough.
They also serve lamb rice noodles, which I tried. The flavor is basically identical to the lamb soup.
Honestly, diaolu shaobing really needs to be served fresh out of the oven to be any good, and theirs was pretty bland.
4. Comfort Hotel Halal Buffet
The Comfort Hotel in Niujie is now offering a halal breakfast to the public for 28 yuan a head, with both Western and Chinese options available.
When I posted about this on Xiaohongshu, a lot of people complained that 28 yuan was too expensive and that you're better off ordering a la carte at a restaurant. I really don't get that logic; 28 yuan at a local spot barely gets you a bowl of lamian (hand-pulled noodles), and you’re definitely not getting the variety you get at a hotel breakfast buffet.
I love hotel breakfasts because the variety lets me eat a balanced and healthy meal. I rarely eat traditional Beijing-style breakfasts anymore—they’re just too greasy and packed with carbs, which I don't think is great for you.
For those 28 yuan, you get everything: veggies, fruit, desserts, milk, eggs, and staples. Plus, it's all-you-can-eat. Seriously, 28 yuan only buys you maybe 5 buns down at Hongji.
Looking at the headscarves the ladies in the back kitchen are wearing, you can tell right away they're from the Northwest.
5. Xizhuanfang Hot Pot Museum
Xizhuanfang is a new hot pot museum in Niujie. It’s spread across three courtyards tucked away in the hutongs (traditional narrow alleyways). The vibe is top-tier—it’s got that classic cultural aesthetic but feels upscale enough for a business meeting.
The courtyards are filled with flowers, birds, and fish, and they’ve got a bunch of antiques related to the history of hot pot on display.
If you follow your GPS, it’ll take you to Courtyard No. 1, which has most of the antiques. Courtyards No. 2 and No. 3 are in a different alleyway and are a bit more quiet and secluded.
The only downside is that they use alcohol stoves. They give off a bit of an odor, and the heat control isn't great. It would be much better if they switched to charcoal.
The ingredients are all high quality; they even serve top-tier grapes as a pre-meal fruit plate. Another highlight is their shaobing—you can choose from four types and get a sampler platter. I highly recommend the caramel shaobing; it’s similar to a tang huoshao (brown sugar pastry). Expect to spend at least 150 yuan per person.
6. Zanka Pakistani Restaurant
Zanka is a new Pakistani spot in the Chaoyang district that hosts a buffet on Fridays and Saturdays. The space is small, but it’s decorated pretty nicely.
When we went for lunch, there was only one other table occupied, probably because the location is a bit tucked away.
There’s no buffet on weekdays, so you have to order a la carte. The staff are all 'Pak-Tie' (a colloquial term for Pakistani friends) and don't speak Chinese.
I brought my son along because he’s a huge fan of pani puri (crispy hollow balls filled with spiced water), and I saw it was on the menu.
They definitely make the pani puri look pretty, but they weren't crispy and the texture was off, which was a huge disappointment for Fahim.
The chicken kebab was actually pretty good—the meat was tender with a nice little spicy kick.
The Peshawar chicken curry was just okay, and the plain naan wasn't really my style. I prefer a thinner, buttery naan. Overall, the food here was a bit lacking, even though the prices are cheap.
7. Maji Palace Cheese
Ma's Dairy has been around for over a decade. Compared to Naolao Wei (a famous dairy shop), it's cheaper and the portions are bigger, but honestly, it doesn't taste as good.
Their guozigan (preserved fruit drink) and dairy treats have a bit of a budget vibe, and the guozigan is super sweet. I still prefer Naolao Wei in Niujie. Ma’s used to have two locations, but the one in Guangqumen shut down, so now there’s only the Nongguangli branch left.
8. Sultan Turkish Restaurant
A new Sultan Turkish Restaurant just opened in the C-Joy City mall—that makes two spots in Beijing now. They’ve already got a huge following with multiple locations across Shanghai, Yiwu, and Guangzhou.
The vibe is pretty decent, though I’d say it’s a notch below Xiting Xiuse, which feels a bit more upscale and elegant.
The assorted mixed grill is delicious. I used to grab this kind of Middle Eastern food with my son back when we were in Malaysia because it’s not spicy, making it perfect for kids.
The Turkish balloon bread is another hit with my son; he can easily polish off half of it on his own.
Sultan teamed up with MADO ice cream, so you can get authentic Turkish goat milk ice cream at every location. My son doesn't really appreciate it though—he's not a fan of dairy products—but I personally love the MADO stuff.
9. Bani Restaurant
This newly opened Bani Pakistani restaurant is less than three kilometers away from the Zanka place I mentioned earlier, and they offer an affordable weekday buffet.
The interior is definitely prettier, and the service is more attentive. Plus, the lunch buffet is only 78 yuan.
That said, they only have eight dishes for the lunch buffet, and the taste is pretty average. Compared to all the other Pakistani spots in the city, I still prefer the China-Pakistan Friendship Restaurant.
The buffet drinks and the crunchy pani puri (hollow, crispy dough balls filled with spiced water and chickpeas) are a huge hit with my son; he can fill up on those alone.
10. Northwest Chencang Mianpi and Liangfen
I stumbled upon this Baoji-style liangfen (starch jelly) and mianpi (cold steamed noodles) shop near Madian. 'Chencang' is actually a district in Baoji.
There’s just one uncle running the place, but he’s super friendly. We asked for a two-way combo of mianpi, and he actually made us a three-way combo instead. It was delicious and perfectly seasoned, but it’s definitely more of a snack—you won't be full if you treat it as a main meal.
There’s only one table in the whole shop, which is tucked away inside the first floor of the Fulite Business Building. It's not the easiest place to find.
11. Liu's Watch Repair and BBQ
This place looks like a watch repair shop from the outside, but once you step inside, it’s a full-on barbecue joint.
It’s a classic Beijing-style BBQ spot with plenty of space, including both a courtyard and indoor seating. If you sit inside, you're surrounded by all these clocks. Since they’re all set to different times, you’ll hear them chiming and going off every now and then.
The guy grilling the skewers looks like he's from Xinjiang. Their prices are on the higher side, and since they grill order by order, the service is pretty slow. The beef skewers were a bit tough, the lamb tendon was chewy, and the lamb cartilage lacked flavor. I’d only recommend their lamb rib meat, which is tender—though it’ll run you 10 bucks a skewer.
Check out this collection featuring 67 real-life photos from the 64th edition of our Beijing Halal food map. We’ve scouted out specialty Halal cafes on Xixinglong Street, handmade dumplings at Lao Huihui, Xiaoxianyang Shanxian lamb soup, and the Halal buffet at the Comfort Hotel to give Beijing foodies the ultimate guide for your next visit.
1. JM Cafe, Xixinglong Street Flagship Store
2. Lao Huihui Dumpling House
3. Xiaoxianyang Shanxian Lamb Soup
4. Comfort Hotel Halal Buffet
5. Xizhuanfang Shabu-Shabu Museum
6. Zanka Pakistani Restaurant
7. Ma’s Palace Cheese
8. Sultan Turkish Restaurant
9. Bani Restaurant
10. Northwest Chencang Mianpi (steamed cold noodles) & Liangfen (starch jelly)
11. Liu’s Watch Repair & Barbecue
12. JM Cafe, Xixinglong Street Flagship Store
Xixinglong Street is located in the Qianmen area. After a major urban planning update during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the street is now home to a bunch of super aesthetic boutique shops—and this JM Cafe is one of them.
Every JM location has its own vibe. For this flagship store, they hired the famous Japanese designer Aoyama Shuhei, who’s a bit of an internet celebrity known for his high-end work, especially in renovating traditional hutong courtyards.
The first floor is all about espresso and baked goods, while the second floor serves up pour-over coffee using award-winning beans.
The view from the second floor is actually nicer. Word is that Aoyama Shuhei’s whole concept was to encourage people to interact with strangers. So, the first floor is laid out like a theater, and the second floor is centered around a long table—like a conference room—where strangers face each other. The designer really wanted to help people make a connection.
When you’re ordering at the counter, you’re standing right in front of the casual seating area, so it’s pretty much guaranteed that everyone will be watching whoever walks by.
All the baked goods are made fresh daily. The Hui Muslim owner keeps a tight handle on the quality, and all the branches follow a standardized supply chain.
2. Lao Huihui Dumpling House
Ever since the Junlian Dumpling House in Niujie closed down, finding really solid dumplings meant traveling a bit further. But now, there’s finally a solid alternative: Lao Huihui Dumpling House. It’s a chain that already opened a spot near Jiao Da (Beijing Jiaotong University), and they specialize in all kinds of dumpling fillings.
They’ve got an open kitchen, so you can see four or five people busy hand-wrapping and boiling the dumplings right in front of you. Dumplings are best served fresh, batch by batch, so you can always count on them being piping hot.
They have a signature tomato and beef dumpling that I tried. It’s definitely unique—I wouldn’t call it amazing, but it’s not bad either. It’s just that I’m not used to that kind of creative flavor profile. Their traditional beef with celery and lamb with scallion dumplings are honestly delicious. Plus, they serve classic Beijing-style stir-fried dishes that are really affordable and come in huge portions.
3. Xiaoxianyang Shanxian Lamb Soup
Xiaoxianyang Shanxian Lamb Soup is a chain, but this location in You'anmen is the only one I found that is fully Halal. They specialize in all sorts of lamb soups and lamb dishes, and they even serve Jinzhou-style barbecue.
They open up at 7:00 AM and keep the kitchen running until 4:00 AM.
You have to pair their lamb soup with a diaolu shaobing (a flatbread baked in a hanging oven). The soup itself is solid—the meat doesn't have that gamey smell and the broth is rich—but the flatbread was a letdown because it wasn't crispy enough.
They also serve lamb rice noodles, which I tried. The flavor is basically identical to the lamb soup.
Honestly, diaolu shaobing really needs to be served fresh out of the oven to be any good, and theirs was pretty bland.
4. Comfort Hotel Halal Buffet
The Comfort Hotel in Niujie is now offering a halal breakfast to the public for 28 yuan a head, with both Western and Chinese options available.
When I posted about this on Xiaohongshu, a lot of people complained that 28 yuan was too expensive and that you're better off ordering a la carte at a restaurant. I really don't get that logic; 28 yuan at a local spot barely gets you a bowl of lamian (hand-pulled noodles), and you’re definitely not getting the variety you get at a hotel breakfast buffet.
I love hotel breakfasts because the variety lets me eat a balanced and healthy meal. I rarely eat traditional Beijing-style breakfasts anymore—they’re just too greasy and packed with carbs, which I don't think is great for you.
For those 28 yuan, you get everything: veggies, fruit, desserts, milk, eggs, and staples. Plus, it's all-you-can-eat. Seriously, 28 yuan only buys you maybe 5 buns down at Hongji.
Looking at the headscarves the ladies in the back kitchen are wearing, you can tell right away they're from the Northwest.
5. Xizhuanfang Hot Pot Museum
Xizhuanfang is a new hot pot museum in Niujie. It’s spread across three courtyards tucked away in the hutongs (traditional narrow alleyways). The vibe is top-tier—it’s got that classic cultural aesthetic but feels upscale enough for a business meeting.
The courtyards are filled with flowers, birds, and fish, and they’ve got a bunch of antiques related to the history of hot pot on display.
If you follow your GPS, it’ll take you to Courtyard No. 1, which has most of the antiques. Courtyards No. 2 and No. 3 are in a different alleyway and are a bit more quiet and secluded.
The only downside is that they use alcohol stoves. They give off a bit of an odor, and the heat control isn't great. It would be much better if they switched to charcoal.
The ingredients are all high quality; they even serve top-tier grapes as a pre-meal fruit plate. Another highlight is their shaobing—you can choose from four types and get a sampler platter. I highly recommend the caramel shaobing; it’s similar to a tang huoshao (brown sugar pastry). Expect to spend at least 150 yuan per person.
6. Zanka Pakistani Restaurant
Zanka is a new Pakistani spot in the Chaoyang district that hosts a buffet on Fridays and Saturdays. The space is small, but it’s decorated pretty nicely.
When we went for lunch, there was only one other table occupied, probably because the location is a bit tucked away.
There’s no buffet on weekdays, so you have to order a la carte. The staff are all 'Pak-Tie' (a colloquial term for Pakistani friends) and don't speak Chinese.
I brought my son along because he’s a huge fan of pani puri (crispy hollow balls filled with spiced water), and I saw it was on the menu.
They definitely make the pani puri look pretty, but they weren't crispy and the texture was off, which was a huge disappointment for Fahim.
The chicken kebab was actually pretty good—the meat was tender with a nice little spicy kick.
The Peshawar chicken curry was just okay, and the plain naan wasn't really my style. I prefer a thinner, buttery naan. Overall, the food here was a bit lacking, even though the prices are cheap.
7. Maji Palace Cheese
Ma's Dairy has been around for over a decade. Compared to Naolao Wei (a famous dairy shop), it's cheaper and the portions are bigger, but honestly, it doesn't taste as good.
Their guozigan (preserved fruit drink) and dairy treats have a bit of a budget vibe, and the guozigan is super sweet. I still prefer Naolao Wei in Niujie. Ma’s used to have two locations, but the one in Guangqumen shut down, so now there’s only the Nongguangli branch left.
8. Sultan Turkish Restaurant
A new Sultan Turkish Restaurant just opened in the C-Joy City mall—that makes two spots in Beijing now. They’ve already got a huge following with multiple locations across Shanghai, Yiwu, and Guangzhou.
The vibe is pretty decent, though I’d say it’s a notch below Xiting Xiuse, which feels a bit more upscale and elegant.
The assorted mixed grill is delicious. I used to grab this kind of Middle Eastern food with my son back when we were in Malaysia because it’s not spicy, making it perfect for kids.
The Turkish balloon bread is another hit with my son; he can easily polish off half of it on his own.
Sultan teamed up with MADO ice cream, so you can get authentic Turkish goat milk ice cream at every location. My son doesn't really appreciate it though—he's not a fan of dairy products—but I personally love the MADO stuff.
9. Bani Restaurant
This newly opened Bani Pakistani restaurant is less than three kilometers away from the Zanka place I mentioned earlier, and they offer an affordable weekday buffet.
The interior is definitely prettier, and the service is more attentive. Plus, the lunch buffet is only 78 yuan.
That said, they only have eight dishes for the lunch buffet, and the taste is pretty average. Compared to all the other Pakistani spots in the city, I still prefer the China-Pakistan Friendship Restaurant.
The buffet drinks and the crunchy pani puri (hollow, crispy dough balls filled with spiced water and chickpeas) are a huge hit with my son; he can fill up on those alone.
10. Northwest Chencang Mianpi and Liangfen
I stumbled upon this Baoji-style liangfen (starch jelly) and mianpi (cold steamed noodles) shop near Madian. 'Chencang' is actually a district in Baoji.
There’s just one uncle running the place, but he’s super friendly. We asked for a two-way combo of mianpi, and he actually made us a three-way combo instead. It was delicious and perfectly seasoned, but it’s definitely more of a snack—you won't be full if you treat it as a main meal.
There’s only one table in the whole shop, which is tucked away inside the first floor of the Fulite Business Building. It's not the easiest place to find.
11. Liu's Watch Repair and BBQ
This place looks like a watch repair shop from the outside, but once you step inside, it’s a full-on barbecue joint.
It’s a classic Beijing-style BBQ spot with plenty of space, including both a courtyard and indoor seating. If you sit inside, you're surrounded by all these clocks. Since they’re all set to different times, you’ll hear them chiming and going off every now and then.
The guy grilling the skewers looks like he's from Xinjiang. Their prices are on the higher side, and since they grill order by order, the service is pretty slow. The beef skewers were a bit tough, the lamb tendon was chewy, and the lamb cartilage lacked flavor. I’d only recommend their lamb rib meat, which is tender—though it’ll run you 10 bucks a skewer.
Best Halal Food in Beijing: Authentic Hui Muslim Street Eats and Traditional Beef Noodles Guide
Articles • Hasan09 posted the article • 0 comments • 11 views • 9 hours ago
[Internet Repost]
I’ve rounded up 65 high-res photos for the 65th installment of my Beijing Halal food guide. We’re deep-diving into local spots like Linfen Beef Meatball Noodles, the Xuanwu Culture-themed restaurant, and Gansu-style barbecue sandwiches to give you the lowdown on the best eats and dining vibes in the city.
Here is the list of Halal restaurants featured in this episode:
1. Linfen Beef Meatball Noodles
2. Zai Xuanwu Cultural Theme Restaurant
3. Gansu Barbecue Sandwich
4. Beijing-style Hot Pot Buffet
5. Ules Kazakh Grassland Flavor Restaurant
6. Yilan Liyuan Angus Beef Noodles
7. RABIUL'S KITCHEN Indian Restaurant
8. Khyber Restaurant
9. Culture Indian & Pakistani Restaurant
10. Cao's Beef Zhaobing (Crushed Pancake)
1. Linfen Beef Meatball Noodles
I finally found authentic Halal Linfen beef meatball noodles in Beijing, and it’s actually run by the famous Bai brand from Linfen. It’s a stall located at the night market right by the Xingong subway station entrance, open from noon until night.
Linfen-style beef meatball noodles use a beef tallow spicy broth. It’s super spicy, kind of like a Sichuan hot pot base.
The noodles are yellow, quickly blanched in the broth, and served—similar to how banmian (flat noodles) are prepared. You can add extra beef, meatballs, mahua (fried dough twists), and veggies. I personally love adding the mahua, meatballs, and beef.
The weather has been pretty cold lately and the night market is empty. I’m not sure how long this stall can hang on, but I really hope they can open a permanent brick-and-mortar shop in Beijing.
2. Zai Xuanwu Cultural Theme Restaurant
Ever since the old Xuanwu District was merged into Xicheng, a lot of locals have been really nostalgic about the past, which is how this restaurant themed around old Xuanwu culture came to be.
Xuanwu Yongcun (Xuanwu Forever) is the title of a popular underground hip-hop track from 2011. I used to have that song on repeat back in the day; the lyrics are great and always bring back a ton of childhood memories.
The message on the chopstick packaging is actually a snippet of those lyrics. 110104 is the old prefix for residents' ID cards in Xuanwu. I’m an 110104, but by my son’s generation, the ID prefix has changed to 110102, with 102 standing for the Xicheng District.
The wall mural in the restaurant depicts the Islamic Scripture Institute of Niujie.
They’ve got old-school Nintendo consoles and black Sega consoles on display, totally capturing the vibe of 80s kids' childhoods.
The restaurant specializes in shuanrou (instant-boiled mutton/hot pot) and yangxiezi (lamb spine hot pot), plus skewers and zhizi kaorou (iron-plate grilled meat). The grill is done in the kitchen and brought to your table. The meat quality is solid, though old-school Xuanwu locals definitely prefer things on the saltier side.
The grilled potato slices and enoki mushrooms in the two-person grill combo are great. The set only costs 92 yuan and comes with two plates of meat—one beef and one lamb—which is a total bargain.
3. Gansu-Style Meat Skewer Sandwiches
There’s a little takeout window at the Jingyaju Hotpot spot in Guangwai where a lady from Gansu sells grilled meat skewers tucked into flatbread. It’s strictly takeout, but I’m a huge fan of these Gansu-style sandwiches where you can pick whatever fillings you want.
She also makes spicy latiao (spicy gluten sticks) and potato-filled steamed buns, and the youxuan bing (layered scallion oil pancakes) at the bottom are super tasty too.
4. Beijing All-You-Can-Eat Halal Hotpot and BBQ
A new halal AYCE (all-you-can-eat) hotpot and BBQ place just opened by the South Gate of Olympic Forest Park. It’s perfect for grabbing a meal after hanging out at the park with the kids all day, plus kids under a meter tall eat for free.
The dinner buffet is 113 per person and it’s loaded with options, with the real highlights being the seafood, crab, and grilled durian.
Here you’ve got two types of slushies where you can add your own toppings, and there’s an ice cream machine right next to them.
The crabs are served live, and since it’s in season, they’re packed with roe.
The grilled durian pieces might be on the smaller side, but you can eat as much as you want, which makes it a win.
You grab your own hotpot ingredients and beef or lamb, while the raw skewers for the grill are set out for you to pick, then you hand them to the kitchen to get them cooked up.
The ingredients are pretty fresh, the variety is solid, and the drinks are all-you-can-drink too.
5. Ules Kazakh Grassland Flavors
A restaurant serving authentic Kazakh cuisine recently opened near the Beijing Institute of Technology’s Liangxiang campus, run by three sisters from the Kazakh community.
Their specialty dishes include naryn (horse meat noodles), baursak (fried dough balls), potato slices, and kuirdak (a traditional meat stew). Since the space is tiny, they don't prep huge batches, so it’s best to call ahead and order what you want, otherwise you might miss out.
The shop only has three and a half tables, so their capacity is limited—by 7 PM, most of the food is usually sold out.
You can tell just by looking at them that these ladies are definitely Kazakh, and the food they put out is genuinely delicious.
I got the veggie pilaf because all the meat versions were already gone.
Baursak is a classic Kazakh snack people usually have with milk tea for breakfast; the texture is a lot like youxiang (savory deep-fried dough).
Their homemade noodles with diced meat are incredible—the noodles have a great chew, and you get one free refill, with any extra refills only costing three yuan.
The Kazakh-style potato slices are pretty spicy, and they’re cooked down until they’re super tender.
They also serve Kazakh-style salty milk tea, which usually comes with naipizi (milk skin), though they were all out that day.
The dish I had to wait the longest for was the horse meat naryn. The horse meat is firmer than beef with a coarser texture, and the 'naryn' refers to the way it’s tossed with the noodles.
6. Yilan Liyuan Beef Noodles
Yilan Liyuan just opened a new beef noodle shop in Baizhifang, featuring their signature Angus bone broth beef noodles.
Yilan Liyuan is originally a famous beef and mutton shop on Niujie Street that’s turned into a major viral hit, and now they’re even serving electric-grilled skewers and American-style burgers.
Their electric-grilled skewers and burgers are pretty good, but the beef noodles and rice bowls with grilled meat are just so-so.
7. RABIUL'S KITCHEN Indian Restaurant
Run by Indians, this Kolkata-style Indian restaurant features an owner who used to work as a head chef in many hotel restaurants.
Kolkata Indian cuisine blends Hakka Chinese elements, and their curry has a really rich and mellow flavor.
8. Khyber Restaurant
Khyber is a Pakistani restaurant located in Liangxiang. There's another Pakistani brother restaurant nearby, but I feel this one has a more authentic taste.
Beijing has recently seen quite a few new Pakistani restaurants open up close together. Each spot has its own vibe, and once you try enough of them, you can really tell the difference.
The grilled meat here is also solid. Pakistani folks are basically like the northwestern Chinese of the international scene, opening restaurants all over the world.
Remember that Pakistani biryani rice is always spicy—that's how you tell it apart from Arab rice dishes.
The taste of the naan bread can also totally show off the chef's skill level.
9. Culture Pakistani and Indian Restaurant
This spot is in Sanlitun right next to Han Baba Pakistani Restaurant. I've never really understood why they love clustering their shops together, but it doesn't seem to hurt their business. Honestly, very few Pakistani and Indian restaurants in Beijing go out of business these days.
The interior setup feels more like a lounge bar and even has a stage for live music.
The dish prices are super cheap, and you can usually eat here for under 100 RMB per person.
These kebab skewers have a bit of a kick to them, whereas Turkish kebabs are non-spicy.
Comparatively speaking, this place offers a wider variety of dishes and has a much more spacious setup. Plenty of people show up for lunch.
Their naan bread is extra fragrant, but the pani puri (crispy hollow spheres filled with spiced water and potatoes) shown in the picture below wasn't great. My son doesn't like the fillings inside them and only wanted to eat the empty shells, but even the empty shells here weren't crispy.
10. Cao Family Beef Zhaobing
Cao Yunjin has opened a bunch of new restaurants lately—some Halal and some not—mostly clustered over in Wangsiying. I thought it was too far and didn't want to wait in long lines, so I skipped those. However, this Cao Family Beef Zhaobing (pan-cured flatbread shredded and stir-fried with beef) opened a new branch in You'anmen, and since it's close by, I came to check it out.
The new location is pretty big, and with it being the opening period, it's super busy. Even if you come for dinner, you still have to wait for a table.
However, the staff's service is prompt and keeps up with the crowd, and the zhaobing tastes pretty authentic. Having tried beef zhaobing in Baoding before, I'd say the flavor here is pretty standard—the ingredients are clean and fresh, and it tastes much like any other good spot.
Their beef steamed dumplings and Governor tofu are both delicious too. The steamed dumplings are genuinely awesome, and they're only 18 RMB a portion.
After the meal, I randomly ordered two little desserts: one was peach gum soup, and the other was mung bean paste soup. They were super generous with the ingredients, and the total bill for this whole spread came out to under 100 RMB. The value for money is seriously high. view all
I’ve rounded up 65 high-res photos for the 65th installment of my Beijing Halal food guide. We’re deep-diving into local spots like Linfen Beef Meatball Noodles, the Xuanwu Culture-themed restaurant, and Gansu-style barbecue sandwiches to give you the lowdown on the best eats and dining vibes in the city.
Here is the list of Halal restaurants featured in this episode:
1. Linfen Beef Meatball Noodles
2. Zai Xuanwu Cultural Theme Restaurant
3. Gansu Barbecue Sandwich
4. Beijing-style Hot Pot Buffet
5. Ules Kazakh Grassland Flavor Restaurant
6. Yilan Liyuan Angus Beef Noodles
7. RABIUL'S KITCHEN Indian Restaurant
8. Khyber Restaurant
9. Culture Indian & Pakistani Restaurant
10. Cao's Beef Zhaobing (Crushed Pancake)
1. Linfen Beef Meatball Noodles
I finally found authentic Halal Linfen beef meatball noodles in Beijing, and it’s actually run by the famous Bai brand from Linfen. It’s a stall located at the night market right by the Xingong subway station entrance, open from noon until night.
Linfen-style beef meatball noodles use a beef tallow spicy broth. It’s super spicy, kind of like a Sichuan hot pot base.
The noodles are yellow, quickly blanched in the broth, and served—similar to how banmian (flat noodles) are prepared. You can add extra beef, meatballs, mahua (fried dough twists), and veggies. I personally love adding the mahua, meatballs, and beef.
The weather has been pretty cold lately and the night market is empty. I’m not sure how long this stall can hang on, but I really hope they can open a permanent brick-and-mortar shop in Beijing.
2. Zai Xuanwu Cultural Theme Restaurant
Ever since the old Xuanwu District was merged into Xicheng, a lot of locals have been really nostalgic about the past, which is how this restaurant themed around old Xuanwu culture came to be.
Xuanwu Yongcun (Xuanwu Forever) is the title of a popular underground hip-hop track from 2011. I used to have that song on repeat back in the day; the lyrics are great and always bring back a ton of childhood memories.
The message on the chopstick packaging is actually a snippet of those lyrics. 110104 is the old prefix for residents' ID cards in Xuanwu. I’m an 110104, but by my son’s generation, the ID prefix has changed to 110102, with 102 standing for the Xicheng District.
The wall mural in the restaurant depicts the Islamic Scripture Institute of Niujie.
They’ve got old-school Nintendo consoles and black Sega consoles on display, totally capturing the vibe of 80s kids' childhoods.
The restaurant specializes in shuanrou (instant-boiled mutton/hot pot) and yangxiezi (lamb spine hot pot), plus skewers and zhizi kaorou (iron-plate grilled meat). The grill is done in the kitchen and brought to your table. The meat quality is solid, though old-school Xuanwu locals definitely prefer things on the saltier side.
The grilled potato slices and enoki mushrooms in the two-person grill combo are great. The set only costs 92 yuan and comes with two plates of meat—one beef and one lamb—which is a total bargain.
3. Gansu-Style Meat Skewer Sandwiches
There’s a little takeout window at the Jingyaju Hotpot spot in Guangwai where a lady from Gansu sells grilled meat skewers tucked into flatbread. It’s strictly takeout, but I’m a huge fan of these Gansu-style sandwiches where you can pick whatever fillings you want.
She also makes spicy latiao (spicy gluten sticks) and potato-filled steamed buns, and the youxuan bing (layered scallion oil pancakes) at the bottom are super tasty too.
4. Beijing All-You-Can-Eat Halal Hotpot and BBQ
A new halal AYCE (all-you-can-eat) hotpot and BBQ place just opened by the South Gate of Olympic Forest Park. It’s perfect for grabbing a meal after hanging out at the park with the kids all day, plus kids under a meter tall eat for free.
The dinner buffet is 113 per person and it’s loaded with options, with the real highlights being the seafood, crab, and grilled durian.
Here you’ve got two types of slushies where you can add your own toppings, and there’s an ice cream machine right next to them.
The crabs are served live, and since it’s in season, they’re packed with roe.
The grilled durian pieces might be on the smaller side, but you can eat as much as you want, which makes it a win.
You grab your own hotpot ingredients and beef or lamb, while the raw skewers for the grill are set out for you to pick, then you hand them to the kitchen to get them cooked up.
The ingredients are pretty fresh, the variety is solid, and the drinks are all-you-can-drink too.
5. Ules Kazakh Grassland Flavors
A restaurant serving authentic Kazakh cuisine recently opened near the Beijing Institute of Technology’s Liangxiang campus, run by three sisters from the Kazakh community.
Their specialty dishes include naryn (horse meat noodles), baursak (fried dough balls), potato slices, and kuirdak (a traditional meat stew). Since the space is tiny, they don't prep huge batches, so it’s best to call ahead and order what you want, otherwise you might miss out.
The shop only has three and a half tables, so their capacity is limited—by 7 PM, most of the food is usually sold out.
You can tell just by looking at them that these ladies are definitely Kazakh, and the food they put out is genuinely delicious.
I got the veggie pilaf because all the meat versions were already gone.
Baursak is a classic Kazakh snack people usually have with milk tea for breakfast; the texture is a lot like youxiang (savory deep-fried dough).
Their homemade noodles with diced meat are incredible—the noodles have a great chew, and you get one free refill, with any extra refills only costing three yuan.
The Kazakh-style potato slices are pretty spicy, and they’re cooked down until they’re super tender.
They also serve Kazakh-style salty milk tea, which usually comes with naipizi (milk skin), though they were all out that day.
The dish I had to wait the longest for was the horse meat naryn. The horse meat is firmer than beef with a coarser texture, and the 'naryn' refers to the way it’s tossed with the noodles.
6. Yilan Liyuan Beef Noodles
Yilan Liyuan just opened a new beef noodle shop in Baizhifang, featuring their signature Angus bone broth beef noodles.
Yilan Liyuan is originally a famous beef and mutton shop on Niujie Street that’s turned into a major viral hit, and now they’re even serving electric-grilled skewers and American-style burgers.
Their electric-grilled skewers and burgers are pretty good, but the beef noodles and rice bowls with grilled meat are just so-so.
7. RABIUL'S KITCHEN Indian Restaurant
Run by Indians, this Kolkata-style Indian restaurant features an owner who used to work as a head chef in many hotel restaurants.
Kolkata Indian cuisine blends Hakka Chinese elements, and their curry has a really rich and mellow flavor.
8. Khyber Restaurant
Khyber is a Pakistani restaurant located in Liangxiang. There's another Pakistani brother restaurant nearby, but I feel this one has a more authentic taste.
Beijing has recently seen quite a few new Pakistani restaurants open up close together. Each spot has its own vibe, and once you try enough of them, you can really tell the difference.
The grilled meat here is also solid. Pakistani folks are basically like the northwestern Chinese of the international scene, opening restaurants all over the world.
Remember that Pakistani biryani rice is always spicy—that's how you tell it apart from Arab rice dishes.
The taste of the naan bread can also totally show off the chef's skill level.
9. Culture Pakistani and Indian Restaurant
This spot is in Sanlitun right next to Han Baba Pakistani Restaurant. I've never really understood why they love clustering their shops together, but it doesn't seem to hurt their business. Honestly, very few Pakistani and Indian restaurants in Beijing go out of business these days.
The interior setup feels more like a lounge bar and even has a stage for live music.
The dish prices are super cheap, and you can usually eat here for under 100 RMB per person.
These kebab skewers have a bit of a kick to them, whereas Turkish kebabs are non-spicy.
Comparatively speaking, this place offers a wider variety of dishes and has a much more spacious setup. Plenty of people show up for lunch.
Their naan bread is extra fragrant, but the pani puri (crispy hollow spheres filled with spiced water and potatoes) shown in the picture below wasn't great. My son doesn't like the fillings inside them and only wanted to eat the empty shells, but even the empty shells here weren't crispy.
10. Cao Family Beef Zhaobing
Cao Yunjin has opened a bunch of new restaurants lately—some Halal and some not—mostly clustered over in Wangsiying. I thought it was too far and didn't want to wait in long lines, so I skipped those. However, this Cao Family Beef Zhaobing (pan-cured flatbread shredded and stir-fried with beef) opened a new branch in You'anmen, and since it's close by, I came to check it out.
The new location is pretty big, and with it being the opening period, it's super busy. Even if you come for dinner, you still have to wait for a table.
However, the staff's service is prompt and keeps up with the crowd, and the zhaobing tastes pretty authentic. Having tried beef zhaobing in Baoding before, I'd say the flavor here is pretty standard—the ingredients are clean and fresh, and it tastes much like any other good spot.
Their beef steamed dumplings and Governor tofu are both delicious too. The steamed dumplings are genuinely awesome, and they're only 18 RMB a portion.
After the meal, I randomly ordered two little desserts: one was peach gum soup, and the other was mung bean paste soup. They were super generous with the ingredients, and the total bill for this whole spread came out to under 100 RMB. The value for money is seriously high. view all
[Internet Repost]
I’ve rounded up 65 high-res photos for the 65th installment of my Beijing Halal food guide. We’re deep-diving into local spots like Linfen Beef Meatball Noodles, the Xuanwu Culture-themed restaurant, and Gansu-style barbecue sandwiches to give you the lowdown on the best eats and dining vibes in the city.
Here is the list of Halal restaurants featured in this episode:
1. Linfen Beef Meatball Noodles
2. Zai Xuanwu Cultural Theme Restaurant
3. Gansu Barbecue Sandwich
4. Beijing-style Hot Pot Buffet
5. Ules Kazakh Grassland Flavor Restaurant
6. Yilan Liyuan Angus Beef Noodles
7. RABIUL'S KITCHEN Indian Restaurant
8. Khyber Restaurant
9. Culture Indian & Pakistani Restaurant
10. Cao's Beef Zhaobing (Crushed Pancake)
1. Linfen Beef Meatball Noodles
I finally found authentic Halal Linfen beef meatball noodles in Beijing, and it’s actually run by the famous Bai brand from Linfen. It’s a stall located at the night market right by the Xingong subway station entrance, open from noon until night.
Linfen-style beef meatball noodles use a beef tallow spicy broth. It’s super spicy, kind of like a Sichuan hot pot base.
The noodles are yellow, quickly blanched in the broth, and served—similar to how banmian (flat noodles) are prepared. You can add extra beef, meatballs, mahua (fried dough twists), and veggies. I personally love adding the mahua, meatballs, and beef.
The weather has been pretty cold lately and the night market is empty. I’m not sure how long this stall can hang on, but I really hope they can open a permanent brick-and-mortar shop in Beijing.
2. Zai Xuanwu Cultural Theme Restaurant
Ever since the old Xuanwu District was merged into Xicheng, a lot of locals have been really nostalgic about the past, which is how this restaurant themed around old Xuanwu culture came to be.
Xuanwu Yongcun (Xuanwu Forever) is the title of a popular underground hip-hop track from 2011. I used to have that song on repeat back in the day; the lyrics are great and always bring back a ton of childhood memories.
The message on the chopstick packaging is actually a snippet of those lyrics. 110104 is the old prefix for residents' ID cards in Xuanwu. I’m an 110104, but by my son’s generation, the ID prefix has changed to 110102, with 102 standing for the Xicheng District.
The wall mural in the restaurant depicts the Islamic Scripture Institute of Niujie.
They’ve got old-school Nintendo consoles and black Sega consoles on display, totally capturing the vibe of 80s kids' childhoods.
The restaurant specializes in shuanrou (instant-boiled mutton/hot pot) and yangxiezi (lamb spine hot pot), plus skewers and zhizi kaorou (iron-plate grilled meat). The grill is done in the kitchen and brought to your table. The meat quality is solid, though old-school Xuanwu locals definitely prefer things on the saltier side.
The grilled potato slices and enoki mushrooms in the two-person grill combo are great. The set only costs 92 yuan and comes with two plates of meat—one beef and one lamb—which is a total bargain.
3. Gansu-Style Meat Skewer Sandwiches
There’s a little takeout window at the Jingyaju Hotpot spot in Guangwai where a lady from Gansu sells grilled meat skewers tucked into flatbread. It’s strictly takeout, but I’m a huge fan of these Gansu-style sandwiches where you can pick whatever fillings you want.
She also makes spicy latiao (spicy gluten sticks) and potato-filled steamed buns, and the youxuan bing (layered scallion oil pancakes) at the bottom are super tasty too.
4. Beijing All-You-Can-Eat Halal Hotpot and BBQ
A new halal AYCE (all-you-can-eat) hotpot and BBQ place just opened by the South Gate of Olympic Forest Park. It’s perfect for grabbing a meal after hanging out at the park with the kids all day, plus kids under a meter tall eat for free.
The dinner buffet is 113 per person and it’s loaded with options, with the real highlights being the seafood, crab, and grilled durian.
Here you’ve got two types of slushies where you can add your own toppings, and there’s an ice cream machine right next to them.
The crabs are served live, and since it’s in season, they’re packed with roe.
The grilled durian pieces might be on the smaller side, but you can eat as much as you want, which makes it a win.
You grab your own hotpot ingredients and beef or lamb, while the raw skewers for the grill are set out for you to pick, then you hand them to the kitchen to get them cooked up.
The ingredients are pretty fresh, the variety is solid, and the drinks are all-you-can-drink too.
5. Ules Kazakh Grassland Flavors
A restaurant serving authentic Kazakh cuisine recently opened near the Beijing Institute of Technology’s Liangxiang campus, run by three sisters from the Kazakh community.
Their specialty dishes include naryn (horse meat noodles), baursak (fried dough balls), potato slices, and kuirdak (a traditional meat stew). Since the space is tiny, they don't prep huge batches, so it’s best to call ahead and order what you want, otherwise you might miss out.
The shop only has three and a half tables, so their capacity is limited—by 7 PM, most of the food is usually sold out.
You can tell just by looking at them that these ladies are definitely Kazakh, and the food they put out is genuinely delicious.
I got the veggie pilaf because all the meat versions were already gone.
Baursak is a classic Kazakh snack people usually have with milk tea for breakfast; the texture is a lot like youxiang (savory deep-fried dough).
Their homemade noodles with diced meat are incredible—the noodles have a great chew, and you get one free refill, with any extra refills only costing three yuan.
The Kazakh-style potato slices are pretty spicy, and they’re cooked down until they’re super tender.
They also serve Kazakh-style salty milk tea, which usually comes with naipizi (milk skin), though they were all out that day.
The dish I had to wait the longest for was the horse meat naryn. The horse meat is firmer than beef with a coarser texture, and the 'naryn' refers to the way it’s tossed with the noodles.
6. Yilan Liyuan Beef Noodles
Yilan Liyuan just opened a new beef noodle shop in Baizhifang, featuring their signature Angus bone broth beef noodles.
Yilan Liyuan is originally a famous beef and mutton shop on Niujie Street that’s turned into a major viral hit, and now they’re even serving electric-grilled skewers and American-style burgers.
Their electric-grilled skewers and burgers are pretty good, but the beef noodles and rice bowls with grilled meat are just so-so.
7. RABIUL'S KITCHEN Indian Restaurant
Run by Indians, this Kolkata-style Indian restaurant features an owner who used to work as a head chef in many hotel restaurants.
Kolkata Indian cuisine blends Hakka Chinese elements, and their curry has a really rich and mellow flavor.
8. Khyber Restaurant
Khyber is a Pakistani restaurant located in Liangxiang. There's another Pakistani brother restaurant nearby, but I feel this one has a more authentic taste.
Beijing has recently seen quite a few new Pakistani restaurants open up close together. Each spot has its own vibe, and once you try enough of them, you can really tell the difference.
The grilled meat here is also solid. Pakistani folks are basically like the northwestern Chinese of the international scene, opening restaurants all over the world.
Remember that Pakistani biryani rice is always spicy—that's how you tell it apart from Arab rice dishes.
The taste of the naan bread can also totally show off the chef's skill level.
9. Culture Pakistani and Indian Restaurant
This spot is in Sanlitun right next to Han Baba Pakistani Restaurant. I've never really understood why they love clustering their shops together, but it doesn't seem to hurt their business. Honestly, very few Pakistani and Indian restaurants in Beijing go out of business these days.
The interior setup feels more like a lounge bar and even has a stage for live music.
The dish prices are super cheap, and you can usually eat here for under 100 RMB per person.
These kebab skewers have a bit of a kick to them, whereas Turkish kebabs are non-spicy.
Comparatively speaking, this place offers a wider variety of dishes and has a much more spacious setup. Plenty of people show up for lunch.
Their naan bread is extra fragrant, but the pani puri (crispy hollow spheres filled with spiced water and potatoes) shown in the picture below wasn't great. My son doesn't like the fillings inside them and only wanted to eat the empty shells, but even the empty shells here weren't crispy.
10. Cao Family Beef Zhaobing
Cao Yunjin has opened a bunch of new restaurants lately—some Halal and some not—mostly clustered over in Wangsiying. I thought it was too far and didn't want to wait in long lines, so I skipped those. However, this Cao Family Beef Zhaobing (pan-cured flatbread shredded and stir-fried with beef) opened a new branch in You'anmen, and since it's close by, I came to check it out.
The new location is pretty big, and with it being the opening period, it's super busy. Even if you come for dinner, you still have to wait for a table.
However, the staff's service is prompt and keeps up with the crowd, and the zhaobing tastes pretty authentic. Having tried beef zhaobing in Baoding before, I'd say the flavor here is pretty standard—the ingredients are clean and fresh, and it tastes much like any other good spot.
Their beef steamed dumplings and Governor tofu are both delicious too. The steamed dumplings are genuinely awesome, and they're only 18 RMB a portion.
After the meal, I randomly ordered two little desserts: one was peach gum soup, and the other was mung bean paste soup. They were super generous with the ingredients, and the total bill for this whole spread came out to under 100 RMB. The value for money is seriously high.
I’ve rounded up 65 high-res photos for the 65th installment of my Beijing Halal food guide. We’re deep-diving into local spots like Linfen Beef Meatball Noodles, the Xuanwu Culture-themed restaurant, and Gansu-style barbecue sandwiches to give you the lowdown on the best eats and dining vibes in the city.
Here is the list of Halal restaurants featured in this episode:
1. Linfen Beef Meatball Noodles
2. Zai Xuanwu Cultural Theme Restaurant
3. Gansu Barbecue Sandwich
4. Beijing-style Hot Pot Buffet
5. Ules Kazakh Grassland Flavor Restaurant
6. Yilan Liyuan Angus Beef Noodles
7. RABIUL'S KITCHEN Indian Restaurant
8. Khyber Restaurant
9. Culture Indian & Pakistani Restaurant
10. Cao's Beef Zhaobing (Crushed Pancake)
1. Linfen Beef Meatball Noodles
I finally found authentic Halal Linfen beef meatball noodles in Beijing, and it’s actually run by the famous Bai brand from Linfen. It’s a stall located at the night market right by the Xingong subway station entrance, open from noon until night.
Linfen-style beef meatball noodles use a beef tallow spicy broth. It’s super spicy, kind of like a Sichuan hot pot base.
The noodles are yellow, quickly blanched in the broth, and served—similar to how banmian (flat noodles) are prepared. You can add extra beef, meatballs, mahua (fried dough twists), and veggies. I personally love adding the mahua, meatballs, and beef.
The weather has been pretty cold lately and the night market is empty. I’m not sure how long this stall can hang on, but I really hope they can open a permanent brick-and-mortar shop in Beijing.
2. Zai Xuanwu Cultural Theme Restaurant
Ever since the old Xuanwu District was merged into Xicheng, a lot of locals have been really nostalgic about the past, which is how this restaurant themed around old Xuanwu culture came to be.
Xuanwu Yongcun (Xuanwu Forever) is the title of a popular underground hip-hop track from 2011. I used to have that song on repeat back in the day; the lyrics are great and always bring back a ton of childhood memories.
The message on the chopstick packaging is actually a snippet of those lyrics. 110104 is the old prefix for residents' ID cards in Xuanwu. I’m an 110104, but by my son’s generation, the ID prefix has changed to 110102, with 102 standing for the Xicheng District.
The wall mural in the restaurant depicts the Islamic Scripture Institute of Niujie.
They’ve got old-school Nintendo consoles and black Sega consoles on display, totally capturing the vibe of 80s kids' childhoods.
The restaurant specializes in shuanrou (instant-boiled mutton/hot pot) and yangxiezi (lamb spine hot pot), plus skewers and zhizi kaorou (iron-plate grilled meat). The grill is done in the kitchen and brought to your table. The meat quality is solid, though old-school Xuanwu locals definitely prefer things on the saltier side.
The grilled potato slices and enoki mushrooms in the two-person grill combo are great. The set only costs 92 yuan and comes with two plates of meat—one beef and one lamb—which is a total bargain.
3. Gansu-Style Meat Skewer Sandwiches
There’s a little takeout window at the Jingyaju Hotpot spot in Guangwai where a lady from Gansu sells grilled meat skewers tucked into flatbread. It’s strictly takeout, but I’m a huge fan of these Gansu-style sandwiches where you can pick whatever fillings you want.
She also makes spicy latiao (spicy gluten sticks) and potato-filled steamed buns, and the youxuan bing (layered scallion oil pancakes) at the bottom are super tasty too.
4. Beijing All-You-Can-Eat Halal Hotpot and BBQ
A new halal AYCE (all-you-can-eat) hotpot and BBQ place just opened by the South Gate of Olympic Forest Park. It’s perfect for grabbing a meal after hanging out at the park with the kids all day, plus kids under a meter tall eat for free.
The dinner buffet is 113 per person and it’s loaded with options, with the real highlights being the seafood, crab, and grilled durian.
Here you’ve got two types of slushies where you can add your own toppings, and there’s an ice cream machine right next to them.
The crabs are served live, and since it’s in season, they’re packed with roe.
The grilled durian pieces might be on the smaller side, but you can eat as much as you want, which makes it a win.
You grab your own hotpot ingredients and beef or lamb, while the raw skewers for the grill are set out for you to pick, then you hand them to the kitchen to get them cooked up.
The ingredients are pretty fresh, the variety is solid, and the drinks are all-you-can-drink too.
5. Ules Kazakh Grassland Flavors
A restaurant serving authentic Kazakh cuisine recently opened near the Beijing Institute of Technology’s Liangxiang campus, run by three sisters from the Kazakh community.
Their specialty dishes include naryn (horse meat noodles), baursak (fried dough balls), potato slices, and kuirdak (a traditional meat stew). Since the space is tiny, they don't prep huge batches, so it’s best to call ahead and order what you want, otherwise you might miss out.
The shop only has three and a half tables, so their capacity is limited—by 7 PM, most of the food is usually sold out.
You can tell just by looking at them that these ladies are definitely Kazakh, and the food they put out is genuinely delicious.
I got the veggie pilaf because all the meat versions were already gone.
Baursak is a classic Kazakh snack people usually have with milk tea for breakfast; the texture is a lot like youxiang (savory deep-fried dough).
Their homemade noodles with diced meat are incredible—the noodles have a great chew, and you get one free refill, with any extra refills only costing three yuan.
The Kazakh-style potato slices are pretty spicy, and they’re cooked down until they’re super tender.
They also serve Kazakh-style salty milk tea, which usually comes with naipizi (milk skin), though they were all out that day.
The dish I had to wait the longest for was the horse meat naryn. The horse meat is firmer than beef with a coarser texture, and the 'naryn' refers to the way it’s tossed with the noodles.
6. Yilan Liyuan Beef Noodles
Yilan Liyuan just opened a new beef noodle shop in Baizhifang, featuring their signature Angus bone broth beef noodles.
Yilan Liyuan is originally a famous beef and mutton shop on Niujie Street that’s turned into a major viral hit, and now they’re even serving electric-grilled skewers and American-style burgers.
Their electric-grilled skewers and burgers are pretty good, but the beef noodles and rice bowls with grilled meat are just so-so.
7. RABIUL'S KITCHEN Indian Restaurant
Run by Indians, this Kolkata-style Indian restaurant features an owner who used to work as a head chef in many hotel restaurants.
Kolkata Indian cuisine blends Hakka Chinese elements, and their curry has a really rich and mellow flavor.
8. Khyber Restaurant
Khyber is a Pakistani restaurant located in Liangxiang. There's another Pakistani brother restaurant nearby, but I feel this one has a more authentic taste.
Beijing has recently seen quite a few new Pakistani restaurants open up close together. Each spot has its own vibe, and once you try enough of them, you can really tell the difference.
The grilled meat here is also solid. Pakistani folks are basically like the northwestern Chinese of the international scene, opening restaurants all over the world.
Remember that Pakistani biryani rice is always spicy—that's how you tell it apart from Arab rice dishes.
The taste of the naan bread can also totally show off the chef's skill level.
9. Culture Pakistani and Indian Restaurant
This spot is in Sanlitun right next to Han Baba Pakistani Restaurant. I've never really understood why they love clustering their shops together, but it doesn't seem to hurt their business. Honestly, very few Pakistani and Indian restaurants in Beijing go out of business these days.
The interior setup feels more like a lounge bar and even has a stage for live music.
The dish prices are super cheap, and you can usually eat here for under 100 RMB per person.
These kebab skewers have a bit of a kick to them, whereas Turkish kebabs are non-spicy.
Comparatively speaking, this place offers a wider variety of dishes and has a much more spacious setup. Plenty of people show up for lunch.
Their naan bread is extra fragrant, but the pani puri (crispy hollow spheres filled with spiced water and potatoes) shown in the picture below wasn't great. My son doesn't like the fillings inside them and only wanted to eat the empty shells, but even the empty shells here weren't crispy.
10. Cao Family Beef Zhaobing
Cao Yunjin has opened a bunch of new restaurants lately—some Halal and some not—mostly clustered over in Wangsiying. I thought it was too far and didn't want to wait in long lines, so I skipped those. However, this Cao Family Beef Zhaobing (pan-cured flatbread shredded and stir-fried with beef) opened a new branch in You'anmen, and since it's close by, I came to check it out.
The new location is pretty big, and with it being the opening period, it's super busy. Even if you come for dinner, you still have to wait for a table.
However, the staff's service is prompt and keeps up with the crowd, and the zhaobing tastes pretty authentic. Having tried beef zhaobing in Baoding before, I'd say the flavor here is pretty standard—the ingredients are clean and fresh, and it tastes much like any other good spot.
Their beef steamed dumplings and Governor tofu are both delicious too. The steamed dumplings are genuinely awesome, and they're only 18 RMB a portion.
After the meal, I randomly ordered two little desserts: one was peach gum soup, and the other was mung bean paste soup. They were super generous with the ingredients, and the total bill for this whole spread came out to under 100 RMB. The value for money is seriously high.