Reposted from the web

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

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

179. Dashu



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







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



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



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



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

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

180. Huawei Meat Pie Shop



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





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



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

180. Peking University Tongyuan Halal Restaurant



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



Lamb rice noodles (yangrou fen)



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

Address: Opposite the Peking University tennis courts

181. Xifentang



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



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



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



Fresh, clean ingredients you can see.



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

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

182. Jujingyuan



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





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



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



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

183. Xiao Baza



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





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





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



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



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

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

184. Fushouzhai



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



The Qinglan branch is right next to a mosque.





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

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

185. Yuanwei



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



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





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

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

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

Reposted from the web

Summary: This Xi'an Chinese Muslim food guide follows the original Hui Muslim Quarter walking and eating route, including paomo, steamed meat, sweets, mosque lanes, addresses, and photos. It keeps the source's order for readers exploring halal street food in Xi'an.

I wrote this article during the May Day holiday. I planned to save it for Eid al-Fitr, but the tradition of beating the wooden clapper (bangzi) to signal the end of the daily fast is a special sight in the Muslim Quarter (Huifang). Since friends (dost) visiting the quarter during Ramadan can see the lively atmosphere of breaking and starting the fast, I decided to post it now.

First, I need to clear something up. The famous Xi'an Muslim Street (Huimin Jie) does not actually exist. It is more accurate to call it the Muslim Quarter (Huifang). It is a residential area for Hui Muslims covering less than two square kilometers, and every alley inside can be called a Muslim street.

Before the Qing Dynasty, the Xi'an Muslim Quarter was known for its seven mosques and thirteen neighborhoods. The seven mosques are: Great Mosque of Huajue Lane (Huajue Xiang Qingzhen Dasi), North Mosque of Xiaopi Yard (Xiaopi Yuan Qingzhen Beidasi), Ancient Mosque of Sajin Bridge (Sajin Qiao Qingzhen Gusi), Mosque of Great Learning Lane (Daxuexi Xiang Qingzhensi), Mosque of Dapi Yard (Dapi Yuan Qingzhensi), Mosque of North Guangji Street (Bei Guangji Jie Qingzhensi), and the Mosque of the Muslim Camp (Qingzhen Yingli Si). The thirteen neighborhoods are: Huajue Lane, Xiyang Market, Beiyuan Gate, Maixian Street, Dapi Yard, Xiaopi Yard, North Guangji Street, Shizi Temple Street, Great Learning Lane, Small Learning Lane, Damai Market Street, Sajin Bridge, and Huihui Lane south of the city wall.

This is not my first time in the Muslim Quarter, but I usually come here just to eat. I know many first-time visitors get overwhelmed by all the halal food on the streets and do not know where to start. There is just too much to choose from. Local elders told me there are at least 200 types of food here. You cannot try everything unless you stay for a month, which is impossible for tourists. We have to be selective. I prefer to eat and drink with the local friends (dost). Only by following the old neighbors can you find the authentic food. I will now share the guide to eating in the Muslim Quarter that the local friends taught me.

all halal restaurants in the Muslim Quarter do not sell alcohol.

This is thanks to the anti-alcohol movement started by the friends (dost) over twenty years ago, so you can eat and drink with peace of mind.

1. Little House Liu's Steamed Beef with Rice Flour (Xiaofangzi Liujia Fenzhengrou)



Little House Liu's has been open for at least 30 years and only sells steamed beef with rice flour (fenzhengrou). It is one of the famous snacks in the quarter. The special thing about their dish is that the rice flour is added before the meat, making the flour very flavorful and even tastier than the meat itself.





Address: North Guangji Street

2. Bai's Mirror Cake (Baijia Jinggao)



Mirror cake (jinggao) and steamed cake (zenggao, pronounced 'jing' in the quarter without the 'er' sound) are not the same thing. Mirror cake is a sweet treat that children in the quarter grow up eating. The Bai family has been making it for over ten years. The cakes come in many flavors, are served on small skewers, and have a light, sweet taste.



Address: You can find them at both Sajinqiao and the entrance of the Great Mosque (Qingzhen Dasi) on Huajue Lane.

3. Limu Stir-fried Crumbled Flatbread (Limu Xiaochao Paomo)



Locals in the Muslim Quarter (Fangshang) say that both regular crumbled flatbread (paomo) and stir-fried crumbled flatbread (xiaochao) belong to the same category. The difference is how they are cooked. Paomo is boiled, while xiaochao is stir-fried. You can choose to have it with less broth or with plenty of broth. Limu Stir-fried Crumbled Flatbread is not in a busy area, so it is quite quiet, and the taste is well-regarded by the people in the Muslim Quarter.



Other good places for crumbled flatbread include Yijianlou and Li Xin, which all taste fairly similar.



Pair your crumbled flatbread with a Bingfeng, a local Xi'an soda that holds the same status there as Beibingyang does in Beijing.

Address: No. 60 Dalianhuachi Street, next to the Lotus Pond Inn (Lianhuachi Pan Kezhan).

4. Bai Family Fried Cake Shop (Baijia Yougao Pu)



Fried cake (yougao) is a favorite sweet for people in the Muslim Quarter. It comes in three flavors and contains ingredients like peanuts, sweet osmanthus, and white sugar. It tastes sweet and fragrant, is made with great care, and is better than regular fried dough cakes (zhagao).





Address: 100 meters north of the intersection of Dalianhuachi and Maixian Street.

5. Shengzhiwang Sesame Paste Cold Noodles Shop (Shengzhiwang Majiang Liangpi Pu)



Their sesame paste cold noodles (majiang liangpi) are a famous snack in the Muslim Quarter. They have been open for many years, and locals are used to eating cold noodles for breakfast. I have to say, the cold noodles in the Muslim Quarter (Huifang) are rich in flavor and use plenty of ingredients, which I really like.



Address: West entrance of Dapiyuan.

6. Hongshunxiang Starch Jelly in Savory Sauce (luzhi liangfen).



Hongshunxiang Starch Jelly in Savory Sauce at the T-junction of Dapiyuan in the Muslim Quarter is one of the old-established shops in the area. Starch jelly in savory sauce is a dish that represents the Muslim Quarter even better than soaked flatbread (paomo). Visitors might not be used to it at first. You have to break the flatbread (mo) yourself before eating. Put the bread at the bottom of the bowl, pour on the savory sauce, add the starch jelly, and pour on another layer of sauce. Then add vinegar, sesame paste, garlic juice, salt, chili oil (youpo lazi), and mustard. Do not stir it when you eat; instead, rotate the bowl and slurp it so the flavors stay distinct.



An elder in the neighborhood introduced the dish to me like this: 'Whenever you see this bowl of food, you know the hot Xi'an summer is coming. If one dish could explain the uniqueness of the Xi'an Muslim Quarter, it would be starch jelly in savory sauce.' You won't find it in Muslim quarters elsewhere or in the Han areas of Xi'an. Its unique charm has been quietly passed down in this small neighborhood for a hundred years. The locals in the neighborhood affectionately call it 'buckwheat starch jelly in sauce' (lu qiaofen). Use a large, thick bowl, break the flatbread into large chunks, add sliced starch jelly, pour on the savory sauce, sprinkle with salt, and season with sesame paste, garlic juice, mustard, fragrant vinegar, and chili oil. If you want to be fancy, add a preserved egg (biandan) and a tea egg. That is how this vibrant, spicy bowl of food is made. It is simple, refreshing, nutritious, and flavorful. It is the perfect choice, especially for lunch during the summer.



Also, People say the starch jelly in savory sauce at Lao He's place is very authentic.

Address: T-junction of Dapiyuan (diagonally opposite Dingjia Small Crispy Meat and Shengjia Steamed Cold Noodles).

7. Laobai's Lamb Soup (shuipen yangrou).



Laobai's Lamb Soup on Beiguangji Street in the Muslim Quarter was featured on A Bite of China. It is one of the old-established shops recognized by the locals. You should eat the lamb soup with a firm flatbread (tuotomo). Break the bread yourself into pieces slightly larger than those used for soaked flatbread. Break off a bit, eat it, and then break off some more so the bread does not get soggy.





Address: No. 76 Beiguangji Street.

8. Nianzipo Laotongjia.



Laotongjia Cured Beef (la niurou) is one of the oldest established shops in the Muslim Quarter. Legend has it that when Empress Dowager Cixi fled to Xi'an, she smelled the aroma of their cured beef, enjoyed it, and personally inscribed a plaque for the shop. While praying at the mosque, I met the young owner of the Tong family. He shared their history and explained that the elder Mr. Tong insists on passing down traditional methods. He prioritizes quality over sales volume and focuses on serving the local residents of the neighborhood.



Laotongjia sells cured beef, spiced beef (jiang niurou), and oil tea powder (youcha fen). Locals love the cured beef. It has a reddish color and is softer and more tender than the spiced beef, making it perfect for both the young and the elderly.



Address: Tong Family Old Residence, No. 162 Beiguangji Street.

9. Grandma Hua · Chenchen's Shop.



Everyone knows Grandma Hua's sour plum drink (suanmeitang) is delicious, but you usually have to wait in line. There is a shop called Grandma Hua · Chenchen's Shop at the T-junction in Dapiyuan. The owner is Grandma Hua's granddaughter. The sour plum drink is brewed in the same pot as Grandma Hua's, so it tastes the same, but you do not have to wait in line. I only tell this to people I know.



Address: Dapiyuan T-junction, next to Hongshunxiang Braised Jelly (luzhi liangfen).

10. Southeast Asia Steamed Cake (zenggao).



Southeast Asia Steamed Cake in the Muslim Quarter is one of the most famous shops in the area. Steamed cake (zenggao) is pronounced 'jing gao'. This 'Southeast Asia' has nothing to do with the region. The old owner jokingly said his steamed cakes were sold to the 'East Gate (Dongguan), South Suburbs (Nanjiao), and the School for the Deaf and Mute (Longya Xuexiao),' which he abbreviated as 'sold to Southeast Asia.' Over time, everyone in the neighborhood just got used to calling that shop 'Southeast Asia' when they wanted to buy steamed cake.



The lotus leaf steamed cake (zenggao) from Yibao at the Niujie Halal Supermarket is made by the people from the Muslim Quarter (fangshang) in Xi'an.



Address: Northeast corner of Majia Shizi, Xiyangshi Street.

11. Ma Zhishan Xihulan Cooked Meat Shop.



Ma Zhishan's Xihulan is another old shop that locals in the Muslim Quarter visit often. Xihulan is actually cured beef that is very soft and tender. You can use it to make meat burgers (roujiamo). They can vacuum-pack it for you. I took a pound home to eat during the pre-dawn meal (suhoor) in Ramadan, and it kept my energy up all day.





Ma Zhishan's meat burger is the authentic kind. It is quite large, so one is enough to fill you up for a meal.

Address: No. 196 Beiguangji Street.

12. Ma Erli Meatball Spicy Soup (hulatang).



The meatball spicy soup is a signature dish of the Muslim Quarter. It is very different from the spicy soup in Henan. The version here has various vegetables and meatballs, and it is not very spicy.





Address: No. 113 Damaishi Street, Sajinqiao.

13. Qinyixiang Air-dried Beef.



A friend from Qianxian once gave me some Qinyixiang beef jerky, and my family liked it so much they asked me to bring more back when I visited Xi'an. I recommend the soy-sauce flavored beef jerky. Heat it in the microwave for 30 seconds before eating, then slice it with a knife. It has a long shelf life and makes a great snack. This brand has several branches in the Muslim Quarter.



Address: Dapiyuan / Xiyangshi.

14. Liu Zhijun Beef Sauce



An elder in the Muslim Quarter recommended Liu Zhijun’s beef sauce to me and suggested I take some back to Beijing. Their beef sauce is packed with flavor, so friends visiting Xi'an should definitely check it out.



Address: 133 Damaishi Street

15. Crescent (Xinyue) Cake and Pastry Shop



A local friend in the Muslim Quarter really loves this bakery. It is tucked away deep in the quarter and doesn't get many tourists. He wanted to keep it a secret because he was worried it would be harder to buy their desserts once it got popular.



Address: 94 Damaishi Street

16. Ding Family Crispy Beef (Dingjia Xiaosurou)



This is one of the famous local snacks. The line is always very long. It is made with beef and seasoned with eggs, Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, and cinnamon. I bought a vacuum-packed portion to take home; I just need to steam it to eat.



Address: 223 West Entrance of Dapiyuan

Mosque

After talking about food, let's talk about the mosques in the Muslim Quarter. The original seven mosques have grown, and there are more than seven today. I spent an afternoon walking to visit twelve mosques in the area. Maybe we can call it the 'Twelve Mosques and Thirteen Quarters' from now on.

The mosques in the Muslim Quarter belong to three sects: Gedimu, Ikhwan, and Salafiyya. The West Mosque (Qingzhen Xisi), Yingli Mosque, Daxuexixiang Mosque, and Dapiyuan Mosque belong to the Ikhwan sect. The Hongbujie New Mosque and Xicang Mosque belong to the Salafiyya sect, and the rest are Gedimu. The mosque map is as follows:



1. Huajue Lane Great Mosque



The Huajue Lane Great Mosque is the oldest mosque in the Muslim Quarter. It is a grand complex of ancient buildings with five courtyards. In 1988, it became a national key cultural relic protection site. It has welcomed over 10 million visitors from more than 100 countries.

















2. Xiaopiyuan North Mosque



The Xiaopiyuan North Mosque was originally called the True Teaching Mosque (Zhenjiao Si) or Longevity Mosque (Wanshou Si). Because it sits north of the Huajue Lane Great Mosque (also called the East Mosque) and is quite large, people also call it the North Mosque. Legend says the Xiaopiyuan Mosque was built at the end of the Tang Dynasty. In 1107, during the Daguan reign of Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty, the True Teaching Mosque was already one of the old mosques in the four districts of Chang'an. It is one of the earliest Islamic buildings in Xi'an.











3. Sajinqiao Ancient Mosque



The Sajinqiao Ancient Mosque in Xi'an is also known as the North Mosque. It is very old with a long history. Legend says it has existed since the Yuan and Ming dynasties, dating back six or seven hundred years.











4. Daxuexi Lane Mosque



The Daxuexi Lane Mosque in Xi'an was built in 705 AD. Zheng He once invited the imam here, Hasan, to be a translator for his fleet, and a Zheng He stele stands here. This place was also where Arabs came to China to learn the Chinese language.















5. Dapiyuan Mosque



The Dapiyuan Mosque is located at No. 108 Dapiyuan Street, Lianhu District, Xi'an. It was first built in the ninth year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty (1411) after Mr. Ma Daozhen bought the land.











6. Beiguangji Street Mosque



Beiguangji Street Mosque is said to have been founded in the late Ming Dynasty (around 1600 AD). It is located in Guangji Square near the Great Mosque of Huajue Lane. Locals call it the "Small Mosque" and jokingly refer to it as the "sentry gate" of the Great Mosque. The main buildings of the mosque were rebuilt in the 33rd year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1769 AD).







7. Qingzhen Yingli Mosque



The documented founding date of the Xi'an Yingli Mosque is the Jiawu year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, as marked on the plaque above the mountain gate tower. At that time, many of the soldiers stationed here were Hui Muslim officers and troops.

Notice the "Iftar" (kaizhai) sign on the mosque. It is a light box that turns on at sunset during Ramadan when it is time to break the fast. At the same time, a friend (dosti) walks through the streets hitting a wooden clapper to let everyone know it is time for Iftar. These light boxes are found on streets throughout the neighborhood to help those fasting see when the light turns on, and they have become a local sight.













8. Central Mosque



The Xi'an Central Mosque was built between the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China period.













9. Xicang Mosque



Xicang Mosque was established on April 1, 2003. It was originally a borrowed factory building that was later torn down and rebuilt as a mosque. It belongs to the Salafiyya movement. Every Thursday and Sunday, there are stalls selling flowers, birds, fish, and insects at Xicang. "Strolling the stalls" at Xicang is a favorite pastime for many long-time Xi'an residents.









10. Lvshan Mosque



Lvshan Mosque is a simple mosque built by Henan Hui Muslims living in Xi'an. The building was a private home in the 1970s. It was declared a dangerous structure and had to be torn down in 2011. Imam Ma Jie from the neighborhood led the fundraising to rebuild the mosque.







11. Hongbu Street New Mosque



This mosque was built in the 1990s after some community members bought a private house. It is a Salafiyya mosque with the style of a traditional residential courtyard.





12. West Mosque



The West Mosque on Sajinqiao was first established in 1920. The current site is said to have been a Buddhist mosque called Haihui Nunnery. It originally had three main halls. In 1926, community members who left the old Sajinqiao mosque raised 2,000 silver dollars to buy the land and convert it into a mosque.









I have finished introducing the halal food and mosques in the Muslim Quarter. I should also mention Yongxingfang, another food street in Xi'an that became popular on Douyin in the last two years. I went to check it out and only found one halal snack shop. The most famous thing there is the bowl-smashing wine, which I do not recommend. However, many people do not know about Dongxin Street, which is just one subway stop away from the Muslim Quarter. It is a halal food street where Henan Hui Muslims gather in Xi'an. Interested friends can go take a look. The night market on Dongxin Street is quite lively. There are also two mosques for Henan people here: one is called Dongxin Street Mosque and the other is Jianguo Lane Mosque. There are five mosques for Henan people in total in Xi'an.

Dongxin Street









Dongxin Street Mosque







Jianguo Lane Mosque





Accommodation: Lianhuachi Pan Inn



I chose this Lianhuachi Pan Inn based on the recommendation of the elders in the neighborhood. The location is excellent, right at the north entrance of the Muslim Quarter. The area near the north gate is quieter than other entrances. You can walk a few steps and be deep inside the Muslim Quarter. The inn has a place for wudu (small ritual washing) and a prayer room. The environment is beautiful, and the owner and staff are mostly elders from the neighborhood who can provide travel information.







The prayer room on the first floor of the inn is small but has everything you need, including a place for ritual washing and copies of the Quran.



The inn owner also runs a professional travel agency for Muslim tourists that organizes group visits to the Al-Aqsa Mosque. I talked with him and found he is very knowledgeable and has strong faith. During Ramadan, he travels across Shaanxi to hand out Ramadan gift packages. May Allah grant him success in his business and blessings in this life and the next. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This Tianjin halal food in China guide keeps the original part-three food map, including Northwest Corner memories, gaba cai, Muslim restaurants, dishes, addresses, and photos. It is cleaned for easy English reading while preserving the source details.

I recently discovered that WeChat official accounts can add a keyword search feature for articles. I spent the whole night organizing information for over 70 cities. You can now just send a message with a city name to the account to see related articles.

This post continues to expand our halal food map of Tianjin. This is the third installment. When I visited Tianjin in the past, I mostly saw local Tianjin-style restaurants. In recent years, I have noticed a growing variety of food, including Cantonese, Sichuan, Japanese, Korean, and Western cuisine. The environment, taste, and service are all very high quality, and the prices are much cheaper than in Beijing.

Aimeike Western Restaurant



I found many halal Western restaurants in Tianjin and specifically chose the most popular one, Aimeike, to try. Aimeike is a chain store. We arrived at 2 p.m., a time when most restaurants are closed for a lunch break, but Aimeike was still busy. I imagine you would have to wait in line during peak meal times.









Drinks come with free refills, and there is free lemon water available.



I tried the Turkish chicken pizza, and even the 5-inch size was packed with toppings.



This purple sweet potato soup is delicious. It is slightly sweet and not greasy. You can eat bread after finishing the soup.



The pasta is also good. It cost less than 130 for two people, which is great value for money.

Address: B1, Pengxin Water Amusement City, No. 12-24 Dafeng Road, Hongqiao District, Tianjin.

On Fuxing Road in the Hongqiao District of Tianjin, about 1,000 meters from the Northwest Corner subway station, there is a cluster of halal restaurants near the ground-floor shops of Shuixiyuan. I took a walk and found several unique halal restaurants. The following restaurants are all located in the ground-floor shops of Shuixiyuan.









I just hate that my eyes are bigger than my stomach. I wanted to eat at every place I saw, but I couldn't. I was tempted to run over to other people's tables just to take pictures of their food.

Shengji Korean BBQ



This Korean BBQ spot in Shuixiyuan is the second one I have seen in Tianjin.







The style here is similar to Qingu BBQ in Changying, Beijing, but it does not taste as good.



The BBQ platter costs less than 100 yuan.



After the BBQ, you can eat the steamed egg (jidan geng) cooked on the side of the grill, and the restaurant gives you plenty of side dishes for free.



Address: Shop 115-116, Shuixiyuan, Fuxing Road.

Yilan Jin Fan'er



This is a popular place. We arrived at 7 p.m. and there were no seats left. The waiter said we could eat at the dumpling shop next door since they are the same business, but that was full too. We waited 10 minutes to get a table.



I did not know what stove-baked dumplings (lujiaozi) were at first. I ordered a pound of boiled dumplings at Yilan Jin Fan'er, and I realized what they were when they brought them out.



Iced jelly (bingfen), a dessert similar to pear syrup (qiuli gao).



Stir-fried lamb trio (laobao san) is a famous Tianjin dish made with lamb heart, liver, and kidney. It is a bit salty.



The signature dish is mustard shrimp, which is topped with popcorn and is a little greasy.



The red bean yogurt bun is delicious. It is filled with red beans and yogurt, and the texture is soft, fluffy, and lightly sweet.



Grilled oysters are tasty. Seafood is common in Tianjin restaurants.



This is the best dish and their signature item. The beef in the steak pot is incredibly fragrant, very tender, and full of flavor.





This is the pan-fried dumpling (lu jiaozi) sold at their other shop. It looks like a pan-fried bun and a potsticker at the same time. The portion is huge and salty, which is a typical feature of Tianjin cuisine.

While wandering near the Northwest Corner (Xibeijiao) at Shuiyou City, I found this halal Australian lobster hot pot on the fourth floor. I was too full to eat anymore, so I wish someone could go eat it for me.



On the first floor of Building B in Shuiyou City, I saw a halal Western-style bakery called Nisa Town (Nisa Xiaozhen). There is a lot of halal food in Shuiyou City.



This halal Sichuan spicy hot pot (mao cai) is on the basement level of Building A in Shuiyou City, very close to Aimeike Western Restaurant.



Early in the morning, I saw a long line at this Muji Pastry shop near the South Great Mosque (Nandasi). It felt very familiar, just as popular as Niujie.



To experience a local breakfast in Tianjin, you must have savory crepe strips in soup (gaba cai). You have to eat it at a small shop in a residential area like this to get the authentic taste.



Chaiji Breakfast is right across from the South Great Mosque. Just by looking at the exterior, I knew the food would be great.





Soy milk costs one yuan extra if you add sugar. I didn't expect that.





Savory mung bean and millet soup (gabacai) is a local snack that visitors usually try just for the novelty. You might not get used to the taste, but I think it is okay, just a bit salty.



A bowl of gabacai wasn't enough for breakfast, so I spotted some hanging oven flatbread (diaolu shaobing) nearby. I have loved all kinds of flatbreads since I was a kid. This one is hollow inside and sprinkled with Sichuan pepper salt, and I could eat it plain every day without getting tired of it.



I really envy the people of Tianjin. You don't see these kinds of cozy, local shops in Beijing much anymore.





You have to eat the hanging oven flatbread, and you have to eat the crepe with fried dough sticks (jianbing guozi) too. Jinfeng Lao Huiji Jianbing is right across from the flatbread shop. The man making the crepes, Brother Jin, is quite interesting. He chatted with me while he worked, saying my wife looks like a British person. Judging by his tone, he must have traveled to quite a few places.





Address: Near the South Mosque (Qingzhen Nandasi) in Hongqiao District.

Fresh from the oven.



This is the second halal Japanese restaurant I have tried in Tianjin. There must be at least five halal Japanese restaurants in the city.







The shop is quite small, but it feels just like a Japanese street-side eatery. If you go for lunch, you can use a voucher, which is like getting a 50% discount.



The salmon sashimi is very fresh.



Japanese-style smashed cucumber, which has a sweet flavor.



Grilled eel, which I order every time I eat Japanese food.



Cheesy mashed potatoes.



The owner gave us a complimentary pudding dessert.

Address: No. 43 Xinhua Road, Heping District, Tianjin.

Hongxishun.



The staff are very helpful, and the restaurant was half full at dinner time.









Napkins cost one yuan extra.



A half-jin (250 grams) plate of fresh-cut lamb costs 30 yuan; it is cheaper than in Beijing but slightly more expensive than in Inner Mongolia.



The house-made pickled vegetables are good.





Address: No. 44 Wenlan Road, northeast of Wangfu No. 1, Nankai District.

On the way back to Beijing, I saw a halal Sichuan-style hot pot restaurant called Huishuxiang. It is located at No. 985 Dagu South Road, Hexi District. It has been open for many years and I heard it is quite good.



Previous links:

Tianjin Halal Food Map (Part 2). view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: A famous Chinese Muslim food guide for Beijing, covering Longtan hotpot, Niujie lamb spine, halal dumplings, pancakes, snacks, and restaurant addresses, with the long original article kept as one full post.

Through years of travel, I have gradually discovered that Beijing has the most complete variety of halal food in the world, bar none. Even in an international metropolis like New York, the variety of halal restaurants does not compare to Beijing. Beijing not only has halal restaurants with flavors from many countries, but also gathers halal food from all over China. You can find almost any halal food you can think of in Beijing.

1. Longtan Hot Pot (Longtan Shuanrou)









This copper pot hot pot restaurant near Longtan Lake Park is run by the seventh-generation descendant of the Niujie Yongli family. Yongli is short for the Li family of Yongan Tang. Yongan Tang was a shop opened by the ancestors of the Yongli family at Yongdingmen during the Qing Dynasty, with the hall name Yong Sanyuan. The owner's father was an apprentice at Donglaishun in his early years. The restaurant uses high-calcium lamb from Sunite, Inner Mongolia, which is halal-slaughtered. They serve Niujie sesame flatbread (shaobing), and the sesame paste dipping sauce is stamped with the character for good fortune (fu). The small shop is full of Beijing character and is often used as a filming location. If you do not want to wait in line at Jubaoyuan, come here instead.

Address: No. 16 Zuo'anmen Inner Street, next to the northwest gate of Longtan Lake Park.

2. Laochengyi Lamb Spine Hot Pot (Laochengyi Yangxiezi)





The lamb spine hot pot at Laochengyi tastes truly excellent. The lamb chops are stewed until very tender. The mouth-watering chicken (koushuiji) is also a must-order dish. After finishing the lamb spine, you can add vegetables to the pot. The shop has two floors and plenty of seating, so even if you come during meal times, the wait will not be too long.

Address: No. 3 Commercial Street, Niujie North Entrance, Beijing.

3. Dashuntang





Dashuntang has been around for a long time. They make very authentic Beijing-style halal food. Usually, when families have special occasions, Dashuntang is the first choice. I recommend the roasted lamb chops, boiled beef, deep-fried lamb tail, and roast duck. The crispy-skin roast duck and lamb chops are especially well-received.

Address: Building 5, Jia 4, Fayuan Mosque West, Jiaozihu Tong, Xicheng District.

4. Junlian Halal Dumpling House



This shop has dumplings with all kinds of fillings, like pineapple or tomato. It is very popular, and you need to queue during meal times. My favorites are the traditional beef and lamb with green onion, and chive and egg dumplings.

Address: South Gate, Niujie Xili District 2, Xicheng District.

5. Shandong Sha Dacu Pancake (Jianbing)







This shop used to be in Jiaozihu Tong. Later, due to urban renovations, it moved into the vegetable market in Shuru Hutong. They have added several new flavors, but I still like the classic version best.

Address: Entrance of the Shuru Hutong Halal Vegetable Market.

6. Suzhou Hui Muslim Restaurant





Although soybean paste noodles (zhajiangmian) are a representative Beijing dish, there are not many halal versions. Some small Beijing-style eateries make them, but the taste is average. Most Hui Muslims make soybean paste noodles at home. This Suzhou Hui Muslim Restaurant is not run by Suzhou people; it is just named that because it is located in the Suzhou community. It is actually a small Beijing-style eatery, and I recommend their soybean paste noodles.

Address: No. 36, Suzhou Hutong, Dongcheng District.

7

Dardanelles Turkish Restaurant







Beijing has four halal Turkish restaurants: Istanbul Restaurant, Turkish Mama Restaurant, Doner Turkish Cafe (which serves kebab wraps) near Xiushui Street, and Dardanelles Restaurant. Dardanelles is my favorite because of its beautiful Ottoman-style decor. The salmon, grilled meats, and steaks are all delicious and reasonably priced.

Address: Units 1-21-22, Courtyard 39, Shenlu Street, Ritan North Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing (west of the North Korean Embassy).

8. KAVKAZ Azerbaijani Restaurant



At KAVKAZ Azerbaijani Restaurant, I tried the Caucasian salad, Azerbaijani soup dumplings, Caucasian beef, and Azerbaijani salty yogurt drink. The staff are all from Azerbaijan. The young waitress did not speak much Chinese, but she was very cute and enthusiastic.

Address: East side of Shenlu Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing.

9.

Shashi Castle Restaurant



This is an Uzbekistan-style restaurant themed around a romantic meeting between a prince and a princess. They serve Middle Eastern, Russian, and Western food. You must order the grilled steak, and the Napoleon cake is quite delicious. There is belly dancing at 7:30 PM.

Address: First floor of the Saint Angel Hotel, near Exit E of Hujialou Subway Station, Chaoyang District, Beijing.

10.

Persepolis Restaurant



Persia is Iran. The restaurant next door changed its sign. I used to go there often for the lunch buffet. You must order the Iranian black tea and the grilled meats. You can also eat saffron fried rice here.

Address: Right at Exit A of Tuanjiehu Subway Station, Chaoyang District, Beijing.

11. Lazeez Indian Music Restaurant







Beijing has many halal Indian restaurants, such as Indian Kitchen, Ganges Restaurant, and Sadhu, but I like Lazeez Music Restaurant the best. The halal sign is hung inside. Luckily my classmate reminded me, or I would have missed this uniquely styled Indian restaurant. The atmosphere inside is very exotic, and you can hear beautiful Indian songs. You can eat authentic Indian spicy beef curry, chicken curry, cream of mushroom soup, Mughal royal flatbread (naan), samosa chaat, and rose yogurt lassi. There is a wide variety of dishes.

Address: 31 Gulou West Street, Xicheng District.

12. Sukhothai Thai-Malaysian Restaurant







Sukhothai was the capital of the first Thai dynasty, the Sukhothai Kingdom. The Nanyang Yiyicheng Malaysian restaurant in Dongzhimen closed, and I was worried about where to find halal Malaysian food. I recommend the original milk tea, pineapple fried rice, and coconut pudding with sago.

Address: Ju'er Hutong, Nanluoguxiang, opposite Saduli Restaurant.

13. Hefeng Banquet (Hefeng no Utage)



This is the first halal Japanese restaurant in Beijing. The head chef is the former Japanese cuisine chef from the Kempinski Hotel. The space is bright and roomy with private rooms. The food is carefully prepared for its look, smell, and taste, and you can order Australian wagyu hot pot. The owner is a Hui Muslim from Lanzhou who is very devout, so you can trust the ingredients. The palm-sized prawns are fresh and tender. The tempura sushi and Pacific saury (sanma) taste just like they do in Japan, and they serve free pudding after the meal.

They recently launched a 298 yuan seafood buffet. You can order anything from the menu, including abalone, lobster, king crab legs, Pacific saury, salmon, oysters, and other treats. It also includes fruit juice and desserts, making it a great value.

Address: 1st Floor, Shaanxi Building, Shilihe, Chaoyang District.

14. Alameen Lebanese Restaurant



Lebanese food is one of my favorite Middle Eastern cuisines. This place has a nice, quiet atmosphere and reasonable prices. They serve pizza, steak, and salads, and the grilled chicken breast is delicious.

Address: Next to the German Embassy in Sanlitun.

15. Khan Baba Pakistani Restaurant







Pakistani food is as common abroad as Lanzhou hand-pulled noodles (Lanzhou lamian) are here. There are two Khan Baba locations in Beijing: one in Wudaokou and one in Sanlitun. The Wudaokou shop is larger. There is also a Shalimar Indian and Pakistani restaurant near the Shunyi China International Exhibition Center.

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

16. One Thousand and One Nights







One Thousand and One Nights is a high-end Middle Eastern Arabic restaurant with two branches in Beijing: one in Solana and one in Tuanjiehu. You can eat pan-fried foie gras here, and there are song and dance performances every night on the hour.

Address: No. 6 Chaoyang Park Road, Solana, Chaoyang District.

17. Changji Iron Griddle BBQ (Changji Zhizi Kaorou)











Changji Iron Griddle BBQ is a very authentic old Beijing halal restaurant. It only has six tables and specializes in iron griddle barbecue. The soybean paste noodles (zhajiangmian) and quick-boiled tripe (baodu) are absolutely perfect. Next time, I will try the barbecue and the lamb noodle soup (yangrou cuamian). The decor in the shop has a cool, confident vibe. Everyone calls the owner Fourth Master Chang (Chang Siye), and he is very hospitable. These kinds of small hutong eateries are rare now. They serve grilled pickled cabbage, grilled shiitake mushrooms, grilled chicken cartilage, grilled beef, and grilled lamb. They marinate the meat before grilling it. The taste is just as good as the famous Kaorouji, but because it is a small hutong shop, the price is less than half of what you would pay there.

Address: In the bungalows south of Guangnei Street that are waiting to be demolished. There is a wall built in front of the entrance, so you cannot see it unless you walk inside.

18. Tangdou Conveyor Belt Buffet Hot Pot





This is the first halal conveyor belt buffet hot pot restaurant in Beijing. It costs 59 yuan per person, and you can eat dozens of different items, including seafood, cooked dishes, vegetables, peanuts, fruit, various staples, snacks, and ice cream. Drinks are unlimited. A conveyor belt runs through the whole restaurant, so you can eat everything without moving from your seat. It is quite a good deal.

Address: North side of the 8th floor, Souxiu City Shopping Plaza, Chongwenmen Outer Street (opposite the 2nd phase of the New World Department Store in Chongwenmen).

19. Xingyuege Muslim Restaurant



Friends (dosti) from Northeast China in Beijing are in luck, because I finally found a restaurant that specializes in halal Northeast-style dishes.



The restaurant's home base is Harbin.



The decor style is also very Harbin.



Double-cooked pork (guobaorou) is a famous Northeast dish, served here in the Harbin-style savory version.



Steamed dumplings (shaomai) are also a common Northeast home-style dish.



They also have home-style tofu (jiachang doufu). Friends (dosti) from the Northeast who miss the taste of home should take the chance to try it.

Address: Shop 102, Building 2, Courtyard 2, Lixiangcheng, Hongye Road, Xihongmen Town.

20. Ningxia Flavors, Summer Language



This is a halal restaurant serving Ningxia-style food. It is located in the busy Chaoyangmen area and has a great atmosphere.



Our group of over ten people tried almost everything on the menu.



Sweet rice made by Northwest Hui Muslims.



The lamb trotters are very flavorful.



Every dish is solid and they put a lot of effort into the presentation.



Rice sausage (michangzi).



Hui Muslim fried dough (youxiang).



Hui Muslim snack platter.



This place is great for group meals. You can push tables together for over ten people, and the prices are not expensive.

Address: 2F, Fenglian Plaza, No. 18 Chaoyangmen Outer Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing.

21. Eliya Halal Bakery



This is a high-end halal pastry shop.



They have all kinds of beautiful desserts.



They use imported halal cream as an ingredient. The prices are actually not expensive, and the taste is top-notch.

Address: Ground floor shop 06, Building 56, Changying Minzu Jiayuan, Changying Middle Road, Chaoyang District.

22. Xingu Halal Charcoal Barbecue



This shop was originally labeled as Korean BBQ, but business was affected by the THAAD incident, so the owner removed the word Korean. After all, the owner is from Changying and has nothing to do with Korea.



Walk up the stairs to the second floor and you will find a hidden gem. The owner bought the whole building and rented the space next door to the Changying Three Brothers.



If you go in the afternoon, you do not need to wait in line. People say it was packed when it first opened, but business is not as good as before due to the THAAD incident.



The meat is fresh and the service is top-tier.



Servers help you grill the meat the whole time, so you do not need to do it yourself.



The lettuce is for wrapping the grilled meat.



You can also eat the steamed egg custard and cheese on the side of the grill.



Halal soybean paste soup (dajiangtang).



Dip the tender beef in five-spice seasoning to eat it.

Address: Opposite the south gate of Minzu Jiayuan residential area on Changying Middle Road, next to Yunding Billiards Club (west side of Minzu Primary School).

23. Aiyidian Halal Yunnan Cuisine



It is not easy to find authentic halal Yunnan food in Beijing, but this restaurant is quite genuine. There is another halal Yunnan restaurant in Yizhuang called Dianxinyuan. It has a nice atmosphere, but the food is average and it is quite far away.



The decor is fresh and elegant, and the owner is a young woman from Yunnan.



Tamarind (suanjiao) is a local specialty of Yunnan, so I chose to try the tamarind juice.



Beef wrapped in mint leaves; mint is as common in Yunnan as cilantro and is delicious even when eaten raw.



This is fried grasshopper.

Ibn Abi Awfa narrated: We went on seven expeditions with the Prophet, and we ate locusts. Sunan an-Nasa'i, Hadith 37;

The Prophet described the sea, saying: 'Its water is pure, and its dead creatures are halal.' He also said: 'We are permitted two types of dead creatures: fish and locusts;' and two types of blood: liver and spleen.' (Musnad Ahmad)



Sour soup beef jerky (niuganba); you must eat beef jerky in Yunnan cuisine because the most famous beef jerky in Yunnan is made by Hui Muslims.



It happened to be just before the Dragon Boat Festival, and the restaurant was developing beef rice dumplings (zongzi). The manager gave me two; I had only eaten sweet ones before, so this was my first time trying a meat version.



Yunnan cold rice noodles (mixian); the broth is rich and fragrant, and the noodles are chewy.

Address: First floor, north commercial section, axes 19-21, west side of Fengyayuan Zone 2, Huilongguan Town.

24. Old Ma's lamb spine hot pot (yangxiezi) and pan-fried dumplings (guotie).



Halal lamb spine is easy to find, but halal potstickers are rare these days. This shop makes pretty good ones.



Beef and green onion potstickers were my childhood favorite. There used to be a tent in Xuanwu District that sold halal snacks, but after it was torn down, I never found good potstickers again. I later heard the old man who made them passed away (wuchang), so that authentic skill is likely lost forever.



I was surprised to find they also sell spicy hot pot (maocai), a Chengdu snack similar to spicy soup (malatang), but you can drink the broth.

Address: South entrance of Hongju Street, Xicheng District.

25. Eating noodles at the Drum Tower.



I found this popular restaurant on Dazhong Dianping. At first, I thought it was categorized incorrectly because it had no obvious halal sign. I learned from the reviews that it is a halal shop owned by a Beijing Hui Muslim, and the halal sign is in a very inconspicuous spot inside.





This is a Western-style rock music restaurant.



They have mushrooms with foie gras.



Roasted chicken leg, but it is named Eight Hammers (badachui).



It is called Gold Medal Meat Sauce Noodles, but when it arrived, it was just soybean paste noodles (zhajiangmian).



Vegetable salad. Overall, the taste suits women, and the environment is good for dates.

Address: No. 25 Gongjie, Gulou East Street.

26. Old Yang's halal restaurant.



This is the highest-rated restaurant in the Changping area and is highly recommended.



Let's start with the environment: they have small semicircular tables that make it easy to chat.



I told the owner I came here specifically to break my fast. He recommended the house-made sour plum drink (suanmeitang). It was very thirst-quenching, sweet, and tart. I ordered two pitchers and took the second one to go.



I ordered the restaurant's signature dishes, starting with the cold shredded bottle gourd with sesame paste (majiang liangban hulusi), which was crisp and refreshing.



Fairy tofu (shenxian doufu) is another popular delicacy, and the tofu is made in-house.



Old Yang's beef pie (lao yangjia niuroubing) is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. You have to eat it with raw garlic.



The dry-pot duck heads (ganguo yatou) are spicy, numbing, and fragrant.



The stir-fried radish sprouts (qingchao luobomiao) were great. Another feature of Old Yang's restaurant is the attentive service. They greet you with a smile and check in on how you like the food. It is rare to see such good service in a place that is so busy. I didn't get to eat the fish head with flatbread (yutou paobing) at Old Yang's today, so I will have to try it next time.

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

27. Cheng's Shan County Lamb Soup (yangtang) Restaurant



I did not expect to find such good lamb soup (yangtang) in Beijing. Shan County is a place in Shandong famous for its lamb soup. There is a Gao Laosi Lamb Soup shop on Niujie Street, but it does not taste as good as the Shan County lamb soup.



The oil and salt flatbread (yousuan shaobing) is hollow inside, perfect for soaking in lamb soup or stuffing with spiced beef.



The soup is milky white, a natural color from boiling lamb bones.



Large starch noodles (dalapi).



Half a jin of spiced beef (jiang niurou) stuffed into a freshly baked flatbread is delicious.



I also had some grilled fish tofu and seafood skewers.

Address: Sanzhong Lane (near Xingfeng Street), about 525 meters from Huangcun West Street Station.

28

. Roubing Wan



This small shop is run by a young Beijing couple born in the 80s, specializing in meat pies (roubing) and beef tendon (banjin).



Almost every table orders the meat pie; it is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and truly delicious.



It lives up to its reputation as the best small beef tendon spot in the south city, with carefully selected ingredients and a great texture.



You have to pair the meat pie with a bowl of corn grit porridge (bangchazhou), which is cooked until very thick. Overall, it is quite rare to find a small Beijing-style skewer shop left in the Niujie area.

Address: Entrance of Chengshi Hutong, Guangnei Street, next to Guidu Hotel.

29. Chongqing Sausage Lips Old Stove Hot Pot



I first had halal Chongqing hot pot in Chongqing, and now I have finally found one in Beijing. They have the traditional nine-grid pot and the split-pot (yuanyang guo).



The nine-grid pot is too spicy for me, so I chose the split-pot, but it was still very spicy.



The hand-cut fresh lamb is average in quality, but when eating Chongqing hot pot, the ingredients do not matter much because your mouth goes numb from the spice anyway.



Duck intestine is a must-order dish for people from Sichuan and Chongqing when eating hot pot.



The bamboo shoots are crunchy when cooked in the pot.



When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Northerners are used to sesame paste (majiang) for hot pot, but for Sichuan-style hot pot, I suggest trying sesame oil with minced garlic.



They have sesame flatbread (shaobing) here too, but I prefer this hand-torn pancake (shoushibing), which is crispy.

Address: Room 201, Building 16, Jiayuan District 1, Beijie, Higher Education Park, Shahe, Changping District.

30. Camel Caravan Moroccan Halal Restaurant



I once saw a Moroccan restaurant in Urumqi, and now there is a Moroccan halal restaurant in Beijing too.



This blue color scheme is the style of the ancient city of Fez.



Moroccan snack platter



Marrakesh chicken stew; the chicken is tender and falls right off the bone.



Casablanca noodles



They also have snacks like sandwiches and burgers. This is a music-themed restaurant and bar, perfect for dates and chatting.

Address: No. 44 Guanghua Road, outside Jianguomen

31. Cantonese-style seafood bistro



This is a halal restaurant serving Cantonese-style seafood.



The environment is quite nice, fresh, and natural.



They serve Cantonese-style hot pot (dabanlu) with a clear broth base. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: Halal Food Guide: Penang — Chinese Halal Food and Muslim Streets is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: Penang, Malaysia, is a city where Chinese, Malay, and Indian people live together. The account keeps its focus on Penang Halal Food, Chinese Muslim Food, Malaysia Travel while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.

Penang, Malaysia, is a city where Chinese, Malay, and Indian people live together. Here, you can find halal food made by many different groups, including Teochew people, Peranakan (Baba Nyonya) people, Hui Muslims, Jawi Peranakan people, and Tamil Muslim (Mamak) people. I will now introduce the halal Chinese food I ate in Penang.

1. Bee Hwa Cafe

Bee Hwa Cafe is a Teochew-style Chinese halal restaurant that only uses halal ingredients. The staff includes both Teochew Chinese and Malay women wearing headscarves. Many local Malay people love coming here to try halal Chinese-style food.

We ate the classic Malaysian Chinese stir-fried rice noodles (char kway teow) and white curry noodles (curry mee) at their place.







Stir-fried rice noodles (char kway teow) are a signature dish for the Chinese community in Penang, much like the beef chow fun found in Cantonese cooking. Although the dish comes from the old hometown of Teochew, it has developed its own local style after being passed down through generations. The stir-fried rice noodles in Penang are wider and thicker, and they are seasoned mainly with fish sauce and soy sauce, which gives them a lighter color. They also add shrimp, fish balls, crab sticks, bean sprouts, chives, and eggs, but since this shop is halal, they do not use lard or Chinese sausage.



White curry noodles are made with coconut milk and curry, making them slightly spicy. They include shrimp, fried tofu, eggs, wood ear mushrooms, and mint leaves. You can choose your own noodles, so we picked a mix of half yellow noodles and half rice vermicelli.





2. Pastry Culture Workshop

Pastry Culture Workshop (Kuih Culture) is a shop that sells halal Nyonya cakes (Nyonya Kuih). The owner is Yan Guoxing, a Chinese man from Penang. Yan Guoxing met his wife in 1980 and learned that her family specialized in making and wholesaling Nyonya cakes. Because he loved these cakes, he started learning how to make them in 1984. His wife's family originally kept their Nyonya cake recipes a secret. As a son-in-law, Yan Guoxing was accepted into the family and spent a year as an apprentice before he finally learned how to make the cakes.

Baba Nyonya, also called Straits-born Chinese (Peranakan), refers to the descendants of Chinese people who settled in places like Malacca, Penang, and Singapore starting in the 15th century and married local people. The men are called Baba and the women are called Nyonya. Although the Peranakan (Nyonya) people are a minority group, their Nyonya cakes (kuih) are loved by all the different communities on the Malay Peninsula. The best thing about Nyonya cakes is how they use plant juices like pandan leaf, butterfly pea flower, roselle, and ramie leaf (daun rami) to color them, giving the cakes a variety of bright colors and floral scents.







Among the Nyonya cakes we tasted, the red one on the far left is the famous red tortoise cake (ang koo), which is a must-have offering for Chinese people in Southeast Asia during religious ceremonies. In the past, the Peranakan people did not say a baby's gender directly, but used the shape of the red tortoise cake to show it; the tortoise shape meant a boy, and the peach shape meant a girl.

To the right of the red tortoise cake is the yellow baked cassava cake (kuih bingka ubi), the green one on the far right is the pandan coconut milk cake (kuih talam), and the green round one at the bottom is the palm sugar rice cake (kuih kosui).







The shop assistant spreads coconut jam (kaya) on top of blue flower sticky rice cake (pulut tai tai). Coconut jam (kaya) is made from coconut milk, pandan leaves, palm sugar, and eggs.



We also ate Nanyang-style shaved ice with green jelly noodles (cendol) and red bean ice. Shaved ice with green jelly noodles (cendol) comes from Chaozhou. It is made by adding green noodles made from pandan leaves and sticky rice to shaved ice, then pouring coconut milk, palm sugar, and red beans over it.





3. Liu's Restaurant

The biggest surprise of this trip to Penang was finding a restaurant run by Hui Muslims and enjoying a delicious Nanyang Hui Muslim feast.

This restaurant, Restoran Haji Sharin Low Grand, is the largest Hui Muslim restaurant chain in Nanyang. It has over 17 branches across Malaysia and Indonesia, with the main branch in Kuala Lumpur. The founder is a Hui Muslim named Tuan Haji Sharin Low.



We ordered Nyonya flower crab, Teochew-style steamed grouper, Liu's claypot tofu, and vermicelli soup (mianxianhu). Everything was delicious. The meal featured a mix of local Nyonya, Teochew, and Minnan cooking styles, all using halal ingredients. It was a true cultural fusion.





















After eating, we chatted with the owner. She is a local Hui Muslim. I was very excited to finally meet and talk with members of this group, whom I had previously only read about in news and academic papers. The owner was very welcoming and invited us to visit again. We also learned that a local mosque for Hui Muslims in Penang was about to start construction (we visited in 2019), which will give the local Hui Muslims a social center.







The restaurant has membership application forms for the Malaysian Chinese Muslim Association (MACMA). MACMA started in 1994 to clear up the misunderstanding among Malaysian Chinese that Islam is only for Malays and that Chinese people cannot be Muslim. It also helps Malay Muslims learn about Chinese culture. The association works to help Malaysian Chinese Muslims solve various problems and provides guidance for new converts. The association offers free "Understanding Islam" classes in the evening. They teach in both English and Chinese, and everyone is welcome to attend. view all