Reposted from the web

Summary: Beijing Halal Diary in the Spring of 2021 (Part 2A-1) is retranslated with Gemini, keeping the original paragraph order and all matching image links.

April 26, Iftar at Nandouya Mosque.

Today's Iftar was at Nandouya, with various fruits and snacks. Then we went to the nearby Xinyuezhai to eat stir-fried lamb head meat, small bowls of beef, and tofu in a clay pot. After eating, we took a stroll through the hutong to digest.









April 27, Iftar at Dongzhimenwai Mosque.







April 28, Iftar at Tongjuyuan, a stone-pot barbecue restaurant in Ciqikou.

For Iftar, we went to Tongjuyuan, a newly opened stone-pot barbecue restaurant in Ciqikou. I really enjoyed the black pepper beef stone-pot rice. Their lamb is quite tender. The owner said he has run a beef and lamb shop in Niujie for twenty years and has his own cold storage.











May 6, Ramadan set menu at the Turkish restaurant Xitingxiuse.

For Iftar, we had the Ramadan set menu at the Turkish restaurant Xitingxiuse in Xinyuanli. There are two types, chicken and lamb, and the offerings change daily. The lamb we had yesterday was Karabakh Pilaf, and the chicken was grilled chicken wings.

Karabakh is a region on the border of Azerbaijan and Armenia. The name comes from the Turkic word 'Kara' (black) and the Persian word 'Bagh' (garden). Currently, it is mostly inhabited by Azerbaijanis. The Karabakh Pilaf we ate was stewed lamb with apricots. The yellow rice was colored with saffron water. When I was traveling in Baku before, I ate this kind of apricot and saffron pilaf while listening to Azerbaijani mugham, so it felt very familiar to eat it this time.

Besides the main course, the set menu included classic red lentil soup. The side dishes were hummus, yogurt with eggplant sauce, carrot and cheese dip, and a nut and bell pepper salad. The staple food was spinach Pide; the spinach and cheese were quite delicious. The drinks were Ayran and black tea. Their Ayran is not particularly sour. Finally, there was rice pudding and semolina for dessert.

Overall, this set menu is quite good value for the embassy district! view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: Beijing Halal Diary in the Spring of 2021 (Part 2A) is retranslated with Gemini, keeping the original paragraph order and all matching image links.

April 26, Iftar at Nandouya Mosque.

Today's Iftar was at Nandouya, with various fruits and snacks. Then we went to the nearby Xinyuezhai to eat stir-fried lamb head meat, small bowls of beef, and tofu in a clay pot. After eating, we took a stroll through the hutong to digest.









April 27, Iftar at Dongzhimenwai Mosque.







April 28, Iftar at Tongjuyuan, a stone-pot barbecue restaurant in Ciqikou.

For Iftar, we went to Tongjuyuan, a newly opened stone-pot barbecue restaurant in Ciqikou. I really enjoyed the black pepper beef stone-pot rice. Their lamb is quite tender. The owner said he has run a beef and lamb shop in Niujie for twenty years and has his own cold storage.











May 6, Ramadan set menu at the Turkish restaurant Xitingxiuse.

For Iftar, we had the Ramadan set menu at the Turkish restaurant Xitingxiuse in Xinyuanli. There are two types, chicken and lamb, and the offerings change daily. The lamb we had yesterday was Karabakh Pilaf, and the chicken was grilled chicken wings.

Karabakh is a region on the border of Azerbaijan and Armenia. The name comes from the Turkic word 'Kara' (black) and the Persian word 'Bagh' (garden). Currently, it is mostly inhabited by Azerbaijanis. The Karabakh Pilaf we ate was stewed lamb with apricots. The yellow rice was colored with saffron water. When I was traveling in Baku before, I ate this kind of apricot and saffron pilaf while listening to Azerbaijani mugham, so it felt very familiar to eat it this time.

Besides the main course, the set menu included classic red lentil soup. The side dishes were hummus, yogurt with eggplant sauce, carrot and cheese dip, and a nut and bell pepper salad. The staple food was spinach Pide; the spinach and cheese were quite delicious. The drinks were Ayran and black tea. Their Ayran is not particularly sour. Finally, there was rice pudding and semolina for dessert.

Overall, this set menu is quite good value for the embassy district!



















May 9, Iftar at home.

For Iftar today, I made lamb soup and braised hairtail, and Zainab roasted sweet potatoes. The lamb front leg was brought back from Urumqi.









May 10, Ziguangyuan at the North Gate of Ritan.

Iftar at Nanxiapo; their place is truly the most abundant! Then we went to Ziguangyuan at the North Gate of Ritan to eat roast duck, ma doufu (fermented bean curd), stir-fried wild mushrooms, and mustard duck webs. Their environment is better than the Dongdaqiao branch I usually go to. I eat Ziguangyuan's roast duck about once a month. If I don't eat it for a while, I miss it. This is the first time since Ramadan started. The ma doufu is darker than usual, perhaps because they used more pickled mustard greens. The wild mushrooms were stir-fried with sauce, which is especially suitable for Beijingers to eat with rice. Zainab thought it was too sweet, so I packed it up to eat for Suhoor today. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: Beijing Halal Diary in the Spring of 2021 (Part 1B) is retranslated with Gemini, keeping the original paragraph order and all matching image links.

March 23, Dongsi Shitiao Bridge Yanlanlou

In the evening at Yanlanlou at Dongsi Shitiao Bridge, it should be a franchise store, not a direct-operated one. I ordered hand-grabbed lamb chops, Jiangshui noodles, and Tianpeizi. The hand-grabbed lamb was a bit greasy, but overall it was okay.













March 25, Catfish and minced meat fried rice

I made catfish and minced meat fried rice in the evening. I've been cooking fish often lately.







April 9, Dongsi Shitiao Yanlanlou

In the evening at Yanlanlou in Dongsi Shitiao, I had clear-boiled lamb tendon, stir-fried lamb head meat, Saozi noodles, wild bracken, and Tianpeizi. The lamb head meat wasn't satisfying enough; I really miss the night markets in Linxia!









April 13, Minced meat pilaf made by Zainab

Minced meat pilaf made by Zainab, cucumber soup, steamed egg custard, stir-fried asparagus, and chicken skewers she bought back from Khan Baba.









April 14, Start of Fasting

Eating dates.



Iftar meal with cowpea Lagman.





April 15, Iftar

Catfish stewed with tofu, eggplant Lagman, stir-fried greens, and I also bought a big chicken leg at Yongshun Fried Chicken on Xueyuan South Road and heated it up in the oven.











April 16, Suhoor



For Jumu'ah, I bought lamb skewers at the Douban Hutong Mosque. For Iftar, I grilled lamb skewers and stewed beef bone soup.













April 17, Iftar buffet at the Pakistani restaurant Khan Baba

Today's Iftar was at the Pakistani restaurant Khan Baba in Sanlitun. We had a buffet, and the atmosphere was great. I ate lamb curry, chickpea curry, kebab, roast chicken, fried vegetables, Biryani fried rice, scallion naan, mint and yogurt salad, and pudding. There were quite a few varieties, and they were delicious, especially the naan dipped in curry, which was very satisfying! A reminder to all brothers (dost): you need to book in advance, otherwise there will be no seats.



















April 18, Iftar buffet at the Jordanian restaurant Al Safir

Today's Iftar was a buffet at the Jordanian restaurant Al Safir in Sanyuanqiao. It was a good opportunity to experience Levantine salads and various sauces! I can eat everything I usually can't order all at once. The most classic ones are, of course, hummus and falafel. The most authentic way to eat them is to use pita bread to sandwich various sauces and falafel together. The main courses included fish, lamb chops, chicken rice, and fried chicken. There was also lentil soup and various fruit juices; I drank grape juice. Their lamb chops were so delicious; I feel like they were grilled beforehand? The texture was excellent.



















April 19, Iftar at Baizuan in Shilihe

For Iftar today, I had Polo, meat Lagman, Kebab, and pigeon soup at Baizuan in Shilihe, and I also bought naan and pomegranate juice to take away. Old Keman's pomegranate juice has the best taste on the market, although it's still not as good as the freshly squeezed ones at the bazaar.



















April 24, Iftar at the Nanxiapo Mosque

Today's Iftar was at Xiapo. There were so many rich snacks, and then I went home and ate the lamb skewers Zainab grilled. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This travel note introduces Beijing Halal Diary in the Spring of 2021 (Part 1). Some delicious food I ate in Beijing in March, April, and May 2021. During Ramadan, not only can you eat snacks at various mosques, but you can also experience Iftar buffets and Ramadan set menus at various foreign. It is useful for readers interested in Beijing Mosques, Muslim Travel, Halal Travel.

Some delicious food I ate in Beijing in March, April, and May 2021. During Ramadan, not only can you eat snacks at various mosques, but you can also experience Iftar buffets and Ramadan set menus at various foreign restaurants.

March 4, Nanmen Xiaoguan

In the evening, I ate at Nanmen Xiaoguan, a subsidiary of Nanmen Shuanrou, inside the Guomao Shopping Center. I had fermented bean curd edamame, braised chicken feet, eggplant in burnt sauce, winter melon and meatball soup, and 'Ta Si Mi' (sweetened beef). The braised chicken feet were very soft and tender, and the winter melon and meatball soup tasted like home-cooked food; it felt very comforting. The 'Ta Si Mi' was very much to my taste. Even though I wasn't very hungry, I ate two bowls of rice to satisfy myself (people from other places might find it sweet, but Beijingers really love this flavor).

It is rare to find such an affordable and delicious Beijing Halal restaurant inside the Guomao Shopping Center; I really wouldn't have discovered it if a friend hadn't recommended it. Next time I want to try rice-friendly dishes like braised oxtail and scallion-fried lamb. I'll choose this place whenever I'm in the Guomao area in the future.













March 5, Jingzhe Oil Tea Egg

Today is Jingzhe (Awakening of Insects), and Zainab made the Jingzhe oil tea egg, a specialty of the Xinjiang Hui people. Zainab used to drink it every year when she was in Urumqi, but I had never heard of it in Beijing.

The way to make Jingzhe oil tea egg is to stir-fry eggs in lamb fat, add raisins, walnut kernels, and rock sugar, and then pour strong tea over it; in Xinjiang, they generally use Fuzhuan tea.











The Lagman I made





March 6, Sauce Meat Roll with Pancake

At noon, I bought spiced beef and beef tendon at Jubao Yuan in Dongsi, and dipped them in garlic sauce to roll in pancakes.





March 6, Guhuai Street Mawu Beiyuan Branch

In the evening, I went to Mawu on Guhuai Street at Nuanshan Life in Beiyuan and ordered a mix of hot and sour soup and tofu pudding, along with pan-fried buns. There are many fun things in the Nuannuan Collection in the basement of Nuanshan Life. I bought several beautiful dresses for Zainab at a vintage clothing store.











March 7, Syrian restaurant BRBR in Wudaokou

I ate at the Syrian restaurant BRBR in Wudaokou at noon. I had heard of them for a long time, but since I live in the city and it's too far away, I had never eaten there. This was my first time. I have to say, this place is so popular! We went after two o'clock and still had to wait a long time for a table; it was full of young people.

Syrian food is also a standard Levantine cuisine. The most classic dishes are Hummus and Falafel, but we didn't order them this time. We ordered lentil soup, a mixed grill platter (Shuqaf lamb skewers, traditional Kabab, chicken skewers, and chicken wings), half a roasted chicken, hummus with tahini, and lemon mint.

A special feature this time was eating the traditional Arabic Mandi lamb rice. Mandi originated in Yemen and is popular in the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, and the Levant. Mandi is usually made with rice, meat (lamb, camel, or chicken), and Hawaij spices. Hawaij is also a special spice originating from Yemen, which can be used for cooking rice, soup, and coffee. Its main ingredients are cumin, black pepper, turmeric, and cardamom. The texture of Mandi is drier than regular curry rice.



















March 11, Liu Ji Mending Baodu

Zainab has been working overtime at night these past two days, so I've been eating Zha Jiang Mian (noodles with soybean paste) at Liu Ji Mending Baodu in Hongmiao for two days in a row. I love it so much; Zha Jiang Mian is my nostalgia! I also ordered lamb skewers and a small bowl of beef. Their small bowl of beef is a bit dry and not recommended. If you want to eat it, you should go to Baodu Xiaobaimao. I've been eating their big lamb skewers for years, and they are undeniably delicious. Then I listened to Old Man Liu chatting with people. The old man is over eighty, still loves to go to Sanya, and often plays table tennis. He's quite something.















March 12, Changying Qin'gu

A rainy day in Beijing is perfect for having beef soybean paste soup at Qin'gu in Changying! Then I bought two Tangjuanguo and a box of Aiwowo at Kaiyizhai by the mosque gate.













March 19, Douban Hutong Xinyuezhai

I ate stir-fried lamb liver and a small bowl of beef at Xinyuezhai in Douban Hutong at noon.











March 20, Dapanji made by Zainab

In the evening, Zainab made Dapanji (big plate chicken). I love it so much; it's really authentic.





March 21, Dachangying Restaurant

At noon, I went to Dachangying Restaurant to eat the 148-yuan four-person set meal I bought on Lianlian. Their location is really not very good. A Halal Japanese restaurant opened there before but closed after only a few visits. Later, after they released the Lianlian four-person meal, it suddenly became popular, and everyone was eating the set meal. The four-person set includes Yellow River carp, half a roast duck, deep-fried crispy meat, West Lake beef soup, Qianlong cabbage, corn with pine nuts, flavored eggplant, and pear soup. Overall, their food is a bit sweet. The carp tastes very good, and the others are relatively average, but the set meal is really worth it. I guess there will be fewer people once the set meal period is over.

















March 23, Dongsi Shitiao Bridge Yanlanlou

In the evening at Yanlanlou at Dongsi Shitiao Bridge, it should be a franchise store, not a direct-operated one. I ordered hand-grabbed lamb chops, Jiangshui noodles, and Tianpeizi. The hand-grabbed lamb was a bit greasy, but overall it was okay.













March 25, Catfish and minced meat fried rice

I made catfish and minced meat fried rice in the evening. I've been cooking fish often lately.







April 9, Dongsi Shitiao Yanlanlou

In the evening at Yanlanlou in Dongsi Shitiao, I had clear-boiled lamb tendon, stir-fried lamb head meat, Saozi noodles, wild bracken, and Tianpeizi. The lamb head meat wasn't satisfying enough; I really miss the night markets in Linxia!









April 13, Minced meat pilaf made by Zainab

Minced meat pilaf made by Zainab, cucumber soup, steamed egg custard, stir-fried asparagus, and chicken skewers she bought back from Khan Baba.









April 14, Start of Fasting

Eating dates.



Iftar meal with cowpea Lagman.





April 15, Iftar

Catfish stewed with tofu, eggplant Lagman, stir-fried greens, and I also bought a big chicken leg at Yongshun Fried Chicken on Xueyuan South Road and heated it up in the oven.











April 16, Suhoor



For Jumu'ah, I bought lamb skewers at the Douban Hutong Mosque. For Iftar, I grilled lamb skewers and stewed beef bone soup.













April 17, Iftar buffet at the Pakistani restaurant Khan Baba

Today's Iftar was at the Pakistani restaurant Khan Baba in Sanlitun. We had a buffet, and the atmosphere was great. I ate lamb curry, chickpea curry, kebab, roast chicken, fried vegetables, Biryani fried rice, scallion naan, mint and yogurt salad, and pudding. There were quite a few varieties, and they were delicious, especially the naan dipped in curry, which was very satisfying! A reminder to all brothers (dost): you need to book in advance, otherwise there will be no seats.



















April 18, Iftar buffet at the Jordanian restaurant Al Safir

Today's Iftar was a buffet at the Jordanian restaurant Al Safir in Sanyuanqiao. It was a good opportunity to experience Levantine salads and various sauces! I can eat everything I usually can't order all at once. The most classic ones are, of course, hummus and falafel. The most authentic way to eat them is to use pita bread to sandwich various sauces and falafel together. The main courses included fish, lamb chops, chicken rice, and fried chicken. There was also lentil soup and various fruit juices; I drank grape juice. Their lamb chops were so delicious; I feel like they were grilled beforehand? The texture was excellent.



















April 19, Iftar at Baizuan in Shilihe

For Iftar today, I had Polo, meat Lagman, Kebab, and pigeon soup at Baizuan in Shilihe, and I also bought naan and pomegranate juice to take away. Old Keman's pomegranate juice has the best taste on the market, although it's still not as good as the freshly squeezed ones at the bazaar.



















April 24, Iftar at the Nanxiapo Mosque

Today's Iftar was at Xiapo. There were so many rich snacks, and then I went home and ate the lamb skewers Zainab grilled. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This travel note introduces Beijing Halal Diary in the Spring of 2021 (Part 2). Today's Iftar was at Nandouya, with various fruits and snacks. Then we went to the nearby Xinyuezhai to eat stir-fried lamb head meat, small bowls of beef, and tofu in a clay pot. It is useful for readers interested in Beijing Mosques, Muslim Travel, Halal Travel.





April 26, Iftar at Nandouya Mosque.

Today's Iftar was at Nandouya, with various fruits and snacks. Then we went to the nearby Xinyuezhai to eat stir-fried lamb head meat, small bowls of beef, and tofu in a clay pot. After eating, we took a stroll through the hutong to digest.









April 27, Iftar at Dongzhimenwai Mosque.







April 28, Iftar at Tongjuyuan, a stone-pot barbecue restaurant in Ciqikou.

For Iftar, we went to Tongjuyuan, a newly opened stone-pot barbecue restaurant in Ciqikou. I really enjoyed the black pepper beef stone-pot rice. Their lamb is quite tender. The owner said he has run a beef and lamb shop in Niujie for twenty years and has his own cold storage.











May 6, Ramadan set menu at the Turkish restaurant Xitingxiuse.

For Iftar, we had the Ramadan set menu at the Turkish restaurant Xitingxiuse in Xinyuanli. There are two types, chicken and lamb, and the offerings change daily. The lamb we had yesterday was Karabakh Pilaf, and the chicken was grilled chicken wings.

Karabakh is a region on the border of Azerbaijan and Armenia. The name comes from the Turkic word 'Kara' (black) and the Persian word 'Bagh' (garden). Currently, it is mostly inhabited by Azerbaijanis. The Karabakh Pilaf we ate was stewed lamb with apricots. The yellow rice was colored with saffron water. When I was traveling in Baku before, I ate this kind of apricot and saffron pilaf while listening to Azerbaijani mugham, so it felt very familiar to eat it this time.

Besides the main course, the set menu included classic red lentil soup. The side dishes were hummus, yogurt with eggplant sauce, carrot and cheese dip, and a nut and bell pepper salad. The staple food was spinach Pide; the spinach and cheese were quite delicious. The drinks were Ayran and black tea. Their Ayran is not particularly sour. Finally, there was rice pudding and semolina for dessert.

Overall, this set menu is quite good value for the embassy district!



















May 9, Iftar at home.

For Iftar today, I made lamb soup and braised hairtail, and Zainab roasted sweet potatoes. The lamb front leg was brought back from Urumqi.









May 10, Ziguangyuan at the North Gate of Ritan.

Iftar at Nanxiapo; their place is truly the most abundant! Then we went to Ziguangyuan at the North Gate of Ritan to eat roast duck, ma doufu (fermented bean curd), stir-fried wild mushrooms, and mustard duck webs. Their environment is better than the Dongdaqiao branch I usually go to. I eat Ziguangyuan's roast duck about once a month. If I don't eat it for a while, I miss it. This is the first time since Ramadan started. The ma doufu is darker than usual, perhaps because they used more pickled mustard greens. The wild mushrooms were stir-fried with sauce, which is especially suitable for Beijingers to eat with rice. Zainab thought it was too sweet, so I packed it up to eat for Suhoor today.

















May 12, Jia San Baozi at White Cloud Temple.

For the last Iftar of Ramadan, we went to Jia San at White Cloud Temple to eat beef soup dumplings, lamb paomo, colorful ginseng fruit, and lamb skewers. Their service is really good. After telling the waiter it was for Iftar, he helped us plan what to serve first and what to serve later so it wouldn't get cold.













May 13, Eid al-Fitr buffet at Jianzhai.

After the Eid prayer, everyone gathered on the roof of the century-old Jianzhai shop on Yangmeizhu Xiejie outside Qianmen for a buffet. The 21st-generation descendant of Wang Huihui from Jiantang personally fried the youxiang for us. It was super delicious, with a chewy texture and not hard at all. We also ate old Beijing Hui-style stewed beef and sugar-rolled fruit. The beef is brought in from Niujie every morning and stewed fresh, never overnight. Sugar-rolled fruit is made by steaming yams with dates and raisins, then stir-frying them in sugar, which is very time-consuming.

In addition to old Beijing specialties, there were chicken curry, tomato pasta, fried cod fillets, fruit salad, and small cream cakes. It was very satisfying!



















May 16, Wangasi in Sanlitun.

At Wangasi Potato Slices in Sanlitun, we had noodle soup and sweet fermented milk yogurt. Later, we went back to buy milk and egg fermented rice. Their shop is a Lanzhou snack bar that has been open in Beijing for several years.











May 19, Muyixuan in Ping'anli.

Lamb tail, lamb chops, and lamb spine hot pot at Muyixuan in Ping'anli. The last time I ate it was before Ramadan; I love it so much.









May 23, Buffet at Xinjiang Mansion.

We had a buffet at Xinjiang Mansion at noon. The value for money is not particularly high, but they have pilaf, mixed noodles, barbecue, and lamb bones.



















May 31, Family dinner.

We bought spiced beef, beef tendon, liangpi, and sesame flatbread at the Ziguangyuan snack shop in Panjiayuan. If you spend over one hundred, you get a duck frame for free. Back home, I split the duck frame in two: half for cabbage and tofu soup, and half stir-fried with cumin. We ate the spiced beef and beef tendon with garlic sauce in sesame flatbread, and also made coconut curry fish, stir-fried bitter melon, broccoli with carrots, and garlic sprouts with meat. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This travel note introduces Beijing Halal Diary in the Spring of 2021 (Part 1). Some delicious food I ate in Beijing in March, April, and May 2021. During Ramadan, not only can you eat snacks at various mosques, but you can also experience Iftar buffets and Ramadan set menus at various foreign. It is useful for readers interested in Beijing Mosques, Muslim Travel, Halal Travel.

Some delicious food I ate in Beijing in March, April, and May 2021. During Ramadan, not only can you eat snacks at various mosques, but you can also experience Iftar buffets and Ramadan set menus at various foreign restaurants.

March 4, Nanmen Xiaoguan

In the evening, I ate at Nanmen Xiaoguan, a subsidiary of Nanmen Shuanrou, inside the Guomao Shopping Center. I had fermented bean curd edamame, braised chicken feet, eggplant in burnt sauce, winter melon and meatball soup, and 'Ta Si Mi' (sweetened beef). The braised chicken feet were very soft and tender, and the winter melon and meatball soup tasted like home-cooked food; it felt very comforting. The 'Ta Si Mi' was very much to my taste. Even though I wasn't very hungry, I ate two bowls of rice to satisfy myself (people from other places might find it sweet, but Beijingers really love this flavor).

It is rare to find such an affordable and delicious Beijing Halal restaurant inside the Guomao Shopping Center; I really wouldn't have discovered it if a friend hadn't recommended it. Next time I want to try rice-friendly dishes like braised oxtail and scallion-fried lamb. I'll choose this place whenever I'm in the Guomao area in the future.













March 5, Jingzhe Oil Tea Egg

Today is Jingzhe (Awakening of Insects), and Zainab made the Jingzhe oil tea egg, a specialty of the Xinjiang Hui people. Zainab used to drink it every year when she was in Urumqi, but I had never heard of it in Beijing.

The way to make Jingzhe oil tea egg is to stir-fry eggs in lamb fat, add raisins, walnut kernels, and rock sugar, and then pour strong tea over it; in Xinjiang, they generally use Fuzhuan tea.











The Lagman I made





March 6, Sauce Meat Roll with Pancake

At noon, I bought spiced beef and beef tendon at Jubao Yuan in Dongsi, and dipped them in garlic sauce to roll in pancakes.





March 6, Guhuai Street Mawu Beiyuan Branch

In the evening, I went to Mawu on Guhuai Street at Nuanshan Life in Beiyuan and ordered a mix of hot and sour soup and tofu pudding, along with pan-fried buns. There are many fun things in the Nuannuan Collection in the basement of Nuanshan Life. I bought several beautiful dresses for Zainab at a vintage clothing store.











March 7, Syrian restaurant BRBR in Wudaokou

I ate at the Syrian restaurant BRBR in Wudaokou at noon. I had heard of them for a long time, but since I live in the city and it's too far away, I had never eaten there. This was my first time. I have to say, this place is so popular! We went after two o'clock and still had to wait a long time for a table; it was full of young people.

Syrian food is also a standard Levantine cuisine. The most classic dishes are Hummus and Falafel, but we didn't order them this time. We ordered lentil soup, a mixed grill platter (Shuqaf lamb skewers, traditional Kabab, chicken skewers, and chicken wings), half a roasted chicken, hummus with tahini, and lemon mint.

A special feature this time was eating the traditional Arabic Mandi lamb rice. Mandi originated in Yemen and is popular in the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, and the Levant. Mandi is usually made with rice, meat (lamb, camel, or chicken), and Hawaij spices. Hawaij is also a special spice originating from Yemen, which can be used for cooking rice, soup, and coffee. Its main ingredients are cumin, black pepper, turmeric, and cardamom. The texture of Mandi is drier than regular curry rice.



















March 11, Liu Ji Mending Baodu

Zainab has been working overtime at night these past two days, so I've been eating Zha Jiang Mian (noodles with soybean paste) at Liu Ji Mending Baodu in Hongmiao for two days in a row. I love it so much; Zha Jiang Mian is my nostalgia! I also ordered lamb skewers and a small bowl of beef. Their small bowl of beef is a bit dry and not recommended. If you want to eat it, you should go to Baodu Xiaobaimao. I've been eating their big lamb skewers for years, and they are undeniably delicious. Then I listened to Old Man Liu chatting with people. The old man is over eighty, still loves to go to Sanya, and often plays table tennis. He's quite something.















March 12, Changying Qin'gu

A rainy day in Beijing is perfect for having beef soybean paste soup at Qin'gu in Changying! Then I bought two Tangjuanguo and a box of Aiwowo at Kaiyizhai by the mosque gate.













March 19, Douban Hutong Xinyuezhai

I ate stir-fried lamb liver and a small bowl of beef at Xinyuezhai in Douban Hutong at noon.











March 20, Dapanji made by Zainab

In the evening, Zainab made Dapanji (big plate chicken). I love it so much; it's really authentic.





March 21, Dachangying Restaurant

At noon, I went to Dachangying Restaurant to eat the 148-yuan four-person set meal I bought on Lianlian. Their location is really not very good. A Halal Japanese restaurant opened there before but closed after only a few visits. Later, after they released the Lianlian four-person meal, it suddenly became popular, and everyone was eating the set meal. The four-person set includes Yellow River carp, half a roast duck, deep-fried crispy meat, West Lake beef soup, Qianlong cabbage, corn with pine nuts, flavored eggplant, and pear soup. Overall, their food is a bit sweet. The carp tastes very good, and the others are relatively average, but the set meal is really worth it. I guess there will be fewer people once the set meal period is over.

















March 23, Dongsi Shitiao Bridge Yanlanlou

In the evening at Yanlanlou at Dongsi Shitiao Bridge, it should be a franchise store, not a direct-operated one. I ordered hand-grabbed lamb chops, Jiangshui noodles, and Tianpeizi. The hand-grabbed lamb was a bit greasy, but overall it was okay.













March 25, Catfish and minced meat fried rice

I made catfish and minced meat fried rice in the evening. I've been cooking fish often lately.







April 9, Dongsi Shitiao Yanlanlou

In the evening at Yanlanlou in Dongsi Shitiao, I had clear-boiled lamb tendon, stir-fried lamb head meat, Saozi noodles, wild bracken, and Tianpeizi. The lamb head meat wasn't satisfying enough; I really miss the night markets in Linxia!









April 13, Minced meat pilaf made by Zainab

Minced meat pilaf made by Zainab, cucumber soup, steamed egg custard, stir-fried asparagus, and chicken skewers she bought back from Khan Baba.









April 14, Start of Fasting

Eating dates.



Iftar meal with cowpea Lagman.





April 15, Iftar

Catfish stewed with tofu, eggplant Lagman, stir-fried greens, and I also bought a big chicken leg at Yongshun Fried Chicken on Xueyuan South Road and heated it up in the oven.











April 16, Suhoor



For Jumu'ah, I bought lamb skewers at the Douban Hutong Mosque. For Iftar, I grilled lamb skewers and stewed beef bone soup.













April 17, Iftar buffet at the Pakistani restaurant Khan Baba

Today's Iftar was at the Pakistani restaurant Khan Baba in Sanlitun. We had a buffet, and the atmosphere was great. I ate lamb curry, chickpea curry, kebab, roast chicken, fried vegetables, Biryani fried rice, scallion naan, mint and yogurt salad, and pudding. There were quite a few varieties, and they were delicious, especially the naan dipped in curry, which was very satisfying! A reminder to all brothers (dost): you need to book in advance, otherwise there will be no seats.



















April 18, Iftar buffet at the Jordanian restaurant Al Safir

Today's Iftar was a buffet at the Jordanian restaurant Al Safir in Sanyuanqiao. It was a good opportunity to experience Levantine salads and various sauces! I can eat everything I usually can't order all at once. The most classic ones are, of course, hummus and falafel. The most authentic way to eat them is to use pita bread to sandwich various sauces and falafel together. The main courses included fish, lamb chops, chicken rice, and fried chicken. There was also lentil soup and various fruit juices; I drank grape juice. Their lamb chops were so delicious; I feel like they were grilled beforehand? The texture was excellent.



















April 19, Iftar at Baizuan in Shilihe

For Iftar today, I had Polo, meat Lagman, Kebab, and pigeon soup at Baizuan in Shilihe, and I also bought naan and pomegranate juice to take away. Old Keman's pomegranate juice has the best taste on the market, although it's still not as good as the freshly squeezed ones at the bazaar.



















April 24, Iftar at the Nanxiapo Mosque

Today's Iftar was at Xiapo. There were so many rich snacks, and then I went home and ate the lamb skewers Zainab grilled. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This travel note introduces Beijing Halal Diary in the Spring of 2021 (Part 2). Today's Iftar was at Nandouya, with various fruits and snacks. Then we went to the nearby Xinyuezhai to eat stir-fried lamb head meat, small bowls of beef, and tofu in a clay pot. It is useful for readers interested in Beijing Mosques, Muslim Travel, Halal Travel.





April 26, Iftar at Nandouya Mosque.

Today's Iftar was at Nandouya, with various fruits and snacks. Then we went to the nearby Xinyuezhai to eat stir-fried lamb head meat, small bowls of beef, and tofu in a clay pot. After eating, we took a stroll through the hutong to digest.









April 27, Iftar at Dongzhimenwai Mosque.







April 28, Iftar at Tongjuyuan, a stone-pot barbecue restaurant in Ciqikou.

For Iftar, we went to Tongjuyuan, a newly opened stone-pot barbecue restaurant in Ciqikou. I really enjoyed the black pepper beef stone-pot rice. Their lamb is quite tender. The owner said he has run a beef and lamb shop in Niujie for twenty years and has his own cold storage.











May 6, Ramadan set menu at the Turkish restaurant Xitingxiuse.

For Iftar, we had the Ramadan set menu at the Turkish restaurant Xitingxiuse in Xinyuanli. There are two types, chicken and lamb, and the offerings change daily. The lamb we had yesterday was Karabakh Pilaf, and the chicken was grilled chicken wings.

Karabakh is a region on the border of Azerbaijan and Armenia. The name comes from the Turkic word 'Kara' (black) and the Persian word 'Bagh' (garden). Currently, it is mostly inhabited by Azerbaijanis. The Karabakh Pilaf we ate was stewed lamb with apricots. The yellow rice was colored with saffron water. When I was traveling in Baku before, I ate this kind of apricot and saffron pilaf while listening to Azerbaijani mugham, so it felt very familiar to eat it this time.

Besides the main course, the set menu included classic red lentil soup. The side dishes were hummus, yogurt with eggplant sauce, carrot and cheese dip, and a nut and bell pepper salad. The staple food was spinach Pide; the spinach and cheese were quite delicious. The drinks were Ayran and black tea. Their Ayran is not particularly sour. Finally, there was rice pudding and semolina for dessert.

Overall, this set menu is quite good value for the embassy district!



















May 9, Iftar at home.

For Iftar today, I made lamb soup and braised hairtail, and Zainab roasted sweet potatoes. The lamb front leg was brought back from Urumqi.









May 10, Ziguangyuan at the North Gate of Ritan.

Iftar at Nanxiapo; their place is truly the most abundant! Then we went to Ziguangyuan at the North Gate of Ritan to eat roast duck, ma doufu (fermented bean curd), stir-fried wild mushrooms, and mustard duck webs. Their environment is better than the Dongdaqiao branch I usually go to. I eat Ziguangyuan's roast duck about once a month. If I don't eat it for a while, I miss it. This is the first time since Ramadan started. The ma doufu is darker than usual, perhaps because they used more pickled mustard greens. The wild mushrooms were stir-fried with sauce, which is especially suitable for Beijingers to eat with rice. Zainab thought it was too sweet, so I packed it up to eat for Suhoor today.

















May 12, Jia San Baozi at White Cloud Temple.

For the last Iftar of Ramadan, we went to Jia San at White Cloud Temple to eat beef soup dumplings, lamb paomo, colorful ginseng fruit, and lamb skewers. Their service is really good. After telling the waiter it was for Iftar, he helped us plan what to serve first and what to serve later so it wouldn't get cold.













May 13, Eid al-Fitr buffet at Jianzhai.

After the Eid prayer, everyone gathered on the roof of the century-old Jianzhai shop on Yangmeizhu Xiejie outside Qianmen for a buffet. The 21st-generation descendant of Wang Huihui from Jiantang personally fried the youxiang for us. It was super delicious, with a chewy texture and not hard at all. We also ate old Beijing Hui-style stewed beef and sugar-rolled fruit. The beef is brought in from Niujie every morning and stewed fresh, never overnight. Sugar-rolled fruit is made by steaming yams with dates and raisins, then stir-frying them in sugar, which is very time-consuming.

In addition to old Beijing specialties, there were chicken curry, tomato pasta, fried cod fillets, fruit salad, and small cream cakes. It was very satisfying!



















May 16, Wangasi in Sanlitun.

At Wangasi Potato Slices in Sanlitun, we had noodle soup and sweet fermented milk yogurt. Later, we went back to buy milk and egg fermented rice. Their shop is a Lanzhou snack bar that has been open in Beijing for several years.











May 19, Muyixuan in Ping'anli.

Lamb tail, lamb chops, and lamb spine hot pot at Muyixuan in Ping'anli. The last time I ate it was before Ramadan; I love it so much.









May 23, Buffet at Xinjiang Mansion.

We had a buffet at Xinjiang Mansion at noon. The value for money is not particularly high, but they have pilaf, mixed noodles, barbecue, and lamb bones.



















May 31, Family dinner.

We bought spiced beef, beef tendon, liangpi, and sesame flatbread at the Ziguangyuan snack shop in Panjiayuan. If you spend over one hundred, you get a duck frame for free. Back home, I split the duck frame in two: half for cabbage and tofu soup, and half stir-fried with cumin. We ate the spiced beef and beef tendon with garlic sauce in sesame flatbread, and also made coconut curry fish, stir-fried bitter melon, broccoli with carrots, and garlic sprouts with meat. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: Beijing Halal Diary in the Spring of 2021 (Part 2A-1) is retranslated with Gemini, keeping the original paragraph order and all matching image links.

April 26, Iftar at Nandouya Mosque.

Today's Iftar was at Nandouya, with various fruits and snacks. Then we went to the nearby Xinyuezhai to eat stir-fried lamb head meat, small bowls of beef, and tofu in a clay pot. After eating, we took a stroll through the hutong to digest.









April 27, Iftar at Dongzhimenwai Mosque.







April 28, Iftar at Tongjuyuan, a stone-pot barbecue restaurant in Ciqikou.

For Iftar, we went to Tongjuyuan, a newly opened stone-pot barbecue restaurant in Ciqikou. I really enjoyed the black pepper beef stone-pot rice. Their lamb is quite tender. The owner said he has run a beef and lamb shop in Niujie for twenty years and has his own cold storage. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: Beijing Halal Diary in the Spring of 2021 (Part 2A-2) is retranslated with Gemini, keeping the original paragraph order and all matching image links.

May 9, Iftar at home.

For Iftar today, I made lamb soup and braised hairtail, and Zainab roasted sweet potatoes. The lamb front leg was brought back from Urumqi.









May 10, Ziguangyuan at the North Gate of Ritan.

Iftar at Nanxiapo; their place is truly the most abundant! Then we went to Ziguangyuan at the North Gate of Ritan to eat roast duck, ma doufu (fermented bean curd), stir-fried wild mushrooms, and mustard duck webs. Their environment is better than the Dongdaqiao branch I usually go to. I eat Ziguangyuan's roast duck about once a month. If I don't eat it for a while, I miss it. This is the first time since Ramadan started. The ma doufu is darker than usual, perhaps because they used more pickled mustard greens. The wild mushrooms were stir-fried with sauce, which is especially suitable for Beijingers to eat with rice. Zainab thought it was too sweet, so I packed it up to eat for Suhoor today. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: Beijing Halal Diary in the Spring of 2021 (Part 1B-1) is retranslated with Gemini, keeping the original paragraph order and all matching image links.

March 23, Dongsi Shitiao Bridge Yanlanlou

In the evening at Yanlanlou at Dongsi Shitiao Bridge, it should be a franchise store, not a direct-operated one. I ordered hand-grabbed lamb chops, Jiangshui noodles, and Tianpeizi. The hand-grabbed lamb was a bit greasy, but overall it was okay.













March 25, Catfish and minced meat fried rice

I made catfish and minced meat fried rice in the evening. I've been cooking fish often lately.







April 9, Dongsi Shitiao Yanlanlou

In the evening at Yanlanlou in Dongsi Shitiao, I had clear-boiled lamb tendon, stir-fried lamb head meat, Saozi noodles, wild bracken, and Tianpeizi. The lamb head meat wasn't satisfying enough; I really miss the night markets in Linxia!









April 13, Minced meat pilaf made by Zainab

Minced meat pilaf made by Zainab, cucumber soup, steamed egg custard, stir-fried asparagus, and chicken skewers she bought back from Khan Baba.









April 14, Start of Fasting

Eating dates.



Iftar meal with cowpea Lagman.





April 15, Iftar

Catfish stewed with tofu, eggplant Lagman, stir-fried greens, and I also bought a big chicken leg at Yongshun Fried Chicken on Xueyuan South Road and heated it up in the oven.











April 16, Suhoor



For Jumu'ah, I bought lamb skewers at the Douban Hutong Mosque. For Iftar, I grilled lamb skewers and stewed beef bone soup. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: Beijing Halal Diary in the Spring of 2021 (Part 2B) is retranslated with Gemini, keeping the original paragraph order and all matching image links.

May 12, Jia San Baozi at White Cloud Temple.

For the last Iftar of Ramadan, we went to Jia San at White Cloud Temple to eat beef soup dumplings, lamb paomo, colorful ginseng fruit, and lamb skewers. Their service is really good. After telling the waiter it was for Iftar, he helped us plan what to serve first and what to serve later so it wouldn't get cold.













May 13, Eid al-Fitr buffet at Jianzhai.

After the Eid prayer, everyone gathered on the roof of the century-old Jianzhai shop on Yangmeizhu Xiejie outside Qianmen for a buffet. The 21st-generation descendant of Wang Huihui from Jiantang personally fried the youxiang for us. It was super delicious, with a chewy texture and not hard at all. We also ate old Beijing Hui-style stewed beef and sugar-rolled fruit. The beef is brought in from Niujie every morning and stewed fresh, never overnight. Sugar-rolled fruit is made by steaming yams with dates and raisins, then stir-frying them in sugar, which is very time-consuming.

In addition to old Beijing specialties, there were chicken curry, tomato pasta, fried cod fillets, fruit salad, and small cream cakes. It was very satisfying!



















May 16, Wangasi in Sanlitun.

At Wangasi Potato Slices in Sanlitun, we had noodle soup and sweet fermented milk yogurt. Later, we went back to buy milk and egg fermented rice. Their shop is a Lanzhou snack bar that has been open in Beijing for several years.











May 19, Muyixuan in Ping'anli.

Lamb tail, lamb chops, and lamb spine hot pot at Muyixuan in Ping'anli. The last time I ate it was before Ramadan; I love it so much.









May 23, Buffet at Xinjiang Mansion.

We had a buffet at Xinjiang Mansion at noon. The value for money is not particularly high, but they have pilaf, mixed noodles, barbecue, and lamb bones.



















May 31, Family dinner.

We bought spiced beef, beef tendon, liangpi, and sesame flatbread at the Ziguangyuan snack shop in Panjiayuan. If you spend over one hundred, you get a duck frame for free. Back home, I split the duck frame in two: half for cabbage and tofu soup, and half stir-fried with cumin. We ate the spiced beef and beef tendon with garlic sauce in sesame flatbread, and also made coconut curry fish, stir-fried bitter melon, broccoli with carrots, and garlic sprouts with meat. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: Beijing Halal Diary in the Spring of 2021 (Part 1A) is retranslated with Gemini, keeping the original paragraph order and all matching image links.

Some delicious food I ate in Beijing in March, April, and May 2021. During Ramadan, not only can you eat snacks at various mosques, but you can also experience Iftar buffets and Ramadan set menus at various foreign restaurants.

March 4, Nanmen Xiaoguan

In the evening, I ate at Nanmen Xiaoguan, a subsidiary of Nanmen Shuanrou, inside the Guomao Shopping Center. I had fermented bean curd edamame, braised chicken feet, eggplant in burnt sauce, winter melon and meatball soup, and 'Ta Si Mi' (sweetened beef). The braised chicken feet were very soft and tender, and the winter melon and meatball soup tasted like home-cooked food; it felt very comforting. The 'Ta Si Mi' was very much to my taste. Even though I wasn't very hungry, I ate two bowls of rice to satisfy myself (people from other places might find it sweet, but Beijingers really love this flavor).

It is rare to find such an affordable and delicious Beijing Halal restaurant inside the Guomao Shopping Center; I really wouldn't have discovered it if a friend hadn't recommended it. Next time I want to try rice-friendly dishes like braised oxtail and scallion-fried lamb. I'll choose this place whenever I'm in the Guomao area in the future.













March 5, Jingzhe Oil Tea Egg

Today is Jingzhe (Awakening of Insects), and Zainab made the Jingzhe oil tea egg, a specialty of the Xinjiang Hui people. Zainab used to drink it every year when she was in Urumqi, but I had never heard of it in Beijing.

The way to make Jingzhe oil tea egg is to stir-fry eggs in lamb fat, add raisins, walnut kernels, and rock sugar, and then pour strong tea over it; in Xinjiang, they generally use Fuzhuan tea.











The Lagman I made





March 6, Sauce Meat Roll with Pancake

At noon, I bought spiced beef and beef tendon at Jubao Yuan in Dongsi, and dipped them in garlic sauce to roll in pancakes.





March 6, Guhuai Street Mawu Beiyuan Branch

In the evening, I went to Mawu on Guhuai Street at Nuanshan Life in Beiyuan and ordered a mix of hot and sour soup and tofu pudding, along with pan-fried buns. There are many fun things in the Nuannuan Collection in the basement of Nuanshan Life. I bought several beautiful dresses for Zainab at a vintage clothing store.











March 7, Syrian restaurant BRBR in Wudaokou

I ate at the Syrian restaurant BRBR in Wudaokou at noon. I had heard of them for a long time, but since I live in the city and it's too far away, I had never eaten there. This was my first time. I have to say, this place is so popular! We went after two o'clock and still had to wait a long time for a table; it was full of young people.

Syrian food is also a standard Levantine cuisine. The most classic dishes are Hummus and Falafel, but we didn't order them this time. We ordered lentil soup, a mixed grill platter (Shuqaf lamb skewers, traditional Kabab, chicken skewers, and chicken wings), half a roasted chicken, hummus with tahini, and lemon mint.

A special feature this time was eating the traditional Arabic Mandi lamb rice. Mandi originated in Yemen and is popular in the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, and the Levant. Mandi is usually made with rice, meat (lamb, camel, or chicken), and Hawaij spices. Hawaij is also a special spice originating from Yemen, which can be used for cooking rice, soup, and coffee. Its main ingredients are cumin, black pepper, turmeric, and cardamom. The texture of Mandi is drier than regular curry rice.



















March 11, Liu Ji Mending Baodu

Zainab has been working overtime at night these past two days, so I've been eating Zha Jiang Mian (noodles with soybean paste) at Liu Ji Mending Baodu in Hongmiao for two days in a row. I love it so much; Zha Jiang Mian is my nostalgia! I also ordered lamb skewers and a small bowl of beef. Their small bowl of beef is a bit dry and not recommended. If you want to eat it, you should go to Baodu Xiaobaimao. I've been eating their big lamb skewers for years, and they are undeniably delicious. Then I listened to Old Man Liu chatting with people. The old man is over eighty, still loves to go to Sanya, and often plays table tennis. He's quite something.















March 12, Changying Qin'gu

A rainy day in Beijing is perfect for having beef soybean paste soup at Qin'gu in Changying! Then I bought two Tangjuanguo and a box of Aiwowo at Kaiyizhai by the mosque gate.













March 19, Douban Hutong Xinyuezhai

I ate stir-fried lamb liver and a small bowl of beef at Xinyuezhai in Douban Hutong at noon.











March 20, Dapanji made by Zainab

In the evening, Zainab made Dapanji (big plate chicken). I love it so much; it's really authentic.





March 21, Dachangying Restaurant

At noon, I went to Dachangying Restaurant to eat the 148-yuan four-person set meal I bought on Lianlian. Their location is really not very good. A Halal Japanese restaurant opened there before but closed after only a few visits. Later, after they released the Lianlian four-person meal, it suddenly became popular, and everyone was eating the set meal. The four-person set includes Yellow River carp, half a roast duck, deep-fried crispy meat, West Lake beef soup, Qianlong cabbage, corn with pine nuts, flavored eggplant, and pear soup. Overall, their food is a bit sweet. The carp tastes very good, and the others are relatively average, but the set meal is really worth it. I guess there will be fewer people once the set meal period is over. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This travel note introduces Taste Foreign Food in Yiwu. Because I couldn't travel abroad in 2020, I made a special trip to Yiwu and ate food from all over the world. It is useful for readers interested in Yiwu Food, Halal Travel, Muslim Travel.

Because I couldn't travel abroad in 2020, I made a special trip to Yiwu and ate food from all over the world. Due to travel restrictions, the shift of trade from offline to online, and other reasons, many foreign restaurants in Yiwu have already closed. Other restaurants that are still open are also struggling; there are few tables of guests even during peak hours, and business hours have been shortened. In 2021, due to the outbreak in India, many Indian restaurants closed down. Foreign restaurants in Yiwu may continue to decline. I hope this diary can leave some memories for this city of world cuisine.

This time we ate at two Syrian restaurants, two Afghan restaurants, one Egyptian juice shop, one Malaysian Nyonya bird's nest shop, one Turkish restaurant, and one Indian restaurant. There are still many Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian restaurants we didn't visit, and I hope they can continue to stay open.

1. Syrian restaurant Madena

I flew to Yiwu after work on Friday, and it was already past twelve o'clock when I settled in and went out. Before 2020, many restaurants in Yiwu stayed open until one in the morning. After 2020, due to poor business, most restaurants closed early. We searched for a long time and finally found a street full of Middle Eastern restaurants in the Binwang Market area that was still open, but most were hookah lounges that only served light meals. We asked several places in a row and finally found a Syrian restaurant, Madena, and had a late-night snack at one in the morning.



A Pakistani restaurant; they were preparing to close when we arrived, so we didn't get to eat there this time.



Middle Eastern street full of hookah lounges







We ate chicken soup, shrimp soup, falafel, Pide cheese pie, and Syrian labneh. Their falafel was made a bit differently, but it was also very delicious.













2. Syrian dessert shop Bayt Jiddi

On Saturday morning, we ate their signature Bayt Jiddi rolls with Arabic coffee at the famous Syrian dessert shop Bayt Jiddi, and Zainab had a healthy salad. I learned about them last year after watching the video 'Syrian Pastry Chef Drifting in Yiwu' filmed by Arrow Factory. I bought their desserts online at that time, and this time I finally visited the physical store. From the owner to the pastry chefs, everyone in the shop has been unable to return home since the war began. They now consider Yiwu their home.





On the right is the owner, Omar. He came to Yiwu from Syria ten years ago. He started by running an Arabic restaurant, but later went bankrupt due to a partner's breach of trust. Six months later, he rented a small storefront again and opened the current Bayt Jiddi cafe. On the left is Omran. Before the war, he had always run a cafe and bar in Damascus and also knew how to make traditional Syrian meat pies. Because he intentionally ate until he weighed 250 jin, he avoided the military conscription physical examination.





The signature roll is a tender egg crepe wrapped with banana, kiwi, and chocolate. After rolling, it is drizzled with the kind of chocolate sauce found in molten cakes. One bite is full of sweetness! The Arabic coffee is very strong and has a distinct spicy flavor.





3. Afghan buffet restaurant Kabul

On Saturday noon, we had a buffet at the Afghan restaurant Kabul. It was my first time eating at an Afghan restaurant, and it was truly delicious! There was a wide variety and the prices were cheap. The lamb trotters melted in the mouth, and the lamb in the pilaf was so fragrant. It is a great pity that shortly after we left Yiwu, this restaurant closed down and became a permanent memory.

















The person looking after the shop was a Kazakh sister from Nanshan, Urumqi, who married an Egyptian husband. Zainab was very happy to meet a fellow countrywoman in a foreign land.



Zainab and I each finished a large plate, and then we had some side dishes. The ayran and hummus were both super delicious, and their shop also had naan bread freshly made by the master, which was fantastic! I just couldn't eat any more.



















4. Egyptian drink shop Leifeng Juice

While shopping in the afternoon, I drank a mango and date milkshake made by an Egyptian guy. The guy's service attitude was particularly good and enthusiastic. He has been in China for five years, and because he loves doing good deeds, he gave himself the Chinese name Leifeng.









5. Malaysian Nyonya bird's nest

In the evening, we ate at a Malaysian Nyonya bird's nest shop. The landlady is Nyonya, and the store manager also gave us local tomatoes and oranges that were picked that morning. We chose the peach gum fresh milk bird's nest, which can be paired with sugar water when eating. According to a friend, this shop closed in 2021.













6. Afghan restaurant Ariana

In the evening, we ate grilled lamb tenderloin and chicken with chickpeas at the Afghan restaurant Ariana. The chickpeas with flatbread were so delicious, and we also drank cucumber yogurt.

















The Shahada made of wood pieces



Yiwu TV station was interviewing their boss about how to make milk tea, haha.



The TV was playing a tour of the Kaaba.







Yiwu also has specialized Turkish barbershops, the kind of men's barbershop that includes shaving.



7. Yunnan stinky tofu

At night, I ate stinky tofu grilled by Yunnan Hui people, which can be topped with various chili peppers and fish mint. Yiwu has a large number of halal restaurants from all over the country. The most concentrated area is the Halal Street in Nianxi New Village, while the Choujiang residential area near Chouzhou Road where I stayed is mainly Yunnan halal snacks, especially with many people from Zhaotong. In addition to the most classic Zhaotong small skewers, there is actually a Zhaotong breakfast shop with oil cakes, erkuai, thin bean powder, etc. Most of the people who come to eat grilled tofu at night are Yunnanese in Yiwu, and Yunnan dialect is spoken all around.









8. Turkish dessert shop Mado

On Sunday morning, we had a special breakfast at the Turkish restaurant Mado. Mado is a very famous Turkish ice cream chain brand, originating from the city of Kahramanmarash (Marash for short) in southeastern Turkey.

Their shop was introduced to Guangzhou and Yiwu in 2017 by Sultan, the largest Turkish restaurant in Yiwu. It should currently be the most authentic Turkish dessert shop in China. Mado's biggest feature is that it uses goat milk from their hometown of Kahramanmarash for everything, so besides ice cream, various cheeses are also their main products.

We ordered the breakfast for two, which included Turkish-style fried eggs with sausage, as well as a platter of Marash cheese, Feta cheese, and yellow cheese, layered cheese pie with green and black olives, honey with Turkish cream, tomato chili sauce, tahini syrup, cherry jam, and apricot jam—these jams are for spreading on bread—and finally Turkish black tea. Zainab felt very happy eating so many kinds of dairy products at once.

























9. Indian restaurant Bombay Dhabba

On Sunday noon, we went to the Indian Bombay restaurant, Bombay Dhabba. In 2020, there were still many Indian restaurants here. It is a great pity that in 2021, due to the outbreak in India, there are very few Indian restaurants here now.

We ate their signature Chicken Tikka Biryani, Kadai lamb, vegetable curry with tofu, and green chicken curry, and also drank very delicious thick yogurt. I don't know if they made adjustments to suit the tastes of Zhejiang people, but I felt the curry wasn't extremely spicy, haha, so we were very happy eating it.

I feel that their food is really much better than some South Asian restaurants in Beijing. The only regret is that because we ordered Biryani rice, we didn't order naan. Curry with Indian naan is absolutely perfect, but their Biryani rice is also really delicious.

The 'Kadai' we ordered originally means 'iron pot' and is more popular in North India; traditionally, it is made using an iron pot. The variety of sauces in South Asia is really too rich; it is really difficult to summarize them as 'curry'.





















Hanging on the wall is the famous Sufi Dargah in Rajasthan, India, Ajmer Sharif Dargah.



10. Imported supermarkets

There are many halal imported supermarkets on Chouzhou North Road, the largest of which is this Shangpin Supermarket, where you can buy seasonings for making various Middle Eastern delicacies, such as seasonings for Shawarma, seasonings for Falafel, and canned Hummus. Another Dubai supermarket has Arabic coffee, and another supermarket has Afghan green tea. view all