Reposted from the web

Summary: This travel note introduces Eating South Asian and Middle Eastern Food in Beijing (Part 1). I have been to many Middle Eastern and South Asian restaurants in Beijing in the past few years, some of which have closed. It is useful for readers interested in Beijing Halal Food, Muslim Travel, Middle Eastern Food. Section 4B of 4.

On July 4, 2020, we ate at Rumi’s Secret, a Turkish restaurant on Ritan Street, at noon. Although their restaurant just opened in June, most of my dusty friends have tried it several times! The environment of their home is very good, suitable for chatting, and there are performances in the evening.

At their house, we had hummus hummus, carrot puree, cream of mushroom soup, lentil soup, black tea, yogurt aylan, rice pudding, grilled lamb roast beef, and minced meat pie Lahmacun.

















4. The beautiful western courtyard of the Turkish restaurant

On May 6, 2021, Iftar ate the Ramadan set meal at Xiting Xiuse in Xinyuanli. There are two types of chicken and mutton, which are different every day. The lamb we caught yesterday was Karabakh Pilaf, and the chicken was grilled chicken wings.

Karabakh is an area on the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Its name comes from the Turkic word "Kara (black)" and the Persian word "Bagh (garden)". Most of the people living here are Azerbaijanis. The Karabakh pilaf we ate was stewed lamb with apricots, and the rice was yellow because it was dyed with saffron juice. I had eaten this kind of apricot + saffron pilaf while listening to Azerbaijani Muqam when I was playing in Baku. It was very friendly this time.

In addition to the main course, the soup in the set menu is the classic red lentil soup. The side dishes are hummus with hummus, yogurt tomato sauce and carrot cheese sauce, as well as nut and pepper salad. The main dish is spinach Pide pancake, which is delicious with spinach and cheese. The drinks are Ayran and black tea. Their Ayran is not particularly sour. Finally there was rice pudding and Semolina for dessert. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This travel note introduces Eating South Asian and Middle Eastern Food in Beijing (Part 1). I have been to many Middle Eastern and South Asian restaurants in Beijing in the past few years, some of which have closed. It is useful for readers interested in Beijing Halal Food, Muslim Travel, Middle Eastern Food. Section 1A of 4.

I have been to many Middle Eastern and South Asian restaurants in Beijing in the past few years, some of which have closed. I have been thinking about sorting it out in the past few days. Next, I will try all the restaurants I have not been to. Now I will share with you the restaurants I have been to.

First, let’s list the South Asian and Middle Eastern restaurants in Beijing that I know: Al Ameen (Lebanon), Al Safir (Jordan), BRBR (Syria), One Thousand and One Nights (Arabia), Taiba Guijie Store (Arabia), Turkish Mama (Turkey), Rumi's Secret (Turkey), Xiting Xiuse (Turkey), Dardaniel (Azerbaijan/Turkey) (It), Desert Rose (Azerbaijan/Turkey), Doner&Kebab (Azerbaijan/Turkey), Kavkaz (Azerbaijan), Iranian Food (the Iranian boss has returned to China and is currently run by Chinese), Khan Baba (Pakistan), Zam Zam (Pakistan), Lahore Restaurant (Pakistan), Benjabi (India), Indian Chef (India), Land of Masala (India), Sadhuli (India).

Newly opened in 2021: Zayton (Palestine), Istanbul (Türkiye), Qubbe (Türkiye), Taiba Sanlitun Store (Arabia).

One that was written in 2020 but closed in 2021: Meza (Tunisia).

I have eaten at restaurants that are closed: Camel Restaurant (Morocco), Nayir (Azerbaijan), Shashi Castle (Uzbekistan), Enchant (Turkey), and Bata Pancake (Israel).

1. Arabia

1. Jordanian restaurant Al Safir

On April 18, 2021, Ramadan Iftar had a buffet at the Jordanian restaurant Al Safir in Sanyuanqiao. It was a good opportunity to experience Levantine salads and various sauces! Now you can try all the things you wouldn’t normally order. The most classic ones are of course Hummus and Falafel. The most authentic way to eat them is to eat them with pita bread, sandwiching various sauces and falafel. The main courses include fish, lamb chops, chicken stewed rice, fried chicken, adzuki bean soup and various juices, including grape juice. Their lamb chops are so delicious, it feels like they were grilled first? The taste is particularly good. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This travel note introduces Eating South Asian and Middle Eastern Food in Beijing (Part 1). Over the past few years, I have visited many Middle Eastern and South Asian restaurants in Beijing, some of which have already closed down. It is useful for readers interested in Beijing Halal Food, Muslim Travel, Middle Eastern Food.

4. Turkish restaurant Xitingxiuse

On May 6, 2021, I had the Ramadan set meal for Iftar at Xiting Xiuse in Xinyuanli. There were chicken and lamb options, and the menu changed every day. The lamb dish we had yesterday was Karabakh Pilaf, and the chicken dish was grilled chicken wings.

Karabakh is a region on the border of Azerbaijan and Armenia; its name comes from the Turkic word 'Kara' (black) and the Persian word 'Bagh' (garden), and it is currently inhabited mostly by Azerbaijanis. The Karabakh pilaf we ate was lamb stew with apricots, and the rice was yellow because it was stained with saffron juice. I had eaten this apricot and saffron pilaf before while listening to Azerbaijani mugham when I was traveling in Baku, so eating it this time felt very familiar.

Besides the main course, the set meal includes classic red lentil soup, side dishes of hummus, yogurt eggplant dip, and carrot cheese dip, as well as a walnut bell pepper salad, and the main staple is spinach Pide, which is quite delicious with the spinach and cheese. The drinks are Ayran and black tea; their Ayran is not particularly sour. Finally, there are desserts of rice pudding and semolina.

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



















On June 24, 2020, I ate lentil soup, cucumber yogurt, stuffed grape leaves (dolma), meat patties (kofte), beef and cheese pide, ayran yogurt, and pomegranate chicken at the Turkish restaurant Xiting Xiuse in Xinyuanli. The restaurant has been open for a year, and the manager is a Turkmen from Turkmenistan who stayed in Beijing after graduating from the Communication University of China. The head chef is an Azerbaijani from Istanbul who never misses his five daily prayers, and there is also a Kazakh staff member from Kazakhstan working at the shop. I really feel their food is quite delicious; the pide bread is especially fragrant when fresh out of the oven, and the meat quality is also very good. The last photo is a nice picture of the head chef that the manager sent to us. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This travel note introduces Eating South Asian and Middle Eastern Food in Beijing (Part 1). Over the past few years, I have visited many Middle Eastern and South Asian restaurants in Beijing, some of which have already closed down. It is useful for readers interested in Beijing Halal Food, Muslim Travel, Middle Eastern Food.

3. The secret of Rumi's Turkish restaurant

On February 18, 2021, I had an Ottoman breakfast at Rumi's Secret on Ritan Shangjie, pretending to be in Turkey.









On September 25, 2020, our family held a welcome dinner for Zainab's mother at Rumi's Secret, a Turkish restaurant on Ritan Upper Street. Since opening this summer, Rumi's Secret has become a popular spot for friends in Beijing, especially among our Uyghur friends. Because they do not sell alcohol, I find it to have the most comfortable atmosphere among the many halal restaurants on Ritan Upper Street, making it very suitable for family gatherings.

For appetizers, we ordered carrot puree and yogurt eggplant puree; for soup, we ordered lentil soup and cream of mushroom soup; then we also ordered grilled chicken, kebabs, and Pide. The owner also gave us complimentary black tea and dessert after the meal. Zainab's mother tried Middle Eastern lentil soup for the first time and thought it tasted very good. Their grilled chicken and kebabs were also quite delicious, but the one I recommend most is the mixed Pide, which had cheese, meat, and vegetables. I think it was even more fragrant than the Pide I had at several shops in Turkey. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This travel note introduces Eating South Asian and Middle Eastern Food in Beijing (Part 1). Over the past few years, I have visited many Middle Eastern and South Asian restaurants in Beijing, some of which have already closed down. It is useful for readers interested in Beijing Halal Food, Muslim Travel, Middle Eastern Food.

On July 17, 2019, I enjoyed having lentil soup, lamb hummus, falafel, labneh, cucumber yogurt, and a mixed grill platter at Al Safir.

Hummus and falafel are both specialty foods from the Levant region on the eastern Mediterranean coast, and all kinds of ways to prepare hummus are super delicious. I have also loved lentil soup ever since I started eating at the Palestinian restaurant at my university, although it is a bit hot to eat in the summer.

I love their roasted lamb so much! It is very tender, and it is so satisfying to dip it in the onion and tomato sauce and wrap it in pita bread. Their roasted meat is so delicious that there was an incident where I ate several pieces as soon as it was served before I remembered to take a photo lol.











On January 10, 2019, I had lentil soup, lamb hummus, grilled fish, and mint tea for lunch at the Jordanian restaurant Al Safir in Sanyuanqiao. I especially love their onion sauce! I have to order an extra serving every time. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This travel note introduces Eating South Asian and Middle Eastern Food in Beijing (Part 1). Over the past few years, I have visited many Middle Eastern and South Asian restaurants in Beijing, some of which have already closed down. It is useful for readers interested in Beijing Halal Food, Muslim Travel, Middle Eastern Food.













On May 20, 2020, it was Zainab's birthday, and we went to Al Safir for Iftar. Ever since Zainab ate with their family last year, she has fallen in love with Arabic food, especially Levantine cuisine. We were originally going to take our honeymoon in the Middle East this year, but now we have to satisfy our cravings by eating at an Arabic restaurant instead.

They offer both à la carte and Iftar buffet, and they also have dates for Iftar. We had a buffet with a wide variety of salads, and we could drink cup after cup of Arabic lentil soup. We ordered the garlic hummus, falafel, and a mixed grill platter; their grilled meat is incredibly delicious!

A more unique dish is yogurt-sauce Kibbeh, which is a small patty made from ground wheat, onions, beef, lamb, and various Middle Eastern spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, etc.), with a fried beef exterior and a lamb filling. The word Kibbeh comes from North Levantine Arabic and means ball; this dish originated in the Levant region and is popular throughout the Middle East. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This travel note introduces Eating South Asian and Middle Eastern Food in Beijing (Part 1). I have been to many Middle Eastern and South Asian restaurants in Beijing in the past few years, some of which have closed. It is useful for readers interested in Beijing Halal Food, Muslim Travel, Middle Eastern Food. Section 4 of 4.

On February 18, 2021, have an Ottoman breakfast at Rumi’s Secret in the Temple of the Sun and pretend to be in Türkiye.









On September 25, 2020, in the evening, our family welcomed Zainab’s mother and had a secret dinner at Rumi’s, a Turkish restaurant on Ritan Street. Since its opening this summer, Rumi’s Secret has become a popular place to visit in Jindosti, especially among Uyghur friends. Because they don't sell alcohol, I think their environment is the most comfortable among the many halal restaurants on Ritan Street, and it's very suitable for family gatherings.

This time we ordered carrot puree and yogurt and eggplant puree as appetizers, lentil soup and cream of mushroom soup as soup, and then ordered grilled chicken, skewers and Pide. The boss also gave us black tea and dessert after the meal. Zainab's mother drank Middle Eastern lentil soup for the first time and found it delicious. Their grilled chicken and grilled skewers are also quite delicious, but the most recommended thing is the three-piece Pide pancake, which is a combination of cheese, meat and vegetables. I think it is even more delicious than the Pide in several restaurants I have eaten in Turkey.



















On July 4, 2020, we ate at Rumi’s Secret, a Turkish restaurant on Ritan Street, at noon. Although their restaurant just opened in June, most of my dusty friends have tried it several times! The environment of their home is very good, suitable for chatting, and there are performances in the evening.

At their house, we had hummus hummus, carrot puree, cream of mushroom soup, lentil soup, black tea, yogurt aylan, rice pudding, grilled lamb roast beef, and minced meat pie Lahmacun.

















4. The beautiful western courtyard of the Turkish restaurant

On May 6, 2021, Iftar ate the Ramadan set meal at Xiting Xiuse in Xinyuanli. There are two types of chicken and mutton, which are different every day. The lamb we caught yesterday was Karabakh Pilaf, and the chicken was grilled chicken wings.

Karabakh is an area on the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Its name comes from the Turkic word "Kara (black)" and the Persian word "Bagh (garden)". Most of the people living here are Azerbaijanis. The Karabakh pilaf we ate was stewed lamb with apricots, and the rice was yellow because it was dyed with saffron juice. I had eaten this kind of apricot + saffron pilaf while listening to Azerbaijani Muqam when I was playing in Baku. It was very friendly this time.

In addition to the main course, the soup in the set menu is the classic red lentil soup. The side dishes are hummus with hummus, yogurt tomato sauce and carrot cheese sauce, as well as nut and pepper salad. The main dish is spinach Pide pancake, which is delicious with spinach and cheese. The drinks are Ayran and black tea. Their Ayran is not particularly sour. Finally there was rice pudding and Semolina for dessert.

In general, this package is quite cost-effective in the embassy area!



















On June 24, 2020, I ate Lentil soup, cucumber yogurt, grape coconut meat roll Dolma, meat pie Kofte, beef cheese Pide pie, Ayran yogurt and pomegranate juice chicken at the Turkish restaurant Xiting Xiuse in Xinyuanli. Their store has been open for a year, and the store manager is a Turkmen from Turkmenistan. He stayed in Beijing after studying abroad at Communication University. The head chef is an Azerbaijani from Istanbul and works at five o'clock every day. The waiters in the store are also Kazakhs from Kazakhstan. I think theirs is really delicious. The Pide pancakes are very fragrant fresh out of the oven and the meat quality is also very good. The last photo is a beautiful photo of the chef sent to us by the store manager. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This travel note introduces Eating South Asian and Middle Eastern Food in Beijing (Part 1). I have been to many Middle Eastern and South Asian restaurants in Beijing in the past few years, some of which have closed. It is useful for readers interested in Beijing Halal Food, Muslim Travel, Middle Eastern Food. Section 1 of 4.

I have been to many Middle Eastern and South Asian restaurants in Beijing in the past few years, some of which have closed. I have been thinking about sorting it out in the past few days. Next, I will try all the restaurants I have not been to. Now I will share with you the restaurants I have been to.

First, let’s list the South Asian and Middle Eastern restaurants in Beijing that I know: Al Ameen (Lebanon), Al Safir (Jordan), BRBR (Syria), One Thousand and One Nights (Arabia), Taiba Guijie Store (Arabia), Turkish Mama (Turkey), Rumi's Secret (Turkey), Xiting Xiuse (Turkey), Dardaniel (Azerbaijan/Turkey) (It), Desert Rose (Azerbaijan/Turkey), Doner&Kebab (Azerbaijan/Turkey), Kavkaz (Azerbaijan), Iranian Food (the Iranian boss has returned to China and is currently run by Chinese), Khan Baba (Pakistan), Zam Zam (Pakistan), Lahore Restaurant (Pakistan), Benjabi (India), Indian Chef (India), Land of Masala (India), Sadhuli (India).

Newly opened in 2021: Zayton (Palestine), Istanbul (Türkiye), Qubbe (Türkiye), Taiba Sanlitun Store (Arabia).

One that was written in 2020 but closed in 2021: Meza (Tunisia).

I have eaten at restaurants that are closed: Camel Restaurant (Morocco), Nayir (Azerbaijan), Shashi Castle (Uzbekistan), Enchant (Turkey), and Bata Pancake (Israel).

1. Arabia

1. Jordanian restaurant Al Safir

On April 18, 2021, Ramadan Iftar had a buffet at the Jordanian restaurant Al Safir in Sanyuanqiao. It was a good opportunity to experience Levantine salads and various sauces! Now you can try all the things you wouldn’t normally order. The most classic ones are of course Hummus and Falafel. The most authentic way to eat them is to eat them with pita bread, sandwiching various sauces and falafel. The main courses include fish, lamb chops, chicken stewed rice, fried chicken, adzuki bean soup and various juices, including grape juice. Their lamb chops are so delicious, it feels like they were grilled first? The taste is particularly good.













It was Zainab’s birthday on May 20, 2020. Iftar and I went to Al Safir. Ever since Zainab ate with their family last year, we have fallen in love with Arabic food, especially Levantine food. We were originally going to divorce and go to the Middle East together this year, but now we have to eat at Arabic restaurants to satisfy our cravings.

They can order a la carte and eat Iftar's buffet, as well as Iftar's dates. We had a buffet with a variety of salads and cups of Arabic bean soup. I ordered Beirut Hummus with garlic flavor, Falafel with fried chickpeas, and a barbecue platter. Their barbecue is delicious!

The more distinctive one is the yogurt sauce Kibbeh, which is a small scone made by grinding wheat, onions, beef, lamb and various Middle Eastern spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, etc.). It has fried beef on the outside and lamb filling on the inside. The word kibbeh comes from the North Levantine Arabic word meaning ball, and the dish originated in the Levant region and is popular throughout the Middle East.

















On July 17, 2019, I had adzuki bean soup, mutton Hummus, Falafel, thick yogurt, cucumber yogurt and grilled meat platter at Al Safir. I really enjoyed it.

Hummus and Falafel are both specialty delicacies of the Levant region on the east coast of the Mediterranean. Hummus is super delicious in various ways. I have also been a fan of adzuki bean soup since I ate it in the Palestinian restaurant on campus when I was in college, but it is a bit too hot to eat in the summer.

I love their roast lamb so much! It's very tender, and it's so satisfying to wrap it in Arabic pancakes dipped in tomato sauce. Their barbecue is so delicious that there was an incident where I ate several pieces of the barbecue before I even remembered to take a photo www











On January 10, 2019, we had adzuki bean soup, mutton hummus, grilled fish and mint tea at Al Safir, a Jordanian restaurant in Sanyuanqiao. I especially like their Pi Ya Zi sauce! Have to add another portion each time.







2. Lebanese restaurant Al Ameen

On September 24, 2020, when my mother-in-law came to Beijing for her first meal, we ate at Al Ameen, a Lebanese restaurant next to the German Embassy outside Dongzhimen. I have eaten there for many years. It was closed for renovation for a period of time, and it reopened last year. This year, I feel that their family is obviously not as big as before YQ, and the dishes have become less. I hope their family can survive this difficult time. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This travel note introduces Eating South Asian and Middle Eastern Food in Beijing (Part 1). I have been to many Middle Eastern and South Asian restaurants in Beijing in the past few years, some of which have closed. It is useful for readers interested in Beijing Halal Food, Muslim Travel, Middle Eastern Food. Section 2 of 2.

On January 17, 2021, Taiba, a new Arabic fast food restaurant, was recently opened on Guijie Street. I ate Arabic pizza Lahmacun, hummus, and chickpea croquettes Falafel, and drank Middle Eastern black tea with strong spices. Their little brother is from Sudan and speaks Chinese very well. In addition, they mainly serve takeout, and if you want to dine in, you can only eat at the noodle shop next to it.

Lahmacun comes from Arabic (لحم بعجين), which literally translates to "meat and dough". During the Ottoman era, Lahmacun spread from Arabia to pre-Ottoman regions such as Turkey and Armenia, so it was also called "Turkish pizza" or "Armenian pizza", but the basic method is to make thin pancakes with minced meat.















5. Syrian Restaurant BRBR

On March 7, 2021, we ate at BRBR, a Syrian restaurant in Wudaokou, at noon. I have heard about their restaurant for a long time, but I have never eaten there since I live too far away from the city. This is the first time I have eaten there. I feel deeply that their family is so popular! We went there after two o'clock and had to wait for a long time to be seated. All the young people came to eat.

Syrian cuisine is also a relatively standard Levantine cuisine. The most classic ones are hummus and falafel, but we didn’t order them this time. Ordered lentil soup, grilled meat platter (Shuqaf mutton skewers, traditional Kabab, chicken skewers and chicken wings), half grilled chicken, chickpea broad beans with tahini sauce, lemon mint.

What was special this time was the traditional Arab Mandi mutton rice. Mandi originated from Yemen and is popular in the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt and the Levant. Mandi is usually made of rice, meat (mutton, camel or chicken) and Hawaij spices. Hawaij is also a special spice originating from Yemen. It can be used for cooking, soup and coffee. The main ingredients are cumin, black pepper, turmeric and cardamom. The taste of Mandi is drier than ordinary curry rice.



















2. Türkiye and Azerbaijan

1. Turkish Mom

On January 10, 2020, after getting married, I went to Sanlitun's Turkish mother with Zainab. I ordered lentil and wheat soup, "Sultan's favorite", barbecue platter and rice pudding, and then drank tea and smoked shisha to talk about things. Turkish Mama is much better than the Iranian food next door. The grilled lamb and toasted bread are especially delicious. The wheat rice we originally ordered was returned because the bread was so delicious.

The Sultan's Favorite (Hünkar Heğendi) is a snack that originated in the Ottoman court. It uses rich stewed lamb with creamy roasted eggplant puree. It is quite rare in Beijing.













On October 19, 2019, Turkish mothers smoked hookah, drank tea, and ate baklava and rice pudding in the west of Changhong Bridge.





2. Turkish Restaurant Dardanelle

On August 11, 2019, after the Eid al-Adha celebrations, I went out to eat at the Turkish restaurant Dardanir in the Temple of Heaven. I ordered lentil soup, cream of chicken soup, assorted salads (hummus, yellow pepper puree, chili puree), mint yogurt, roasted lamb liver, tomato lamb kebabs, Lahmachun pizza, yogurt Ayran and rice pudding.



















On June 6, 2018, my friends and I went to Dardanelle on Shenlu Street to eat cream chicken soup, assorted barbecue, lamb cheese Pide, Mediterranean salad, rice pudding and Turkish black tea. I liked the lamb cheese Pide, it was really huge!

















3. The secret of Rumi in Turkish restaurant

On February 18, 2021, have an Ottoman breakfast at Rumi’s Secret in the Temple of the Sun and pretend to be in Türkiye.









On September 25, 2020, in the evening, our family welcomed Zainab’s mother and had a secret dinner at Rumi’s, a Turkish restaurant on Ritan Street. Since its opening this summer, Rumi’s Secret has become a popular place to visit in Jindosti, especially among Uyghur friends. Because they don't sell alcohol, I think their environment is the most comfortable among the many halal restaurants on Ritan Street, and it's very suitable for family gatherings.

This time we ordered carrot puree and yogurt and eggplant puree as appetizers, lentil soup and cream of mushroom soup as soup, and then ordered grilled chicken, skewers and Pide. The boss also gave us black tea and dessert after the meal. Zainab's mother drank Middle Eastern lentil soup for the first time and found it delicious. Their grilled chicken and grilled skewers are also quite delicious, but the most recommended thing is the three-piece Pide pancake, which is a combination of cheese, meat and vegetables. I think it is even more delicious than the Pide in several restaurants I have eaten in Turkey.



















On July 4, 2020, we ate at Rumi’s Secret, a Turkish restaurant on Ritan Street, at noon. Although their restaurant just opened in June, most of my dusty friends have tried it several times! The environment of their home is very good, suitable for chatting, and there are performances in the evening.

At their house, we had hummus hummus, carrot puree, cream of mushroom soup, lentil soup, black tea, yogurt aylan, rice pudding, grilled lamb roast beef, and minced meat pie Lahmacun.

















4. The beautiful western courtyard of the Turkish restaurant

On May 6, 2021, Iftar ate the Ramadan set meal at Xiting Xiuse in Xinyuanli. There are two types of chicken and mutton, which are different every day. The lamb we caught yesterday was Karabakh Pilaf, and the chicken was grilled chicken wings.

Karabakh is an area on the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Its name comes from the Turkic word "Kara (black)" and the Persian word "Bagh (garden)". Most of the people living here are Azerbaijanis. The Karabakh pilaf we ate was stewed lamb with apricots, and the rice was yellow because it was dyed with saffron juice. I had eaten this kind of apricot + saffron pilaf while listening to Azerbaijani Muqam when I was playing in Baku. It was very friendly this time.

In addition to the main course, the soup in the set menu is the classic red lentil soup. The side dishes are hummus with hummus, yogurt tomato sauce and carrot cheese sauce, as well as nut and pepper salad. The main dish is spinach Pide pancake, which is delicious with spinach and cheese. The drinks are Ayran and black tea. Their Ayran is not particularly sour. Finally there was rice pudding and Semolina for dessert.

In general, this package is quite cost-effective in the embassy area!



















On June 24, 2020, I ate Lentil soup, cucumber yogurt, grape coconut meat roll Dolma, meat pie Kofte, beef cheese Pide pie, Ayran yogurt and pomegranate juice chicken at the Turkish restaurant Xiting Xiuse in Xinyuanli. Their store has been open for a year, and the store manager is a Turkmen from Turkmenistan. He stayed in Beijing after studying abroad at Communication University. The head chef is an Azerbaijani from Istanbul and works at five o'clock every day. The waiters in the store are also Kazakhs from Kazakhstan. I think theirs is really delicious. The Pide pancakes are very fragrant fresh out of the oven and the meat quality is also very good. The last photo is a beautiful photo of the chef sent to us by the store manager. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This travel note introduces Eating South Asian and Middle Eastern Food in Beijing (Part 1). I have been to many Middle Eastern and South Asian restaurants in Beijing in the past few years, some of which have closed. It is useful for readers interested in Beijing Halal Food, Muslim Travel, Middle Eastern Food. Section 1 of 2.

I have been to many Middle Eastern and South Asian restaurants in Beijing in the past few years, some of which have closed. I have been thinking about sorting it out in the past few days. Next, I will try all the restaurants I have not been to. Now I will share with you the restaurants I have been to.

First, let’s list the South Asian and Middle Eastern restaurants in Beijing that I know: Al Ameen (Lebanon), Al Safir (Jordan), BRBR (Syria), One Thousand and One Nights (Arabia), Taiba Guijie Store (Arabia), Turkish Mama (Turkey), Rumi's Secret (Turkey), Xiting Xiuse (Turkey), Dardaniel (Azerbaijan/Turkey) (It), Desert Rose (Azerbaijan/Turkey), Doner&Kebab (Azerbaijan/Turkey), Kavkaz (Azerbaijan), Iranian Food (the Iranian boss has returned to China and is currently run by Chinese), Khan Baba (Pakistan), Zam Zam (Pakistan), Lahore Restaurant (Pakistan), Benjabi (India), Indian Chef (India), Land of Masala (India), Sadhuli (India).

Newly opened in 2021: Zayton (Palestine), Istanbul (Türkiye), Qubbe (Türkiye), Taiba Sanlitun Store (Arabia).

One that was written in 2020 but closed in 2021: Meza (Tunisia).

I have eaten at restaurants that are closed: Camel Restaurant (Morocco), Nayir (Azerbaijan), Shashi Castle (Uzbekistan), Enchant (Turkey), and Bata Pancake (Israel).

1. Arabia

1. Jordanian restaurant Al Safir

On April 18, 2021, Ramadan Iftar had a buffet at the Jordanian restaurant Al Safir in Sanyuanqiao. It was a good opportunity to experience Levantine salads and various sauces! Now you can try all the things you wouldn’t normally order. The most classic ones are of course Hummus and Falafel. The most authentic way to eat them is to eat them with pita bread, sandwiching various sauces and falafel. The main courses include fish, lamb chops, chicken stewed rice, fried chicken, adzuki bean soup and various juices, including grape juice. Their lamb chops are so delicious, it feels like they were grilled first? The taste is particularly good.













It was Zainab’s birthday on May 20, 2020. Iftar and I went to Al Safir. Ever since Zainab ate with their family last year, we have fallen in love with Arabic food, especially Levantine food. We were originally going to divorce and go to the Middle East together this year, but now we have to eat at Arabic restaurants to satisfy our cravings.

They can order a la carte and eat Iftar's buffet, as well as Iftar's dates. We had a buffet with a variety of salads and cups of Arabic bean soup. I ordered Beirut Hummus with garlic flavor, Falafel with fried chickpeas, and a barbecue platter. Their barbecue is delicious!

The more distinctive one is the yogurt sauce Kibbeh, which is a small scone made by grinding wheat, onions, beef, lamb and various Middle Eastern spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, etc.). It has fried beef on the outside and lamb filling on the inside. The word kibbeh comes from the North Levantine Arabic word meaning ball, and the dish originated in the Levant region and is popular throughout the Middle East.

















On July 17, 2019, I had adzuki bean soup, mutton Hummus, Falafel, thick yogurt, cucumber yogurt and grilled meat platter at Al Safir. I really enjoyed it.

Hummus and Falafel are both specialty delicacies of the Levant region on the east coast of the Mediterranean. Hummus is super delicious in various ways. I have also been a fan of adzuki bean soup since I ate it in the Palestinian restaurant on campus when I was in college, but it is a bit too hot to eat in the summer.

I love their roast lamb so much! It's very tender, and it's so satisfying to wrap it in Arabic pancakes dipped in tomato sauce. Their barbecue is so delicious that there was an incident where I ate several pieces of the barbecue before I even remembered to take a photo www











On January 10, 2019, we had adzuki bean soup, mutton hummus, grilled fish and mint tea at Al Safir, a Jordanian restaurant in Sanyuanqiao. I especially like their Pi Ya Zi sauce! Have to add another portion each time.







2. Lebanese restaurant Al Ameen

On September 24, 2020, when my mother-in-law came to Beijing for her first meal, we ate at Al Ameen, a Lebanese restaurant next to the German Embassy outside Dongzhimen. I have eaten there for many years. It was closed for renovation for a period of time, and it reopened last year. This year, I feel that their family is obviously not as big as before YQ, and the dishes have become less. I hope their family can survive this difficult time.

I ordered the more classic appetizer platter (Hummus hummus, carrot puree, yogurt, Mutebbel eggplant yogurt sauce)\cream of mushroom soup, lentil soup, vegetable soup, chicken soup, barbecue platter and grilled vegetable platter. What’s more special is the Mahashi, a rice dumpling with lamb bone and vegetables.

Mahashi is made of Lebanese zucchini (Kusa) and eggplant stuffed with meat and rice, and cooked with tomato sauce, cumin and broth. Mahashi is a classic Ottoman dish that can be found throughout the pre-Ottoman regions from the Balkans to the Levant (eastern coast of the Mediterranean) and Egypt, and is prepared differently in each region. Mahashi is a common dish served at banquets at weddings, family gatherings and Eid.













On September 26, 2019, I went to the Lebanese restaurant Alameen in Sanlitun. After the renovation, it became a lot bigger and some new dishes were added. I will try it when I have time in the future. This time I had a platter of chickpea hummus sauce, eggplant sauce, yogurt, adzuki bean soup, cream of mushroom soup, lamb naan, lamb chops, fried fish and lemongrass mint tea. One of the more distinctive ones is Kibbeh, a Levantine barbecue.













On May 26, 2019, I ate roasted lamb leg, lentil soup and hummus at the Lebanese restaurant Alameen outside Dongzhimen in the evening.



3. Meza, a Tunisian restaurant (closed)

On the evening of December 21, 2020, I went to the Tunisian restaurant Mesa, which was newly opened in November. After the Moroccan restaurant Camel Team Restaurant and Bar closed due to the epidemic (the owner ran away), there is a North African restaurant in Beijing. (Unfortunately it will be closed again in 2021).

I ordered Brik with Tuna, sizzling Shakshuka with eggs, grilled chicken skewers, Tunisian sausage (Merguez), Baba Ganoush, pickle platter, lentil soup, and also ordered Tajine Couscous with various grilled meats, which was not on the menu.

Brik pie is a North African Berber dish that was later brought to Israel by Tunisian Jews. The filling is usually filled with eggs, tuna, harissa, parsley, etc., and then wrapped in crispy noodles called Malsouka or Warka and fried.

Shakshuka is a stew of eggs, tomatoes and onions, usually with olive oil, chili, garlic, cumin, nutmeg and other spices. Shakshouka, which means "mixture" in Arabic, is widely distributed in the former Ottoman lands and Andalusia, and was brought to Israel by Tunisian Jews. The dish was originally just a stew of minced meat or liver. Tomatoes and peppers were later introduced from the Americas, and eggs are often added to the Tunisian version.

Merguez is a North African sausage made from lamb and beef, mixed with cumin, harissa, chili peppers and other spices, and is usually grilled. Merguez sausage was first seen in Andalusia in the 12th century, that is, southern Spain under Arab rule. At that time, it was pronounced as mirkās or merkās in Andalusian Arabic. Later it spread throughout North Africa and then to France and Germany.

Baba ghanoush is a Middle Eastern Levantine appetizer, which is made of cooked eggplant puree mixed with sesame sauce and olive oil, lemon juice and other seasonings. It is usually dipped in pita.

Tajine is a North African Berber specialty. Tajine in North African Arabic originates from ancient Greek, and its original meaning is pan. The tagine can be traced back to Harun al-Rashid, the fifth generation caliph of the Bassi Dynasty in the 8th-9th century, and appears in the 9th-century masterpiece "One Thousand and One Nights". Today's tagines are made of pottery, sometimes glazed, with a rounded flat bottom and a cone or dome on top. This design allows all evaporated water vapor to return to the bottom, and water can be added from the hole in the lid.

Couscous, a staple of Berber cuisine, is made from semolina rolled into millet-sized particles and then dried in the sun. Couscous was first seen in North Africa from the 11th to the 13th century. In the 13th century, Ibn Razin al-Tuyibi, a famous Andalusian scholar and gourmet, first recorded the recipe of couscous in his book "Andalusian Cookbook".



















4. Arabic fast food restaurant Taiba view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This travel note introduces Eating South Asian and Middle Eastern Food in Beijing (Part 1). I have been to many Middle Eastern and South Asian restaurants in Beijing in the past few years, some of which have closed. It is useful for readers interested in Beijing Halal Food, Muslim Travel, Middle Eastern Food.

I have been to many Middle Eastern and South Asian restaurants in Beijing in the past few years, some of which have closed. I have been thinking about sorting it out in the past few days. Next, I will try all the restaurants I have not been to. Now I will share with you the restaurants I have been to.

First, let’s list the South Asian and Middle Eastern restaurants in Beijing that I know: Al Ameen (Lebanon), Al Safir (Jordan), BRBR (Syria), One Thousand and One Nights (Arabia), Taiba Guijie Store (Arabia), Turkish Mama (Turkey), Rumi's Secret (Turkey), Xiting Xiuse (Turkey), Dardaniel (Azerbaijan/Turkey) (It), Desert Rose (Azerbaijan/Turkey), Doner&Kebab (Azerbaijan/Turkey), Kavkaz (Azerbaijan), Iranian Food (the Iranian boss has returned to China and is currently run by Chinese), Khan Baba (Pakistan), Zam Zam (Pakistan), Lahore Restaurant (Pakistan), Benjabi (India), Indian Chef (India), Land of Masala (India), Sadhuli (India).

Newly opened in 2021: Zayton (Palestine), Istanbul (Türkiye), Qubbe (Türkiye), Taiba Sanlitun Store (Arabia).

One that was written in 2020 but closed in 2021: Meza (Tunisia).

I have eaten at restaurants that are closed: Camel Restaurant (Morocco), Nayir (Azerbaijan), Shashi Castle (Uzbekistan), Enchant (Turkey), and Bata Pancake (Israel).

1. Arabia

1. Jordanian restaurant Al Safir

On April 18, 2021, Ramadan Iftar had a buffet at the Jordanian restaurant Al Safir in Sanyuanqiao. It was a good opportunity to experience Levantine salads and various sauces! Now you can try all the things you wouldn’t normally order. The most classic ones are of course Hummus and Falafel. The most authentic way to eat them is to eat them with pita bread, sandwiching various sauces and falafel. The main courses include fish, lamb chops, chicken stewed rice, fried chicken, adzuki bean soup and various juices, including grape juice. Their lamb chops are so delicious, it feels like they were grilled first? The taste is particularly good.













It was Zainab’s birthday on May 20, 2020. Iftar and I went to Al Safir. Ever since Zainab ate with their family last year, we have fallen in love with Arabic food, especially Levantine food. We were originally going to divorce and go to the Middle East together this year, but now we have to eat at Arabic restaurants to satisfy our cravings.

They can order a la carte and eat Iftar's buffet, as well as Iftar's dates. We had a buffet with a variety of salads and cups of Arabic bean soup. I ordered Beirut Hummus with garlic flavor, Falafel with fried chickpeas, and a barbecue platter. Their barbecue is delicious!

The more distinctive one is the yogurt sauce Kibbeh, which is a small scone made by grinding wheat, onions, beef, lamb and various Middle Eastern spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, etc.). It has fried beef on the outside and lamb filling on the inside. The word kibbeh comes from the North Levantine Arabic word meaning ball, and the dish originated in the Levant region and is popular throughout the Middle East.

















On July 17, 2019, I had adzuki bean soup, mutton Hummus, Falafel, thick yogurt, cucumber yogurt and grilled meat platter at Al Safir. I really enjoyed it.

Hummus and Falafel are both specialty delicacies of the Levant region on the east coast of the Mediterranean. Hummus is super delicious in various ways. I have also been a fan of adzuki bean soup since I ate it in the Palestinian restaurant on campus when I was in college, but it is a bit too hot to eat in the summer.

I love their roast lamb so much! It's very tender, and it's so satisfying to wrap it in Arabic pancakes dipped in tomato sauce. Their barbecue is so delicious that there was an incident where I ate several pieces of the barbecue before I even remembered to take a photo www











On January 10, 2019, we had adzuki bean soup, mutton hummus, grilled fish and mint tea at Al Safir, a Jordanian restaurant in Sanyuanqiao. I especially like their Pi Ya Zi sauce! Have to add another portion each time.







2. Lebanese restaurant Al Ameen

On September 24, 2020, when my mother-in-law came to Beijing for her first meal, we ate at Al Ameen, a Lebanese restaurant next to the German Embassy outside Dongzhimen. I have eaten there for many years. It was closed for renovation for a period of time, and it reopened last year. This year, I feel that their family is obviously not as big as before YQ, and the dishes have become less. I hope their family can survive this difficult time.

I ordered the more classic appetizer platter (Hummus hummus, carrot puree, yogurt, Mutebbel eggplant yogurt sauce)\cream of mushroom soup, lentil soup, vegetable soup, chicken soup, barbecue platter and grilled vegetable platter. What’s more special is the Mahashi, a rice dumpling with lamb bone and vegetables.

Mahashi is made of Lebanese zucchini (Kusa) and eggplant stuffed with meat and rice, and cooked with tomato sauce, cumin and broth. Mahashi is a classic Ottoman dish that can be found throughout the pre-Ottoman regions from the Balkans to the Levant (eastern coast of the Mediterranean) and Egypt, and is prepared differently in each region. Mahashi is a common dish served at banquets at weddings, family gatherings and Eid.













On September 26, 2019, I went to the Lebanese restaurant Alameen in Sanlitun. After the renovation, it became a lot bigger and some new dishes were added. I will try it when I have time in the future. This time I had a platter of chickpea hummus sauce, eggplant sauce, yogurt, adzuki bean soup, cream of mushroom soup, lamb naan, lamb chops, fried fish and lemongrass mint tea. One of the more distinctive ones is Kibbeh, a Levantine barbecue.













On May 26, 2019, I ate roasted lamb leg, lentil soup and hummus at the Lebanese restaurant Alameen outside Dongzhimen in the evening.



3. Meza, a Tunisian restaurant (closed)

On the evening of December 21, 2020, I went to the Tunisian restaurant Mesa, which was newly opened in November. After the Moroccan restaurant Camel Team Restaurant and Bar closed due to the epidemic (the owner ran away), there is a North African restaurant in Beijing. (Unfortunately it will be closed again in 2021).

I ordered Brik with Tuna, sizzling Shakshuka with eggs, grilled chicken skewers, Tunisian sausage (Merguez), Baba Ganoush, pickle platter, lentil soup, and also ordered Tajine Couscous with various grilled meats, which was not on the menu.

Brik pie is a North African Berber dish that was later brought to Israel by Tunisian Jews. The filling is usually filled with eggs, tuna, harissa, parsley, etc., and then wrapped in crispy noodles called Malsouka or Warka and fried.

Shakshuka is a stew of eggs, tomatoes and onions, usually with olive oil, chili, garlic, cumin, nutmeg and other spices. Shakshouka, which means "mixture" in Arabic, is widely distributed in the former Ottoman lands and Andalusia, and was brought to Israel by Tunisian Jews. The dish was originally just a stew of minced meat or liver. Tomatoes and peppers were later introduced from the Americas, and eggs are often added to the Tunisian version.

Merguez is a North African sausage made from lamb and beef, mixed with cumin, harissa, chili peppers and other spices, and is usually grilled. Merguez sausage was first seen in Andalusia in the 12th century, that is, southern Spain under Arab rule. At that time, it was pronounced as mirkās or merkās in Andalusian Arabic. Later it spread throughout North Africa and then to France and Germany.

Baba ghanoush is a Middle Eastern Levantine appetizer, which is made of cooked eggplant puree mixed with sesame sauce and olive oil, lemon juice and other seasonings. It is usually dipped in pita.

Tajine is a North African Berber specialty. Tajine in North African Arabic originates from ancient Greek, and its original meaning is pan. The tagine can be traced back to Harun al-Rashid, the fifth generation caliph of the Bassi Dynasty in the 8th-9th century, and appears in the 9th-century masterpiece "One Thousand and One Nights". Today's tagines are made of pottery, sometimes glazed, with a rounded flat bottom and a cone or dome on top. This design allows all evaporated water vapor to return to the bottom, and water can be added from the hole in the lid.

Couscous, a staple of Berber cuisine, is made from semolina rolled into millet-sized particles and then dried in the sun. Couscous was first seen in North Africa from the 11th to the 13th century. In the 13th century, Ibn Razin al-Tuyibi, a famous Andalusian scholar and gourmet, first recorded the recipe of couscous in his book "Andalusian Cookbook".



















4. Arabic fast food restaurant Taiba

On January 17, 2021, Taiba, a new Arabic fast food restaurant, was recently opened on Guijie Street. I ate Arabic pizza Lahmacun, hummus, and chickpea croquettes Falafel, and drank Middle Eastern black tea with strong spices. Their little brother is from Sudan and speaks Chinese very well. In addition, they mainly serve takeout, and if you want to dine in, you can only eat at the noodle shop next to it.

Lahmacun comes from Arabic (لحم بعجين), which literally translates to "meat and dough". During the Ottoman era, Lahmacun spread from Arabia to pre-Ottoman regions such as Turkey and Armenia, so it was also called "Turkish pizza" or "Armenian pizza", but the basic method is to make thin pancakes with minced meat.















5. Syrian Restaurant BRBR

On March 7, 2021, we ate at BRBR, a Syrian restaurant in Wudaokou, at noon. I have heard about their restaurant for a long time, but I have never eaten there since I live too far away from the city. This is the first time I have eaten there. I feel deeply that their family is so popular! We went there after two o'clock and had to wait for a long time to be seated. All the young people came to eat.

Syrian cuisine is also a relatively standard Levantine cuisine. The most classic ones are hummus and falafel, but we didn’t order them this time. Ordered lentil soup, grilled meat platter (Shuqaf mutton skewers, traditional Kabab, chicken skewers and chicken wings), half grilled chicken, chickpea broad beans with tahini sauce, lemon mint.

What was special this time was the traditional Arab Mandi mutton rice. Mandi originated from Yemen and is popular in the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt and the Levant. Mandi is usually made of rice, meat (mutton, camel or chicken) and Hawaij spices. Hawaij is also a special spice originating from Yemen. It can be used for cooking, soup and coffee. The main ingredients are cumin, black pepper, turmeric and cardamom. The taste of Mandi is drier than ordinary curry rice.



















2. Türkiye and Azerbaijan

1. Turkish Mom

On January 10, 2020, after getting married, I went to Sanlitun's Turkish mother with Zainab. I ordered lentil and wheat soup, "Sultan's favorite", barbecue platter and rice pudding, and then drank tea and smoked shisha to talk about things. Turkish Mama is much better than the Iranian food next door. The grilled lamb and toasted bread are especially delicious. The wheat rice we originally ordered was returned because the bread was so delicious.

The Sultan's Favorite (Hünkar Heğendi) is a snack that originated in the Ottoman court. It uses rich stewed lamb with creamy roasted eggplant puree. It is quite rare in Beijing.













On October 19, 2019, Turkish mothers smoked hookah, drank tea, and ate baklava and rice pudding in the west of Changhong Bridge.





2. Turkish Restaurant Dardanelle

On August 11, 2019, after the Eid al-Adha celebrations, I went out to eat at the Turkish restaurant Dardanir in the Temple of Heaven. I ordered lentil soup, cream of chicken soup, assorted salads (hummus, yellow pepper puree, chili puree), mint yogurt, roasted lamb liver, tomato lamb kebabs, Lahmachun pizza, yogurt Ayran and rice pudding.



















On June 6, 2018, my friends and I went to Dardanelle on Shenlu Street to eat cream chicken soup, assorted barbecue, lamb cheese Pide, Mediterranean salad, rice pudding and Turkish black tea. I liked the lamb cheese Pide, it was really huge!

















3. The secret of Rumi in Turkish restaurant

On February 18, 2021, have an Ottoman breakfast at Rumi’s Secret in the Temple of the Sun and pretend to be in Türkiye.









On September 25, 2020, in the evening, our family welcomed Zainab’s mother and had a secret dinner at Rumi’s, a Turkish restaurant on Ritan Street. Since its opening this summer, Rumi’s Secret has become a popular place to visit in Jindosti, especially among Uyghur friends. Because they don't sell alcohol, I think their environment is the most comfortable among the many halal restaurants on Ritan Street, and it's very suitable for family gatherings.

This time we ordered carrot puree and yogurt and eggplant puree as appetizers, lentil soup and cream of mushroom soup as soup, and then ordered grilled chicken, skewers and Pide. The boss also gave us black tea and dessert after the meal. Zainab's mother drank Middle Eastern lentil soup for the first time and found it delicious. Their grilled chicken and grilled skewers are also quite delicious, but the most recommended thing is the three-piece Pide pancake, which is a combination of cheese, meat and vegetables. I think it is even more delicious than the Pide in several restaurants I have eaten in Turkey.



















On July 4, 2020, we ate at Rumi’s Secret, a Turkish restaurant on Ritan Street, at noon. Although their restaurant just opened in June, most of my dusty friends have tried it several times! The environment of their home is very good, suitable for chatting, and there are performances in the evening.

At their house, we had hummus hummus, carrot puree, cream of mushroom soup, lentil soup, black tea, yogurt aylan, rice pudding, grilled lamb roast beef, and minced meat pie Lahmacun.

















4. The beautiful western courtyard of the Turkish restaurant

On May 6, 2021, Iftar ate the Ramadan set meal at Xiting Xiuse in Xinyuanli. There are two types of chicken and mutton, which are different every day. The lamb we caught yesterday was Karabakh Pilaf, and the chicken was grilled chicken wings.

Karabakh is an area on the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Its name comes from the Turkic word "Kara (black)" and the Persian word "Bagh (garden)". Most of the people living here are Azerbaijanis. The Karabakh pilaf we ate was stewed lamb with apricots, and the rice was yellow because it was dyed with saffron juice. I had eaten this kind of apricot + saffron pilaf while listening to Azerbaijani Muqam when I was playing in Baku. It was very friendly this time.

In addition to the main course, the soup in the set menu is the classic red lentil soup. The side dishes are hummus with hummus, yogurt tomato sauce and carrot cheese sauce, as well as nut and pepper salad. The main dish is spinach Pide pancake, which is delicious with spinach and cheese. The drinks are Ayran and black tea. Their Ayran is not particularly sour. Finally there was rice pudding and Semolina for dessert.

In general, this package is quite cost-effective in the embassy area!



















On June 24, 2020, I ate Lentil soup, cucumber yogurt, grape coconut meat roll Dolma, meat pie Kofte, beef cheese Pide pie, Ayran yogurt and pomegranate juice chicken at the Turkish restaurant Xiting Xiuse in Xinyuanli. Their store has been open for a year, and the store manager is a Turkmen from Turkmenistan. He stayed in Beijing after studying abroad at Communication University. The head chef is an Azerbaijani from Istanbul and works at five o'clock every day. The waiters in the store are also Kazakhs from Kazakhstan. I think theirs is really delicious. The Pide pancakes are very fragrant fresh out of the oven and the meat quality is also very good. The last photo is a beautiful photo of the chef sent to us by the store manager. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This travel note introduces Eating South Asian and Middle Eastern Food in Beijing (Part 1). Over the past few years, I have visited many Middle Eastern and South Asian restaurants in Beijing, some of which have already closed down. It is useful for readers interested in Beijing Halal Food, Muslim Travel, Middle Eastern Food.

4. Taiba Arabic fast food restaurant

On January 17, 2021, a new Arabic fast food restaurant called Taiba recently opened on Guijie Street. I ate Arabic Lahmacun pizza, Hummus, and Falafel, and also drank some Middle Eastern black tea with a rich spiced flavor. The young man working there is Sudanese, and his Chinese is quite good. Also, their business is mainly for takeout; if you want to dine in, you can only eat at the noodle shop next door.

Lahmacun originates from the Arabic language (لحم بعجين), which literally translates to "meat with dough." During the Ottoman era, Lahmacun spread from the Arab world to former Ottoman regions like Turkey and Armenia, so it is also called "Turkish pizza" or "Armenian pizza," though the basic preparation is always a thin crust topped with minced meat.















5. Syrian restaurant

On March 7, 2021, I had lunch at the Syrian restaurant BRBR in Wudaokou. I had heard about this place for a long time, but since I live in the city and it's too far away, I had never eaten here before; 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 cuisine is also a fairly standard Levantine cuisine, with the most classic dishes being hummus and falafel, though we didn't order those 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 fava beans, and lemon mint.

A special highlight of this trip was eating traditional Arabic Mandi lamb rice; Mandi originated in Yemen and is popular in the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, and the Levant region. Mandi is usually made with rice, meat (lamb, camel, or chicken), and Hawaij spices. Hawaij is also a specialty spice blend from Yemen that can be used for cooking rice, soups, and coffee; its main ingredients are cumin, black pepper, turmeric, and cardamom. The texture of Mandi is drier than regular curry rice.



















2. Turkey and Azerbaijan

1. Turkish mother

On January 10, 2020, after getting married, I went to Turkish Mama in Sanlitun with Zainab. We ordered lentil soup, 'Sultan's Delight,' a mixed grill platter, and rice pudding, then drank tea, smoked shisha, and had a heart-to-heart talk. Turkish Mama is much tastier than the Persian food next door; the grilled lamb and bread were especially delicious. We originally ordered rice, but because the bread was so good, we canceled the rice.

Sultan's Delight (Hünkar Beğendi) is a snack that originated in the Ottoman palace, featuring rich lamb stew served with creamy roasted eggplant puree, which is quite rare in Beijing.













On October 19, 2019, I smoked shisha, drank tea, and ate baklava and rice pudding with a Turkish mother west of Changhong Bridge.





2. Dardanelles Turkish Restaurant

On August 11, 2019, after the Eid al-Adha prayer, I ate at the Turkish restaurant Dardanelles on Ritan Upper Street. I ordered lentil soup, cream of chicken soup, assorted salads (hummus, yellow pepper dip, chili dip), mint yogurt, grilled lamb liver, tomato lamb skewers, Lahmacun flatbread, Ayran yogurt, and rice pudding.



















On June 6, 2018, after work, I went to Dardanelles on Shenlu Street with a friend and had cream of chicken soup, mixed grill, lamb and cheese pide, Mediterranean salad, as well as rice pudding and Turkish black tea. I must praise the lamb and cheese pide; it was truly huge! view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This travel note introduces Eating South Asian and Middle Eastern Food in Beijing (Part 1). Over the past few years, I have visited many Middle Eastern and South Asian restaurants in Beijing, some of which have already closed down. It is useful for readers interested in Beijing Halal Food, Muslim Travel, Middle Eastern Food.

2. Lebanese restaurant Al Ameen

On September 24, 2020, for my mother-in-law's first meal after arriving in Beijing, we ate at the Lebanese restaurant Al Ameen next to the German Embassy outside Dongzhimen. I have been eating there for many years; they were closed for renovations for a while, but reopened last year. Visiting this year, I felt that there were clearly fewer people than before the pandemic, and the menu options had also decreased. I hope they can get through these difficult times.

We ordered the classic appetizer platter (hummus, carrot puree, yogurt, and mutabbal eggplant yogurt dip), cream of mushroom soup, lentil soup, vegetable soup, chicken soup, a grilled meat platter, and a grilled vegetable platter. A special dish we ordered was the Mahashi, which is lamb shank with vegetable-stuffed rice.

Mahashi is made by stuffing Lebanese zucchini (Kusa) and eggplant with a mixture of minced meat and rice, then cooking them in a sauce of tomato paste, cumin, and broth. Mahashi is a classic Ottoman dish found throughout former Ottoman regions from the Balkans to the Levant and Egypt, with each region having its own unique way of preparing it. Mahashi is a common dish served at weddings, family gatherings, and Eid al-Fitr feasts.













On September 26, 2019, I went to the Lebanese restaurant Alameen in Sanlitun. It has become much larger after the renovation and some new dishes have been added, so I will try them when I have time in the future. This time I had a platter with hummus, baba ghanoush, yogurt, etc., along with lentil soup, cream of mushroom soup, lamb flatbread, lamb chops, pan-fried fish, and lemongrass mint tea. Among them, the most distinctive dish was the Levantine meat pie, Kibbeh.













On May 26, 2019, I had roasted lamb leg, lentil soup, and hummus at the Lebanese restaurant Alameen outside Dongzhimen in the evening.



3. Tunisian restaurant Meza (closed)

On the evening of December 21, 2020, I went to Mesa, a Tunisian restaurant that opened in November. After the Moroccan restaurant Caravan closed due to the pandemic (the owner ran away), Beijing finally has a North African restaurant again. (Unfortunately, it closed again in 2021).

We ordered Brik with Tuna, sizzling Shakshuka with eggs, grilled chicken skewers, Merguez, Baba Ganoush, a platter of pickles, and lentil soup, and we also ordered Tajine and Couscous with various grilled meats that were not on the menu.

Brik is a North African Berber dish, which was later brought to Israel by Tunisian Jews. The filling usually contains eggs, tuna, Harissa, and parsley, and is then wrapped in a crispy pastry called Malsouka or Warka and deep-fried.

Shakshuka is a dish of eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes and onions, usually seasoned with olive oil, chili peppers, garlic, cumin, nutmeg, and other spices. The word Shakshouka means "mixture" in Arabic; it is widely found across the former Ottoman regions and Andalusia, and was brought to Israel by Tunisian Jews. This dish was originally a stew of minced meat or liver, with tomatoes and chili peppers added later after being introduced from the Americas, and the Tunisian version typically includes eggs.

North African Merguez sausage is made with lamb and beef, mixed with cumin, harissa, chili, and various other spices, and is usually eaten grilled. Merguez sausage was first seen in the 12th century in Andalusia, which was southern Spain under Arab rule, and was pronounced mirkās or merkās in Andalusian Arabic at the time. Later, it spread throughout North Africa, and subsequently to France and Germany.

Baba ghanoush is a Middle Eastern Levantine appetizer made of mashed cooked eggplant mixed with tahini and olive oil, along with lemon juice and other seasonings, and is usually eaten by dipping pita bread into it.

Tajine is a specialty dish of the North African Berbers, and the word Tajine in North African Arabic originates from Ancient Greek, originally meaning a shallow pan. The tajine can be traced back to Harun al-Rashid, the fifth caliph of the Abbasid Dynasty in the 8th-9th centuries, and it appeared in the famous 9th-century work 'One Thousand and One Nights'. Modern tajines are made of pottery, sometimes glazed, with a round, flat bottom and a conical or domed top; this design allows all evaporated steam to return to the bottom, and water can be added through a hole in the lid.

Couscous is a staple of Berber cuisine, made by rolling semolina into millet-sized grains and then drying them in the sun. Couscous first appeared in North Africa between the 11th and 13th centuries, and the 13th-century Andalusian scholar and gourmet Ibn Razin al-Tuyibi was the first to record the method for making couscous in his book, 'The Andalusian Cookbook'. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This travel note introduces Eating South Asian and Middle Eastern Food in Beijing (Part 2). On November 7, 2018, after work, I went to a Turkish kebab shop run by Azerbaijanis on the first floor of Sanlitun SOHO. It is useful for readers interested in Beijing Halal Food, Muslim Travel, Middle Eastern Food.









5. Azerbaijani/Turkish restaurant Doner & Kebab

On November 7, 2018, after work, I went to a Turkish kebab shop run by Azerbaijanis on the first floor of Sanlitun SOHO. I had Lahmacun, an Ottoman delicacy originating from the Levant, served with kebabs and lentil soup. They also had pide bread and classic Azerbaijani stuffed grape leaves. The shop had a picture of the Maiden Tower, a landmark in the Old City of Baku, Azerbaijan, located by the Caspian Sea, and Azerbaijani songs were playing on the TV. Besides the two young Azerbaijani men, there was also an auntie from Northeast China who speaks Russian. The young men were actively learning Chinese from her, and I hope their Chinese gets better and better!











6. Kavkaz restaurant

On August 2, 2019, I ate Caucasian salad, cheese khachapuri with honey, pan-fried trout, dolma, borscht, Russian chicken soup, and Ayran at the Caucasian restaurant Kavkaz on Ritan Shangjie.



















On April 14, 2019, I had garlic chicken, grilled lamb chops, meat pies, traditional Caucasian soup, traditional Caucasian salad, and steamed buns at the Caucasian restaurant Kavkaz near the North Gate of Ritan Park in the evening. Except for the thick bun skins, everything else was super delicious, especially the soup and the garlic chicken; it was so satisfying after eating.















On December 8, 2018, I went to the Caucasian restaurant Kavkaz on Ritan Shangjie in the evening and ordered lamb flatbread, garlic roasted chicken, lamb in a clay pot, stuffed grape leaves, and Ayran yogurt with fennel; everything was quite good!









7. Azerbaijani/Turkish restaurant Desert Rose

On February 17, 2021, we had lunch at Desert Rose on Ritan Shangjie; it is the most affordable among the several Turkish restaurants on Ritan Shangjie. Ten years ago, my childhood friend and I had Turkish food for the first time right here, and in the blink of an eye, ten years have passed and the place still hasn't changed.

There were 6 of us eating together this time, so we ordered one 4-person set meal and one 2-person set meal, which included lentil soup and chicken soup, Mediterranean salad, mixed grill, yogurt marinated chicken, assorted Pide, chicken Shawarma wrap, lamb shank pilaf, rice pudding, Ayran yogurt drink, Puf ekmek bread, and Baklava dessert; we also ordered Izmir meatballs and Lahmacun. Their Puf ekmek bread is so delicious! It was grilled to be extra fragrant, and it still tasted great even after bringing it home and letting it cool.



















3. South Asia

1. Pakistani restaurant ZAM ZAM

On April 4, 2020, I had a Tandoori mixed grill platter at the Pakistani restaurant ZAM ZAM near the East Gate of Tsinghua University. The platter included Haryali Tikka (mint chicken), lamb tikka, beef tikka, Malai Seekh Kabab, and fish tikka. The grilled meat was quite spicy, and it was especially refreshing when dipped in mint sauce. I also ordered chicken corn soup, chickpea Achari curry, and garlic naan, and drank my favorite freshly squeezed mint juice. When they have their buffet, the mint juice is the most popular item, and I can never stop drinking cup after cup. Their South Asian naan is also truly super delicious and especially crispy.

Currently they don't have a buffet, only a la carte; I hope to come back for the buffet in the future.



















On September 21, 2019, I had a buffet dinner at the Pakistani restaurant Zam Zam in Kaishi Plaza. The first plate was Biryani fried rice with chicken Tikka, fried fish, and the South Asian street food specialty, vegetable Pakora. The second plate consisted of naan with beef stew, chickpea sauce, mint sauce, and custard, a dessert of European origin. And their best drink is still the South Asian mint water; I can never get enough of it!















On June 23, 2019, I had the buffet at Zam Zam for dinner, it was very authentic! The Pakistani pulao, roasted chicken, and stew were all excellent, and that cheese and egg soup was also incredibly delicious. My favorite was their mint sauce with bread, it was so tasty.









2. Saduri restaurant in Kolkata, India

On December 22, 2020, I went to Saduri, an Indian Kolkata Muslim restaurant in Beiluoguxiang, in the evening. They were closed for 8 months this year, and the owner only returned to China from India in November; it really hasn't been easy for them.

We ordered Samosas, mixed grill, Goan fish curry, fried chicken legs, Chana Masala, Aloo Paratha, and Kabli Naan, as well as Shahi Kheer and carrot Halwa, and finally ordered almond and fig flavored Lassi.

Samosas were brought to South Asia from Persia by Central Asian Muslim merchants in the 13th and 14th centuries. The Delhi Sultanate scholar Amir Khusro wrote around 1300 that the princes and nobles of the Delhi Sultanate enjoyed 'samosas prepared with meat, ghee, and onions'.

Goan fish curry is made by cooking boneless fish marinated in a ginger-garlic paste with coconut milk and spices, then seasoned with coconut powder. Goa is an ancient city on the coast of the Arabian Sea that was under Portuguese rule for a long time; the Portuguese introduced many South American foods such as potatoes, tomatoes, guavas, cashews, and chili peppers to India through Goa. Goan cuisine is primarily based on seafood, with a preference for using chili peppers and coconut oil.

Aloo Paratha originated in the Punjab region and is made from unleavened dough mixed with mashed potatoes and spices, then cooked on a Tava griddle using butter or ghee.

Kheer is a pudding made from boiled milk, rice, and sugar, usually with added shredded dried coconut, cardamom, raisins, saffron, cashews, pistachios, and almonds.

Gajar ka halwa is made by grating carrots and drying them, then heating and stirring them with milk and sugar, adding raisins, pistachios, or other dried fruits, and finally cooking them with ghee. This sweet was brought to South Asia during the Mughal period, and "halwa" means "sweet" in Arabic. It is eaten during major Hindu and Islamic festivals in South Asia, such as Diwali, Holi, and Eid al-Fitr.



















On November 28, 2019, I ate Tandoori chicken, Masala lamb, green pea and mushroom curry, butter naan, Pudina Paratha, Masala chai, and Gajar ka halwa at Sadri, an Indian Kolkata Muslim restaurant in Beiluoguxiang. Their South Asian naan is truly super delicious; I will never get tired of eating it. This time I basically ate classic South Asian dishes; I have introduced Tandoori chicken and Masala lamb many times before.

Paratha comes from Sanskrit and has a history of thousands of years; it is one of the most classic unleavened breads in South Asia, made by first baking and then pan-frying. Paratha is thicker and firmer than another South Asian bread called Roti, because Paratha is layered with ghee, folded repeatedly, and then flattened.



















On March 13, 2019, I had beef Samosa at the Indian restaurant Saduli in Beiluoguxiang in the evening (the mint sauce was so delicious!). ), Masala lamb, Tandoori mushrooms, Iranian grilled fish, Aloo Paratha potato flatbread, vegetable soup, and masala chai.

Their restaurant is my favorite Indian place in Beijing. After this year's urban renovation project, I almost thought it had been demolished when I arrived, but later I found that only the part facing the hutong was torn down, and the area has become much smaller. I hope they can keep running so that I can always have delicious Indian food!















On June 23, 2018, I ate at Sadri, a restaurant run by Muslims from Kolkata, near Beiluoguxiang. The Iranian boneless grilled sea bass was incredibly tender, and I really liked the sweet coconut milk flavor of the shahi korma chicken curry. The most amazing thing was the naan; it was crispy fresh out of the oven and tasted even better than what I had in India. I have always liked Kheer, a dessert made with rice, fresh milk, and cream, and I finished with a cup of masala tea; overall, this place is really good.







3. Khan Baba Pakistani Restaurant (Sanlitun Branch)

On April 17, 2021, I had a Ramadan Iftar buffet at Khan Baba, and the atmosphere was really great. I ate mutton curry, chickpea curry, kebabs, roasted chicken, fried vegetables, Biryani, garlic naan, salad with mint and yogurt sauce, and pudding. There was quite a variety and it was all delicious, especially the naan dipped in curry, which was very satisfying! A reminder to all my fellow brothers and sisters (dostis) that you need to book in advance, otherwise there won't be any seats.



















On July 24, 2019, I had chicken and mushroom samosas, mutton Yakhni soup, chicken corn soup, fish masala, mutton handi, garlic naan, chana dal, and badami lassi for dinner at Khan Baba in Sanlitun.

The Samosa they made this time was a bit thick, but the chicken and mushroom flavor was actually quite good. The classic Indian Samosa is made by mixing vegetable oil, melted butter, warm water, salt, and wheat flour for the dough, then deep-frying it until golden brown. In the 13th or 14th century, Central Asian Muslim merchants brought the Samosa from Persia to South Asia, where it was favored by the Delhi Sultanate royalty and subsequently became popular across South Asia.

The mutton Yakhni soup has a lot of pepper and a very strong mutton flavor; it feels like it would be especially warming to drink in winter.

The fish in the Masaala fish stew is very tender. Masaala is a famous South Asian spice blend, with garlic, ginger, onion, chili, and tomato as the main ingredients.

Mutton Handi is my favorite; it is so satisfying to eat with naan. Mutton Handi is a popular style of curry in northern South Asia, made with many rich spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves. The biggest difference from regular South Asian curry is that ginger is not used when making Handi; instead, garlic and onions are used.

The chickpea curry (Dall Chana) also has a very rich flavor, and it is quite interesting to eat chickpeas this way. In Sanskrit, 'Dal' means 'split,' and in South Asia, it refers to hulled legumes, including chickpeas, peas, and lentils, which can be eaten dry or with gravy.

The garlic naan is baked very fluffy, which suits my taste. The almond yogurt was blended in a mixer and tastes sweet.















Khan Baba Pakistani Restaurant (Wudaokou Branch)

On June 26, 2017, I had Khan Baba in Wudaokou for dinner, and the lamb Biryani was delicious! The chicken Achari Handi was also great, and while the grilled beef was not as good as Dardanelles, it is still a rare find in Wudaokou. There was also the famous snack, Samosa.









4. Indian Kitchen

On July 4, 2020, we had dinner at Indian Kitchen on Ritan Shangjie in the evening. It is a restaurant run by Hindus, but they provide entirely halal food, and the chef is from Chennai, a famous city on the east coast of South India. We ordered Mughlai fried rice, Paneer Tikka, Beef Kurma with coconut milk, Dosa with potato sauce and masala curry, Mango Lassi, pan-fried mackerel, and Masala Tea.

The Mughlai culinary culture of South Asia was formed by the fusion of Indian and Persian cultures during the Mughal period; it was strongly influenced by Turko-Persian cuisine in its early stages, and after taking shape, it in turn influenced the cuisine of Afghanistan, North India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

Learn some Indian food terms by following the menu at Indian Kitchen on Ritan Shangjie.

1. Madras is a spicy dish.

2. Kurma is a mild coconut milk curry.

3. Dopiaza means double onions, which is a type of onion curry.

4. Basmathi is Indian long-grain rice.

5. Naan is naan, which is an important tool for Indians when eating curry with their hands.

6. Roti is a type of flatbread, and it is also used to scoop up curry.

7. Dhal is lentils.

8. Cumin is a spicy spice.

9. A tandoor is a type of oven.



















5. Pakistani restaurant, Lahore Restaurant

On January 29, 2021, I ate mutton Biryani and stewed lamb trotters at the Pakistani restaurant Lahore Restaurant on Qingnian Road West; the lamb leg and trotters were stewed until tender and full of flavor! The lamb trotters melted in my mouth, and wrapping them in a flatbread was so satisfying.











On November 18, 2020, I went to the Pakistani restaurant Lahore Restaurant at Gome First City on Qingnian Road after work. It is the rebranded Tiffin, and the environment is much better than before. I ordered the Tandoori Chicken Biryani, which was half-price for the opening, and also ordered the Peshawar beef patties; the beef patties were quite flavorful. I plan to go back after work today to try the curry with naan. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This travel note introduces Eating South Asian and Middle Eastern Food in Beijing (Part 3). On July 1, 2020, after work, I bought Tandoori Chicken Biryani, Achari Chana Masala, and Mint Chutney from Tiffin, a Pakistani restaurant located behind Gome First City on Qingnian Road. It is useful for readers interested in Beijing Halal Food, Muslim Travel, Middle Eastern Food.



















On July 1, 2020, after work, I bought Tandoori Chicken Biryani, Achari Chana Masala, and Mint Chutney from Tiffin, a Pakistani restaurant located behind Gome First City on Qingnian Road. Since that thing happened, many of their Pakistani chefs haven't been able to come to China, so now there are only two Pakistani chefs left, and they only offer takeout instead of dine-in, which actually fits their name, "Tiffin."

The Tiffin culture originated in the late 18th century during the British Raj in India. After the British arrived in India, the hot weather led to the gradual simplification of lunch, and the term "Tiffin" began to refer to any light meal between breakfast and dinner on the Indian subcontinent.

Tiffin can also specifically refer to the lunch box used for takeaway meals. In major cities across India and Pakistan, you can often see delivery men using handcarts or bicycles to carry countless tiffin boxes, delivering them one by one to various shops in the market.











4. Restaurants that opened in 2021

1. Turkish restaurant Qubbe

On September 11, 2021, a new Turkish restaurant called Qubbe opened right next to Xiting Xiuse. The head chef is from the Turkish Embassy. Our Beijing Jamaat gathered there for dinner last night; the food was delicious, and we were happy to see old friends and meet new ones.



For appetizers, we ordered chicken soup, lentil soup, and mushroom soup, a classic start.

Sarah ordered feta salad, shepherd's salad, chicken Caesar salad, and arugula salad.

For appetizers, we ordered Hummus, Mutebbel (eggplant yogurt dip), Babagannush (eggplant sesame dip), and eggplant with tomato sauce.



For our main course, we ordered Lavash flatbread, Lahmacun, black cumin and sesame bread, hollow bread, double cheese Pide, Mevlana meat Pide, and Doner kebab sandwiches; their oven is amazing!





We ordered a ten-person mixed grill platter, which included Adana spicy minced meat, regular minced meat, chicken skewers, lamb skewers, grilled chicken chops, and grilled lamb chops—it was quite a spectacle! We also ordered filet mignon and Iskender beef kebab.







The dessert after the meal was classic baklava, milk pudding, and the super amazing Turkish Mado ice cream. Mado is a very famous Turkish ice cream chain brand, originating from the city of Kahramanmarash in southeastern Turkey. They previously had stores in Yiwu and Guangzhou, and now they have finally opened in Beijing. It should be the most authentic Turkish ice cream in China, all made using goat milk from their hometown of Kahramanmarash.





On the morning of September 12, 2021, I visited Qubbe for the second time, where the chef from the Turkish Embassy is in charge. I had a Turkish breakfast with three types of olives, six types of cheese, and five types of dips; it was very rich, and each cheese had a different texture and level of sweetness or sourness. It was served with thin flatbread and the classic Turkish bagel, Simit.

The earliest record of Simit in Istanbul dates back to 1525. According to the records of the famous 17th-century Ottoman traveler Evliya Çelebi, there were 70 simit bakeries in Istanbul in the 1630s.

Then we also ordered salty yogurt Ayran and an appetizer platter, which included Antep Ezme spicy tomato mash, tomato sauce eggplant, Hummus chickpea puree, Mutebbel eggplant yogurt dip, and Babagannush sesame eggplant dip.



















2. Istanbul, a Turkish restaurant

On August 21, 2021, a friend told me that the 'Istanbul' restaurant, a Turkish establishment in Beijing for nearly 20 years, had reopened, so I rushed over to have dinner there that evening. The Istanbul restaurant opened in Jianguomen in 2002, and after closing in 2018, they had been looking for a new location; now they have moved opposite the No. 55 Middle School at Dongsishitiao Bridge, which is super close to my home!

We ordered lentil soup with fennel, guacamole, grilled cheese eggplant, doner kebab salad, a mixed grill platter, pumpkin cheese pizza, and Turkish black tea. Overall, everything was quite delicious, especially the pumpkin cheese pizza! Next time, I want to try the Kofte meatballs and Iskender kebab. Also, I must praise their service for being exceptionally warm; the chef personally came over to explain which meat it was and which sauce to dip it in, smiling the whole time. The waiter was very proactive in refilling our water and responded to every call, making for a truly great experience. However, to be honest, their grilled meat is still not as good as Al Safir's. Al Safir's grilled meat is the best among Middle Eastern restaurants in Beijing in my opinion.



















3. The Palestinian restaurant Zayton in Sanlitun

On August 15, 2021, a new Arabic restaurant called Zayton opened in Sanlitun Soho, and everyone has been flocking there to check it out, so we went to eat there last night too.

Compared to other foreign halal restaurants in Sanlitun, their prices are really not high; the owner is a Palestinian who lived in Syria for a long time, and they mainly serve various Levantine snacks. We ordered chicken Shawarma, veal steak, chickpea yogurt salad Fatteh, Ayran yogurt, and Arabic coffee. Let me introduce Fatteh here, as it is really not common in other Arabic restaurants in Beijing.

Fatteh means "crushed" in Arabic; it is a snack from the southern Levant region, found in Damascus, Beirut, Jordan, and Palestine, but not in the northern Levant. The main ingredient of Fatteh is crushed Khubz bread, topped with yogurt, steamed chickpeas, olive oil, and other ingredients, then sprinkled with cumin; sometimes eggplant, carrots, chicken, or lamb are added, and in this version, pine nuts were added.

















On August 25, 2021, I visited Zayton, a Palestinian restaurant in Sanlitun SOHO, for the second time. I ordered grilled meat with garlic yogurt sauce, beef hummus, falafel, and Tabbouleh salad. Their falafel is truly delicious; it is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside when freshly fried, but this wonderful texture only lasts for 5 minutes, as it becomes dry when made into a falafel sandwich or ordered for takeout.

Tabbouleh is a Levantine Meze (appetizer) made of chopped parsley, tomatoes, mint, onion, and bulgur (cracked wheat), seasoned with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. The word 'tabbūle' in Levantine Arabic comes from the ancient Aramaic root 't-b-l', which means 'to season' or 'to dip'. Tabbouleh salad originated in the mountains of Lebanon and Syria, and the wheat grown in Lebanon's Beqaa Valley was once recognized as being particularly suitable for making bulgur. view all