Halal Food in Beijing: 18 Places to Visit When You’re Hungry

As a city in China with a predominantly Chinese population, it probably crossed fellow Muslim travellers’ minds about how it might be a challenge to visit Beijing. But believe it or not, Beijing has a large population of Muslims, and most of them are Hui Muslims or Uyghur Muslims.

As a result, halal eateries are scattered everywhere in the city. There’s no shortage of halal local cuisine, especially halal meat. Here’s a list of halal eateries all across Beijing, ranging from local dishes to Arabic and Indian cuisines. 

1. Kao Ruo Wan

Best known for their lamb barbecue, Kao Rou Wan is well-known among Muslim travellers and locals alike. They exclusively use young dairy cows, and carefully remove unwanted meat and tendons. With their specially-prepared pine branches and wood strips for roasting and superb seasonings, the meat served at this restaurant is tender and smooth, fat but not greasy.

Address: 58 Nan Li Shi Road, Xicheng District

Opening hours: 6.30am to 10pm, daily

2. A Thousand And One Nights Restaurant

A Thousand And One Nights Restaurant is the first authentic Arab restaurant in China’s capital city, Beijing. Located in Chaoyang district, the restaurant’s decor and ambience ooze authentic Arab culture. The menu is not to disappoint its decoration, as it includes everything from freshly-prepared pita bread and hummus to a whole lamb!

Address: 1-4 Gongti Bei Lu, Chaoyang district

Opening hours: 11am to 2am, daily

3. Dong Lai Shun Restaurant

Believed to be one of the most prominent contributors to the development of Jinhua cooking, Dong Lai Shun Restaurant has its popularity established as far back as the 1930s. Best known as a hot pot restaurant, this dining establishment serves most dishes Beijing-style over charcoal. Other best-sellers include the instant-boiled mutton, fried mutton fillet in a sweet sauce and boiled mutton.

Address: No.198 Wangfujing Street, Beijing China

Opening hours: 11am to 10pm, daily

4. Li Xiao Lao Shao Bing 

As mentioned, halal meat is so easy to find. You’ll often find ready-to-eat halal stores as you stroll down the streets, but nothing beats the famous Li Xiao Lao Shao Bing near Chaoyang North Road. Though it is only available for takeaway, their best-selling beef bun is worth a try! 

Address: China, Beijing Shi, Chaoyang Qu, 民族家园东路

Opening hours: 10am to 10pm, daily

5. Wangdelou Muslim Restaurant

With the first floor more to snacks and the second floor for more intricate meals, Wang De Lou Restaurant offers authentic Chinese Muslim cuisine. The signature braised mutton, boiled beef tongue and preserved apricot beef are the more popular dishes here.

Address: 26 Di’anmen Outer St, Shi Cha Hai, Xicheng Qu, Beijing Shi, China

Opening hours: 6am to 9am, 10am to 10pm, daily

6. Crescent Moon 

Looking for Beijing barbecued-style skewers? Head over to Crescent Moon for your fix. There are also other meat dishes as well as vegetarian options. A dish that’s highly recommended to try would be their uighur kao bao zi which is a samosa-like dish. For those who just want a quick snack and not a meal, here’s the place just for you.

Address: 16 Dong Si Liu Street, Alley No. 6, Dong Cheng District

Opening hours: 11am to 11pm, daily

7. Mu De Lou 

Located in a residential property close to Niujie, Mu De Lou is a standard halal eatery renowned for its best-served Peking roast duck and other delightful offerings. Don’t miss out on their sizzling specialties such as oxtail and roast lamb skewers.

Address: Guanganmen Inner St, Haidian, Beijing Shi, China

Opening hours: 10am to 10pm, daily

8. Afunti

Afunti is the largest and most well-known Uyghur restaurant in Beijing! Famous for skewers, naan bread and salad, this restaurant has a reputation for quality local dishes and service. If you’re lucky enough to be there for dinner, there’s a performance by Xinjiang musicians and dancers at around 8pm. There might be audience participation in their Arabian snake and belly-dancing routine if you’re lucky. 

Address: 2A Houguaibang Hutong, Beijing

Opening hours: 10am to 10pm, daily

9. Yi Jin Yuan 

With the beautiful scenery and convenient transportation, Yi Jin Yuan is the only five-star halal restaurant which is in strict accordance with the customs of the Muslim halal restaurant management.

Ready with an experimental menu, this restaurant combines traditional cuisines of Guangdong, Sichuan and Shanghai, but still manages to provide traditional Muslim dining. Some dishes to try are the roast lamb, lamb offal soup, braised venison, garlic bean vermicelli and braised beef tendon.

Address: East Gate, Yuan Dynasty Capital City Ruins Park, Beitucheng East Road, Chongwen District

Opening hours: 10am to 9pm, daily

10. Hong Bin Lou

This is one of the best halal Chinese restaurants in Beijing. Hong Bin Lou’s menu today still boasts some of the standards of halal Beijing cuisine. The menu features Peking duck and shuan yangrou (lamb hot pot), and feiniu huoguo (succulent beef crock-pot).

Address: 11 Zhanlanguan Rd, Xicheng Qu, Beijing Shi, China

Opening hours: 10am to 2pm, 5pm to 8.30pm, daily

11. Xi Lai Shun

Xi Lau Shun is the restaurant that might as well be the representative of “West Faction”. The restaurant has formed its own characteristics with exquisite cooking and fine cuisine, with dishes infused with both western and oriental flavours. Offering both new and traditional Muslim cuisine, some must-try dishes are the Malianliang roast duck and Kung Pao chicken.

Address:  No. 116, Xinhua Street, North of Hepingmen, Xicheng District, Beijing

Opening hours: 10am to 10pm, daily

12. Zi Guang Yuan Restaurant

Reasonably priced and the kindest, warmest service, Zi Guang Yuan Restaurant offers a variety of dishes. Try the traditional Hui Tripe dish Baodu to compliment a plateful of tangliu juanguo (chunks of sweet meat with yam and dates). Or try the famous Beijing dish Madoufu, a recommended dish made with mung bean mash with lamb fat. 

Address: No. 85 building, Hong miao bei li, Chaoyang District

Opening hours: 10am to 10pm, daily

13. Lan Yue Zhai Restaurant 

Located slightly far out in Andingmen, Lan Yue Zhai Restaurant is the halal eatery to go if you’re in the area. Dishes like meat-on-sticks as well as cold dishes, hot dishes, lamb hot pot, and even beef dumplings are offered. Not to mention, hot pot! Try their authentic Chinese halal dumplings, which you can choose your choice of meat or even vegetarian.

Address: 140 Andingmen Neidajie, Dongcheng District

Opening hours: 10am to 12am daily

14. Yi Tiao Long

Yi Tiao Long, which means “One Dragon”, is the oldest Mongolian hot pot restaurant in Beijing. They were even inducted into the Beijing Municipal Intangible Culture Heritage in 2007. Offering classic Chinese food and Hui specialties, the restaurant is usually packed and busy. Try their most famous dishes like zha jiang mian (noodles with soybean paste), braised oxtail, and crispy chicken. 

Address: 27 Qian Men Street, Dong Cheng District

Opening hours: 11am to 9pm, daily

15. Chai Shi Feng Wei Zhai

Try a different dish instead of the standard skewers and lamb dishes. Head over to Chai Shi Feng Wei Zhai and order a bowl of beef noodles. They’re without a doubt the best beef noodles in Beijing, as said by Muslim travellers and locals alike!

Address: 21 Gan Jia Kou North Street, Hai Dian District

Opening hours: 10.30am to 9.30pm, daily

16. Ju Bao Yuan Hot Pot Restaurant

Another hot pot restaurant, Ju Bao Yuan Hot Pot Restaurant stands out as the best mutton copper hotspot. With tender hand-chopped mutton boasting an attractive pink colour, it’s too hard to give it a miss. Another recommended dish is sesame seed. It’s so popular that the restaurant limits the amount of buns a customer can order.

Address: 5-2 Niujie St, Xicheng Qu, Beijing Shi, China, 100053

Opening hours: 10.30am to 9.30pm, daily

17. Xinjiang Islam 

With a large Uyghur population in Beijing, it’s no surprise that they are opening up their own restaurant. Xinjiang Islam Restaurant is one such establishment run by the staff of Xinjiang’s Beijing Representative Office themselves. Try their kebab, tofu and tomato, and fried fish if you find yourself around the area.

Address: 7 San Li He Road, Xi Cheng District

Opening hours: 11am to 10.30pm, daily

18. Beijing You Yi Shun Restaurant 

Beijing You Yi Shun Restaurant blends the exquisite dishes of the East Faction and the West Faction, forming their unique Beijing Muslim-style of cooking. Being spacious, elegant and comfortable, it reflects the Islamic characteristics. Look out for the Chrysanthemum Fish, Roasted Mutton Leg, Fried Sheep Fillet Slice and Spicy Lamb Chops when you’re there!

Address: No.28 of Huangsi Street in Xicheng District, Beijing

Opening hours: 10.30am to 10pm, daily

Also read: Halal Food in Taipei: 10 Places to Visit When You’re Hungry