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Dining In Hohhot

Hohhot's delicacies have strong ethnic features. Mutton dominates the menu due to influences of the customs of herdsmen. Mutton is a must for visiting gourmets, as you can hardly find better mutton else where in China.
 
Local Specialties:
 
Roasted whole sheep
Roasted whole sheep, a traditional and unique dish, used to be a privilege enjoyed only by Mongolian kings due to the special and complicated cooking method. Luckily enough, everyone can taste it now. Roasted whole sheep is famous not only for its quality mutton but also for its special method of preparation. The mutton, filled with various spices, is first heated at high temperatures in an airtight oven until medium-well done. Then the mutton is roasted with fire until it becomes golden. This allows the flavors of the spices to pervade the meat completely. The mutton is then served on a huge plate (its diameter can be 3.28 feet long) and given to guests according to their status. This kind of roasted mutton is crispy but not greasy. Anyone who has tasted it will be unable to forget it.
 
Finger Mutton
Another traditional food which the Mongolian people have liked for thousands of years is Finger Mutton. People need to use their fingers to take the meat while eating. So this dish is called "finger mutton".
Most of the mutton is get from sheep of two years old. In order to get the freshest mutton, the heart of the sheep is pulled out quickly. Then the mutton is cooked in the boiled clear soup with many condiments, such as, ginger, fennel, black pepper, etc.
In restaurants, finger mutton is served along with special sauce mixed with sesame-seed oil, chili oil, leek and other condiments. It is very delicious.
 
Hot Pot of Mutton
Hot Pot of Mutton, also called instant-boiled mutton, is one of the best known dishes in Hohhot. 
The hot pot of mutton has a long history in China. It originated in the north, where people have to fend off the chill early in the year. Hot pot of mutton was created in the north of China in Yuan Dynasty, and became popular throughout the whole area of China in Ching dynasty.
The best season to eat hot pot of mutton is in winter, when chilly temperatures and frigid winds prevail over the land. Hot pot of mutton can warm their bodies. Families and friends sit around a table and eat from pot in the middle, drinking and chatting. You can also put other things in the pot, such as vegetables, noodles, seafood, etc. 
 
Kumiss
It is said that Kumiss was originated from Spring and Autumn Period time. The Kumiss is cool, refreshing and with lower alcoholicity. The fat of the milk was pulled off during the making process of the Kumiss, and then fermented. The Kumiss is provided with high nutrition value, and can be absorbed by people easier. The best time to drink Kumiss is summer, and the aromatic waves to everywhere.
 
Inner Mongolian Milk Tea
Almost all the local people in Hohhot like drinking milk tea made by themselves. As the traditional hot drink of the Inner Mongolian people, Inner Mongolian milk tea is distinctive to this region and frequently served along with breakfast, lunch and dinner. 
The Inner Mongolian milk tea is made of boiling water with brick tea and fresh milk. If you have a taste of it, you will find that the milk tea is a bit salty. That is because people usually put a little salt into the milk. Sometimes they also add a little butter into the milk tea.
 
Shaomai
Generally speaking, Shaomai is a traditional Chinese dumpling. As a very popular local snack, Shaomai enjoys a long history in Hohhot. Visitors to Hohhot always enjoy a taste of it. 
The standard filling of Shaomai is a combination of thin wrappers, fine raw materials, delicious fillings and all necessary ingredients and seasonings. 
The most delicious Shaomai in Hohhot is made of mutton in it. You can have a taste of it. 
 
Best Recommendation:
 
Yinuo Qianjing Vegetarian Tea Restaurant
Based on the principle that “vegetarian food can add to people’s blessings and wisdom”, the restaurant mainly provides dishes made from melons, fruits, fungi, bean products, coarse cereals, herbal cuisine and so forth. Many dishes imitate meat or fish, the flavor being out of the ordinary. Also, various types of tea are offered there.
 
Chinese name: 伊诺前景素食茶餐厅 Yi’nuo Qianjng Sushi Cha Canting
Address: No. 17, Building 11, Fulin Mall, Dazhaoqian Street, Yuquan District玉泉区大召前街福临商城11号楼17号
Tel: 0471-5924783
QQ: 827686990
Opening hours: 9am – 2pm; 5pm – 9pm
 
Lianyouzhai Vegetarian Restaurant
Advocating the culture of vegetarian food, both the shop manager and the head chef show an interest in the research of diets and the pathological therapy of traditional Chinese medicine. The warm atmosphere in the restaurant will make you feel at home.
 
Chinese name: 莲友斋素食馆 Lianyouzhai Vegetarian Restaurant
Average price per person: 48 yuan
Address: inside the lane on the west of the Window Lee Golden Chinese Mansion, Genghis Khan Avenue, Xincheng District 新城区成吉思汗大街维多利金色华府西侧巷内
Tel: 139 4881 3131 or 133 8488 0485
Opening hours: 11am – 8.30pm
 
Wenjie Vegetarian Restaurant
Chinese name: 文洁素食Wenjie Sushi
Address: South Street, Geosciences Bureau, Saihan District (at the intersection of Renmin Road)赛罕区地质局南街 (人民路口)
Tel: 0471-6918889
Opening hours: 9am – 6pm
 
Hong Ye Lou Restaurant
Covering an area of more than 2,000 square meters, Hong Ye Lou Restaurant is a large Muslim-style integrated restaurant that primarily offers traditional mutton hot pots over charcoal, assorted hot pots, various snacks, a buffet Korean-style barbecue, and dishes that are mainly fried, braised, and sautéed. Among these, the mutton hot pot over charcoal is the most popular because it is boiled in a special nutritious soup along with unique ingredients which are fresh and appetizing.
 
The restaurant's dishes are so great that sometimes it can become crowded, even though it has four floors. The restaurant is divided into three areas: the hot pot area on the first and second floors, the barbecue area on the third floor, and some private rooms on the fourth floor. All of the floors are decorated elaborately, which provides a pleasant dining atmosphere.
 
Chinese name: 鸿烨楼 Hong Ye Lou
Recommended dishes: mutton hot pot (涮羊肉), beef hot pot (牛肉火锅), lamb sweetbread soup (羊杂汤), shaomai steamed dumplings with the dough gathered at the top (烧卖), barbecue (烧烤), brick tea (砖茶), assorted balls (丸子拼盘), golden mushrooms (金针菇), sautéed sliced lamb with green onions (葱爆羊肉), and Moo Shu Rou/sautéed sliced beef or mutton with egg and black mushrooms (木须肉).
Average price per person: 42 yuan
Opening hours: 9am – 10pm
Address: Opposite Hui People’s Hospital, Zhongshan West Road, Hui District 回民区中山西路回民医院对面
Tel: 0471-6961555
 
Red Pomegranate Restaurant
Red Pomegranate Restaurant, a Muslim-style restaurant, is notable for its yellow color appearance on the Business Street. The restaurant is popular for its traditional halal dishes and snacks that are cooked with special flavored ingredients. The two-storied restaurant is decorated simply but brightly because of its beautiful crystal chandeliers and elegant French windows.
 
Chinese name: 红石榴 Hongshiliu
Recommended dishes: Xinjiang-style braised chicken (大盘鸡), mutton kebab (烤肉串), sautéed handmade noodles (拉条子), sautéed lamb with naan bread (馕炒肉), grilled fish balls (烤鱼丸), grilled garlic (烤大蒜), Xinjiang rice (手抓饭), grilled mutton with rose willows (红柳烤肉), roast leg of lamb (烤羊腿), and fried mutton with cumin (孜然羊排).
Average price per person: 39 yuan
Opening hours: 10am – 10pm
Address: 2101 Jinyuwenyuan Business Street, College East Road, Saihan District 
Tel: 0471-3331891
 
Lao Kan Shang Hot Pots Restaurant
As its name implies, Lao Kan Shang Hot Pots Restaurant is famous for a variety of delicious hot pots such as mutton hot pot and beef hot pot. The soup in a hot pot, boiled down with special ingredients including some traditional Chinese herbs, is fresh and nutritious, hot but not dry, and fat but not greasy. The delicate decorations, neat and tidy environment, and considerate service provide the restaurant with an additional charm.
 
Chinese name: 老坎上火锅楼 Lao Kan Shang Huoguo Lou
Recommended dishes: hot pots (火锅), grilled squid with shrimps (干锅鱿鱼虾), spicy grilled lamb chops with shrimps (香辣羊排虾), spicy grilled fish with pepper and chili (炝锅鱼).
Average price per person: 30 yuan
Opening hours: 10am – 2.30pm, 4.30pm – 9pm
Address: 71 South Road, (diagonally opposite to the Jiuzhou Commercial Building), Xincheng District 
Tel: 0471-6201212, 0471-6203300
 
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