Many Muslim tourists who don't know much about China may worry about not being able to find food they can eat when traveling to China. In fact, China, as a vast country with a long history, has a rich culture and food tradition. The word "halal" refers to a diet that originated from Islam and has been transformed into the customs of related ethnic groups. It means that the food does not contain taboo ingredients such as pork and alcohol, and must undergo special slaughtering and processing procedures. The following are some travel tips to help Muslim tourists enjoy halal food when traveling in China.
China's halal food culture has a long history. Ten ethnic minorities, including Hui, Uyghur, Kazakh, Dongxiang, Kirgiz, Salar, Tajik, Uzbek, Baoan, and Tatar, generally have halal eating habits. However, it should be noted that in China, the word "halal" is used alone and usually refers to the components that have been transformed into the lifestyles and eating habits of these ethnic minorities. It is generally not used as a qualifier, nor is it equivalent to the "Halal" (i.e. "in compliance with Islamic law") in other countries.
This is a representative of Halal cuisine and a traditional food loved by Mongolians, Tibetans, Huis, Kazakhs, and Uighurs in Northwest China. It is said to have a history of nearly a thousand years. Generally, the boned lamb is separated by joints and cooked with the original juice without adding salt or other seasonings. The fat part of the hand-pulled lamb is melt-in-the-mouth, fat but not greasy; the lean meat is not dry or woody, and is extremely fresh and fragrant.
This is a classic dish in Halal restaurants and a dish that tests the skills of the restaurant chefs. Cut the beef into strips and place them neatly on a plate. Heat oil in a pan, add seasonings and broth, boil for a while, remove the seasonings, add soy sauce to adjust the color, and then gently push the beef strips in. Simmer over low heat until cooked through, turn to high heat and pour in water starch to make a thick sauce, and pour in clear oil.
This is a classic Xinjiang dish, now famous throughout the country. It is mainly made of chicken and potato cubes, and is usually eaten with Xinjiang-style naan and belt noodles. The finished product is brightly colored, the chicken is smooth and spicy, the potatoes are soft, glutinous and sweet, spicy and fragrant, and coarse and fine.
It is a traditional Muslim folk banquet. It refers to eight stews served in large bowls, which are characterized by thick ingredients, pure taste, clear soup, wide range of ingredients, and comprehensive techniques. There are both vegetarian and meaty dishes. Beef, mutton, chicken, duck, and fish can all be included in the eight bowls, and they are mostly cooked by stewing, boiling, braising, frying, roasting, and steaming.
A famous Muslim hard dish. Generally, fat sheep weighing about 35 kg and about 1 year old are selected from the grassland. They are slaughtered after the imam recites the blessing words, and the hair is removed and the skin is added to the belly with onions, ginger, pepper, salt and other condiments and roasted as a whole. The characteristics of roasted whole lamb are that the lamb is complete in shape, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, crispy skin and smooth meat, golden color, fat but not greasy, crispy and delicious.
Also known as honey mutton, it is made by stir-frying mutton with white sugar. The ingredients are simple and easy to make. This dish is shaped like apricots, with bright red color, soft meat, and sweet as honey. It originated from the imperial meal of the Qing Dynasty. It was named by Empress Dowager Cixi because of its sweetness and flavor. Later, it spread to the people and became a traditional famous dish of Beijing Muslim Restaurant.
This dish uses high-quality beef tripe, paired with cilantro stems. The "san dan" (散丹) refers to a part of the lamb’s stomach, where the stomach connects with the small intestine. The equivalent part in beef is called "bai ye" (百叶). The finished dish is crispy and tender with a fresh and vibrant cilantro flavor. It has a savory, slightly spicy taste, and is refreshing without being greasy..
Also known as naan wrapped meat, it means pot-roasted meat. It is one of the famous Xinjiang Muslim flavors. The lamb chops are fried first, and then stewed with other auxiliary ingredients until crispy. Put the baked naan on the plate, put the roasted lamb on it, and then pour the original soup after the juice is collected, and add coriander and onion shreds to garnish. It has a rich and mellow taste, with tough noodles and tender meat.
It is a special cold dish of the Hui people in Yunnan. Generally, Wuding Zhuang chicken is selected. After slaughtering and cleaning, salt is put into the chicken's abdominal cavity, boiled in a soup pot, and the floating foam is removed. Add grass fruit and cook until the chicken shrinks and the broth is white. Take out and let cool, apply sesame oil, cut into small pieces according to the parts and put them on a plate. When eating, put sweet soy sauce and chili oil in a small dish and dip them when the chicken is served. After the dish is finished, the chicken is sandy, tender, milky yellow and shiny, fresh and delicious.
It is a traditional food for Hui festivals and weddings and funerals, and it is also a signature food of Hui people. Youxiang is made in various ways, usually with flour as the raw material, and is made by frying, baking, steaming and other methods. How Muslim tourists can enjoy halal food in China
There are many halal restaurants in major cities and some Muslim-populated areas in China, such as Xi'an, Lanzhou, Urumqi, Yinchuan and other places. Tourists can find these restaurants through restaurants recommended by hotels, local residents or travel information platforms. In addition, many large shopping malls and commercial areas will also have halal restaurants for Muslim tourists to dine.
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Most halal restaurants in China, such as the "Lanzhou Beef Ramen" that can be found almost all over China, will specifically indicate the word "halal" on the restaurant sign and menu. Some will also mark the English letters Halal and the Arabic letters حلال next to it to indicate that the restaurant meets halal standards and follows Muslim dietary regulations. Some restaurants will further mark "no alcohol, no pork" and other words to make tourists feel more at ease when choosing meals. If you have questions about the halal certification of a restaurant, it is best to ask the waiter directly to ensure that the meal meets your personal dietary requirements, so as to avoid the trouble caused by ingredients that do not meet the regulations.
Many Chinese cities, especially those where Muslims gather, have special halal snack streets or markets, such as Niujie in Beijing, Huifang in Xi'an, Muslim Street in Yinchuan, and International Grand Bazaar in Urumqi. These places gather many stalls, and tourists can taste a variety of local authentic halal snacks in one stop.
Due to the vast territory of China, there are great differences in geographical climate and living environment in different regions. The scope and standards of halal food in different places are not the same, and they show strong regional characteristics. Guests still need to pay attention to the choice of ingredients to avoid eating taboo foods by mistake. Some restaurants may add condiments containing alcohol or provide ingredients that do not meet your understanding of halal requirements.
When Muslim tourists dine in Chinese restaurants, it is very important to express their dietary needs. Here are some common expressions to help tourists clearly convey their dietary requirements and ensure that the meals meet halal standards.
Wǒxūyào qīngzhēn shípǐn (I need halal food): This is the most direct way to express that you need food that meets Muslim dietary regulations.
Wǒ bù chī zhūròu (I don’t eat pork): You can clearly tell the restaurant that you don’t eat pork. This is the most basic dietary requirement for most Muslim tourists.
Wǒzhǐchī niúròu huò yángròu (I only eat beef or lamb): If you have a special preference for meat, you can ask to only provide beef or lamb and avoid other types of meat.
Qǐng bù yào fàng jiǔ (Please do not put alcohol): some dishes may be cooked with Chinese cooking wine, beer or liquor, etc. You can specifically request that the meal be alcohol-free.
Use translation tools: If you do not understand Chinese, you can prepare translated catering requirements in advance, or use a translation app to convey your dietary requirements to the waiter to ensure barrier-free communication.
China's halal cuisine is diverse, rich in local characteristics and delicious dishes, making Muslim tourists' travel in China more enriching and satisfying. By understanding the food culture of various places and finding suitable restaurants, Muslim tourists can easily enjoy China's food culture and experience the unique food style.
Whether it is Xinjiang's spicy grilled lamb kebabs, Ningxia's beef ramen, or Beijing's fried noodles, China's halal cuisine will surely satisfy every Muslim tourist. And with the convenience of tourism information and the improvement of halal catering facilities, Muslim tourists will no longer have any dietary troubles when traveling in China, and enjoy every meal to their heart's content.
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