Yulan Jiujia
There's no better place to be introduced to Mongolian cooking than this clean, friendly, family-operated restaurant named after its female proprietor, Chen Yulan. Though no one speaks English, the staff will bring out ingredients from the kitchen to show you what goes into any particular dish. Their best Mongolian specialties include various types ofguozai.This stew comes to the table in a pot with flame underneath. Unlike hot pot, the ingredients are already cooked when the dish is set in front of you. Just stir it a bit and remind your waiter to put the flame out when it gets too hot. A Mongolian favorite isguozai suancai(pickled vegetables and sheep organ[yang zasui]stew) made of mutton, sheep heart, lung, liver, intestines, cilantro, hot pepper, green vegetable, and spices. A Mongolian friend says Yulan's version of this is exactly right. If you're not inclined to eat internal organs, the dish is also made with the same vegetables and spices combined with mutton(yangrou),beef(niurou),or chicken(jirou). Chao mianare Mongolian-style fried wheat noodles that can be ordered with or without meat and include cilantro, sesame seeds, and garlic.Naicha,the milk tea of Hohhot -- made with cow's milk -- is absent the pungent mutton taste associated with milk tea of the outer steppe. Here, the tea is usually served salted with a dish of sugar on the side. Snacks such asguotiao(sticks of crisp fried dough) and pats ofnaipizi("milk skin" which, in taste and texture, falls between cream and fresh butter) are eaten on their own or tossed into the tea along withchao fen,processed millet that looks like tiny yellow beads.Liangfenare thick translucent grain noodles served cold in a thin broth made of vinegar, soy sauce, sesame seeds, and hot pepper. If the slimy texture of the noodles isn't an obstacle, you'll find this a delicious dish. In addition to Mongolian specialties, the chef makes a variety of noodle dishes, vegetable and meat dumplings, and deliciousjiachang cai(Chinese home-style fare).
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| Cuisine | Mongolian | |
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| Hours | 10am-10pm (to 9pm in winter) | |
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| Location | Just down the alleyway that runs along the north side of the Bayantala Hotel on Xilinguole Bei Lu. It's the 1st restaurant on your right, Around Town | |
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| Phone | 0696/3344-6101 | |
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| Prices | Meal for 2 ¥20-¥40 ($2.50-$5) | |
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| Credit Cards | Not accepted | |