Beijing Halal Food Guide: A Local Muslim Street You Can’t Miss

What Is Niujie?

Located in Beijing’s Xicheng District, Niujie (牛街) is one of the oldest and most vibrant Muslim neighborhoods in China. For centuries, it has been the heart of Beijing halal food culture, shaping the flavors and traditions you still see on Niujie today.

Why Niujie Matters to Beijing Halal Food Culture

Step onto Niujie Food Street and you’ll smell grilled lamb skewers, sesame cakes, hand-pulled noodles, and freshly baked pastries. Locals buy beef jerky here, families pick up rice cakes before holidays, and travelers explore small Halal restaurants tucked between historic shops. The street is also home to the iconic Niujie Mosque, the oldest and largest mosque in Beijing.

Niujie isn’t flashy, but it’s full of stories - from family-run shops that have cooked the same recipes for generations to street vendors who still prepare Hui snacks entirely by hand.If you love authentic food culture, Niujie shows a warm, real, everyday side of Beijing.

Best 3 Halal Spots on Niujie

1. Hongji Snack Shop 洪记小吃

(The most famous queue on Niujie — worth every minute.)

Address: No. 12 Niujie Street, Xicheng District

Opening hours: 5:30–21:30

Must-Try Dishes

Hong Ji Baozi (Steamed Meat Buns)

Only 2.5 RMB each — unbelievably soft, thin skin, and stuffed with juicy beef. You bite into it and the broth almost spills out. No wonder locals line up from morning to night.

Hong Ji Baodu Fen (Tripe Noodles)

A classic bowl covered in sesame paste and chili oil. The tripe is tender and bouncy, and the flavor hits fast: spicy, nutty, rich, and comforting. Best enjoyed hot!

Electric-Grilled Lamb Skewers

Perfectly seasoned with cumin and chili. Slightly charred outside, juicy inside — the exact aroma you expect from Beijing street barbecue.

Hot baodu noodles

Freshly grilled lamb skewers outside Hongji

Hongji’s steamed meat buns

2. Baiji Rice Cake 白记年糕

(A true old Beijing Halal dessert shop — traditional, handmade, and loved for generations.)

Address: No. 5 Niujie Street, 1st Floor of Niujie Halal Supermarket

Opening hours: 8:00–20:00

Must-Try Desserts

Glutinous Rice Cake 江米年糕 — ¥18.8/500g

White glutinous rice steamed until soft and slightly sticky. Filled with smooth red bean paste and topped with hawthorn jelly for a sweet–sour balance. Gentle, nostalgic sweetness.

Purple Glutinous Rice Cake 紫米年糕 — ¥18.8/500g

Made from whole purple rice grains. Chewy, lightly salty, with a natural grain aroma.

Rolling Donkey 驴打滚 — ¥18.8/500g

Soft glutinous rice rolled in fine soybean powder with handmade red bean paste. Moist, textured, and deeply satisfying — a true Beijing classic.

Baiji’s giant rice cakes

Fresh pieces of Baiji rice cakes

Huge rice cake

3. Manji Shaobing 满记烧饼

(Freshly baked, unbelievably good, and the perfect cheap breakfast.)

Address: No. 3 Shuru Hutong (Niujie Dongli Area 1)

Opening hours: 6:00–20:00

Must-Try Shaobing

Beef Shaobing

Only 5 RMB. Filled with juicy beef and scallions, wrapped in a sesame flatbread brushed with tahini. Warm, aromatic, and surprisingly filling.

Pepper-Salt Shaobing

Crisp bottom, sesame-covered top, and a gentle pepper-salt aroma. Simple but addictive — the kind of flavor that grows on you with every bite.

Sesame Paste Shaobing

Rich sesame fragrance, slightly salty, and deeply satisfying. Perfect for sesame lovers.

Tip: Go to the small shop on the right with the same name — it’s where locals buy directly, and most tourists don’t notice it.

Freshly baked shaobing

Manji Shaobing store

Beef shaobing

Final recommendation

If you are interested in exploring China beyond the usual tourist spots, we’ve put together local food guidebooks, featuring local picks — the kind of places locals actually eat.

Each guide comes with a digital map, so you can explore at your own pace and skip the guesswork.If that sounds like your style, you can check them out via the link here: https://www.biteescape.com/category/china-food-guides