Food
Influenced by the nomadic Mongolian culture, the major food in Hohhot is mutton and wheat. Mutton or lamb is the most famous dish in Hohhot. The common Mongolian dishes include finger mutton, roasted whole sheep, and a large variety of dairy drinks. The most popular local restaurant is Xiao Fei Yang restaurant. Other famous Monglian-style restaurants include Bayinhaoriwa, Bayandelehai and Xinwulan Restaurants.
1) Finger Mutton
It is a traditional and popular dish among Mongolians. People need to use their hands to pick up the mutton for eating. The mutton is cooked in the boiled clear soup with many condiments, such as, ginger, fennel, black pepper, etc. When you are taking this dish, you'd better serve with the fresh soup. It tastes delicious!
2) Roasted Whole Lamb
It could date back to Yuan Dynasty, and has been improved much at present. When the sheep been roasted, it is filled with spices. The condiments are mixed with flour, salt, eggs, ground pepper and so on. Then the sheep is put through with a stick and roasted on the fire or in the oven.
3) Milk Tea
Milk tea is the traditional hot drink of the Mongolian people. It is made by boiling water with brick tea and fresh milk. People usually put a little salt into the milk when they drink it.
Sometimes they add a little butter or stir-fried millet into the milk tea.
Restaurants
1) Mongolian Yingmei Restaurant
Serves a good selection of Mongolian dishes, especially good is the hand-held mutton.
Address: Eastern end of Hulunbei