Qingzhen Yixin Lamb Hand-Grasping Restaurant
This restaurant was featured on 'A Bite of China 2', and its taste certainly lives up to its reputation. The hand-grasped lamb is a must-order signature dish at every table, freshly weighed and cut, with tender and crispy meat, no gamey taste, and a lingering fragrance. Besides lamb, the fried beans and yogurt here are also very popular. The yogurt is topped with a layer of cream and wrapped in milk skin, offering a unique flavor.
Baituotui Bone Tea Restaurant
Address: No. 25, Dazhong Street, Zhoujiaquan Street, Chengdong District, Xining City (south side of Zhonghua City Community). A very popular halal restaurant in Xining, the signature dish of bone-removed yak has a novel way of eating. There are large pieces of bone-in yak meat, which are weighed first. When eating, you slowly cut the meat off the bone with a knife, and the weight of the remaining bones is deducted when you check out. You only need to pay for the pure meat, which is very cost-effective. The beef is stewed to a crispy texture with a rich aroma, and you can also dip it in some chili sauce.
Delu Yogurt
This yogurt is all handmade. The white yogurt surface has a layer of golden milk skin. It is fragrant when scooped with a spoon, offering a mix of sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy flavors. If you are really afraid of the sourness, you can add some white sugar. The shop is small, and you can either take it to go or eat it in the shop.
Shali Hai Cuisine
An old and famous restaurant specializing in lamb dishes, extremely popular and often requires a long wait if you don't go early. The taste of lamb neck and braised lamb is well-deserved, especially when dipped in chili sauce, the more you chew, the more flavorful it becomes. The fried potatoes are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, offering an exceptional texture. Pair it with a sip of the local specialty Eight Treasures Tea to cleanse the palate and cut the grease.
Qinghai Clay Hotpot (Yinma Street)
A famous old hotpot restaurant with Qinghai Province characteristics. The environment is simple, but it is very popular. The clay pot uses charcoal and is made of copper. Various ingredients such as sauerkraut, vermicelli, ribbonfish, meatballs, bacon, mushrooms, tofu, etc., are stir-fried in lamb soup. The combination of meat and vegetables is fragrant and spicy, and the portions are generous.
Yongqing Yogurt
This small shop is located on the right-hand side as you enter Mo Jia Street. The line for buying yogurt often extends outside the shop, making it easy to spot. The signature bowl of yogurt is delicious and affordable, with a thick layer of golden milk skin on top that is very tempting. If you are not in a hurry, you can sit inside and savor it slowly. The porcelain bowls used for dine-in have a very local characteristic.
Mo Jia Lu Bai Liang Pi
A time-honored snack shop recommended by locals, known for its authentic Liang Pi. There are two types to choose from: black and yellow. The whole sheet of Liang Pi is coated with oil and cut into strips when eaten, dipped in chili, chives, and other seasonings, giving it a particularly chewy texture. After eating, enjoy a bowl of the shop's homemade yogurt to leave you fully satisfied.