Harbin Jiaozi Restaurant   Hunan Restaurant   Jinlongzhai   Little Sheep   Liu Gui Fang   Liuzhou Islamic Restaurant   Mushroom Restaurant   Saieid Muslim Restaurant

Liuzhou Islamic Restaurant Re-opens

Many years ago, Liuzhou had an excellent Muslim restaurant, but it closed down in 2001 (nothing to do with 9/11 as was suggested by Liuzhou's resident  fantasy and rumour monger). So well known was the restaurant that the local bus stop were named after it. Only very recently did the last bus stop disappear when traffic in the area was re-routed. For the next eight years the building lay empty and half demolished, but still supporting its star and crescent.

But now, I am surprised but delighted to report that the restaurant has reopened after a break of eight years. The restaurant is on 中山东路 zhōng shān dōng lù, just round the corner from McDonalds. They specialise in dishes from China's far west and, of course, the Muslim background means no pork.

The restaurant is on three floors. The first floor serves noodles - specifically Muslim Beef Rice Noodles. The second floor serves quick Muslim dishes and the third consists of private dining rooms for banquets.

4th September 2009

Little Sheep

Little Sheep (the Chinese translates as Little Fat Sheep, but they have dropped the fat from the English version) is an Inner Mongolian hot pot restaurant chain with 375 branches in China and has recently opened in the USA and Canada. (Yum Foods, owners of Pizza Hut, KFC and Taco Bell own 20% of the company.)

They previously had a large outlet in Liuzhou which was incredibly popular, but it closed when the lease on the building expired. Approximately two years later, it has returned.

The concept has been much copied, but this is the original.

The new restaurant is on the second floor of the building half way along Longcheng Lu (above the new underground mall), opposite Pizza Hut. It is usually necessary  to book. They suggest three days in advance minimum. It gets very busy and they don't hold your table if you are late. The entrance is round the corner in .

The restaurant, not surprisingly, specialises in Lamb Hot Pot. Wafer thin slices of tender ham are the main ingredient, but there are many others. The hot pot broth comes in various forms, but the most popular by far is the Ying-Yang Hotpot. One side of the pan contains a simple, but tasty,  chicken stock; the other contains  a fiery chilli intense broth. Dip your lamb or other morsels into the stock of your choice till cooked.

Tel: 0772-2860625 / 2860635

28th November 2008

Saieid Muslim Restaurant

Formerly known as Lanzhou Lamian, this restaurant was completely underwater during the July 2009 floods. A refurbishment and a change of name followed (Saieid is the eponymous owner).

It is a simple, small place with  reasonable prices. The menu is huge (but see below) and includes a number of noodle dishes including the famous Lanzhou Lamian for which it was previousy  named. There is a large variety of dishes featuring lamb, beef, chicken and seafood. They specialise in , which is a large plate of chicken and potato served with noodles.

They also have , a piece of Arab style bread, stuffed with spicy lamb. Unusual dishes include Arabic salad and Yemeni salad. In fact they are so unusual that they have never actually been able to sell me any. "Mei You!" (Don't have!)

They do sell beer.

Please note that all the food is prepared to strict Muslim standards and therefore the owners have this sign at the entrance which reads "This is a Muslim restaurant. Please do not bring in food from outside."

Also note that it is very old fashioned Chinese restaurant style. Service can be be very quick or painfully slow, depending on the phase of the moon. Many dishes they will tell you they don't have if the cook can't be bothered to cook them (at least when the boss isn't around), etc. They also close early in the evening. By 8 or 9 pm it's all over - just as the surrounding area wakes up. However, when they are open and get the service right, they are very good. The food is always excellent.

The restaurant is on the north western side of the No. 1 Bridge just where the road passes under the bridge. Near the snack city and Bu Jian Bu San bar.

Here is a short video (before the refurbishment) showing the interior (including the boss yelling at the kitchen staff to hurry up as customers are complaining.).

added 23rd February 2008

Liugui Fang is one of my favourites. It specialises in local food. (Liu is for Liuzhou; Gui is for Guilin). This place gets busy at lunchtimes (it is very near the government headquarters and other office buildings) but the service is quick and efficient. The kitchen is on view, so watch those guys work. Apart from a full range of dishes, hot pots etc., they also have a range of noodle and rice porridge dishes. My favourite dish is

(literally, Paper Bag Fish).

Liugui Fang is at 41 San Zhong Road.

Left to right: Shuizhu Yüpian - Fish in Sichuan Style Chilli Soup; Dry Chicken Hotpot; Egg and Seaweed Soup.

12th February 2008

WLSZ - The Mushroom Restaurant

I was recently treated to one of the best meals I have eaten anywhere and certainly the best I've had in Liuzhou. The venue was a highly popular restaurant known as:

The restaurant is one of a chain originating in Chongqing, and its specialty is wild mountain mushrooms. A friend and I ate a huge hotpot type mushroom soup. The depth of flavour was astonishing. The restaurant had around 36 different mushrooms on display, but our soup only had about six - more than enough. We were stuffed!

They offer a full menu, but also have set meals which are great value and a useful introduction. Last night, two of us ate more than we needed for ¥68 (March 30th 2008). The meal consisted of a hot pot bowl of the most amazing organic chicken soup (with the chicken meat), a plate of pancakes, four different wild mushrooms to cook in the soup and a side dish of Hunan style stir fried bacon. Might not sound a lot, but believe me, it was more than enough. My companion, a good Chinese friend, didn't even want rice to go with it! And when it was time to top the soup pot, they did so with chicken stock, not with water as they do everywhere else.

Set meals for larger groups  have more dishes / ingredients, not just more of the same.

The restaurant is very popular so booking is recommended (essential at weekends). Turn up on time or they will give away your table. In fact, they called us 15 minutes before our reservation time to be sure we were definitely coming. Service is excellent.

WLSZ is at 22 Gui Zhong Avenue. From the city centre, cross Hudong (No.3) Bridge, and take the second main turning to the left. The restaurant is on the left side of the second block down. Tel 0772-3998958

The company have a (Chinese only) website. Click on the mushroom to visit.

originally posted 2nd February 2007, updated 31st march 2008

Harbin Jiaozi Restaurant

Frankly, I'm kind of jiaozi-ed out. However, about once a year is fine. Certainly, the best place in town to sample them is the Harbin Jiaozi Restaurant. This place does get really busy at lunchtimes and early evening, but is worth visiting for their large range of jiaozi (pork, beef, lamb etc, in various combinations). Dirt cheap but delicious lunch!

The Harbin Jiaozi Restaurant lies on the side street running down to the river opposite the southern end of the Wuxing Pedestrian Street (see map).

For authentic Guangxi style food, you could do worse than visit (Golden Dragon Stockade). This is a popular and busy mid-priced restaurant in the centre of town. Part of a chain based in Guilin, the restaurant is on the second floor of 12 Long Cheng Road (the main road running from Liuzhou Square to the No. 1 Bridge). 0772-2873198 2860845

It is best to go in larger groups as this is strictly Chinese style eating. Fortunately, they have a picture menu. Here is a sample (most with English translation - Note the menu in the restaurant has no English.) The group's website (Chinese only) is here.

Hunan Restaurant

There several Hunan restaurants in town, but this is one of my favourites. 

is named after the village where Mao Zedong was born, and this is a popular place serving authentic Eastern Hunan food. Spicy hot! The restaurant can be found at No. 40 Gongyuan Road, near the crossroads at Soho Bar.

For those not familiar with it, most Hunan food is hot, hot, hot. Often hotter than Sichuan food. But delicious. There is an article on Hunan Cuisine here.

Here is a short video of the interior of the restaurant -complete with Mao pictures on the wall.