Finding halal food in China

✅ Updated Jul 2026

Finding halal food in China is easier than most first-time visitors expect, because China has a large Muslim population of its own — the Hui and Uyghur peoples — and halal food has its own well-known label: 清真 (qīngzhēn). Once you can recognise that word and its green signage (often with Arabic script), you'll start seeing it in every city. The most reliable everyday option is the Lanzhou beef-noodle shop (兰州拉面 / 兰州牛肉面). These hand-pulled-noodle restaurants are run by Hui Muslims, are certified 清真, and are on almost every street in China — a dependable halal meal anywhere, any time. The other great option is a Xinjiang restaurant (新疆餐厅): lamb skewers (羊肉串), big-plate chicken (大盘鸡), hand-grabbed rice pilaf (手抓饭) and fresh naan (馕) — all halal, and the flavours (cumin, chilli, lamb) feel familiar to many South-Asian travellers. For variety, head to a Muslim quarter. Xi'an's Muslim Street (回民街) is the most famous — a whole district of halal street food beside the Great Mosque. Beijing has Niujie (牛街), centred on Niujie Mosque, with halal restaurants, butchers and bakeries. Most large cities have at least one Xinjiang or Hui neighbourhood. The thing to stay alert to is that pork (猪肉) is everywhere in mainstream Chinese cooking, and often hidden as lard (猪油) or in broth (高汤); cooking wine (料酒, alcohol) is also common. So don't assume a meat-free-looking dish at a normal restaurant is halal. When in doubt, ask 这个是清真吗？(is this halal?) or say 我是穆斯林，不吃猪肉 (I'm Muslim, I don't eat pork). Use Dianping (大众点评) and search 清真 to find certified places nearby, and look for the 清真 section in larger supermarkets for self-catering.

1. 1

   Learn to spot the halal label 清真 (green signs, sometimes Arabic script) and the phrase to ask.

   这个是清真吗？ · zhè ge shì qīng zhēn ma? (is this halal?)

2. 2

   Default to a Lanzhou beef-noodle shop (兰州拉面) — Hui-run, certified halal, and on nearly every street.

   兰州拉面 · lán zhōu lā miàn

3. 3

   For a full meal, choose a Xinjiang restaurant: lamb skewers, big-plate chicken, pilaf and naan are all halal.

   新疆餐厅 · xīn jiāng cān tīng

4. 4

   For variety visit a Muslim quarter — Xi'an's 回民街 or Beijing's 牛街 (Niujie).

5. 5

   At non-obvious places, verify: pork and lard hide in mainstream dishes. State that you are Muslim and eat no pork.

   我是穆斯林，不吃猪肉 · wǒ shì mù sī lín, bù chī zhū ròu

6. 6

   Find certified spots on Dianping (search 清真); buy from the halal section in larger supermarkets for self-catering.