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Best Food in Hohhot (2026)
Hohhot's cuisine is a rich blend of Mongolian and Chinese flavors. The absolute must-try is shou zhua yang rou (hand-grabbed lamb), a tender and savory boiled lamb dish seβ¦ π Must-Try Local Dishes
Hohhot's cuisine is a rich blend of Mongolian and Chinese flavors. The absolute must-try is shou zhua yang rou (hand-grabbed lamb), a tender and savory boiled lamb dish served with garlic sauce. Another local staple is you mian (oat noodles), often paired with a hearty lamb broth or stir-fried with vegetables.
π₯ Top Restaurants for Lamb
For an authentic lamb experience, head to Xilinguole Restaurant at 58 Zhongshan West Road, where a full lamb feast costs around 120-150 RMB per person. Another excellent choice is Mongolian King at 36 Xinhua East Street, known for its roasted lamb leg and traditional dairy products, with prices averaging 100 RMB per person.
π¦ Dairy Delights and Snacks
Hohhot is famous for its dairy products, especially suan nai (sour yogurt) and nai pi (milk skin). You can find fresh, thick yogurt at street stalls near the Great Mosque for about 5 RMB per cup. For a sweet treat, try the local bing tang hulu (candied hawthorn skewers) sold by vendors on Saihan Street for 10 RMB.
π’ Street Food Hotspots
The night market on Tongdao South Road is the best place for street food, operating from 5 PM to midnight. Here you can sample yang rou chuan (lamb skewers) for 3 RMB each, kao leng mian (grilled cold noodles), and the famous Hohhot-style barbecue. Another lively area is the Muslim Quarter near the Great Mosque, offering halal street eats like lamb offal soup and baked buns.
π Noodle and Soup Specialties
For a warming bowl of noodles, visit Lao Ma Noodle House at 12 Hulun South Road, where the hand-pulled noodles in lamb broth cost 18 RMB. Another local favorite is yang za tang (lamb offal soup), best enjoyed at the morning market on Xing'an North Road, with a bowl costing 15 RMB and served with flatbread.
π₯© Hot Pot and Barbecue
Mongolian hot pot is a communal dining experience not to be missed. Xiao Fei Yang Hot Pot at 88 Zhaowuda Road offers a rich broth with sliced lamb and vegetables, averaging 80 RMB per person. For barbecue, try the open-air grills on Erdos Street, where you can grill your own lamb skewers and vegetables for around 50 RMB per person.
π΅ Tea and Beverages
Traditional Mongolian milk tea (su te cha) is a savory, salty tea made with milk and butter, often served with millet or fried rice. You can try it at Nai Cha Yi Hao at 22 Zhongshan Road for 15 RMB per cup. For a refreshing drink, local yogurt drinks (suan nai yin liao) are widely available at convenience stores for 5 RMB.
π‘ Tips for Food Lovers
Most restaurants in Hohhot are cash-based, so carry enough RMB. Lunch hours are typically 11:30 AM to 2 PM, and dinner from 5:30 PM to 9 PM. For the freshest ingredients, visit the morning markets like the one on Xinhua East Street, which opens at 6 AM and offers local produce and prepared foods at lower prices.
good guide, covers the main bases. one thing i'd add is that the you mian (oat noodles) are way better in the morning than at dinner, most places that serve it as a lunch or dinner dish use a thinner sauce but the breakfast spots on xing'an north road serve it with a lamb and potato stew that's thicker and way more satisfying, about 10 rmb a bowl. also, if you're near the great mosque around sunset, the street vendors selling naan with lamb fat brushed on top are worth trying, it's 3 rmb and they heat it on a little drum grill, crispy on the outside and chewy inside
for the hot pot thing, i actually prefer the lamb hot pot at a place called dongfang sheep on xinhua east street, it's a bit pricier at around 100 rmb per person but they bring out a whole leg of lamb on a cart and slice it tableside, you can ask for the fattier cuts which are better for the broth. the bone broth there has goji berries and dates in it, gives it a sweetness that balances the lamb fat
one other thing about the dairy shop behind the mosque, they also sell a fermented horse milk drink called airag that's hard to find elsewhere in the city, it's about 10 rmb for a small cup and it's an acquired taste but worth trying if you want something authentic. just don't drink too much of it
nice guide, covers the essentials well. one thing i'd flag is that the hand-grabbed lamb at xilinguole is solid but if you want the real deal you gotta try the version at a place called aobao meat on erdos east street, it's a no-frills spot with just a red sign and they serve it with a dipping sauce that's heavy on the leek flower paste, way more pungent than the garlic sauce most places use. also for the candied hawthorn skewers, the vendors near the mosque are fine but the ones on sai han street closer to the old city wall are cheaper at 8 rmb and they use bigger hawthorns that aren't as tart
honestly this is a really good guide, covers most of what i'd tell visitors. one thing that's missing is the breakfast scene around the old city, specifically the lamb soup with you tiao (fried dough sticks) at the corner of zhongshan west road and tongdao south road. there's a tiny place with no english sign, just a yellow banner with red characters, and they serve a bowl of clear lamb broth with chunks of meat and you tiao for 12 rmb. it's not fancy but it's what locals eat before work, way different from the heavier stuff you get later in the day
also if you're into dairy, the milk skin at nai cha yi hao is decent but the best is from the lady who sets up a cart outside the south gate of qingcheng park around 4pm. she makes it in front of you on a flat griddle and sells it rolled up with sugar for 8 rmb a piece, it's still warm when you eat it
for the hot pot thing, i'd skip xiao fei yang entirely tbh and go to any of the smaller places on erdos street that don't have a chain name. they'll have a bone broth that's been simmering since morning and the lamb is sliced thicker, which holds up better in the boil. just look for a place that's full of locals and has steam fogging up the windows
3 Days in Hohhot: Itinerary 2026
Begin your trip at the city center near Qingcheng Park, which is a convenient hub for public transit and hotels. Most attractions are within a 15-minute taxi ride from here, andβ¦ πΊοΈ Where to Start
Begin your trip at the city center near Qingcheng Park, which is a convenient hub for public transit and hotels. Most attractions are within a 15-minute taxi ride from here, and the metro line 1 connects to the railway station and airport.
ποΈ Day 1: Inner Mongolia Museum
Spend your first morning at the Inner Mongolia Museum (27 Zhelimu Road, open 9:00-17:00, closed Mondays). It offers free admission with a passport and covers regional history, fossils, and ethnic culture. Plan 2-3 hours here, then walk 10 minutes to the nearby Qingcheng Park for a relaxing stroll.
π Day 1: Local Lunch and Afternoon
For lunch, head to Saigehan Restaurant (78 Zhongshan West Road) for traditional Mongolian hotpot, costing around 80-120 CNY per person. Afterward, take a 20-minute taxi to the Five-Pagoda Temple (5 Wutasi Houjie, 8:30-17:30, 10 CNY) to see its unique Buddhist carvings.
π Day 1: Evening at Da Zhao Temple
In the evening, visit Da Zhao Temple (158 Dazhao Street, open until 18:00, 35 CNY) and explore the surrounding Muslim Quarter for street food like lamb skewers and naan bread. The area is lively until 22:00, and you can return to the center by metro line 2 (10 minutes).
πͺ Day 2: Grassland Day Trip
Take a full-day trip to Xilamuren Grassland, about 2 hours north by bus from Hohhot's long-distance bus station (departures at 7:00 and 8:00, 50 CNY round trip). Enjoy horseback riding (100-200 CNY per hour) and a Mongolian yurt lunch. Return by 18:00 to rest.
π― Day 3: Zhaojun Tomb and Old Town
Start day 3 at Zhaojun Tomb (9 Daheihe South Road, 8:00-18:00, 65 CNY), a 30-minute bus ride south on route 44. The site honors Wang Zhaojun and includes a museum and gardens. Spend 2 hours, then take a taxi (15 minutes) to the Old Town for lunch at Maiming Street.
ποΈ Day 3: Shopping and Departure
After lunch, browse the Old Town's souvenir shops for cashmere products and Mongolian knives. If time allows, visit the Inner Mongolia Museum's gift shop for unique crafts. From the Old Town, the airport is a 40-minute taxi ride (about 60 CNY), or 50 minutes by metro line 1.
solid plan overall, i did this route last fall and a few things stand out. the museum is great but the fossil hall on the second floor is easy to miss, it's smaller than the main exhibits but has a full dinosaur skeleton that's worth the detour.
for the grassland, the bus is fine but if you're not on it by 7am the afternoon wind picks up and it gets chilly even in summer, bring a light jacket. the yurt lunch is more of a tourist show than authentic, skip the set meal and just order the hand-pulled lamb, it's the same price and way better.
one thing the guide doesn't mention is the night market on Tongdao Street near the Muslim Quarter, it runs from 6pm to midnight and has better variety than the main strip. the grilled tofu with chili oil there is my go-to, costs like 5 yuan a stick. also, the metro line 2 stops right at the temple area but the exit on the south side puts you closer to the street food than the north exit, saved me a 10 minute walk around the block.
honestly this is a solid plan, i've done something similar a few times. one thing i'd add is that the five-pagoda temple is tiny, like 20 minutes tops, so don't stress about timing there. instead, spend more time wandering the streets around da zhao temple in the evening, there's a little square with live music sometimes and the vibe is way better than rushing through the muslim quarter.
for the grassland day, if u go with the bus, grab snacks at the station cuz the food options out there are overpriced and kinda meh. the horseback riding is worth it but negotiate hard, they'll start at 200 and u can prob get it down to 120 if u look like u know what ur doing.
also, the museum gift shop is fine but the old town has a few spots near maiming street that sell real cashmere for half the price, just check the label for the blend. airport taxi is closer to 70 yuan if u flag one from the street rather than the taxi stand.
nice breakdown, the old town shopping tip is spot on. for cashmere, skip the shops right on maiming street itself and go one block west to xiaojiao lane, there's a tiny storefront with a red sign that sells scarves for 40 yuan vs the 80+ you'll see elsewhere. same quality, just less tourist markup.
also for the grassland, the bus from the long-distance station drops you at a specific spot but if you walk about 200 meters east from there there's a family-run setup that does horseback rides for 80 an hour instead of the official 150. just ask for the ger with the blue door, everyone knows it. the museum's dinosaur exhibit is worth timing for, around 11am is usually quietest before the school groups show up