Zhong Hua Shouzhua Dawang (Jiangouyan)

Zhong Hua Shouzhua Dawang, the Jiangouyan branch, is a halal specialist in shouzhua yangrou, or hand-grabbed mutton, in Lanzhou's Chengguan District in Gansu province. Hand-grabbed lamb is the classic banquet dish of the northwest: large pieces of lamb on the bone, boiled simply in salted water so the flavour of the meat is the focus, then served on a platter with dipping salt and sometimes chilli or garlic. Diners eat it with their hands, tearing the meat from the bone, which gives the dish its name. The restaurant's signature dishes are the hand-grabbed lamb itself and mutton noodle slices, yangrou mianpian, a thick soup of knife-pared noodles in lamb broth. The dining room is casual and communal, built for tables of friends or family sharing a platter, and the mood is relaxed, messy and convivial rather than formal. Being halal, the restaurant has no alcohol programme; tea is the standard accompaniment. Prices are moderate, with a meal typically costing about 70 to 130 yuan per person, roughly 10 to 18 US dollars. The rating is about 4.4. The restaurant is open daily from 11:00 to 21:00. Walk-in service is the norm, though larger groups are advised to call ahead so that a table and a sufficient quantity of lamb can be prepared. The exact street address is given only as the Jiangouyan branch in Chengguan District, so visitors should confirm the location on a map app before setting out. Hand-grabbed lamb is a dish best shared, so the restaurant suits groups better than solo diners, and visitors who want to understand Gansu's meat-based cuisine beyond noodles will find it a representative introduction.