Jiaozuo Donkey Meat Restaurants (焦作驴肉)

The Jiaozuo donkey meat restaurants (焦作驴肉) are local eateries in Jiaozuo, in northwestern Henan Province, that serve donkey meat in a range of forms. The best known is the donkey-meat flatbread (驴肉火烧), in which cold-braised sliced donkey is packed into a hot baked bread. Donkey meat is a regional staple across northern China, with a saying that dragon meat is in heaven and donkey meat on earth, and Henan cooking treats it as a traditional and much-liked speciality. The address given for this listing is the Jiefang Road area, and visitors should search 焦作驴肉 in Amap (高德地图) to find current venues.

The signature order is the donkey meat in flatbread (驴肉火烧), priced at about ¥12 to ¥20. The meat is braised in a spiced stock, cooled and sliced or chopped, then stuffed into a crisp, freshly baked flatbread while still warm. Many restaurants also serve donkey soup and plates of sliced braised donkey by weight, which are eaten with vinegar or chilli. The flavour is lean and savoury, with a texture closer to beef than to pork, and the dish is filling at a very modest price.

The dining style is local casual eating. Restaurants are informal, with simple tables and quick service, and are frequented by residents at lunch and dinner. There is no dress code, and the noise level is moderate. No wine programme exists; customers drink tea, soft drinks or beer. Visitors who are unfamiliar with donkey meat can start with the flatbread, which is the mildest and cheapest introduction.

No reservation is needed. The restaurants are walk-in only, with approximate hours of 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily. Because donkey meat is sold at many small businesses rather than one restaurant, the practical method is to compare a few places on the spot or via Amap or Baidu Maps (百度地图) reviews. A flatbread costs less than ¥20 and a soup or plate somewhat more. Payment is normally by Alipay or WeChat Pay.