Fang Zhongshan Hu La Tang (Shunhe Road)

Fang Zhongshan Hu La Tang is a breakfast stall-style shop at the junction of Zijingshan Road and Shunhe Road in Guancheng Hui District, the historic Hui Muslim quarter of Zhengzhou in Henan province, China. It specialises in hu la tang (胡辣汤), the peppery 'spicy soup' that is one of the defining breakfasts of central Henan. The soup is a thick, dark broth built on beef or lamb stock, thickened with wheat gluten and starch, and loaded with strips of gluten, kelp, tofu skin, peanuts and vermicelli, seasoned heavily with black and white pepper rather than chilli. Bowls are served scalding hot and are meant to be eaten with a side of shengjianbao (生煎包), pan-fried pork buns with a crisp golden base, or with youtiao, the deep-fried dough sticks that are dunked into the soup. The shop's name refers to the Fang family style of hu la tang, and it is reported to be among the more popular choices on Shunhe Road, though visitors should treat any claim of lineage as local reputation rather than a documented brand history. The room is plain, with steaming pots by the entrance, plastic stools, shared tables and a fast, noisy rhythm. This is a morning venue: it opens around 05:30 and is reported to sell out by roughly 13:30, so the best bowls go early. There is no alcohol and no dress code; the crowd is a mix of local office workers, taxi drivers and residents of the Hui neighbourhood, along with a growing number of food-focused travellers. Payment is by Alipay or WeChat Pay, with cash accepted at most stalls. No reservations are taken, and the venue operates walk-in only. Prices are very low, about ¥8-20 (roughly $1.20-3) per person for a bowl plus a bun or youtiao. Because the shop sits on the Shunhe Road food street, it pairs naturally with a walk along the street and a visit to the nearby Hui quarter around North Shuncheng Street, and the whole outing can be completed inside an hour. Visitors unused to pepper-forward soups should expect a sharp, warming heat that builds rather than a chilli burn. Hours are approximate, so confirm on Dianping before visiting.