Ma Xiang Xing

Ma Xiang Xing is an old Nanjing banquet house on Yunnan North Road in the Gulou District of Nanjing, Jiangsu, China, best known for the four dishes that have long been associated with its name. The restaurant belongs to the city's Muslim-style Jinling and Huaiyang tradition, which developed among Nanjing's Hui community and is characterised by careful seasoning and the absence of pork. Its reputation, rather than a Michelin listing, is the reason visitors seek it out; it is treated as a heritage brand of the local dining scene, and the kitchen still centres on a compact set of banquet classics. Signature dishes include squirrel-shaped mandarin fish at about ¥128, in which the fish is scored, fried and served under a sweet-and-sour sauce so the flesh fans out like a squirrel's tail; phoenix-tailed prawns at about ¥98; and steamed egg dumplings at about ¥48. These dishes have become emblematic of Nanjing banquet cooking and are the usual choices for first-time diners. The dining room is more formal than the city's snack shops, with round tables, table service and a calmer atmosphere suited to family meals and business dinners; dress is smart casual. Beverages are mainly tea and soft drinks, in keeping with the Muslim-style menu, and there is no notable wine programme. Prices are in the upper mid-range at $$$, with a shared banquet meal usually costing ¥150 to ¥300 per person depending on the dishes. Opening hours are 11:30AM to 1:30PM for lunch and 5PM to 8:30PM for dinner, which is a short service window, so timing matters. Reservations are advised for dinner and can be made through Dianping or by phone, and groups planning a set banquet are encouraged to book several days ahead. The restaurant's Gulou location places it north of the old-town snack streets, making it a natural choice for visitors staying near the Drum Tower and Xinjiekou areas.