Fengmao Skewers (丰茂烤串)

Fengmao Skewers (丰茂烤串) is a barbecue restaurant near Yanbian University in Yanji, the capital of the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in Jilin province, China. It is ranked first on Ctrip's Yanji must-eat list, which has made it one of the most recognised skewer houses in the city. Yanbian-style barbecue is a signature of the prefecture, built around lamb skewers (羊肉串) seasoned with cumin and chilli and grilled over charcoal, a tradition shared with the neighbouring ethnic Korean and Uyghur-influenced street food scenes. The restaurant is notable for its automatic rotating grills, which turn the skewers over the heat without the diner having to do anything, and its smokeless-grill skewers, which keep the dining room free of the smoke common to charcoal barbecue. Lamb is slow-grilled until the fat renders, and cold noodles are on the menu as a cooling accompaniment. The atmosphere is that of a student-area skewer hall: bright, noisy and sociable, with tables shared by groups of friends and families, and no dress code. Beer is the standard drink, alongside tea and soft drinks, and there is no wine programme. A meal costs roughly CNY 50-90 (USD 7-13) per person, depending on the number of skewers. Evenings are the busiest time; the restaurant operates daily, and the hours should be checked on Dianping. Reservations are not usually taken, and queues form on weekend evenings, so arriving at the opening of the dinner service or after the peak shortens the wait. The location near Yanbian University gives it a youthful crowd, and it is accessible by taxi or bus from central Yanji.