Lao Ma Jia Mutton Soup (Yongji)

Lao Ma Jia Mutton Soup is a budget lamb-soup restaurant in Yongji City, a county-level city within Yuncheng, Shanxi, in the southwest corner of the province near the Yellow River. It is on Fuqiang West Street, No. 8, about 100 metres west of Kangle Road, so it lies outside the main Yanhu District and is best treated as a stop for visitors travelling in Yongji, whose attractions include the Yongle Palace murals nearby. The specialty is lamb soup with flatbread, known as yangrou pao, the defining morning dish of southern Shanxi. A bowl is made of a clear, peppery broth simmered with lamb bones, ginger and spices, poured over flatbread torn into small pieces by the diner. Slices of tender lamb sit on top, and the dish is served with chili oil, pickled garlic and coriander on the side. The straight lamb soup without bread is the alternative order. The dining room is plain and practical, with simple tables and quick service, and the clientele is largely local. The atmosphere is unfussy and friendly, noise is moderate, and there is no dress code. A meal costs about CNY 35 to 50 (roughly USD 5 to 7) per person, depending on portion and extras. No wine programme exists; tea and hot water are the usual drinks. Reservations are not taken and the shop is walk-in only. Like most lamb-soup shops, it opens early, around 07:00, and closes in mid-afternoon, around 15:00, though listed hours should be verified. Visitors tend to find that the soup is at its best fresh in the morning, when the broth is clearest and the bread newly baked. For those travelling between Yuncheng and Yongji, it offers a cheap, warming and authentic meal, and a good comparison with the lamb soup served in Xiezhou and the city centre.