Can't Decide Where to Go For Chuan'r? Try This Famous Franchise!

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I’ve never been a huge fan of lamb. Like many, it’s got that distinctive flavor that turns people off. Sure, I enjoy the occasional lamb chop smothered in pepper sauce, but more often than not I tend to steer clear of it.

That is until I tried lamb chuan’r in Beijing.

During my two-plus years living in this city, I’ve come to discover just how much Beijing loves its lamb and chuan’r is, in my opinion, the best way to enjoy this special meat.

That said, with such wide availability of lamb chuan’r in the city, and so many of them in dingy hole-in-the-wall spaces that smell more like a different part of the house than the kitchen, it’s really hard for a non-local to know where to go for some delicious lamb chuan’r that won’t result in a day of rumbly tummy… or worse.

So when my local germaphobe friend recommended a famous chuan’r franchise, 丰茂烤串 fēngmào kǎo chuàn'r – aka Fengmao Barbecue – I couldn’t wait to check it out. I was not disappointed! The place was very clean, well-organized, and the service was prompt. A big draw for me is the DIY BBQ system at each table, where the food is grilled right under your nose and by your own hand if you so desire. Our kids had a fun time “cooking” their own food and watching the skewers turn over the fire.

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Watching the commercials that play on the television inside, you’ll see images of sheep herding along the grassy plains of Mongolia. The restaurant claims to have fresh, superior quality lamb, and there was some street gossip about how the sheep listen to music before being slaughtered, which helps them relax and keep their meat tender. Whatever the secret, the lamb chuan’r was pretty darn tasty. But the milk bread, which crisps beautifully when toasted, seemed to be as big a draw as the rest of the chuan’r.

Fengmao Barbeque is also known for its condiments, of which there are four – regular, sesame, sauce, and super spicy. It wasn’t as spicy as advertised. The four of us, two adults and two kids below the age of 10, ate just under RMB 300 worth of food, with plenty of leftovers.

Fengmao Barbecue has more than 15 outlets in Beijing alone, and at least five are within Chaoyang District. The one we visited was the Guomao location, conveniently located between the Kerry Center and China World Mall. It was up one flight of stairs from the main entrance of the building, and pretty hard to miss. I wouldn’t recommend you wear anything fancy though, because your clothes are definitely going to smell nicely roasted afterward!

Looking for more kid-friendly restaurant recommendations? Join the Jingkids FamFriendlyEats WeChat group. Add TBJHelper to be added.

Additionally, if you know how to use Dianping, follow our account as we review kid-friendly venues all over the city. Look up JingkidsInternational on Dianping to follow.

Images: Vivienne Tseng-Rush

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