Best Muslim Chinese Restaurant

Old Mandarin Islamic Restaurant

As exotic as the notion of Islamic Chinese fare sounds, China has an estimated 20 million Muslims. Don't be fooled by the restaurant's humble appearance: This place is dynamite — and so is the dish titled “Extremely Hot Pepper,” for obvious reasons. Order a Peking hot pot and simmer your own meals, or rely on the expert staff for specialties such as the cumin-smothered Mandarin lamb, delicious onion pancakes, or cucumber bean curd (the best tofu dish you'll ever eat). One thing you won't find: pork. While it may take a while to be seated, dishes are cooked rapidly and the portions are generous. After dinner you might feel compelled to walk off your meal with a stroll to Ocean Beach, only five blocks away.

Tags:

Related Stories