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Craving authentic lamb skewers in Beijing? Our 2026 guide to Henjiuyiqian at Wangfujing APM Mall covers everything from menu highlights to reservation tips. Dive into Beijing's culinary scene!
Beijing's Must-Try Eatery: Wangfujing APM Mall
Experiencing Henjiuyiqian: Reservations & Waiting
Text/Photos © HiCouple
If you're planning a trip to China these days, chances are you've heard of
Henjiuyiqian, a renowned Chinese lamb skewer restaurant that's a must-visit.
And guess what? We got to experience it in Beijing!
So, for all you foodies out there searching for a fantastic restaurant
in Beijing's Wangfujing area, today I'm excited to share our review of
Henjiuyiqian, located in APM Mall, along with tips on
reservations and waiting.
Henjiuyiqian (Wangfujing APM Branch) 很久以前羊肉串(王府井apm店) - Long Long Ago Lamb Skewers |
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:30 PM – 12:00 AM Sat-Sun 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM Location: 6th Floor, Beijing APM Mall |
If you're exploring Beijing, chances are you'll find yourself in Wangfujing at some point.
📍 In Wangfujing, you'll find the APM Shopping Mall, and Henjiuyiqian is conveniently located on its 6th floor.
They're open until midnight, so you can enjoy a late-night feast!
Just a heads-up: APM Shopping Mall closes at 10 PM. If you're leaving after that,
you'll be directed to an alternate exit by staff, rather than the main entrance.
Henjiuyiqian: Our Reservation and Waiting Experience
We popped in on a Saturday at 9 PM. It was a spontaneous visit,
so we didn't make a reservation beforehand.
Luckily, there was only one group ahead of us, so we were able to get in almost immediately!
Henjiuyiqian is a really popular spot, so if you want to skip the wait,
I'd recommend either making a reservation in advance or visiting during
off-peak hours, like we did!
Since it's located inside APM, the restaurant itself was incredibly spacious.
Each table had low partitions for a bit of privacy, and the tables themselves were exceptionally wide.
I imagine the extra width is necessary to accommodate the grill in the center of each table.
Once you're seated, they immediately light the grill, and that's when you might start feeling the heat!
This is where the forehead ice pack really comes in handy!
Eating lamb skewers with that intense heat usually means sweating quite a bit,
but with the ice pack on my forehead, it was surprisingly refreshing.
At Xian Jiu Yi Qian, you can order by scanning the QR code
on your table with your phone.
If you're wondering what to try,
I recommend the following dishes.
These are options that many people find delicious.
📌 Recommended Menu
Lamb Skewers (12 pcs)
Potato, Pumpkin, Sweet Corn Skewers
Stir-fried Chives
Stir-fried Eggplant
Draft Beer
Especially the Stir-fried Chives – they pair
incredibly well with lamb skewers, so be sure to order them!
A plate of lamb skewers comes with 12 pieces,
priced at 69.8 CNY, which is approximately ~$10.
The lamb skewers weren't particularly large,
but the perfect mix of lean meat and fat
made them look incredibly appetizing even raw!
The draft beer and Budweiser Gold we ordered were both
smooth and pleasant.
I really wanted to have Tsingtao beer with the lamb skewers,
but unfortunately, they didn't have it!
They actually allow you to bring in alcohol from outside,
so if there's something else you'd prefer to drink, make sure to bring it along!
Then, it was time to start grilling the skewers!
The heat was strong, so they cooked up really quickly.
Even with four of us eating, the fast grilling
speed made it super convenient to enjoy.
The lamb skewers at Xian Jiu Yi Qian were definitely above average.
They were perfectly tender with absolutely no gamey smell,
making it clear why they're so popular.
You can also dip them in sauce,
so feel free to customize to your liking.
While the lamb skewers were delicious on their own,
they become even more incredible when enjoyed with
a side dish like Stir-fried Chives.
The Stir-fried Chives are the epitome of sweet and savory
side dishes; wrapping them with the meat cuts through any richness,
making you want to keep eating.
I was a little disappointed that Xian Jiu Yi Qian didn't have
my favorite enoki mushroom stir-fry, but the
Stir-fried Chives were so incredibly delicious that
I completely forgot about it later!
After grilling a plate of lamb skewers, we also grilled some corn and potatoes.
The sweet corn was simply delightful.
If you eat only lamb skewers, you might get a bit tired of them,
but the popping texture of the corn was perfect for a refreshing palate cleanser in between.
The potato skewers were also savory and absolutely delicious.
Although not pictured, the pumpkin skewers, when grilled,
had a subtle sweetness that was quite pleasant!
The bread was also sweet and made for a great palate cleanser.
However, it can fill you up quickly, so I recommend ordering just a little, and
I hope you get your fill of lamb skewers!
The stir-fried eggplant was a dish that took a little time to prepare.
It came out a while after we ordered, so if you want to eat it quickly,
👉🏻 Order it with your first round!
It was stir-fried eggplant with plenty of glass noodles,
and the garlic aroma was so strong that any Korean
would absolutely love it!
It's perfect with beer and pairs wonderfully with lamb skewers.
Finally, we had cold noodles (Naengmyeon) as a refreshing finish to our meal.
While the noodles weren't exactly like Korean-style Naengmyeon,
the taste was pretty similar.
It was slightly sweet and sour, so after eating greasy lamb skewers,
it was absolutely perfect.
With toppings like cucumber, cherry tomatoes, apple, and egg,
it was incredibly refreshing.
The noodles were also perfectly chewy, so I personally
really enjoyed it.
Another charming highlight of Henjiuyiqian is
that they give you ice cream after your meal.
It was a standard milk ice cream,
but its chewy texture made me want another one!
Make sure to try their dessert ice cream.
At Beijing's famous restaurant, Henjiuyiqian,
for 4 people, it came out to 340 Chinese Yuan, approximately ~$47.
For less than ~$14 per person,
we were able to eat until we were truly full!
After visiting ourselves, we understood why so many Koreans
flock to this restaurant.
It's clean, the staff are quick to respond,
and the services, like ice packs and dessert ice cream,
were excellent.
Not only that, the lamb skewers themselves were perfectly delicious without any gamey smell,
and the side dishes were superb too.
Personally, it's a lamb skewer spot I'd definitely revisit!
If you're staying near Beijing's Wangfujing
or planning to visit the area, I highly recommend checking out
Henjiuyiqian, located in APM Mall.
▼ Curious about more Beijing travel tips and restaurants? ▼
Henjiu Yiqian Wangfujing APM branch operates from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM and 4:30 PM to 12:00 AM (midnight) from Monday to Friday. On weekends (Saturday-Sunday), it operates from 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM (midnight). After 10:00 PM, you will need to use a different exit of the APM shopping mall.
Henjiu Yiqian is very popular and may have a waiting line, so it's best to make a reservation in advance or visit during off-peak hours. The author of the article visited at 9 PM on a weekend and only had one team ahead, allowing for almost immediate entry.
Stir-fried chives are highly recommended as a good pairing with lamb skewers, and stir-fried eggplant with its strong garlic flavor is also popular. The price for one plate of lamb skewers (12 pieces) is 69.8 CNY, which is approximately ~$10.
Yes, because it can get hot due to the charcoal grill, Henjiu Yiqian provides ice packs to place on your forehead. These ice packs help cool you down when you're sweating while eating lamb skewers.
Yes, if you're disappointed that Henjiu Yiqian doesn't have Tsingtao beer, you can purchase other alcoholic beverages from outside and bring them to drink. It's a good idea to bring your preferred alcohol in advance if you have one.
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