Henjiuyiqian Shanghai Lamb Skewers Review (2026)

When you're planning a trip to Shanghai and looking for great places to eat, there's one spot you'll likely come across.

That's Henjiuyiqian Yangrouchuan (很久以前羊肉串).

It's quite famous among lamb skewer lovers, especially the First Department Store branch located on Nanjing East Road in Shanghai.

During my Shanghai trip, I visited it myself and ordered a variety of dishes, from lamb skewers to beef, shrimp, vegetables, and noodles.

So, in this post, I'll focus on the dishes I personally tried.

Henjiuyiqian Yangrouchuan

The Chinese name for Henjiuyiqian is 很久以前羊肉串.

(Copy this and search on WeChat to access their mini-app!)

It's a specialty lamb skewer restaurant, with fresh lamb skewers as its signature dish.

The biggest features are that they use fresh, chilled meat, so there's almost no gamey smell, and you don't have to constantly flip the skewers yourself!

Since you grill the skewers right at your table, it's a relatively comfortable dining experience even when you visit with a group.

Besides lamb skewers, the menu is quite diverse, including skewers like pork, beef, chicken, and shrimp, along with vegetables and noodle dishes.

So, even if you're not a huge fan of lamb, you can still visit without hesitation!

Henjiuyiqian at First Department Store:

Is it a Must-Visit?

When you search for Henjiuyiqian in Shanghai, the First Department Store branch is usually the first one that pops up.

Its location on Nanjing East Road makes it easily accessible, and it's perfect to combine with visits to The Bund or Nanjing East Road during your Shanghai trip.

However, because of its popularity, you should be prepared for really long wait times.

That's why if you're planning to visit Henjiuyiqian, I recommend checking other branches along your travel route instead of just focusing on the First Department Store location!

Henjiuyiqian is a franchise with multiple branches, so while the atmosphere, size, and waiting times might differ between locations, the basic menu structure and cooking methods are largely the same.

The core services and menu offerings are identical.

Since the grill can get quite hot, they even provide cooling patches that you can put on your forehead while you eat.

Also, there's a service where they give you cans filled with the fragrance of grasslands where sheep graze, inviting you to experience the scent – and these unique services often run more smoothly at branches with shorter wait times!

Henjiuyiqian:

Waiting and Ordering Tips

For popular local restaurants like Henjiuyiqian, if you visit directly during peak meal times, you can expect a wait of at least 2-3 hours.

That's why it's crucial to check the waiting situation first before you go!

If you search for 很久以前羊肉串 on WeChat and enter their mini-app, you can check the waiting status for each branch and even pre-order your menu items!

Especially during evening peak hours, wait times can get very long, so visiting a little earlier if possible is a smart strategy.

① Check multiple Henjiuyiqian branches that fit your travel itinerary

② Compare current wait times and get a queue number in advance

③ Factor in travel time

④ Visit the most efficient branch

Henjiuyiqian Waiting Hacks

When I visited with one other person, we ordered a variety of items to get a good taste of everything.

Each table has a QR code, allowing you to order directly from your seat.

Using a translation function makes ordering from the menu quite easy.

We ordered a diverse selection: lamb + beef + pork + chicken + seafood + vegetables + noodles.

Beef Short Rib Skewer

1 skewer

¥6

Grilled Bamboo Tofu Skewer

1 skewer

¥1.8

Peeled Prawns

2 skewers

¥18

Grilled Chives

1 serving

¥9.9

Grilled Napa Cabbage

1 serving

¥12

Non-fried Instant Noodles

1

¥12

Hunjiuyiqian Recommended Menu

1. Lamb Skewers: An absolute must for your first order!

呼伦贝尔羊肉串 一打

12 skewers / ¥66

Lamb Skewers

If you're visiting Hunjiuyiqian, the very first thing you *have* to order is the lamb skewers.

We ordered the **lamb skewers by the "yi da" (一打), which means a dozen, or 12 skewers**.

Not only is it **Hunjiuyiqian's signature dish**, but it's also perfect for comparing with other skewers, so if it's your first time visiting, we absolutely recommend ordering this as a staple!

There was absolutely no gamey smell, making me exclaim, "**Lamb can be this tender and delicious?!**" I enjoyed every bite!

2. Beef Short Rib, Pork Belly, and Chicken Skewers: If you're craving meat other than lamb

烤牛肋条

1 skewer / ¥6

​五花肉

1 skewer / ¥4

​鸡肉串（洋葱 香菜）

1 skewer / ¥2.8

Beef Short Rib, Pork Belly, Chicken Skewers

While eating only lamb skewers might feel a bit monotonous, mixing in one or two other types of skewers really diversifies your meal!

The easiest and most approachable options were the **beef short rib and pork belly skewers**.

The chicken skewers came with onion and cilantro.

Since you can order each skewer individually and they're not expensive, **we recommend trying one of each skewer that piques your interest!**

Instead of just sticking to lamb skewers, mixing in different flavored skewers like chicken helps keep things fresh and prevents you from getting tired of the taste.

3. Peeled Prawns: A surprisingly satisfying dish

去壳大虾

2 skewers / ¥18

I also ordered prawns.

Adding a seafood skewer like this really makes your meal much more diverse and exciting.

And since the prawns were already peeled, they were super easy to eat!

4. Grilled Chives, Napa Cabbage: Recommended with your meat order

烤韭菜

¥9.9

​烤娃娃菜

¥12

Personally, I'd recommend adding **at least one vegetable dish** rather than sticking solely to meat.

What I ordered were the **grilled chives and grilled Napa cabbage**, and eating them alongside the meat felt like a wonderful palate cleanser.

Both were seasoned with oyster sauce and soy sauce, making them fantastic complements to the meat!

5. Non-fried Instant Noodles: The perfect finishing touch

煮方便面（非油炸）

¥12

Finally, I also ordered a serving of the **Non-fried Instant Noodles**.

If you've had your fill of lamb and other skewers and are craving some carbs to finish off, this is absolutely the perfect closing dish!

It came in a familiar, rich meat broth with fluffy eggs and bok choy, and the spice level wasn't overwhelming. The thin noodles made it a light and satisfying way to conclude the meal.

To be honest, I'm not usually a huge fan of lamb skewers,

but even with the long wait at Hunjiuyiqian, I had such an incredibly delicious meal that I'm already eager to go back on my next Shanghai trip!

I think the most important thing isn't necessarily going to the most famous branch, but rather **efficiently choosing a branch with a shorter wait time!**

If you're visiting Hunjiuyiqian for the first time, just remember these tips:

✔ The "Zheyi Department Store" branch is the most famous, but there are other locations too.

✔ Start with 12 lamb skewers and add other dishes little by little.

✔ Recommended: beef short ribs, pork belly, shrimp, and grilled vegetables!

✔ Don't order too much at first; you can always add more as you eat!

헌지우이치엔

Wellness Archive Index

A fantastic combination of fresh, odor-free lamb skewers and a variety of other skewers!

Before the Trip (Expectation): ★★★

During the Trip (Experience): ★★★★★

After the Trip (Memory): ★★★★★

*What is the Wellness Archive Index?