A La Wa Ti's () manager and waiting staff are all Uygurs from Xinjiang, who speak fluent Chinese. It has recently opened on Huixin Xijie, and because of the paucity of Uygur restaurants in the area, it has become quite popular with locals.

The best time to go is in the evening. A small band starts to perform at 7 pm, with guitar and a young male singer singing in Xinjiang dialect while a young Uygur girl also performs dances in traditional Uygur dress.

The Islamic restaurant uses beef and mutton from Xilingol League of Inner Mongolia, which is famous for its quality mutton. A kebab stand and oven are placed just in front of the restaurant to prepare kebabs and roast whole mutton.

Other specialities include flamb beef and nang keng rou, () which is stewed mutton in an oven infused with the flavour of nan.

There is also a long list of Xinjiang Uygur dishes, as well as liquor from the region.

The restaurant is simple but clean. There are three private rooms, one of which is decorated like a Xinjiang home, with carpet and a low table.

The music makes you want to dance, and the quality mutton and kebabs are best mates with beer or liquor.

Average spending is 30 yuan (US$3.70). The menu is in Chinese.

1130 am-10 pm. 23 Huixin Xijie, Chaoyang District. 6489-7709. 23

(China Daily 03/17/2006 page8)