Baotou's food reflects its position at the interface of Han Chinese and Mongolian culinary traditions. Mongolian lamb hot pot — whole pieces of lamb simmered in a clear or spiced broth and dipped in sesame and garlic sauces — is the city's signature dish and available throughout the central dining districts. Air-dried beef, cut thin and eaten at room temperature, is sold by weight in market stalls and makes a useful high-protein snack for day trips. The city's Hui Muslim community operates a number of restaurants specialising in hand-pulled noodles and lamb dishes that are distinct from both Mongolian and mainstream Chinese cooking. Look for the red lanterns and Arabic script that indicate Hui establishments in the central market area.