The streets around the Drum Tower pedestrian area are lined with small restaurants serving Yinchuan's signature dish: hand-pulled lamian noodles in a rich, deeply spiced lamb broth, topped with braised mutton and a scattering of coriander and spring onion. There are dozens of these places, most of them run by Hui families and open from morning until late evening.
The lamb here comes from the Tan sheep, a Ningxia native breed that grazes on naturally salty, aromatic vegetation — the flavour is distinctive and notably less overpowering than much Chinese lamb. A generous bowl will cost around 20–30 yuan. Look for places with the halal (清真) sign and a line of locals out the door.