Crescent Moon Muslim Restaurant

We can’t stop dreaming about those spicy, succulent kebabs and delicious tomato-based naan dishes. We like to walk off our meal through the interesting and scenic hutongs on the way to the subway.

Try the Xinjiang Uyghur Pilaf (better than the pic looks!), the Stir-fried Diced or Shredded noodles (both good). Pomegranate juice is also nice!

English menu, delicious (hot!) food in large portions. Very friendly staff.

Beijing modern classic! Love to bring friends over to discover the place. Best Xinjiang restaurant in town! 串串串串!

Considering the hype, the kebabs are so-so - they are large and rather tough. If you prefer your chuan'r street-style (i.e. skinny and spicy) then skip these and get a lamb dish instead.

Finding Crescent Moon is part of the fun. It's on a narrow street lined with poker parlors, hair salons and the occasional 8-seat restaurant. In other words, you're in Local Land. The food at Crescent Moon is robust and flavorful -- the skewers of all kinds, the eggplant, the homemade bread. A wonderful contrast to the Peking duck you probably ate the night before (and again the night after.) The prices are mysteriously low, the service efficient (and unsmiling). A terrific off-the-beaten path alternative to more classic Beijing food.

If you're looking for something different from what Westerners know to be Chinese food, then you need to come to this place. It takes some effort to find it, but it is definitely worth it! The food is amazing. The lamb kabobs were nothing like anything I have had before and their meat pie was also fantastic. The restaurant itself is very, very clean and pretty inside. It's hidden in a little alley way and is not easy to find, but just look for the prettiest, brightest place in the alley and you will find it. The servers were just fine - they spoke good enough English to communicate with us without any difficulties and I didn't find them to be rude at all like some reviews I have read online. If you smile and are friendly with them you'll get better service, I think (common sense but some people seem to lack it). I loved listening to them speak in Uyghur to each other (one of the girls taught us a couple of words which really made my night) and was really fascinated overall by this place. I have always wanted to try Uyghur cuisine and it was a goal of mine to find an authentic restaurant in Beijing and I'm so glad that I found this place!

Nice staff. Inexpensive. Tasty food but SERIOUSLY dripping with grease and oil. English is limited so you may have to order a few items and just not eat it until you get the dish you want.