When I first stumbled upon 蒙古大营 měng gǔ dà yíng – loosely translated as Mongolian Yurt – I thought it was a campground because of the huge cloth tents dotting its premises. So you can imagine my surprise when I found out that the place is actually a restaurant! Each cloth tent, known as a yurt, can house a private gathering of about 20, a maximum of 30, which makes it ideal for large group gatherings like birthday and farewell dinners, both of which I’ve organized at this place – which will henceforth be referred to as the Mongolian Yurt restaurant – to resounding success!
Located in a privately-owned area of Chaoyang Park, the Mongolian Yurt restaurant is endorsed by the Mongolian Tourism Board. There are shops offering authentic Mongolian souvenirs and snacks, and even a petting zoo with camels and goats, which are a common sight across the Mongolian landscape. The premises are quite large and offer plenty of running room for kids, plus there’s even a small sandy playground.
You have a choice of dining in the common hall, for a casual family dinner. But the real prize is when you book out a private tent for a group event. They offer a celebration package with a whole roast goat which is tender and super tasty, several cold dishes – they call them appetizers but it’s plenty to fill your bellies with – and the best part, a Mongolian song, and dance performance. As I have yet to travel to Mongolia, I can only imagine that the throat singing and cultural dancing represent a bona fide part of Mongolian tradition. I do know that all their performers are ethnic Mongolians.
As a nice bonus, they invite one VIP guest of your choosing to cut the roast goat and drink from a drinking horn. This is what makes it so ideal for birthdays, or as I like to call it a happy Yurtday!
As for the food, the roasted lamb is an absolute must-try, though you don’t have to get the whole one. There are options for smaller plates, such as a roasted leg of lamb. Other dinkum Mongolian specialties include the warm Mongolian milk tea which is served in a golden pot like a soup, their lamb skewers – or really anything lamb – homemade yogurt, and fried wild vegetable balls. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed that last one, despite my initial doubts when the crispy green balls arrived on the table. If lamb is not for you, their beef and pork offerings are also quite succulent. If you get the celebration package, there isn’t much need to order additional dishes, though you are welcome to place an a la carte order off the menu. Note that the package doesn’t include drinks, but there are plenty of choices ranging from their home-brewed 白酒 bái jiǔ to fresh watermelon juice.
The good food, intriguing performances, and rustic ambiance at the Mongolian Yurt restaurant ensure that both adults and children stay entertained and satisfied. So next time the whole family wants to celebrate in style, consider booking a private tent for some unique family-friendly fun time!
Address:
Chaoyang Park Southeast
北京市朝阳区东四环中路朝阳公园内东南角郡王府东侧
Ph: 65991997 or book online on Dianping
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Images: Dianping, Debbie O’Brien, Vivienne Tseng-Rush
