One thing you can't miss while you are in Hohhot is the Mongolian food. Vegetarians beware, this is a very meat-intensive cuisine. The most famous dish in town is undoubtedly shuan yangrou (Mongolian hotpot) which can be had in one of the city's main chain restaurants Dunlaishun, at the well-known Malaqin restaurant, or at any number of small family-run restaurants in the city's Mongolian quarter, in the southeast of Hohhot near Daxue Lu (University Road). Also worth trying is the succulent roast leg of lamb, it's a little pricier, but for meat-lovers well worth the extra money. Ban Mu Di Youmian Dawang Restaurant has a variety of house specialties you might want to try. Wowo, husked wheat pasta with bamboo steamers look like little honeycombs, while dundun, husked-what pancakes filled with carrots, potato, and cabbage, are sliced like Mediterranean Levant sandwiches.
If you're looking for Chinese fare, you'll find that the Taiwan Beef Noodle Restaurant opposite the train station hits the spot, and they have a limited English menu. Higher quality Chinese fare can be had in higher end hotels, notably the Inner Mongolian, Zhaojun and Xingcheng hotels. Foreign food is in short supply in the city. You can try the hotels mentioned above, which are a little pricey, or Florence, which serves mediocre pizza, pasta, salads, burgers and steaks, as well as the odd cappuccino and tiramisu.