Don't leave Beijing without trying these amazing restaurants
Hot Pot
Do It Yourself
"What kind of restaurant makes you cook your own food?" Bill Murray asked in Lost in Translation. Only the kind that always has a waiting list of devotees. At Haidilao, customers dip raw vegetables, meats and seafood in boiling broth and add sesame and spice sauce before chowing down. We love the hand-pulled noodles and other goodies like enoki and shitake mushrooms. Expect a wait, but it’s hard to complain when plied with tea, snacks and free manicures (no kidding!).
Haidilao, A2 Naijiazhuang Lu, Sanlitun, West of Beijing No. 80 Middle School 6595-0079
Sichuan
Some Like It Hot
Sichuan cuisine is known for its copious use of chili peppers, and for spicy food lovers it’s definitely a must-try. Chuan Ban, nearly universally acknowledged by locals and food experts alike, whips up the city’s tastiest examples of the fiery hot dishes. Small wonder, as it’s located in the same building as Sichuan province’s Beijing representative office. You’ll be pleased to find Kungpao Chicken, on the menu, as well as the popular Mapo Tofu.
Chuan Ban, 5 Gongyuan Toutiao, Jianguomennei Dajie 6512-2277 ext. 6101
Yunnan
Dining in the Clouds
Drawing upon the culinary traditions of various ethnic minorities in southwestern China, Yunnan (literally: land south of the clouds) food is difficult to pin down, although mushrooms, flowers, and vegetables all make frequent appearances. At contemporary Yunnan restaurant Middle 8th, try the Bass with Lemon Chicken Soup or Fried Morels with Wild Herbs, although more daring diners can sample the Bamboo Worm and Yunnan Pea Shoots. Elegance and style define the place, but Middle 8th certainly won’t break the bank.
Middle 8th, Sanlitun Zhong Jie 6402-7087
Vegetarian
Boost your Karma
Vegetarian Chinese cuisine doesn’t just mean salad and fruit. Instead, be prepared to be served fish, braised ribs and racks of lamb—all made of tofu and veggies. No one does vegetarian like Bodhi Sake, where the combination of eating in the courtyard of a Buddhist temple and being served delicious and healthy food makes for enlightened customers indeed. Try any of the mock fish dishes, and don’t miss the Tibetan yogurt. After your meal, visit the temple, where you can pray for your nation’s Olympic glory.
Bodhi Sake, 10-16 Heiyaochang Jie, Xuanwu District 6355-7348
Cantonese
Southern Hospitality
Located on China’s southern coast, Guangzhou (Canton) highlights seafood and fresh flavors in its cuisine, as well as dim sum, a variety of small dishes eaten for lunch or tea. Try pot stickers, sweet barbecue pork dumplings or rice porridge, among many other choices. The Farm House in the Wanda Sofitel Hotel delivers delicious lunchtime dim sum every day of the week. Cantonese delicacies also include shark’s fin soup and abalone, but we’d avoid these dishes for their environmental unfriendliness.
The Farm House, Tower C Wanda Plaza, 93 Jianguo Lu 8599-6666
Zhejiang
Water World
The warm, humid area of Zhejiang, near the Yangtze River’s mouth, is known as the “land of fish and rice.” Delicate and tender flavors are typical as Zhejiang dishes are light on oil but involve elaborate preparation. At Kong Yi Ji, a classy Houhai hideaway with excellent décor and service, enjoy famous fare such as West Lake Fish in Vinegar Sauce and Beggar’s Chicken. Don’t overlook the yellow wine, made from fermented rice or wheat, but remember, this strong stuff isn’t for chugging.
Kong Yi Ji, Jia 2 Dongming Hutong Xichengmen Nei Da Jie 6618-4915
Guizhou
Sour and Spice, and Everything Nice
Drawing upon neighboring Sichuan and Chongqing provinces, Guizhou has a fair bit of spice but tempers it with other flavors. At Three Guizhou Men, sip Maotai, a potent rice wine brewed in Guizhou, and enjoy the Sour and Spicy Fish, exemplary of a typical Guizhou flavor pairing. Customers recommend Rice Tofu, a house special, and make sure to slurp some Ants Climbing a Tree, vermicelli with minced pork.
Three Guizhou Men, 1) 6 Guanghua Xilu, Jianguomen, next to Guiyou Store 6502-1733 2) 1-2/F Bldg 7, Jianwai SOHO 5869-0598 3) 8 Gongti Xilu, behind Bellagio 6551-8517/9
Hutong Haven
Wind your way into the delightfully peaceful Private Kitchen No. 44 and reward yourself with their alluringly thick Rice Wine with Osmanthus Flower. If your stomach isn’t already grumbling, a spoonful of the Sour and Spicy Fish Soup will certainly pique your appetite, and the Whirlwind Prawns deliver a punch of flavor.
Private Kitchen No. 44, 44 Xiguan Huton, Gulou 6400-1280
Taiwanese
Sweet Treats
The Taiwanese are masters of desserts, introducing the world to bubble tea and shaved ice drenched in condensed milk and red bean. Seafood and pork play prominent roles in savory dishes, as do unique combinations of spices. Experience the best of Taiwanese cuisine at Shinyeh. We recommend the Three Cup Chicken, flavored with rice wine, soy sauce and sesame oil. Poached liver may not sound appetizing, but if your motto is “When in Rome,” then this is the place to try organ meat. Don’t forget to save room for dessert.
Shih Yeh, 6 Gongti Xilu, Gongti 6552-5066
Tibetan
Himalayan Feast
Tibet may be off-limits for now, but you can enjoy yak meat and momos right in the Jing. Ganglamedo doles out authentic Tibetan eats with flair and cheer. A gorgeous dining environment, paired with hospitable service, makes Dinner in a Felt Tent, a two-person serving of roasted yak meat, that much more delicious. Wash it down with butter tea, a unique Tibetan beverage, or the pear-infused red liquor.
Ganglamedo, Rm.103, Bldg 38, Zaoying Beili, Chaoyang Park 6592-3159
Hakka
Hidden Gem
Not well known even among the Chinese, this cuisine comes from the Hakka people in southwestern China, near Hong Kong. Famous dishes include salt-baked chicken and sliced pork with preserved mustard greens. At Lao Hanzi, avoid the bland stuff and try Rice Baked in Lily Pad. Paper wrapped sea bass never disappoints, and the flavors of He Tang Yue Se, a dish of lotus root, beans, and other vegetables, form a mouth-pleasing combo.
Lao Hanzi, 1) 1/F, Jiezuo Building, 57 Xingfucun Zhonglu 6417-7720 2) Qianhai Nanyan 6404-2259
Xinjiang
Kebab Country
Beijing’s snack du jour is yangrou chuan’r, or mutton kebabs. For the weak-stomached, be wary of the street corner chuan’r vendor. Instead, get your lamb fix at Afunti, where the meter-long chuan’r and fried rice are sure to please. Sample other fare from Xinjiang (Uyghur Autonomous Region), including hand-pulled noodles, naan, and yogurt. The boisterous floorshow, beginning daily at 7:45 pm, is a must see.
Afunti, Jia 2, Houguaibang Hutong, 188 Chaonei Dajie, Donsishitiao 6527-2288
Contemporary Chinese
All Dressed Up
Craving a fancy dining experience after too many meals of noodles and chuan’r? Get dressed up and head to Ken de Rouge, where you can watch the sun setting over Houhai Lake and savor modern high-end Chinese dining in a romantic setting. Try the red perch, an updated favorite of Ming Dynasty emperors, as well as the restaurant’s other specialties, Yunwu Tea Shrimp and Sticky Rice and Duck Steamed and Served in Bamboo.
Ken de Rouge, 22 Houhai West Bank 6402-6665
Beijing Duck
Classic Feast
A meal of Beijing (or Peking) Duck is an obligatory rite of passage for all visitors to China’s capital, and thankfully it’s a very pleasurable one. You’ll be given thin pancakes, which you should hold in your palm. Add cucumber, spring onions and a few slices of roast duck dipped in sauce, roll up the pancake and enjoy. While Beijing’s got plenty of duck restaurants, Da Dong, winner of our 2008 Readers’ Choice Awards, offers a special low-fat duck for a healthier version of the classic dish.
Da Dong, 1) 1-2/F Nanxincang International Building, A22, Donsishitiao 5169-0328, 2) Bldg 3, Tuanjiehu Beikou, Chaoyang park 6582-2892
China's Best
Reservations are a necessity at the Grand Hyatt’s Made in China, where diners get two hour time slots to enjoy Beijing’s best dish. You’ll also get to watch the expert chefs work their culinary magic at live cooking stations. The restaurant serves excellent imperial cuisine as well, including a sumptuous Beggar’s Chicken. We recommend dipping pieces of roasted duck skin in sugar for a truly delicious Chinese treat.
Made in China, 1/F, Grand Hyatt Beijing, 1 Dongchang’anjie 8518-1234 ext. 3608
Beijing
Fast Food, Chinese-style
You haven’t experienced a Chinese city until you’ve tried its local xiaochi (little edibles bought on-the-go). Jiumen Xiaochi houses more than ten of Beijing’s traditional xiaochi vendors, tucked away in a hutong. Try agar jelly in sesame sauce and hawthorne berries on a stick, as well as sweet snacks like rolling donkey, sugar ear and ai wo wo. Vendors often have photos and pre-made examples. Most dishes range between ¥4-¥15.
Jiumen Xiaochi, 1 Xiaoyou Hutong, Houhai 6402-5858
Imperial
Eat Like an Emperor
Imperial cuisine centers around dishes once prepared for China’s emperors and royal court during the Qing Dynasty, combining flavors from Sichuan, Shandong, Canton and Jiangsu. For the true imperial experience, dine at Shi restaurant at The Emperor hotel, where each dish has a story connecting it to a specific emperor. After a lavish meal of Concubine Fragrance’s Grilled Lamb Chops and “Poison” Soup, head to Yin, the hotel’s rooftop bar, for cocktails overlooking the former residence of China’s emperors, the Forbidden City.
Shi, 33 Qihelou St., Tian’anmen 6526-5566
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