Restaurants in Běijīng
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South Silk Road
Another addition to the growing army of stylish Yúnnán restaurants in Běijīng, this hip and busy restaurant offers a birds-eye view over Qianhai Lake. The dishes are authentic Yúnnán, from the baked beef in Yúnnán tea to the pot-roasted frog. There's a range of spicy barbecued fish dishes, a reasonable wine list and the beers start at around Y25.
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Lóng Yuán Táng
This cosy courtyard restaurant off Dongsi Beidajie specialises in Guǎngxī dishes, specifically those of the Zhuang people, China’s largest ethnic minority group. Pickled vegetables are often used; try the suānsǔn chǎo ròupiàn, pickled bamboo shoots stir-fried with pork. There’s a picture menu, but it’s worth checking out what the other diners are eating before you order.
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Souk
If you get here early enough, you can kick off your shoes and eat in style in one of the curtained corner booths. As much a place for a drink as it is to eat, the jugs of sangria seem to disappear quickly here. The menu is standard middle eastern fare: kebabs, falafel, pitta bread and hummus. The cous cous is good value at around Y40. There's a big outside terrace in summer.
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Three Guizhou Men
The spicy but sour cuisine of Guizhou province in southwest China is delicious. Try the sour-fish hotpot, or the sublime pork ribs and the tremendous smashed potato. To get here, walk down the lane to the side of Bellagio, turn left at the end, enter the building with the elevator and go to the 2nd floor, where you’ll be greeted by a hostess with a silver headdress.
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Maison Boulud
An imposing highlight of the impeccably spruced up Legation Quarter, Daniel Boulud's Běijīng restaurant presents standout French-inspired cuisine in a choice setting overseen by fastidious staff.
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Xiao Wang's Home Restaurant
Slung out on several floors in an often bewildering maze, this restaurant has enjoyed years of popularity. The deep-fried spare ribs with pepper salt are delectable: dry, fleshy, crispy chops with a small pile of fiery pepper salt, but dig your way through the menu and you'll find many treasures. There's outside seating and a further attractive branch in Rìtán Park.
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Vincent Café
A cornucopia of crêpes is available at this French-run, country-style cafe in the 798 Art District. The ‘fisherman’, made with shrimps, leeks and white wine (Y45), has an authentic Breton flavour. Steaks, salads, pizzas, French onion soup, coffee and juices are also on the menu. Good chips, and an outside area in summer.
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Hua Jia Yi Yuan
Gui Jie, or ‘ghost street’, is one of Beijing’s busiest restaurant strips, with all manner of hotpot and seafood eateries that stay open till the early hours. This landmark courtyard place, though, doesn’t restrict itself to one type of cuisine. Instead, you can find everything from Cantonese to Peking duck here. English menu.
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Mima
If you're visiting the Old Summer Palace (Yuánmíng Yuán), then be sure to check out this great, eccentric café. From the bar made up of books, to the most memorable toilet in Běijīng, this place is all about creative design. It's particularly nice in the summer, when you can sit outside surrounded by a small army of cats.
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Jīn Dǐng Xuān
By the south gate of Ditan Park, this giant, busy, neon-lit restaurant on three floors serves up cheap dim sum, as well as expensive seafood and a wide range of cakes and sweet things, around the clock. There’s another branch in Cháoyáng. There are two menus (in English): one for dim sum, as well as a separate one for children.
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Café Pause
Artfully designed, hip café in the heart of the 798 Art District which attracts a mixed bag of trendy locals and passing tourists. The central European-inspired menu features Vienna schnitzel and Hungarian goulash, as well as an all-day breakfast. In the evening, it's a pleasant spot for a glass of wine. They mix decent cocktails here too.
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No Name Restaurant
Curious about Yunnan cuisine? This stylish but relaxed restaurant is a great place to start. There's not only a picture of each dish on the English menu, but also an entry explaining the flavours and spices used - we recommend the dai fish and Yunnan rice noodles. The bubbling fountain and helpful waitstaff add to the enjoyable atmosphere.
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Danieli's
Ensconced in the St Regis hotel, this gorgeous and classy restaurant is Běijīng's finest Italian dining choice, boasting a generous menu and wine list. Glide up the sumptuous marble staircase, past the crackled glass doors to a splendid alcove interior and sit down to a meal served upon marvellously decorated plates.
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Sculpting in Time
Taking its name from a book by the late Russian film director Andrei Tarkovsky, this is a fashionable hang-out for the Wǔdàokǒu laptop crowd, as well as for lunch, or coffee (Y20) at any time. There are books and magazines to browse through, as well as sandwiches and pasta for when you get peckish.
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Golden Peacock
Make sure you try the pineapple rice at this unpretentious and popular restaurant (get here early or book ahead). It specialises in the cuisine of the Dai ethnic minority from southwest China, who use a lot of the flavourings, like lemongrass, common to Southeast Asian cuisine. The rice wine here is a fine tipple.
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Serve the People
It has been around a while, but Serve the People is still Běijīng's best Thai restaurant. You'll find all the classics here, red chicken curry, tom yum goong, as well as superb fish cakes with plum and chilli sauce. It's the warm atmosphere and central location that attracts the crowds though.
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Purple Vine Teahouse
Experience a traditional tea ceremony at Zitenglu Chayuguan where you'll be greeted by the gentle sounds of guzheng music and the smell of incense. Traditional Chinese furniture and century-old Shanxi wooden screens decorate this tiny oasis. Choose from the menu of jasmine, black, green or oolong teas.
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Xinjiang Red Rose Restaurant
Eating here is like hanging out at a raucous party. Communal seating is at long canteen-style tables, and when the Uighur music and dancers get going (from 7.30pm to 9pm) it’s very loud. The menu is mutton dominated. It’s down an alley opposite the north gate of the Workers’ Stadium, next to Bodhi.
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Haitanghua Pyongyang Cold Noodle Restaurant
There aren’t too many North Korean restaurants in the world and a night here is made special by the waitresses who take it in turns to break out into Korean folk and pop songs. The picture menu is heavy on Korean hotpot and, of course, noodles. The restaurant is on the corner of Xindong Lu.
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Sorabol
This dependably good Korean chain restaurant is the place to come for barbecue and banfan (rice, egg, meat, vegetables and hot pepper sauce), as well as paigu (roast spareribs). Another branch can be found at Landmark Towers (2/F, 8 Dongsanhuan Beilu) in Cháoyáng.
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Xu Xiang Zhai Vegetarian Restaurant
A favourite with Buddhist monks, the fishless sushi and meatless Chinese dishes are so authentic, you can't tell they're vegetarian. Go for the buffet and sample veggie versions of over three-dozen classic Chinese dishes. Staff are equally welcoming whether you're dining solo or in a group.
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Din Tai Fung
Very special dumplings are the draw here; the original restaurant of this Taiwanese chain was once hailed as one of the 10 best in the world. Try the xiaolongbao; thin-skinned packages with meat or vegie fillings that are surrounded by a superb, scalding soup. It has English menu.
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Le Little Saigon
The French songs and charmingly sedate, easy-going Indo-Chinese vibe are a world away from the fierce traffic noise outside. This yummy corner of French Vietnam hits all the right taste buds: try scrumptiously scented seafood tamarind soup (Y32), snails in garlic butter (Y48) or Hanoi noodles soup with beef (Y35). Upstairs terrace open in summer.
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Turpan Restaurant
This cavernous place is the local population’s most popular Muslim eatery on Nui Jie. The helpful staff will guide you through the extensive picture menu of dishes from the mainly Muslim, far-western province of Xinjiang. The lamb kebabs ( 羊肉串 ) are a must try.
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Isshin
A favourite with locals and expats, Isshin serves affordable sushi and sashimi in cool, dark surroundings, as well as top-notch hotpots and teriyaki dishes. The set lunch is a decent deal. The entrance is just off Shuangqing Lu ( 双清路 ) north of Chengfu Lu. Turn left through the big arch.
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