Restaurants in Běijīng
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Wángfǔjǐng Snack Street
Don't be put off by the starfish (Y20), cicada, seahorse and scorpion kebabs (Y20), this bustling corner of restaurants is a great place to feast elbow-to-elbow with other diners on Xīnjiāng or Muslim Uighur staples such as lamb kebabs (Y5) and flat bread, steaming bowls of málà tàng (麻辣烫; spicy noodle soup), zhájiàngmiàn (炸酱面; noodles in fried bean sauce; Y12), Lánzhōu lāmiàn (兰州拉面; Lánzhōu noodles) and oodles of spicy chuāncài (川菜; Sìchuān food). Round it all off with fried ice cream (Y10). Prices are touristy as it's just west off Wangfujing Dajie.
reviewed
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Dōnghuámén Night Market
A sight in itself, the bustling night market near Wangfujing Dajie is a veritable food zoo: you can choose from lamb kebabs, beef and chicken skewers, corn on the cob, chòu dòufu (臭豆腐; smelly tofu), cicadas, grasshoppers, kidneys, quails' eggs, squid, fruit, porridge, fried pancakes, strawberry kebabs, bananas, Inner Mongolian cheese, stuffed aubergines, chicken hearts, pita bread stuffed with meat, shrimps and more. For tourists, expect inflated prices.
reviewed
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Kro’s Nest
Huge pizzas, onion rings, chips and chicken wings draw in the student crowd (both local and foreign) from the surrounding colleges. The grungy decor, wooden tables and floors, as well as the free beer nights, give the place a frat-boy feel that’s authentically American. It’s on the west side of 101 Middle School. There’s a daily set lunch deal (Y55) and another branch inside the north gate of Workers Stadium.
reviewed
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Liqun Roast Duck Restaurant
The duck here is so prized that you have to call a day ahead to reserve both a bird and a table (otherwise, turn up at off-peak times and be prepared to wait an hour). Buried down a crumbling hutong, the restaurant itself has seen better days, but the duck is delicious and comes with all the trimmings.
reviewed
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Běijīng Dàdǒng Roast Duck Restaurant
A long-term favourite of the Peking duck scene, the hallmark fowl here is a crispy, lean bird without the usual high fat content (trimmed down from 42.38% to 15.22% for its 'Superneat' roast duck, the brochure says), plus plum (or garlic) sauce, scallions and pancakes. Also carved up is the skin of the duck with sugar, an imperial predilection.
reviewed
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Bookworm
A combination of a bar, cafe, restaurant and library, the Bookworm is a Běijīng institution. Perhaps it’s the 14,000-plus books you can browse while sipping your coffee, or working your way through the extensive wine list. The food maintains the bookish theme, with sandwiches (Y42) and dishes named after famous authors, even if it, and the alcohol, is overpriced. The Bookworm is much more than just an upmarket cafe, however. It’s one of the epicentres of Běijīng cultural life and hosts lectures, poetry readings, a Monday-night quiz and an annual book festival. Any author of note passing through town gives a talk here. The local listings mags will tell you what events are…
reviewed
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Manchurian Special Flavour JiǎVozi Restaurant
With its singing waitresses in their colourful qípáo (traditional Chinese dress) and a menu that proclaims, ‘We all love you’, this friendly, noisy restaurant specialises in the cuisine of northeastern China, a region of icy winds and biting cold. That means lots of hearty meat dishes such as stewed chicken (Y28) and shredded pork with wild vegetables (Y25). But the real deal here are the delicious jiǎozi. There’s a whole range to pick from, but the green pepper and pork, Chinese cabbage and pork, and pumpkin and egg are particularly addictive. Try a few bottles of Hapi, Harbin’s very own beer (Y12), to make it the perfect Dōngběi experience. English menu.
reviewed
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Alameda
Consistently high-class fusion cuisine with a Brazilian twist in a light and spacious environment makes this Běijīng’s finest Western restaurant. The Brazilian chef changes the menu daily, but regular dishes include filet mignon in a rosemary and red wine sauce with roasted potatoes and pan-fried whole tiger prawns. There is an à là carté menu but the two-course set lunch and dinner menus will satisfy most people’s appetites. Dessert costs extra though, while the extensive wine list is not cheap (from Y200 a bottle). Sophisticated without being snobbish, it’s a place to splash out. It’s essential to book.
reviewed
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Steak and Eggs
A home away from home for Americans pining for blueberry pie and grits in Běijīng, Steak and Eggs' diner format hits the spot with early risers and families at weekends, as well as revellers looking for late-night sustenance. The American-sized portions will satisfy all but the most ravenous. The breakfast specials are particularly good, but so are the sandwiches (from Y25) and the burgers (from Y35).
reviewed
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Fish Nation
A home from home for those who miss eating fish and chips, whether standing on a street corner in the rain in England, or sitting on the beach at Bondi. As well as obvious choices such as cod and chips (Y35) and calamari in beer batter (Y20), it does good salads and serves the Big British Breakfast (Y50) until 4pm. There’s a wide range of foreign beers. It’s very kid friendly, too.
reviewed
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Qianmen Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant
As fundamental as a visit to the Great Wall, the sampling of Peking duck is an absolute must for any visitor to the capital. The most popular branch of Běijīng’s most famous destination for duck – check out the photos of everyone from Fidel Castro to Zhang Yimou – this place is geared to the tourist hordes (both domestic and foreign). A consequence of the crowds is that service can be peremptory, while the huge, two-floor venue lacks atmosphere. But the duck, while not the best in town, is pretty good, and roasted in ovens fired by fruit-tree wood. That means the birds have a unique fragrance, as well as being juicy, if slightly fatty. Remember that you’ll pay extra for…
reviewed
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Annie’s
Immediately south of the Agricultural Exhibition Center, and next door to the CD Jazz Café, this two-floor, home-style Italian place does the little things right – good service and a welcoming atmosphere (it’s very child friendly) – while sticking to a tried-and-tested menu of Italian standards. No surprises, but the food is well prepared and it’s popular. There are other branches around town, including Ritan Park.
reviewed
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Huáng Tíng
Faux old Peking taken to its most tasteful extreme, Huáng Tíng resembles a Fifth Generation film set. Dim sum (set lunch Y198), but there's also Peking duck (Y280) and dishes from across China.
reviewed
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Niúgē Jiǎozi
East of the Forbidden City, this cute dumpling joint dishes up dozens of varieties of jiǎozi, including beef (niúròu), lamb (yángròu), pork (zhūròu), duck (yāròu) and donkey (lǘròu), as well as a wide range of veggie ones such as mushroom and cabbage (xiānggū báicài). The limited English menu lists the basic range of dumplings, but there are many further mixed options, such as chicken and leek or celery, and pork or shrimp and eggplant, on the Chinese menu. A standard portion of jiǎozi is called a liǎng and the staff will do their best to help you out, or you can watch the chefs at work in the open kitchen and point out the ingredients you want. The…
reviewed
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Chuān Bàn
Every Chinese province has its own official building in Běijīng, complete with a restaurant for cadres and locals working in the capital who are pining for a taste of home. Often they’re the most authentic places for regional cuisines. This restaurant in the Sìchuān Government Offices is always crowded and serves up just about every variety of Sìchuān food you could want. It’s very much a place for fire fiends: almost every dish comes loaded with chilli, whether it’s bamboo shoots, Sìchuān specials such as làzi jī (spicy chicken), or the steamed fish with pepper and taro (Y58). But there’s an English menu, and the staff, surprisingly helpful given that…
reviewed
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Kǒng Yǐjǐ
Classic flavours from the elegant southern canal town of Shàoxīng are the speciality at this much-loved restaurant. Named after a short story from modernist Shàoxīng scribe Lu Xun, Kǒng Yǐjǐ dishes up timeless dishes such as zuìxià (drunken shrimps) and the legendary dōngpō ròu (dongpo pork), named after poet Su Dongpo. No meal is complete without shots of warming Shàoxīng wine (huángjiǔ).
reviewed
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La Marée
Hard to find (it’s inside CBD International Mansions, down a road off Jianguomenwai Dajie very close to exit C of Yonganli Station), this southern-French seafood restaurant is one of the nicest international restaurants in town. The dining room is decorated in maritime blue, with fishing nets strung across the ceiling, while the French chef gives a modern spin to traditional seafood dishes using both local and imported ingredients (there are also meat dishes that use beef from Australia). The splendid seafood platter for two (Y498) is a good introduction. Otherwise, mains start at Y125. Thankfully, it also does a more affordable lunch deal, where you pay Y48 for a soup…
reviewed
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Tiāndì Yījiā
Doing business from a restored building alongside Changpu River Park (Chāngpú Hé Gōngyuán), this refined, Chinese courtyard–style restaurant is notable for the water feature with multicoloured fish that dominates the elegant dining room. There’s also a balcony overlooking the Imperial Archives (Huángshǐ Chéng). The menu, which spans a number of provinces and styles, is strong on seafood with snob appeal – shark’s fin, abalone and lobster – as well as traditional delicacies such as bird’s-nest soup and local faves such as Peking duck. It also does dim sum. But the black-clad waitresses are not a bundle of laughs and there’s a slightly stiff feel to the whole…
reviewed
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Traktirr Pushkin
Russian restaurants were the first foreign eateries to appear in Běijīng and have remained popular, mostly because Russian cuisine’s emphasis on meat, potatoes and cream means it’s perfect for anyone looking for an extra layer of fat to help them survive Běijīng’s freezing winters. This one’s location near the Russian embassy guarantees it a loyal stream of customers drawn in by classic dishes such as borscht (Y18), Russian-style dumplings (Y20), chicken Kiev (Y38) and trout in sour cream (Y58). As it’s a Russian restaurant, there’s a sterling selection of alcohol to choose from. If you need a change from weak Chinese beer, go for the Russian Baltika (Y25), or try one of…
reviewed
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Megabite
This hygienic fast-food emporium puts Cantonese, Yúnnán, Sìchuān, teppan-yaki, clay pot, Korean and porridge (zhōu) outlets all under one roof and is a reliable place for a lunchstop if you’re shopping in the area. Look out for decent dumplings (jiǎozi) and xiǎolóngbāo, the steamed buns that are Shànghǎi’s favourite street snack. There are also solid noodle sets available here, as well as Indian samosas and roti prata. Portions are generous and good value – you can eat very well for around Y20. You don’t pay in cash for your dish; instead, buy a card (Y5 deposit; cards come in denominations of Y30, Y50, Y100, Y200, Y500 and Y1000 units) at the kiosk at the…
reviewed
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Yù Shàn Táng
Located off Nanluogu Xiang, inside Han’s Royal Garden, Běijīng’s biggest courtyard hotel, the spectacular setting – individual dining rooms with intricately painted ceiling panels, hanging lanterns and rosewood wall panels – is a suitable backdrop to sample imperial cuisine, in one of the few places that carry on the tradition of the eight restaurants sanctioned by the Qing to serve up food fit for emperors. The dishes come carved in extraordinary shapes, such as dragons, and look so good it seems wrong to eat them. The set menus start at Y500 (maximum 16 people) but go as high as you like, depending on your tastes – you can’t dine like an emperor on the cheap. Book ahead…
reviewed
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Domus
Directly opposite Tiāndì Yījiā, and owned by the same people, this new restaurant couldn’t be more different, in everything from the food, contemporary Italian and French, to the gorgeous design – think Minotti furniture, grey-brick walls, a huge, open kitchen and a lovely, central bar in which to lounge around – and the pleasant service. Upstairs, you can sip a martini (Y70) and try the Italian antipasti menu, or proper bar snacks such as oysters. Downstairs is the restaurant (dinner only, closed Sundays), which riffs on a French theme with dishes such as pigeon roasted in tobacco leaves (Y168). The wine list is substantial and pricey (from Y450 a bottle).
reviewed
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Café de la Poste
Just down the street from the Lama Temple, this is the closest Běijīng gets to an authentic French bistro. With its relaxed vibe and friendly service, it’s a key meeting point for French expats. A small bar area where you can sip a glass of wine or a pastis opens into an intimate, nicely lit dining area. The food is unpretentious and hearty; the steaks (from Y82) are impressive cuts of meat. But it does a decent Salade Lyonnais (Y38), too, while the desserts include the renowned Death by Chocolate (Y48). There’s a three-course set lunch (Y78) during the week and brunch at weekends (Y120). The wine list starts at Y138 a bottle.
reviewed
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Crescent Moon Muslim Restaurant
The meaty lamb kebabs (羊肉串; yángròu chuàn) at this well-known hútòng-side Uighur restaurant are the talk of the town and there's a far more intimate feel here than at some of Běijīng's other more high-profile Uighur eateries. The dàpánjī (大盘鸡) is a filling dish of potatoes, peppers and vegetables served over thick noodle slices. Picture menu.
reviewed
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Le Petit Gourmand
Located off Sanlitun Lu, this is an excellent place to while away a few hours, either on the laptop (there’s wi-fi), immersed in one of the 9000-odd books in the library, or over a coffee or crêpe (from Y22), there’s also a spacious, enclosed terrace. The menu offers a selection of traditional French classics, including good salads and couscous, but the crêpes are the real draw here: try the banana and chocolate (Y30) or the apple and calvados (Y40). There’s also a set lunch deal (Y65). The books, which include a reasonable selection of French-language tomes as well as a kid’s section, are available for loan to members (Y300 a year).
reviewed