Must-see restaurants in China

  • Chung Kee Store

    Sha Tau Kok

    Deep in the hills, a Hakka villager with a passion for cooking has turned his seafront store into a restaurant. Patrons feast under trees on seafood and…

  • Royal Icehouse

    Beijing

    Serving imperial banquet fare such as Peking duck, braised sea cucumber and sweetmeats incuding sugared crabapples, this intriguing restaurant was once a…

  • Yuèbīn Fànguǎn

    Forbidden City & Dongcheng Central

    A marvellous, messy microcosm of Beijing at its most boisterous, this old-school canteen slings giant platters of traditional grub, which tastes more…

  • Sìjì Mínfú

    Forbidden City & Dongcheng Central

    A relative newcomer to the Peking duck scene, this local chain boasts some of the best birds in town, and this branch in particular is a beauty, with a…

  • Zi Yue Man Ju Restaurant

    Shandong

    This clean, modern restaurant attached to Zi Yue Man Ju Hotel does ordinary Chinese fried dishes and noodles, as well as Confucius Cuisine. Staff are…

  • Luk Yu Tea House

    Hong Kong

    This gorgeous formal teahouse (c 1933) with original art deco decor was the haunt of opera artists, writers and painters who came to give recitals and…

  • Mazhong Snack Centre

    Xining

    Stalls selling local and regional specialities line this bustling indoor food court. Miànpiàn (面片, flat noodle pieces) and chǎodāo xiāomiàn (炒刀削面, stir…

  • Xiānhè Lóu

    Ningxia

    This fantastic, cavernous place opens round the clock, serving both big spenders and budget seekers. You could splash out on the pricey fish dishes or the…

  • Zhōngguān Miàn

    Inner Mongolia

    This noodle bar to the west of New Century Sq serves up some fine and filling noodles: aim for the oil-splashed noodles (油泼面, yóupōmiàn; small/big ¥12/14)…

  • Xiǎo Hú Niú

    Hubei

    Specialising in a local beef hotplate called xiǎo hú niú, this is a fun place to eat in Beimen. Order the hotplate first, stipulating how spicy you want…

  • Ichipangai

    Beijing

    Teleport to Tokyo at this food court of tiny izakaya and counter-top joints frequented by Beijing's community of Japanese salarymen. Suika (醉香, second…

  • Dà Qīng Huā Jiǎozi

    Hebei

    The finest dumpling house in Chengde, this excellent establishment has a big choice of juicy jiǎozi (dumplings; ¥18 to ¥32 per serving). Choose boiled (水饺…

  • Fènglín Gé

    Datong

    Exquisite and delectable shāomai (steamed dim-sum dumplings) are the star of the show at this fancy, period-style restaurant in the heart of the old town…

  • Sānjiěmèi Jiǎozi

    Xi'an

    Weary diners with dumpling fatigue will be inspired by the rustic two-room Three Sisters, with its well-done twist on classics. Try succulent carrot-and…

  • Xībù Mǎnfú Lóu

    Suzhou

    Charming joint serving tasty western China style food, including roast lamb, kebabs, hotpot, and the standout Lánzhōu-style noodles (兰州牛肉面, ¥32). Located…

  • On 56

    Shanghai

    All the restaurants in this swish selection come with breathtaking views into the Shanghai void from the Grand Hyatt. Canton serves modern Cantonese that…

  • Old Town Night Market

    Henan

    Festooned with brightly lit red lanterns, this lively night market has a cornucopia of snacks. The market is now cash-free, meaning that if you aren't…

  • Nirvana Restaurant & Bar

    Gansu

    This inviting, bright restaurant serves Tibetan dishes, such as the popular yak hotpot (¥25) and tsampa (¥20), as well as western favourites and…

  • Xiāngfǔ Ròudīng Shuǐjiǎo

    Shandong

    At the south end of Fulai Lijie, this tiny restaurant draws foodies from afar with its speciality dumplings (水饺,shuǐjiǎo); the ones stuffed with tender…

  • Megan's Kitchen

    Wan Chai & Northeast Hong Kong Island

    Broth choices like tom yum and lobster borscht make for a modern twist on the classic hotpot experience at Megan's, though standbys such as spicy Sichuan…

  • Dunya

    Lhasa

    With calming decor and wide-ranging food, this cosy place is no longer Dutch-owned but it still captures Lhasa’s tour-group zeitgeist, and is often packed…

  • Róngxiáng Hǎixiān

    Shandong

    At this perpetually packed local institution, the seafood is crawling/swimming/blinking at one end of the room where you put in your order. Everything is…

  • Pawn Kitchen

    Wan Chai & Northeast Hong Kong Island

    Occupying the 2nd floor of a historic balconied building, the Pawn impresses with modern British cooking: mussels steamed in malt beer with 'big chips',…

  • Miss Yang Restaurant

    Fenghuang

    Specialising in local cuisine, particularly that of the Miao and Tujia people, such as Tuo River fish (沱江小鱼, Tuó Jiāng xiǎoyú), this intimate restaurant…

  • Gāngyāgǒu

    Ningbo

    Gāngyāgǒu has been making Ningbo's signature dumplings (宁波汤圆, Ningbo tāngyuán; six for ¥16), silky boiled rice cakes stuffed with sugar-spiked ground…

  • Tibetan Family Kitchen

    Lhasa

    This former mom-and-pop joint has upgraded to a stylish Tibetan building on the southeastern corner of the Barkhor. The homemade recipes such as yak meat…

  • San Xi Lou

    Wan Chai & Northeast Hong Kong Island

    Fresh ingredients and masterful use of spices make this isolated eatery one of Hong Kong's best Sichuan restaurants. Indecisive chilli heads can go for…

  • Chuen Kee Seafood Restaurant

    Sai Kung Peninsula

    Chuen Kee impresses with its range of fish, crustaceans and molluscs on offer – all displayed alive in tanks at the entrance, of course. The preparation…

  • West Villa

    Wan Chai & Northeast Hong Kong Island

    Above a ritzy shopping mall, prepare to be intimidated by tanks of king crab, rows of Chateau Margaux wines and a menu heavy on wallet-busting abalone…

  • Yáng Mázǐ Dà Bǐng

    Hebei

    This no-frills canteen-like restaurant specialises in dà bǐng (大饼; plate-sized, golden-fried, pastry twirls with a variety of both savoury and sweet…

  • Liquid Laundry

    French Concession

    Subway-tiled walls and exposed warehouse piping, Liquid Laundry will almost have you thinking you're in NYC. This vast gastropub offers several options –…

  • Banqiao Seafood Market

    Hainan

    For a fresh seafood dinner with lots of noise, smoke and toasting, head to the hectare of tables at the Banqiao Seafood Market, known island-wide. First…

  • Mínjiān Càiguǎn

    Shanxi

    This humble place makes delicious country dishes (农家菜, nóngjiā cài). The stir-fried (homegrown) spinach (清炒菠菜, qīngchǎo bōcài) has bite and a lingering…

  • Yunnan Mama's Kitchen

    Gansu

    Mr Wang and the folk from Dali in Yunnan at this family-run restaurant are a bundle of fun. Sample the five or six flavours of strong homemade qīngkē…

  • Little Yunnan

    Forbidden City & Dongcheng Central

    Perhaps it's due to Yunnan's exotic culinary allusions to Southeast Asia, but this crossover cuisine has long been held dear by foreign foodies in China…

  • Taoyuan Village

    Beijing

    A hip spot for Chinese breakfast any time of day, this canteen chain from Shanghai specialises in the Taiwanese wake-up call of hot soy milk (dòujiāng)…

  • Yǎba Shēngjiān

    Suzhou

    With great clouds of steam rising from the kitchen, this local icon has been flogging noodles since 1943, but its handmade shēngjiān bāo (生煎包, pan-fried…

  • Ānhuī Bǎnmiàn Wáng

    Tianjin

    On the periphery of gentrified Wudadao, this tiny, no-frills noodles joint is an English-free zone, but serves up delicious, filling bowls of noodles,…

  • Moka Bros

    Beijing

    A Beijing original, Moka's hipster combo of brunch food, Edison bulb lighting and subway tile walls muralled by Plastered 8 has seen this mini-chain…

  • Hǎiróng Guōtiēdiàn

    Xi'an

    A civilised and restful choice, this place specialises in guōtiē (锅贴) 'potsticker' fried dumplings and they are simply delicious. There's six different…

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