Food and restaurants, what and where to eat in Beijing

Beijing is not only a collective place of Chinese gourmet food but a distributing center of gourmet food from all over the world. Thousands of modern and traditional restaurants, as well as shops have aroused many people’s gourmet desires.

In Beijing, there are not only different kinds of local traditional cuisine such as roast duck, instant-boiled meat and snacks but also cuisines that are nationally renowned. These include old royal dishes, homemade dishes, Muslim dishes, plus exotic gourmet food like French style food, American fast food, Japanese cuisine, Korean cuisine, Southeast Asian dishes and Indian food. All these types of cuisine will be sure to satisfy your taste buds.

Beijing cuisine is a first choice when you come travel in Beijing. From the imperial palaces to the alleyways, from street vendors to restaurants, authentic Beijing snacks have always been a unique culinary hallmark of the city. Following are the best food and restaurant in Beijing.

What to eat

Top 1: Beijing Roast Duck/北京烤鸭

Beijing Roast Duck

Beijing Roast Duck, or Peking Duck, is a world-renowned specialty dish from Beijing and a famous delicacy of imperial cuisine. Made with high-quality meat ducks and roasted over fruitwood charcoal, it features a glossy red appearance, rich yet not greasy flavor, and a crispy exterior with a tender interior, earning it the title of "the best delicacy under heaven". The most classic way to enjoy it is to use thin lotus-leaf like pancakes spread with sweet bean sauce, then wrap slices of the duck along with slivers of green onion and cucumber. With one bite, the unique flavors burst forth, bringing unparalleled satisfaction.

Top 2: Luzhu Huoshao/卤煮火烧

Luzhu Huoshao is a traditional Beijing snack. It is said that due to the high price of pork belly in earlier time, people began using pig's head meat and offal as substitutes, which over time led to the creation of Luzhu Huoshao. The dish is made by simmering Huoshao (a kind of roasted flatbread) together with stewed pig's intestines and lungs, complemented with fried tofu slices, master stock, and seasoned with garlic juice, cilantro, and other ingredients. Through long simmering, the Huoshao becoming tender without sticking, and the meat is soft but not overly mushy, making it a favorite among many.

Top 3: Instant-boiled Mutton/老北京涮羊肉

In Beijing, when it comes to "Instant-boiled Mutton", everyone knows it. Beijing Instant-boiled Mutton, its most distinctive feature of is the copper pot, in which is filled with a clear broth, flavored with a few slices of ginger and spring onions, and occasionally a few goji berries. It may seem simple, but it highlights the freshness of the mutton. The thinly sliced mutton with clear muscle fibers, when is dipped into the hot broth, it cooks almost instantly, becoming tender and aromatic without any gamey or greasy taste, paired with sesame paste, rich and flavorful.

Top 4: Beijing Zhajiangmian/老北京炸酱面

Beijing Zhajiangmian (noodles served with fried bean sauce) is a traditional and popular snack in Beijing. The soul of the dish lies in its Zhajiang (fried sauce), which is made by frying diced meat with ginger and green onions until fragrant, then simmering it with fermented soybean paste and sweet bean sauce over low heat. The noodles are cooked and drained, topped with the Zhajiang and mixed with cucumber, Chinese toon, and soybeans, which is aromatic, flavorful, and refreshing.

Top 5: Chaogan/炒肝

Chaogan (Fried Liver) is a famous Beijing breakfast snack, known for its shiny and sauce-red broth, fragrant liver and fatty sausage, and rich yet non-greasy flavor with a thick but non-sticky texture. Despite its name, "Fried Liver" is actually made primarily from pig’s fatty intestines and liver. After cleaning the pig’s intestines, they are processed and then simmered with pig’s liver in a broth made from champignon mushrooms, flavored with ginger, garlic, and spring onions, and thickened with starch. Although called "fried liver", it’s actually braised intestines, which has a fresh, fragrant, and clear appearance, with an excellent taste.

Top 6: Baodu/爆肚

Baodu (Flash-fried Tripe) is a famous Beijing snack, often run by Hui Muslim vendors, and has been recorded as far back as the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. Baodu is made by cleaning and preparing fresh beef tripe (specifically beef omasum and rumen) or fresh lamb tripe, cutting it into strips or chunks, and briefly boiling it in hot water. It is then served with a variety of dipping sauces such as sesame paste, vinegar, chili oil, cilantro, and chopped spring onions, which is tender, flavorful, and has a crispness in texture.

Top 7: Lvdagun/驴打滚

Lvdagun, also known as Soybean Flour Cake, is one of Beijing's traditional snacks. The coating of yellow soybean flour resembles the yellow dust kicked up when wild donkeys roll in the fields, so named as "Lvdagun" (Rolling Donkey). The snack is made by steaming millet flour mixed with water, coating the dough with soybean flour, then wiped with red bean paste filling, which is then rolled up and cut into small pieces. The finished Lvdagun has a golden yellow exterior covered in soybean flour, with a sweet bean paste filling that is sweet and soft, well enjoyed by people of all ages.

Top 8: Sachima/沙琪玛

Sachima is a traditional Manchu sweet pastry. After the Qing Dynasty entered Beijing, the Manchu people brought Sachima from Northeast China, and it began to gain popularity in Beijing. The pastry is made by mixing eggs and flour to form strips, which are then deep-fried until golden, then coated with sugar syrup and cut into small pieces. Sachima has a light golden color, with a crispy yet soft texture, sweet and delicious, which helped this Manchu delicacy spread throughout China.

Where to eat

Top 1: Quanjude Roast Duck/全聚德

Quanjude, a time-honored Chinese brand, was established in 1864, with nearly 160 years of history. As the origin of the "Quanjude" brand, the Qianmen store specializes in traditional Beijing roasted duck and unique local dishes, earning the reputation of "The First Restaurant Under Heaven". The Qianmen store features an ancient and elegant atmosphere with Beijing characteristics, adorned with dragon carvings and painted beams, red walls and green tiles inside, all reflecting the grandeur and elegance of traditional Beijing architecture.

• Recommended: Beijing Roast Duck, Duck Feet with Mustard, Braised Four Delicacies of Duck, Salted Duck Liver
• Operating Hours: 11:00 AM – 02:30 PM & 04:30 AM – 09:00 PM
• Address: No. 30 Qianmen Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
• Telephone: 010-65112418

Top 2: Da Dong Roast Duck/大董烤鸭店

Da Dong Roast Duck Restaurant, founded in 1985, is named after its general manager, whose family name is Dong. Da Dong’s roast duck is distinctive and unique. The restaurant has made significant changes in cooking techniques, with a focus on health-conscious innovations for its customers. This emphasis on healthier cooking methods is the foundation of Da Dong's success and the reason behind its thriving business. The duck skin at Da Dong is particularly special, achieving the perfect texture of being "crispy yet not greasy".

• Recommended: Beijing Roast Duck, Dong Kung Pao Shrimp, Duck Feet with Mustard, Cabbage in Safflower Juice
• Operating Hours: 11:00 PM – 10:00 PM
• Address: No. 301 Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
• Telephone: 010-65288802

Top 3: Huguo Temple Restaurant/护国寺小吃

Huguo Temple Restaurant is one of the representative local snack brands in Beijing, renowned for its rich variety and deep historical and cultural heritage, embodying the essence of Beijing's culinary tradition. The establishment offers over 100 varieties of traditional Beijing snacks, all of excellent quality and wide-ranging, attracting a large number of both domestic and international diners.

• Recommended: Lvdagun, Douzhi (Fermented Mungbean Milk), Pea Flour Cake, Aiwowo, Fried Ring
• Operating Hours: 06:00 AM – 09:00 PM
• Address: No. 93 Huguosi Street, Xicheng District, Beijing
• Telephone: 010-66181705

Top 4: Donglaishun Restaurant/东来顺饭店

Donglaishun was founded in 1903. Over the course of several generations, its chefs have drawn from various culinary traditions and devoted themselves to perfecting the art of cooking lamb dishes. For more than a century, Donglaishun has grown from a humble porridge stall into one of Beijing's most renowned halal restaurants.

• Recommended: Instant-boiled Mutton, Fried Cake Butter Cream, Stewed Sliced Fish in Wine Sauce
• Operating Hours: 11:00 AM – 09:00 PM
• Address: No. 198 Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
• Telephone: 010-65139661

Top 5: Yao Family Chaogan/姚记炒肝店

Yao Family Chaogan is a truly time-honored brand in Beijing, whom the saying "If you want to eat Chaogan, just turn the corner at the Drum Tower" refers to. In the morning, a steaming bowl of Chaogan paired with some baozi is a favorite choice for many old Beijingers, and it is also the perfect choice for tourists wanting to experience authentic Beijing snacks.

• Recommended: Chaogan, Baodu, Douzhi, Lvdagun, Baozi, Luzhu Huoshao, Fried Ring
• Operating Hours: 06:00 AM – 11:00 PM
• Address: No. 311 Gulou East Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
• Telephone: 010-84010570

Top 6: Bai Family Courtyard Restaurant/白家大院

Family Bai Courtyard Restaurant was established within this imperial garden, dotted with pavilions, terraces and mansions connected by winding paths and corridors. The staff wear imperial costume and welcome you with greetings in royal style. Sometimes, they play musical instruments and sing local songs while awaiting your arrival.

• Recommended: Braised Shark Fin, Palace Snack, Bai Mansion Sea Cucumber, Iron Plate Venison
• Operating Hours: 10:30 AM – 10:30 PM
• Address: No. 15 Suzhou Street, Haidian District, Beijing
• Telephone: 010-62658851

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