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Beijing Cuisine

Most foreign visitors don’t know what to and where to eat when they travel to Beijing for first time. Beijing is the political and cultural center of China, and of course the Chinese cuisines center as well. Any of those who knew Beijing better would have the feeling that Beijing is actually a city of restaurants: From cheap local dishes to luxurious contemporary cuisine, from Beijing imperial cuisine, Sichuan or Cantonese cuisine to American cuisine, French, Italian or other international cuisine, Beijing offers everything to meet the needs of Beijing locals and its visitors.

As Beijing cuisine has been influenced by culinary traditions from all over China, you may find Beijing cuisine is not as special as you expected for many of its dishes are actually derived from and combining the features of 2 or 3 other Chinese cuisines. If you need recommendation on Beijing cuisine, Peking duck, the most famous one, can be the answer.

Traditional Beijing snacks are more appealing than those Beijing cuisine dishes. These snacks are made with very delicate looking and unique tastes which are very popular with Beijing locals, such as Douzhir (Fermented Bean Drink) though it seems so unwelcoming with most of its visitors. And when you traveled to Beijing and saw these snacks sold on the street, you might very likely take out your money and buy some home.

The following choices are must-try snacks for Beijing travelers.

Lǘdagunr 驴打滚儿: Glutinous Rice Rolls with Sweet Bean Flour

Douzhir 豆汁儿: Fermented Bean Drink

Chaoganr 北京炒肝: Stewed Liver, Beijing Style

Wandouhuang 豌豆黄: Pea Cake

Yundoujuan 芸豆卷: French bean rolls

Aiwowo 艾窝窝: Steamed Rice Cakes with Sweet Stuffing

Doufunaor 豆腐脑儿: Jellied Tofu

Zasui 杂碎: Lamb Chop Suey

Bingtang Hulu 冰糖葫芦: Crispy Sugar-Coated Fruit （haws, yam, etc.） on a Stick

Suanmeitang 酸梅汤: Sour Plum Drink

Where to buy traditional Beijing snacks?

You may go to either of the following spots to buy traditional Beijing snacks:

Qianmen Avenue

Wangfujing Street

Longfusi snack street

Donghuamen night market

Houhai

Niujie street

Daoxiangcun

Tianfuhao

If you want to try as many Chinese cuisines as you can during this tour, you have come to the right place. As we mentioned above, Beijing offers everything: Shandong cuisine or Szechuan cuisine, Chinese or foreign cuisine, you won’t have much trouble finding your favored one.

The following lists are just some examples of featured restaurants and dishes. Hope it can give you some help deciding what to where to eat in Beijing.

Top 10 most Recommended restaurants of Beijing

Donglaishun Hualong Jie Branch东来顺华龙街店

Features: Hotpot

Location: south courtyard of Guibinlou, E Bldg, Hualongjie, Nanheyan Dajie, Dongcheng District东城区南河沿大街华龙街E座贵宾楼旁南合院

Hours: 11:00am-9:00pm

Contact: 86-10-65596984/65595084

Average Cost: RMB100 per person

Gongdelin 功德林

Features: Vegetarian Cuisine

Location: No. 2, Qianmen Dongdajie, Chongwen District

崇文区前门东大街2号

Hours:  11am-9pm

Contact:  86-10- 67020867/65112542

Average Cost: RMB100 per person

Da Dong Roast Duck Nanxincang Branch 北京大董烤鸭南新仓店

Features: Peking duck

Location: 1-2/F, Nanxincang International Plaza, 22A Dongsishitiao, Dongcheng District东城区东四十条甲22号南新仓国际大厦1~2楼

Hours: 11am-10pm

Contact: 86-10-5169 0329

Average Cost: RMB 150 per person

Li Jia Cai Restaurant厉家菜

Features: Imperial Cuisine

Location:  No.11, Yangfang hutong, Deshengmen Nei Dajie

Hours: 6:00pm-8:00pm

Contact: 86-10-6618 0107 

Average Cost: RMB150-300 per person

Jindingxuan Restaurant Ritan branch金鼎轩地坛店

Features: Cantonese Cuisine

Address：No. 77 Heping Xijie, Dongcheng district东城区和平里西街77号(近地坛南门)

Tel：86-10-64296888/64299888

Average cost: RMB50~80

Business hours: 24hours

Chuan Ban Restaurant 川办餐厅

Features: Szechuan cuisine

Address: 5 Gongyuan Toutiao, Jianguomennei Dajie建国门内贡院头条5号

Phone: 86-10-65122277

Business hours: Lunch: 10:30 am~ 2:00pm Dinner: 4:40pm~10pm

Average cost: RMB60

Hard Rock Café 硬石餐厅

Features: American cuisine

Location: #8 North Dongsanhuan Road Landmark Hotel, Chaoyang District朝阳区东三环北路8号亮马河大厦西大堂

Hours: 11:30am - 2:00am

Contact: 86-10-65906688 Ext 2571 -4

Average Cost: 100-300RMB per person

Brasserie Flo 福楼法餐厅

Features: French cuisine

Location: 2/F, Rainbow Plaza, 16 Dongsanhuan Beilu, Chaoyang District 朝阳区东三环北路16号隆博广场2楼

Hours: Lunch: Sunday – Monday: 12:00 – 15:00 Dinner: Sunday – Monday: 18:00 – 23:00

Contact:  86- 10-65955135

Average Cost: no less than RMB200 per person

Kongyiji  Restaurant孔乙己酒楼

Features: Jiangnan cuisine

Location:  South Bank of Houhai Shichahai Inner Deshengmen Avenue, Xicheng District西城区德胜门内大街东明胡同甲2号(宋庆龄故居对面)

Hours: 10:00－14:00 16:30－22:00

Contact: 86-10-66184915

Average Cost: RMB80 per person

Huajia Yiyuan 花家怡园

Features: Fusion cuisine

Location: 5 Dongzhimen Neidajie, Chaoyang district朝阳区东直门内大街5号

Hours: 10:30am-4am

Contact: 86- 10-84078288

Average Cost: RMB100 per person

8 most recommended dishes for Beijing travelers

Jingjiang Rousi 京酱肉丝

English name: Sautéed Shredded Pork in Sweet Bean Sauce

Features: Szechuan cuisine

Main ingredients: Pork, sweet bean sauce, egg, green onions,

Zhajiangmian 炸酱面

English name: Noodles with Soy Bean Paste, Beijing Style

Features: noodles

Main ingredients: noodles, yellow soybean paste, meat sauce, cucumber, bean sprout

Dapanji大盘鸡

English name: Braised Chicken with Potato and Green Pepper

Features: Xinjiang Muslim cuisine

Main ingredients: Chicken, onions, green peppers, potatoes, ground Sichuan peppers, soy sauce, ground cumin

Suantangyu酸汤鱼

English name: Fish in Sour Soup

Features: Guizhou cuisine

Ingredient: Fish, tomatoes, onions, pepper, chopped garlic, coriander

Yangxiezi羊蝎子

English name: Lamb Spine Hot Pot

Features: Beijing cuisine

Ingredient: Lamb Spine, secret soup of Chinese medicine herbs and spices

Duojiao Yutou剁椒鱼头

English name: Steamed Fish Head with Diced Hot Red Peppers

Features: Hunan (Xiang) cuisine

Ingredient: Fish head, red peppers, ginger, Spring onions, garlic

Xihu Cuyu西湖醋鱼

English name: West Lake Fish in Vinegar Gravy

Features: Zhejiang cuisine

Ingredient: grass carp, wine, white sugar, Vinegar, starch

Qiguoji汽锅鸡

English name: Steam Pot Chicken

Features: Yunnan cuisine

Ingredient: Chicken, mushroom, ham, cooking wine