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Restaurants in Beijing

Food and eating are ingrained in the Chinese psyche, and visitors don't have to walk far to find a restaurant serving Beijing’s famous duck or more eclectic delicacies such as fried pigs trotters or duck's tongue. The international dining scene is maturing, with a wide range of cuisines on offer. That does not mean all new openings are any good, so check out several options when choosing restaurants in Beijing.

The Beijing restaurants below have been grouped into three pricing categories:
Expensive (over ¥300)
Moderate (¥100 to ¥300)
Cheap (up to ¥100)
These Beijing restaurant prices are for a three-course meal for one, including a bottle of house wine or equivalent – note you won't be able to get wine in cheap restaurants, where beer or local spirits are the order of the day. Tax is included, but not tip. Tipping in China is never expected except at the plushest of restaurants in Beijing.

Maison Boulud

Price: Expensive

New York-based, Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud opened his first Asian restaurant in Beijing in 2008. Located in the neo-classical former American Embassy building, this exquisite location features high ceilings with ornate frescoes, large silk-draped windows and sumptuous, salon-style dining rooms. The kitchens cook up the finest French fare in Beijing, and the wine menu and service standards are exemplary.

Address: 23 Qianmen Dong Dajie, Beijing, China
Telephone: (010) 6559 9200.
http://www.chienmen23.com

Red Capital Club

Price: Moderate

Step back in time at this gorgeous old-courtyard restaurant in Beijing, decorated with an amazing collection of communist paraphernalia - from Mao's armchairs to Zhou En Lai's radios - and serving food from Zhongnanhai (the communist leaders' compound). The imperial cuisine more than does justice to the unique, 1950s-feel surroundings.

Address: 66 Dongsi Jiutiao, Beijing, China
Telephone: (010) 8401 6152.
http://www.redcapitalclub.com.cn

Huang Ting

Price: Moderate

Meaning ‘Phoenix Court’, this atmospheric restaurant recreates a Ming-dynasty courtyard, replete with grey brick walls, antique furniture and a wooden entrance door that would grace any Beijing temple. Specialising in Cantonese dishes and dim sum, Huang Ting also serves up Beijing specialities including the famous roast duck. Several private dining rooms are available for business functions.

Address: Peninsula Beijing Hotel, 8 Jinyu Hutong, Beijing, China
Telephone: (010) 6510 6707.
http://www.peninsula.com/Beijing.aspx

Hatsune

Price: Expensive

This sleek and super-chic Japanese restaurant in Beijing draws a mixed crowd of business high-flyers and hip 20-somethings with deep pockets. Specialising in sushi and succulent handmade rolls, the food is fresh and artistically presented, and service is attentive.

Address: 2/F Heqiao Building C, 8A Guanghua Lu, Beijing, China
Telephone: (010) 6581 3939.

Xinjiang Flavours

Price: Cheap

This is the best restaurant in Beijing to try out da pan ji - literally Big Plate Chicken - a delicious speciality of China's Muslim-dominated far-western province of Xinjiang. The dish, enough for four hungry mouths, consists of one whole chicken chopped into bite-sized chunks and stewed together with potatoes, peppers, chillies and all manner of herbs and spices. Don't forget to leave room for the noodles lying on the bottom of the plate. Naan bread (kao nang) makes a perfect accompaniment. The lamb skewers (yang rou chuan) are a great side dish. No English menu.

Address: 11 Gulou Dong Dajie, Beijing, China

Xiong Di Chuan Cai

Price: Cheap

Xiong Di Chuan Cai serves up specialities from Sichuan, a province in southwest China famous for its spicy food. Sure enough, many of the dishes will leave your nose running, but there are enough mild options to make this a safe(ish) choice for those who can't handle their chillies. There's an easy-to-order photo menu with fairly comprehensive English translations. Dishes to look out for at this cheap restaurant in Beijing include: kung pao chicken (spicy chicken with peanuts), bian dry beans (spicy dry-fried runner beans) and scalding mustard greens in soy sauce.

Address: 121 Gulou Dong Dajie, Beijing, China
Telephone: (010) 6405 6681.

Donghuamen Night Market

Price: Cheap

A sizzling treat for street-food addicts in Beijing. Clean, cheap and very popular, this 200m (656ft), red-lanterned roadside strip buzzes every night after dark. Over 100 regional dishes and desserts are served, though most popular are the various kebabs, featuring meat, vegetables, fish and even delights such as silkworms and scorpions! These skewered treats are accompanied by pancakes, dumplings, stews and dipping sauces. Even for those not wanting to eat, the crackling atmosphere is not to be missed.

Address: Junction of Donghuamen Lu and Wangfujing Lu, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China

Dali Courtyard

Price: Moderate

Tucked away down a backstreet hutong off Gulou Dongdajie, in the hip Drum Tower area of Beijing, this delightful courtyard restaurant serves excellent set menus of authentic southwestern Yunnan cuisine. The accent is on fresh vegetables and herbs from the high-altitude province that infuse the dishes with a sweet, aromatic appeal. In summer, the tree-filled garden terrace is one of the most romantic dining spots in Beijing.

Address: 67 Xiaojingcheng Hutong, Beijing, China
Telephone: (010) 8404 1430.
http://www.dalicourtyard.com

Li Jia Cai

Price: Expensive

An imperial cuisine gem, hidden in a quiet hutong in Beijing. This intimate but exclusive restaurant by Houhai Lake serves set-priced menus that are high on both quality and price, yet steeped in historical significance. The owner's grandfather worked in the imperial kitchens and smuggled out the Empress' recipes, which are still adhered to today. Bookings are essential.

Address: 11 Yangfang Hutong, Xicheng District, China
Telephone: (010) 6618 0107.
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