Beijing Dining

Beijing is also the eighth “city of delicious food” in the world, ranking first in the mainland, and Beijing roast duck is famous at home and abroad. Apart from Beijing's most famous dish, Peking roast duck, most of the city's famous dishes are imported from surrounding areas. Food from different cultures and places converge in Beijing, so there are thousands of restaurants in the capital with a variety of dining options.

What to Eat in Beijing 

Although there are various foods in Beijing, the must-try food should be the classic dishes like the Roast Duck, Daoxiang Village Dim Sum and some local snacks.

Must-Taste Foods in Beijing

Although Beijing cuisine is not included in the eight great cuisines of China, the reputation of Beijing cuisine has long been spread out. A general feature of Beijing cuisine is that not overly biased to one flavor, delicious and fragrant. It is said that there are two things you must do to visit the city: one is to enjoy Beijing roast duck, and the other is to take a walk on the Great Wall. Beijing has dozens of restaurants serving roast duck, but perhaps the most famous is Quanjude and Bianyifang. Other must-taste foods include instant-boiled mutton, noodles with soybean paste, stewed pork liver, Fried Beef Tripe, Luzhu Huoshao, Fermented Soya-bean Milk and so on. 

Beijing Daoxiang Village Dim Sums

In 1895, Guo Yusheng from Jinling established Daoxiang village and settled in Qianmen Guanyin temple, so until today, "Daoxiang village" has become a century-old shop in Beijing. China is a country that is very particular about what to eat on every solar term, so in any solar term, there is always a product suitable for our needs in Daoxiang village.

More about Daoxiang Village Dim Sum in Beijing

Local Snacks in Beijing

Beijing snacks have a long history and win universal praise for their wide varieties, superior materials and careful preparation. They incorporate snacks from Han, Hui, Mongolian, Manchu and other ethnic groups, as well as court snacks from the Ming and qing dynasties. Beijing has many unique snacks you can eat at the night markets and snacks streets, including Lv Da Gun(驴打滚), Bingtanghulu/Sugar-coated Haws, Aiwowo(艾窝窝), Fried Ring, etc. 

Where to Eat in Beijing

Beijing Roast Duck Restaurants

The most famous roast duck restaurants are the traditional time-honored brands, Quanjude and Bianyifang, where finicky diners can taste the subtle differences between the two flavors. There are so many branches of these two brands that you can choose at will. In addition to the two time-honored brands, roast duck at Siji Minfu, Dadong, Huajia Yiyuan, Jing Wei Zhai(京味斋), Tongle Xihe(同乐羲和) is also a signature dish. They are the duck restaurants that locals will choose.

Time-honored Brands 

The catering culture of old Beijing city is hidden, extensive and profound. Many century-old stores, classic time-honored brands, are hidden all over the city. These old brands for many years of operation, accumulated perfect quality and original flavor of Beijing taste.

  • Menkuang Hutong Centennium Spiced Sauce(门框胡同百年卤煮)
    Address: No.2(A), Zhao Dengyu Road, Xicheng District, Beijing City北京市西城区赵登禹路甲2号
    Tel: 13521246688
  • Donglaishun(东来顺饭庄)
    Address: No.198, Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing City北京市东城区王府井大街198号
    Tel: 010-65139661/010-65253562
  • Du Yi Chu Shao-mai(都一处烧麦馆)
    Address: No.38, Qianmen Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing City北京市东城区前门大街38号
    Tel: 010-67024578/010-67021555
  • Yaoji Fried Liver(姚记炒肝店)
    Address: No.311, Gulou East Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing City北京市东城区鼓楼东大街311号
    Tel: 010-84010570/15652285898
  • Kaorouji(烤肉季)
    Address: No.14, Qianhai East Side, Di'anmen Outer Avenue, Xicheng District, Beijing City北京市西城区地安门外大街前海东沿14号
    Tel: 010-64042554/010-64069719
  • Hong Bin Lou(鸿宾楼)
    Address: No.11, Exhibition Road, Xicheng District, Beijing City北京市西城区展览馆路11号
    Tel: 010-68994560/010-68992569

Imperial Cuisine Restaurants

According to the different people it serves, the imperial cuisine in Beijing is divided into royal court cuisine and official cuisine. Royal court cuisine is a cuisine that originated in the imperial palace. Based on the food served to the emperor and the imperial court, royal court cuisine is known for its authentic ingredients and carefully selected ingredients. In addition, the dishes are decorated with different colors of vegetables and fruits carved into various shapes. And each dish has an auspicious name. Official cuisine is a special flavor of the city. In the past, local officials were particular about the food they ate. The most famous official food is Tan Family food served by Beijing hotel. It was the first choice of Tan Zongling, a Qing dynasty (1644-1911) official, and was later introduced to restaurants. Here below are several restaurants providing imperial cuisine. 

Night Markets and Snack Street

Beijing night market and snack street are the best places for tourists to taste local delicious snacks. In addition to the famous snack streets like Wangfujing Snack Street, Guijie Street, Shichahai Snack Street and Niujie Street, there are also many other snack streets and night markets, including Qianmen food street, Xiaoyun road, Pingan avenue, South Luogu Lane Night Street, Fucheng road(阜成路), etc. 

Western Restaurants in Beijing

Beijing is a veritable modern metropolis. Many foreigners study, work and live here, which also drives the prosperity of western restaurants in Beijing. You can eat authentic French food, Spanish food, Italian food and even Indian food in Beijing. Delicious western restaurants are mostly concentrated in Sanlitun and worker's stadium in Chaoyang district. From Matta Italian to Spanish restaurant, you can get a taste of the world in Beijing.

  • Jazz.Ya(爵士屋)
    Address: No.18, Sanlitun North Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing City北京市朝阳区三里屯北路18号
    Tel: 010-64151227
  • Puerta 20 Spanish Restaurant(波尔塔20西班牙餐厅)
    Address: No.20, Worker's Stadium, Chaoyang District, Beijing City北京市朝阳区工体20号
    Tel: 010-65082020/18500202020
  • Matta Italian Restaurant(Matta意大利餐厅)
    Address: Worker's Stadium, Chaoyang District, Beijing City北京市朝阳区工人体育场
    Tel: 010-65539949
  • Matta Italian Restaurant(Matta意大利餐厅)
    Address: Worker's Stadium, Chaoyang District, Beijing City北京市朝阳区工人体育场
    Tel: 010-65539949
  • The Rug(贝谷窝)
    Address: No.4, Worker's Stadium North Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing City北京市朝阳区工体北路4号
    Tel: 010-65072342
  • Carmen Spanish Restaurant(卡门西班牙餐厅)
    Address: No.81, Sanlitun Bar Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing City北京市朝阳区三里屯酒吧街81号
    Tel: 010-64178038
  • Agua Spanish Restaurant(agua西班牙餐厅)
    Address: No.81, Sanlitun North Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing City北京市朝阳区三里屯北路81号
    Tel: 010-52086198/010-52086188
  • Brasserie Flo(福楼法餐厅FLO)
    Address: No.18, Xiaoyun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing City北京市朝阳区霄云路18号
    Tel: 010-65955135

More Foreign Restaurants in Beijing

Representative Offices Restaurants(办事处餐厅)

There is a legend in Beijing food circle that the restaurants of various regional offices in Beijing have the most authentic dishes from all over the country. People from other places working in Beijing often go there to look for authentic hometown flavor; Locals in Beijing also go there to find the most authentic cuisine. Gong Bao Chicken at the restaurant of Sichuan office in Beijing and Lamb Kebab at Urumqi office restaurant, etc., are indispensable treasures of Beijing food circle.

  • Restaurant of sichuan office in Beijing(川办餐厅)
    Address: Toutiao No.5, Gongyuan West Street, Jianguomen Inner Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing City北京市东城区建国门内大街贡院西街头条5号
    Tel: 010-65122277/010-65287828
  • Sinkiang Restaurant(新疆饭庄)
    Address: Beili No.1, Chegongzhuang street, Xicheng District, Beijing City北京市西城区车公庄大街北里1号
    Tel: 010-68366198/010-68362796/010-68362795
  • Inner Mongolia Beijing office restaurant(内蒙古驻京办餐厅)
    Address: The 3rd Floor of Inner Mongolia Building, No.2, Chongwenmen Inner Avenue, Dongcheng District, Beijing City北京市东城区崇文门内大街2号内蒙古大厦3层
    Tel: 010-65228118
  • Shaanxi Flavor Restaurant(陕西风味餐厅)
    Address: Behind Shaanxi Building, Chaoyang District, Beijing City北京市朝阳区陕西大厦后面
    Tel: 010-57280858
  • Yunteng Restaurant(云腾食府)
    Address: The 7th Building of Donghuashi Beili East Area, Dongcheng District, Beijing City北京市东城区东花市北里东区7号楼
    Tel: 010-67136439/010-67136437
  • Hubei Taste(湖北味道)
    Address: The 1st Fllor of Hubei Building, No.36, Zhongguancun South Avenue, Haidian District, Beijing City北京市海淀区中关村南大街36号湖北大厦1层
    Tel: 010-62108377/010-62172288/010-62108378
  • Xiangxi Office Restaurant in Beijing/Western Hunnan Restaurant(湘西驻京办事处餐厅/湘西菜馆)
    Address: The 10th Floor of Xiangxi Building, No.111, Taipingqiao Street, Xicheng District, Beijing City北京市西城区太平桥大街111号湘西大厦10楼
    Tel: 010-66216598
  • Guizhou Flavor Restaurant(贵州大厦贵州厅)
    Address: The 2nd Floor off Guizhou Building, No.18, Yinghua West Street, North Third Ring, Chaoyang District, Beijing City北京市朝阳区北三环樱花西街18号贵州大厦2楼
    Tel: 010-58109988

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