Beijing's 2009 Top 10 Listings
Peking Duck 北京烤鸭
Made
in China长安壹号
1 Dongchang’anjie (Jia), Dongfang Junyue Dajiudian Level 1 (Grand
Hyatt Beijing), Dongcheng District
东城区东长安街甲1号东方君悦大酒店1层
11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 10.00pm
Their technique, which sets theirs apart, is not overly traditional but it goes one up on tradtional versions. The Peking Ducks here have an even crispier skin and very tender meat, and does not have an overly unpleasant aftertaste and oiliness. The acid test: place their competitor's version with theirs for a few hours side by side. Chomp on both and you'll realise that Made in China's version retains its warmth and crispiness, as if it was made just a few minutes ago.
Hot Pot 火锅
Dǐng
Dǐng Xiāng 鼎鼎香
40 Dongzhimenwai Dong Zhongjie, Donghuan Guangchang Duimian (Opposite
Donghuan Guangchang), Yuanjia Guoji Gonyu (Yuanjia International
Apartment) Level 2, Dongcheng District
东城区东直门外东中街40号东环广场对面元嘉国际公寓2层
10.00am – 10.00pm
Ding Ding Xiang raised the profile of Beijing steamboat to become a dish worthy of serving in restaurants. The décor of the restaurant is modern, grand and exquisite, while exuding warmth. The menu offers a far wider variety than a traditional steamboat does. Ingredients never thought to be cooked in steamboat such as abalone, foie gras, and veal, are all available here. The restaurant also has added soup such as Thai style tom yum, wild fungi, and sharks fin etc to its choice of soup base. There are also seafood and sesame paste dips. The most useful and highly commended is the sauce counter at the center of the restaurant. You can concoct your own favourite sauce at that counter to go with the meats. Don’t forget to bring some sesame cakes home to savour at ease. That is what many customers do.
Boiled Seafood Skewers 关东煮
Shuàn
Chuàn 涮串
Hufangqiao Xibeijiao (Northwest corner of Hufang Bridge), Zhongfu
Dianqixi (West of Zhongfu Electrical), Xuanwu District 宣武区虎坊桥西北角（中复电器西）
11.00am – 9.00pm
Hot pot eateries are popular throughout the country but this streetside stall is particularly popular with the locals here. The stock cost just 5RMB, and all the skewered ingredients, at 50 cents each. Pick what you fancy from the display counter and boil it in your pot of soup – similar to mala hotpot. The aroma of the spicy hot soup, when it boils, is very comforting. The place is loud, crowded and very friendly, and tearing into a few hundred sticks with a big group of friends is not an uncommon phenomenon here. If fine-dining atmosphere is not your thing, then this place will please.
Chinese Burgers/Meat Burgers 中式汉堡/肉夹馍
Huáng
Hé Shui Shan Xī Miàn Guan 黄河水陕西面馆
24 Meishuguan Dongjie, Dongcheng District
东城区美术馆东街甲24号
10.00am – 10.00pm
The aroma strikes you even before you step into the restaurant, then, you'll hear crackling and bubbling sounds - that’s the chef roasting the beef. This traditional method of cooking will produce meat that is tender, chewy, and not too greasy even when laden with gravy. The meat is thoroughly braised till the fat and the lean parts are separated, and you can nitpick. After this, it’s difficult to go back to the usual inferior meat loaded with coriander leaves and chilli ever again!
Lamb Soup/Stew 羊汤
Bei
Píng Yáng Tāng Guan 北平羊汤馆
14 Gonti Donglu, Zai Kangbao Huayuan (Inside Kangbao Garden), Chaoyang
District
朝阳区工体东路14号（在康堡花园）10.00am – 10.00pm
They claim to be Beijing’s best mutton soup restaurant, and has been at it for about ten years right here. Although it sells only mutton soup, stewed innards with tofu, dough cakes and a few other side dishes, its still lures and packs them in each day. The big bronze pot placed at the door is a rarity - it has been used to stew mutton soup since the owner’s grandfather’s time, a real heirloom. It is a joy sipping the steaming hot soup with the fresh aroma of mutton wafting about.
Starchy Pig Liver Stew 炒肝
Yáo
Jì Chao Gān 姚记炒肝
Gulouwan Dongnanjiao (Southeast corner of Gulouwan), Dongcheng District
东城区鼓楼湾东南角 9.00am – 9.00pm
Many stalls touting so called traditional starchy pig liver stew are not quite so authentic anymore. Short cut techniques are rife. But Yaoji is still known to be upholding the heritage and quality. The gravy is thick but not clumpy, the innards are fresh, and the owner does not pile salt into the garlic juice to save cost. Although many customers have moved to residences as far off as the fourth ring due to urban redevelopment in the city, they still make that trip back just for their fix here.
Cakes, Pastries & Biscuits 糕点，点心，饼 – Chestnut Cakes 栗子面窝头
Fang
Shàn Fàn Zhuāng 仿膳饭庄
Jingshan Xijie, Beihaigongyuan Dongmennei (Inside East Gate of Beihai
Park), Xicheng District
西城区景山西街北海公园东门内
11.00am – 2.00pm, 5.00pm – 8.00pm
Fang Shan bakes its chestnut cakes using the secret recipe of the Manchu Han Imperial Feast. Although this pastry was once considered unrefined as it is not as soft and fragrant like some pastries are, this version beats the original corn/buckwheat cake. Slowly chew on the cake, mull over and enjoy the fine texture and fragrance of the grains. Their hawthorn cake (Shan Zha Gao) and Mung Bean Cakes (Wan Dou Huang) also ranks high on the “like” meter here. The hawthorn cake is made using hawthorn sugar, osmanthus, a sprinkling of agar agar (gelatin) powder and peas. Cut into cubes less than half an inch big, decorated with a few slices of honey cakes, it’s as good as it tastes – exquisite!
Chinese Restaurant 中式餐厅 – Cantonese 粤菜
Lei
Garden 利苑酒家
89 Jinbaojie, Jinbao Dasha (Building) Level 3, Dongcheng District
东城区金宝街89号金宝大厦3层
11.30am – 2.00pm, 5.30pm – 9.15pm
It's regarded as one of the best Hong Kong-styled Cantonese eateries in Beijing and the wait staff is very sharp and attentive and has a good command of Cantonese and Mandarin language. Come in a small group with a big appetite for everything and they'll recommend a wide range in half sized portions. The signature dishes here are Bing Shao San Chen Rou (Iced Roasted Pork Belly), Jin Gu Zhen Sheng Meng Yuan Bei (Steamed Scallops with Enoki Mushrooms) and Nong Tang Luo Bo Zhu Hong Xie (Red Crab with Turnip in Thick Broth). Pricing is a little north of their peers but it's good value. Desserts such as Mango Pudding or Yang Zhi Gan Lu are also not to be missed here.
Savoury Snacks 咸小吃 - Pan-fried Wheat Skin Meat Rolls 褡裢火烧
Wàn
Xīng Jū (Gulou outlet) 万兴居（鼓楼店）
31 Cuihua Hutong, Guloudong Dajie, Dongcheng District
东城区鼓楼东大街翠花胡同31号
9.00am – 9.30pm
For the price of a local breakfast (10RMB), two hungry persons can have a satisfying meal which includes their signature fried wheat pancakes. Local chives, pure meat and onion porridge is a must try here. The mutton and carrot version is fresh and juicy. Wash it down with some gruel, complement with the starchy soup seasoned with vinegar and chilli oil… superb value and quality.
Noodles 面 - Guo Qiao Noodles 过桥米线
Chá
Huā Mèi Zi Guò Qiáo Mi Xiàn 茶花妹子过桥米线
101 Di’anmenwai Dajie, Xicheng District
西城区地安门外大街101号
9.00am – 12.00am
Cha Hua Meizi is like a snack house by the road in Yunnan Dali. The décor is simple but thoughtfully planned. The side dishes offered here are similar to Qiao Xiang Yuan’s, but served in a small black stone pot. The pale yellow chicken soup is still boiling when ingredients are added. Drink the soup while hot, it soothes and warms. The accompanying preserved vegetables, is flavourful. The shredded chicken with rice noodles dressed in spicy sauce is very popular. They shred the meat so that it handles the sauce easily and more evenly. Even in winter, the freshly shredded cool cucumber and cool rice noodles is refreshing and satisfying. The side dishes and prices here are typically Yunnan.
