Many tourists like to talk about how to enjoy Beijing cuisine in Beijing. However, unlike cuisine in Sichuan, Shandong and Jiangsu, formed typical styles “Beijing cuisine” consists of 3 parts, its origin traditional Shandong cuisine, Chinese Islamic cuisine and Beijing Xiaochi (snacks). Your trip to Beijing would be a trick without tasting authentic Beijing xiaochi. It will surely be a little dull if there is only food in your journey. Thus, we are here to provide you a map for authentic Beijing Xiaochi together with attractions in Beijing City.
Lvdagun (soybean cake, literally “rolling donkeys”)
Lvdagun tastes sticky and sweet. People thought the last procedure of making the snack, put it in the soybean flour, was seemed like a donkey rolling on the ground making dirt blow about, which made the snack vivid.
Recommended spot: Niujie Halal Baiji Snacks (in the halal supermarket, No.5 Niujie)
Nearby attractions: the Baoguo Temple, the Fayuan Temple, the Niujie Mosque, the Beijing Xuannan Culture Museum, the Ji Xiaolan Residence
Aiwowo (Glutinous rice ball)
Aiwowo is made from sticky rice, with sweet stuffing in it. It looks like a small ball covered with lotus root powder. It tastes sweet, sticky and soft.
Recommended spot: Huguosi Snack Bar (No.68 Huguosi Dajie, Xinjiekou)
Nearby attractions: the Prince Gong Mansion, the Beihai Park, the Shichahai Park
Tangjuanguo (Glazed thin pancake with Chinese yam and jujube stuffing)
The main ingredients of the snack are Chinese yams and jujubes, together with walnuts and melon. After steaming or frying, it is covered with sugar. The snack tastes sweet and is very nutritious.
Recommended spot: Jubaoyuan (No.5-2 Niujie)
Nearby attractions: the Taoranting Park, Liulichang Culture Street.
Jiangsipaicha (Crisp thin fritter twist with ginger)
As the ginger is an important material of the snack, it is also called Jiangzhipaicha (Crisp thin fritter twist with ginger sauce). The snack is the flour mixed with shredded ginger/ginger juice at first. Then the dough is put into the oil pot and fried it into slices. At last, it is coat with syrup. Thus, it is also called “sweet slices”.
Recommended spot: Nanlaishun Restaurant (F2, No.12 Nancaiyuanjie)
Nearby attractions: the Beijing Grand View Garden
Tang'erduo (Fried sugar cake)
The snack tastes very sweet and looks like human’s ear. It is actually sweet ear-shaped fried dough. It seems easy to cook but it takes complex procedures to make perfectly.
Recommended spot: Niujie Hongji Snack Bar (No.12 Niujie)
Nearby attractions: the Baoguo Temple, the Fayuan Temple, the Xuanwu Park
Miancha
The snack is a paste made from millet flour, sesame sauce, sesame oil, pepper balls and salt. It tastes salty and sweet. Old Pekingnese are used to drinking it along the edge of the bowl.
Recommended spot: Daxing Hutong Miancha (No.7 Daxing Hutong)
Nearby attractions: The Lama Temple, the Confucian Temple and Imperial Academy Museum, the National Art Museum of China, the Jingshan Park
Sanzi (fried dough twists)
Cold food is another name of Sanzi. The snack has a very long history. Li Shizhen introduced it in his work Compendium of Materia. The procedure is: first, knead the sticky rice dough; second, put some salt; third, make it into a twist shape.
Recommended spot: Old Ciqikou Douzhi (opposite the North gate of the Temple of Heaven)
Nearby attractions: the Temple of Heaven, the Beijing Museum of Natural History, the Eight Hutongs
Jiaoquan (fried dough rings)
Old Pekingnese enjoy Jiaoquan together with Douzhi, but not everyone could endure the taste of Douzhi. Jiaoquan tastes crispy and looks golden after frying.
Recommended spot: Old Ciqikou Douzhi (opposite the North gate of the Temple of Heaven)
Nearby attractions: the Temple of Heaven, the Beijing Museum of Natural History, the Eight Hutongs
Hamatumi (Cakes with bean stuffing)
The snack has another name – “frogs spit sugar”. The stuffing of the cake is red beans and it must spill over.
Recommended spot: Baikui Restaurant (No.158 Jiaodaokou Nandajie)
Nearby attractions: the Beihai Park, the Jingshan Park, the Mao Dun Residence
Tanghuoshao (Sweetened baked wheaten cakes)
The cake is baked with brown sugar and sesame sauce. It tastes crispy and sweet, with a smell of sesame and sweet of brown sugar.
Recommended spot: Dashunzhai (in the halal supermarket, No.5 Niujie)
Nearby attractions: the Baoguo Temple, the Fayuan Temple
Wangdouhuang (Pease pudding)
The snack was favoured by Empress Dowager Cixi. It is a kind of snack suitable for spring, which tastes cool with slight sweet.
Recommended spot: the Fangshan Restaurant (in front of the Nine-Dragon Wall in the Beihai Park)
Nearby attractions: the Beihai Park, the Shichahai Park, the Palace Museum
Chaogan (Stewed livers)
Chaogan is made from pork liver, pork intestine and starch, seasoning with garlic, vinegar and soy sauce. It is famous Han cuisine in Beijing.
Recommended spot: Yaoji Chaogan (No. 311 Gulou Dongdajie)
Nearby attractions: the Nanluogu Lane, the Prince Gong Mansion, the Shichahai Park, the Soong Ching-ling Residence
Naiyouzhagao (Fried butter cakes)
The cake has high calories, but if you like sweets, you cannot miss it! It tastes crispy with the sweet of butter.
Recommended spot: Jinfang Snacks (F1, Dazhong Electronics, Guang'anmennei Dajie)
Nearby attractions: The Ming City Wall Relics Park, the Beijing Museum of Natural History, the Dashilanr Subdistrict
