Like Hangbang cuisine in Zhengjiang and Sichuan dishes in Sichuan, Beijing has its special dishes. Maybe you've already tasted those famous ones like Copper Pot Shabu-shabu and Beijing Roast Duck, but there are quite a number of home style dishes with Beijing flavor are worth to try if you want to experience more authentic Beijing flavor in your trip. Among all the Beijing dishes, the most popular ones with the indigenous Beijingers include Fried Matofu, Fried Tofu with Crab Roe, Fried Potherb Mustard, Shredded Pork with Sweet Bean Paste, Four-Joy Meatballs, and the most well-known Noodles Soybean Paste Noodles. All of these are daily dishes indigenous Beijingers enjoy the most. Can't wait to try? Don't worry, today I'll show you some snack streets and restaurants with authentic Beijing flavor.
Gui Street
As one of the earliest snack streets in Beijing, Guijie is known by Beijingers for its crawfish. Visitors would find it's not unusual to queue up for long time to eat the delicacy on summer nights on the street. Most restaurants in the street are open around the clock. If you are a night owl, Gui Street in Dongzhi Gate, is a good place to spend until the wee hours of the morning. The late hours of the night are usually the busiest times on this street, whose specialty is Spicy Lobster. Picture yourself sitting in an old chair inside an ancient courtyard house under the grapevines appreciating photos from long-ago but most important savor the aroma and taste of the succulent dishes.
Location: Dongzhimennei Dajie, Dongcheng District
Wangfujing Snack Street
A dazzling array of snacks from all corners of China can be found here. The majority of diners here are foreign, and the cost is not low. However, for a comfortable and relaxing meal, Xin Dong An Restaurant comes highly recommended.
Location: south of Haoyou Department Store, Wangfujing Business Street, Dongcheng District
Niujie
There is a saying in Beijing: “The best Beijing snacks are in Xuanwu District. The best Xuanwu snacks are on Niujie Snack Street.” Niujie, a large ethnic community of Muslims, is known for its Muslim and Beijing food, such as Mung Bean Milk, Baodu and glutinous rice. At the same time, Muslim restaurants including Zhengxingde Tea House, Jubaoyuan Hotpot Restaurant, Hongshunxuan and Nian Gao (a Chinese New Year's cake made from glutinous rice) Qian are liked by ethnic Hui people.
Location: Guanganmen, Xuanwu District
Qianmen Street
Qianmen Street, a famous pedestrian street near Tiananmen Square. With a history of centuries, it is the home to many time-honored brands including Qunjude, Refosian and Zhangyiyuan. As a must-try snack street for tourists, it has accumulated many long-standing stores, such as Qunjude Peking Roast Duck, Duyichu Shaomai (a steamed dim sum made of glutinous rice, pork mince, Chinese mushroom and onion), Yitiaolong Restaurant and Kaifeng Diyilou Soup Dumpling.
Shichahai Snack Street
The famous Jiumen (Nine Gates) Snack Street is located at a hutong in Shachahai. Here the brand-name Beijing snacks are provided in a traditional courtyard setting by 11 vendors, such as Yueshengzhai, Baodu Feng, Chatang (seasoned flour mush) Li, Nian Gao (a Chinese New Year's cake made from glutinous rice) Qian, Cheese Wei, Sheep’s head Ma and Tofu Pudding Bai. It opens from 10:00 to 13:00, 17:00 to 21:00, and is often filled with curious tourists day and night.
Hai Wan Ju Restaurant
A Beijing style usher boy, Xiaoer, is waiting by the door, calling "Coming in please, your honor" in the authentic Beijing dialect. A giant bowl of Hai Wan Ju appears firstly when you step in the restaurant, which echoes with the name of the restaurant. In the second glance, you can see a noodle chef stretching noodles right in front of the customers. Sitting in table, Ornaments around of you in the restaurant are just awesome. Opera faces, picture of traditional street business calling, old-fashioned square tables and long benches restored the the air, landscape and the street culture of the old Beijing city. A bowl of Soybean Paste Noodles is your first choice in Hai Wan Ju, for its authentic fried dry meat slice, chewy noodles stretched by the forceful chef, eight different side dishes, and the imposing serving manners. Besides the Noodles with Soybean Paste, various old Beijing style snacks are also available in the menu, especially the long-lost Sheep Blood Sausage.
Address: 36# Song Yu S. Rd.
Ju Qi Restaurant
In Beijing dialect, "Ju Qi" is to describe a person of straightforward with sense of justice, which has been regarded as the typical characteristics of the indigenous Beijinger. We can feel the strong Beijing flavor only by its name. Decorated with vintage door plates and ornaments of Hutong style, the restaurant is full of charm of the old Beijing city. Despite the vintage decoration, food here is of creative Beijing cuisine, and brings a brand new experience to you. Unbelievable? Have you ever seen smash potato in the shape of the Rabbit God, stir rice in honeycomb briquette, or a chess board with pea cake chess? Not only with amazing appearance, the taste of the dishes is more fantastic than its appearance. You can feel its popularity from the long queue. Let's have a try!
Address: F1 of Fu You Jie Hotel, 21# St. Taipusi Street, Xidan District
Dong Shi'er Restaurant
Walking in the restaurant, you'll be riveted by the vintage decoration of the Republican period of China. Following the Four by Nine city style of the Republic period, the first and second floor are compartments named after famous Hutongs and streets of Beijing city. Black&White newspapers and old advertisement posted on the wall, old-fashioned apparatus placed in every corner of the restaurant, traditional Beijing smell penetrates from every single corner of the restaurant. The major dishes of Dong Shi'er Restaurant is Hutong style dishes. All the traditional Beijing food is available here, including Plum Juice, Pear Soup, Plain Chicken, Old Soup Pig Feet, Braised Crisp Fish, Salted Duck Gizzard, Vege Ham, Braised Sea Cucumber with Scallion, Fried Soft Shrimp, Beijing Roast Duck, Stewed Crispy Meatballs, Stewed Ribs, Pea Cake, and Dry Fruit. No matter beverage, cold dish, hot dish, snacks or dessert, every dish is exquisite without over decoration but outstanding taste, and completely restored the features of simple and unpretending of Beijing dishes.
Address: 11# Building of Cha Ci Community, Dongzhimen Outer Byway
Beiping Restaurant
Sounding nostalgia and full of stories, the restaurant provokes your curiosity only by the name. Though the restaurant is of traditional Beijing style, the dishes are innovated with a little modern style in good taste and favorable price. It is more like a restaurant for families because most of the customers come with their families. The call-out of the waiters before serving the dish reminds you the busboy in the old Beijing restaurant. Speaking of the food here, Deep Fried Meatball should be on your top list with the special dipping sauce and crunchy taste. Tender and delicious Shredded Pork with Sweet Bean Paste tastes palatable with perfect balance tastes of salty and sweet, which is just the best match to rice or simply to tofu skin and shredded scallion. Famous Chinese style snacks such as Pea Cake, Soybean Cake, Lǘdagunr (Glutinous Rice Rolls Stuffed with Red Bean Paste) with the most authentic Beijing flavor are all available here, besides, you can't miss its Butter Fried Cake and Almond Tofu.
Address: 13# Xinzhong Street (Near Dongzhimen Outer Street)
Yue Bin Restaurant
Every indigenous Beijinger knows about Yue Bin Restaurant. With the heavy-weight title of "The First Chinese Private Restaurant", the restaurant upholds the doctrine of high quality and favorable price. Food here tastes kind light but just fine with the flavour of old school home style dishes. Mashed Garlic Pork Elbow should be on your top list, with a big plate of whole pork elbow, fat but not greasy, thin but not woody tasted. Self-created Five Shred Bucket enjoys a high reputation. Shredded meat, ginger, scallion and celery wrapping the preserved egg, fried crispy, and dipping sauce before sending to the mouth, just one bite, the aroma of slightly burns will fill your mouth and nose. Besides, dishes such as Stewed Gluten and Cabbage, Stewed Gourd and Meatball in Casserole, Tofu Omelet, Sweet and Sour Ribs and Braised Duck are all the beloved ones of the customers.
Address: 43# Cuihua Hutong, (Across from The National Art Museum of China )
