Duyichu Restaurant (Qianmen)

The restaurant has a story. It’s said that on his way back from a secret visit to Tongzhou, Emperor Qianlong felt hungry and looked for a restaurant on the Qianmen Street. However, since it was late at night, all the restaurants were closed except the Wang's Shop. Qianlong therefore dined at the restaurant. Learning that it didn’t have an official name yet, Qianlong named it Duyichu and wrote the characters down in person. In nearly 300 years of operation, Duyichu was blessed by not only the signboard bestowed by Qianlong, but also its signature dish, Duyichu Shaomai, which attracted diners from all over the world. The restaurant was even invited to Japan to share its secret to success.

Recommended dishes: Sanxian Shaomai (shaomai with a mix of shrimps, pork and sea cucumbers as fillings), Qianlong Baicai (cabbage seasoned with sesame paste), Zhurou Shaomai (shaomai with pork as fillings), Haixian Shaomai (shaomai with seafood as fillings), Xiehuang Shaomai (shaomai with crab roe as fillings), Suxian Shaomai (shaomai with vegetable fillings), Chaogan (fried pig liver), Yangrou Shaomai (shaomai with mutton as fillings), Zhuroudacong Shaomai (shaomai with pork and scallion as fillings)

Address: No. 38 Qianmen Street, Dongcheng District

Shaguoju

The restaurant serves mainly casserole, with Shaguo Bairou (casserole plain meat) as its signature dish. Shaguoju is the largest casserole-featured, time-honored restaurant in Beijing. Cooking the best out of pork using unique techniques, it has maintained great popularity in Beijing for some 300 years, its pork dishes recognized as the most delicious in north China. The restaurant uses an extra-large casserole which was allegedly made during the Ming Dynasty and selects the best pork for its dishes. The meat is a little fat but not to the extent that it becomes greasy. It’s a feast for the tongue. On the menu are mostly home-style dishes. In the dish Shaguo Bairou, beneath the meat are pickled cabbage and cellophane noodles. It tastes so good that one can swallow down several bowls of rice.

Recommended dishes: Shaguo Bairou (casserole plain meat), Shaguo Sanbai (casserole pork, pig intestines and pig stomach), Shaguo Shizitou (casserole meatball), Jiuzhuan Feichang (cooked pig intestines), Ganzha Wanzi (fried meatball), Baosanyang (fried pork, pig kidney and pig liver), Shuijing Zhou (stewed pork knuckle)

Address: No. 60 Xisi South Street, Xicheng District